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New Student FAQ for Fall 2023

General

Classes will begin on September 1.

Most of the "Freshie Journey" will be online. There will be a number of modules that provide you practical information on topics such as using your campus card and semester ticket, registering for classes, living in a multicultural environment, banking and insurance in Germany, and many more. There will also be live Q&A sessions each Friday at 3 PM CEST. Additionally, there will be a number of in-person activities August 29-31.

You should now receive your Campus Net login credentials the week of August 7th (as long as you have submitted your study contract) so that you can access the Freshie Journey modules throughout the month of August. 

Freshie Journey info page

Course registration opens on August 25. Students will receive their Campus Net login credentials by July 31, and the Freshie Journey will contain a module about course registration.

In late July, you will receive a link to the  Housing Preference Survey via email (if you have submitted your study contract by the beginning of July). The survey will allow you to put down your top choice of Mercator, C3, Nordmetall, and Krupp. It also will allow you to apply for a double room (loft bed) if you are interested in this option. However, there is limited double room availability so they will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. All other first-year students will receive the standard, single private room option. 

We will then inform you of the residential college you've been assigned when you arrive on campus.

Arrival

Check-in Day is August 29! We are excited to welcome you to Constructor University at "Welcome Street" in our Sports and Convention Center (SCC) on this day, 8 AM - 6 PM (CEST).

Early arrival can take place on August 26-28, but you will simply receive your room keys from our security office on these days. Please note that the main tours and social events will not take place until the 29th. You also will not receive your Campus Card to pay for meals until August 29, so you can get meal vouchers from the security office or pay with a debit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard) for meals on campus.

If you need to arrive outside of the "Welcome Street" open hours (8 AM - 6 PM) on the 29th or after the 29th, you can get your room keys from the security office (just inside the main gate). To get your semester ticket, you will need to visit the Student Service Center. Appointments are recommended (schedule here) but walk-ins are accepted (Reimer Lust Hall 102, Mon-Fri 10 AM - 2 PM). To get your Campus Card and sign your rental contract, you will need to visit the Housing Office (Reimer Lust Hall 104, Mon-Fri 10 AM - 12 PM & Mon-Thu 1 -3 PM).

We certainly understand that many students will not be able to arrive within this timeframe. If you need to arrive outside of the "Welcome Street" open hours (8 AM - 6 PM) on the 29th or after the 29th, you can get your room keys from the security office (just inside the main gate). To get your semester ticket, you will need to visit the Student Service Center. Appointments are recommended (schedule here) but walk-ins are accepted (Reimer Lust Hall 102, Mon-Fri 10 AM - 2 PM). To get your Campus Card and sign your rental contract, you will need to visit the Housing Office (Reimer Lust Hall 104, Mon-Fri 10 AM - 12 PM & Mon-Thu 1 -3 PM).

Early arrival can take place August 26-28, but you will simply receive your room keys from our security office on these days. Please note that the main tours and social events will not take place until the 29th. You also will not receive your Campus Card to pay for meals until August 29, so you can get meal vouchers from the security office or pay with a debit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard) for meals on campus until the Housing Office opens. 

Incoming students should have received an Arrival Questionnaire via email the last week of July (or after sending your enrollment deposit). Please fill that out once you book your travel, so that we know when to expect you in Bremen and when you'll be arriving on our campus.  If your travel plans change, please fill it out again. 

You can find directions to campus here. On the 29th, we will also offer a shuttle service from the Bremen Airport to the Constructor University campus (Timespan TBD based on the Pre-Arrival Survey). Look for the Constructor University welcome desk outside international arrivals. From there, we will direct you to the bus with the Constructor University sign in the window.

We will offer a shuttle service from the Bremen Airport to the Constructor University campus on August 29 (Timespan TBD based on the Pre-Arrival Survey). Look for the Constructor University welcome desk outside international arrivals. From there, we will direct you to the bus with the Constructor University sign in the window.

On August 29, we will have signs and Peer Mentors at the front gate directing you to "Welcome Street" at our Sports and Convention Center (SCC). There you will check in with our Student Service Center, sign your housing contract, and get your room keys. If you arrive early (August 26-28), you will find our security office immediately on the right as you enter the campus main gate. They will will provide you your room key and direct you to your college room.

We know your family members may want to ensure you arrive safe and sound to your new home away from home, so we of course will allow them to accompany you onto campus and tour our facilities.

Please note that parents will need to book accommodations off campus if they wish to stay in Bremen overnight.

Whether or not your parents come with you, we will have peer mentors and student assistants ready to assist you with your move-in.

 

Remember to bring your:

✓ Signed Rental Contract (German version, available in Mercury in late August)
✓ Color copy of your passport
✓ Certified copy of your final transcript + diploma
Enrollment Confirmation Letter from your VIP page
Airline Letter (only for students who come from non-visa countries; will be available on your VIP page by August)
✓ Other documents you need for e.g. residence permit, health insurance, bank account, etc.

The Enrollment Confirmation Letter states that your physical presence on campus is required.

The Airline Letter states that a return ticket within 3 months is not required. You may need to give this to your airline.

You can find a recommended packing list here.

Upon your arrival in the European Union (be it Germany or another country), please keep the following in mind:

Cash amount of 10 000 Euro or more
If you bring more than 10 000 Euro (or equivalent in other currencies, bonds, shares or travellers’ cheques or other valuables) in cash, you need to declare it at customs. Usually, you will be required to file a declaration form before entry. You can request this declaration form from the airline staff or upon landing before clearing customs. Failure to declare the cash may result in confiscation of your assets. We suggest not bringing large sums of cash, unless absolutely necessary (e.g. if this is a condition to your visa approval)

Bringing Brand-New Packed Goods
Be it your laptop or a fancy camera or the PS5, please refrain from bringing the goods in their original package as they may be considered not a personal item, but rather an import. In this case, you will be required to pay the VAT (20% in Germany). The goods may be seized by customs until you pay the VAT. Therefore, consider bringing such items unpacked.

COVID-19

As of June 8, 2023, restrictions only apply to individuals entering from "areas of variants of concern" and since February 2023, no areas have been classified as such. Therefore, there are currently no entry requirements or restrictions for entering Germany.

The most up-to-date info can be found here.

Germany does not have a vaccination requirement for entry or residence. 

Completing application and enrollment requirements

If you were admitted to Constructor University for Fall 2023 without submitting SAT or ACT scores and you require standardized test scores for enrollment, you should take the earliest SAT or ACT available in your region and submit your scores. Alternatively, students can come to Bremen, begin classes at Constructor University on September 1, and then take an on-campus SAT in October or December. You will need to pay for the exam, but the university will offer free test preparation to ensure you do well.

Students need to register for valid health insurance before arriving in Germany. If you require a visa to study in Germany, you will need proof of registration before the visa appointment. For information on your options, see here.

You can find information and links to apply here and on your VIP page.

All students who have paid their enrollment deposit should have received an email requesting that they review and sign their study contract via the new application portal. If you do not receive your study contract within 10 days of the university sending a deposit confirmation email, you can contact your regional Recruitment Counselor.

We're here to support you! If you have visa delays, you may request to start your courses online for a certain period of time. If you have not received details regarding your options, you can reach out to visa@constructor.university for more information. If an online option is not possible for you or doesn't suit you, you can opt for reevaluation for the Fall 2024 intake.