International affairs Finding your way around the bureaucratic jungle in Germany

What kind of benefits does a German health insurance company provide? Am I entitled to Bafög (student loan) as an international student? Can I get any social benefits to finance my studies? Julia Schmidt at the Student Advice Centre provides the answers to these questions and more. She is the expert on all questions pertaining to financing your studies at RUB; her services include advice for international students.

“In the past few years, many refugee students have enrolled in degree courses at RUB. In collaboration with the International Office, I’ve been organising workshops in order to help them find ways and means of paying their way through university,” explains Julia Schmidt. She also trained International Office staff from other universities in Bochum that do not have the capacities to provide social services in-house.

“Unfortunately, it happens much too often that both German and international students reach out to me when it is much too late. I very much recommend calculating how much it will cost to support yourself and to check out available financial aids before the start of your university course,” stresses Julia Schmidt.

All students can take advantage of Julia Schmidt’s advisory services on the campus and at Oase without the need to make an appointment; in addition, students can make individual appointments by email. Each interview is confidential; if required, Julia Schmidt gets the advice seekers in touch with lawyers or other relevant institutions, such as debt advice services.