Of course, it is more interesting but also more difficult for those students who receive higher education abroad, in particular in Germany. So many questions immediately arise: what is studying at this university like? where will I live? and so on. Fortunately, every university has its own Student Mutual Aid Society, whose mission is to make students' lives easier. In addition, there is another organization that a foreign student should remember - the United Student Committee (AstA).
These organizations are financed by student fees that all students pay per semester. After paying the enrollment fee, a student can turn to the Mutual Aid Society for help with any problems that have arisen: legal consultations, finding housing, work, etc. One can also come here in a crisis situation for advice and support from a psychologist. Some Mutual Aid Societies offer special assistance for foreign students - the so-called service package (Servicepaket). It includes finding a dormitory, supervision by a tutor (a senior student), membership in sports sections and foreign language courses, cultural events, and, if desired, even lunch in the student cafeteria. The cost of such a package ranges from 150 to 320 euros per month.
The activities of the Student Mutual Aid Society in some ways overlap with those of the United Student Committee (AstA). In Bavaria, a similar organization is called the Council of Student Representatives. As a rule, these student committees have a department for working with foreign students, which deals directly with the problems of foreign students, organizes cultural and political events, and helps in resolving legal issues.
Very often, students with common interests unite in special faculty organizations called Fachschaften. Their functions, in particular, include organizing Freshman Week: senior students take patronage over newcomers for a week to introduce them to life at the university, libraries, student cafeteria, etc., as well as to the city, its sights, and leisure opportunities. These events are a great opportunity to immediately make new friends, as are the numerous sports sections, where contacts are made by themselves. These weeks are usually held at the very beginning of the semester, and information about them can be found on the notice board. Students call it among themselves the "black board".
Meanwhile, the "black board" often turns out to be a real treasure for foreign students. In addition to information about upcoming events and news, you can also find information about housing here. As a rule, these are advertisements offering apartments and rooms in student dormitories. Many guys rent a multi-room apartment for several people and split the rent among themselves. This is not only an opportunity to save money, but also to immediately find friends. Some students prefer to live in dormitories. The rooms there are often small, but this is the cheapest type of housing for students. It should be noted right away that "cheap" does not at all mean "bad". Information about the distribution of places in dormitories and their addresses can be obtained from the Student Mutual Aid Society. If you are not offered anything suitable, you can place your ad for finding an apartment, again on the "black board". Who seeks will always find; the main thing is to take the initiative.