Exchange students at KISD study in the project-based BA »Integrated Design«. Except for a few events that are only offered to students in the exchange programme, you study together with regularly enroled students from different semesters and select projects in different areas of expertise. You will largley create your own semester programme.

To prepare for studying at the KISD different steps should be undertaken before and after your departure. On the following pages you will get information about:

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 Contact Persons

 Course Selection at KISD

 Dates

 Enrolment at FH Köln

 German Courses

 Accommodation

 Other Information

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International Cooperation Center at KISD

If you have requests concerning your studies and the exchange programme at KISD, do not hesitate to contact the  student tutor at the International Cooperation Center. The ICC is located on the first floor at KISD (room 123). If you are a prospective exchange student, please note, that it is very important to check your emails regularly: you will get informed by the International Cooperation Center about your course selection, the first meeting, current events and news, ect.

International Office of FH-Köln and KARIBU programme

If you have questions with regard to the enrolment at FH Köln (Cologne University of Applied Sciences) or general information about first steps in Cologne, please contact  Branimir Brkan of the  International Office of FH-Köln

More Information about the  KARIBU programme of FH-Köln.

International AG

You can also contact  International AG, a students working group at KISD that supports international students and works very closely with the ICC. Throughout the semester they organize different events for and together with the international students at KISD.

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There is no traditional course schedule at KISD. Instead, a new curricular calendar is published at the beginning of each semester with new projects and seminars. As an exchange student you choose course units from this curricular calendar having the opportunity to custom tailor your semester to your interests within a certain framework. The new curricular calendar will be available on our  website in August (winter semester) / in January (summer semester).

As soon as the new calendar is published, we will send you an email with further instructions about the course selection at KISD: As an exchange student you will be advised and get further instructions by the International Cooperation Center in August / February. Please read the brochure  KISD opportunities, in order to get to know the study structure at KISD, get suggestions for your semester planning and to prepare for the course selection.

You will have to make your course selection in the beginning of September (winter semester) / of March (summer semester). Please take possible specifications of your home university into consideration. At our official Welcome Meeting in the very beginning of the semester you will get additional advice from us and have the chance to finalize your study plan.

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Arriving in Cologne: Enrolment and German Course

We recommend arriving in Cologne in the very beginning of September and taking part in the  German Intensive Course for beginners offered by the International Office of FH-Köln. Please note that you will need some time for the first steps in Cologne and the  enrolment at FH Köln.

Exchange Student Profile Sheet

You have already send us your Exchange Student Profile Sheet with some fields (matriculation, address in Cologne, …) left open. We ask you to complete the form and send it back to  exchange_tutor(at)kisd.de until April 2nd. 

If you have lost the file, please download the  form here and complete it again. 

Course Selection

You must send your filled in course selection form via email to the responsible student tutor (exchange students shall send it to the  International Cooperation Center student tutor.

Welcome Meeting

On Monday, March 12th, 4pm we will hold our official welcome meeting at KISD. Please make sure you arrive before this date. In this meeting you will get to know the International-AG and get an introduction to KISD and the facilities. On this day you will also make your final course selection – the International AG will assist you in doing so.

Workshop Introduction

On March 12th begin the one-week workshop introductions. These are optional.

Cologne Resources

On March 26th begin the »Cologne Resources« projects. This is an obligatory one-week project for all the freshmen students at KISD. You will get to know resources of KISD and Cologne and work in teams with Viola Voigt and Lisa Janßen. On Friday you will have your first public presentation.

Project and seminar start

One week later, on April 2nd the regular projects and seminars begin. Please check the curricular calendar and make sure to come in time to the first meetings: Always at the first meeting of each project, the participant lit will be finalized by the responsible professor - if you are not present, someone else will get your place.

Exchange Programme

There is an obligatory Mentoring programme for exchange students. The groups and dates (3 meetings per semester) will be announced by email in the beginning of April. During the semester we will also have meetings with all exchange students and the International AG. Additionally the International AG will organize international nights and excursions – for this we will need your ideas and support!

Semester duration

Summer semester 2012: 12.03.2012 – 13.07.2012

Autumn brake: 14.07.2012 – 16.09.2012

Official Holidays (Summer semester 2012)

Easter: 09.04.2012

Pentecost: 28.05.2012

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After having received the letter of acceptance from KISD, we will send you information about the enrolment procedure, references for the arrangements before your departure and for the first orientation at KISD (Welcome Letter). Here you find the most important information, too:

Medical insurance

Before your departure please ask your health insurance to give you the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). After your arrival in Cologne please take this document to branch German state medical insurance company. (Please check the  Â»Just arrived« booklet, page 11 for addresses). There you will receive a medical insurance certificate for the time you are studying in Germany – on the basis of the documents of your health insurance. You have to bring this certificate to be enrolled.

Personal enrolment in the International Office

After your arrival please enrol at the  International Office of FH Köln (Cologne University of Applied Sciences). Here you also get support with regard to the first steps in Cologne.

On the  website of the International Office you find the  registration form for exchange students. Please fill in your personal data for registering at FH Köln (Cologne University of Applied Sciences).

After your arrival in Cologne please enrol at:

International Office

Mr. Branimir Brkan

Claudiusstraße 1,  A.54

50678 Köln (tramway stop »Ubierring«)

Opening hours:

Monday to Thursday, 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00-15:00

Friday 9:00-12:00

For the enrolment you should bring the following documents:

1) letter of acceptance (KISD)

2) filled in  registration form for the enrolment at FH Köln

3) 1 passport sized photo (3,5 cm x 4,5 cm) and the filled in  Â»MultiCa« form

4) Medical insurance certificate from the AOK

Semester fees</b

<b>MulitCa

After your enrolment, you will receive a letter from the International Office with your personal »MultiCa«. This is your student ID and a rechargeable debit card, so you can reload it with money to spend at the different services of the FH (Cafeteria, copy machines).

Two to three days after you have transferred the semester fees to FH Köln this card can be stamped at one of the red machines inside the FH main-building, Claudiusstraße 1, in front of the »Studienbüro«. Please refer to  this map for further instructions. Your card is only valid with this stamp and you will have to get a new stamp each semester. Once you print an additional printout, you will also be able to travel with your student card in the whole federal state North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the explanation for this can be found on the  International AG's Space.

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German intensive course

The International Office offers a special  German language course for exchange students:

Prior to their first lectures, exchange students who possess no or only basic German skills can sign up for a three-week intensive course that will be held from February 27th – March 9th, 2012. The course fee is € 60 and should be paid on the first day of class at the International Office.

In order to register for this class, please write an email to  Petra Reitze of the International Office by providing the following information:

- Last name, first name

- Course of study: Design

- Partner university

German courses during the semester

After passing this course or if you already have some German proficiency, you can take an intermediate course (two lessons, 90 minutes per week) throughout the semester. Theses courses are offered on different levels. In the end of the course there will be an exam and you will receive 3 ECTS. This course is exempt from charges. Please visit the International Office in order to learn more about the German course programme or check their website, where you can download the  timetable (Stundenplan).

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Please arrange accommodation as early as possible, as reasonably priced accommodation in Cologne is in short supply. Unfortunately FH Köln can«™t provide any student accommodation.

Kölner Studentenwerk

The simplest and often cheapest kind of accommodation is in a students«™ residence hall. There are 84 hall of residences in Cologne, administrated by  Kölner Studentenwerk (KSTW), as well as many privately run halls. Unlike in other countries, Germany's student residence halls are not located on campus, rather throughout the whole city, giving students the opportunity to choose the location they would like to live in. If you are interested in a room in a hall you can find detailed information as well as the  online application form on the website of KSTW.

Due to great demand, an application is no guarantee that you will actually be allocated a place. However, your chances increase the earlier you send your application in.

Shared flats (WG)

There are a lot of shared flats (WG) in Cologne – it is very common for students to live together in one flat, each student has his own room, but you share kitchen, bath room etc. Please check the  KISD Space of the International-AG to get to know tips concerning the search for shared flats. KISD students who live in a WG and want to go abroad for one or two terms, often rent their rooms temporarily while they are away. If you are interested in such a room, please contact your »buddy«.

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For general information about accommodation, activities and other important issues, please check the brochure  Â»Just Arrived« of the International Office or contact your KISD »buddy«. They can provide tips concerning finding accommodation, but also with regard to orientation in Cologne and basic supplies in the beginning of your stay in Germany. You can also visit the  KISD Space of the International-AG for information, events and tips.