winter semester: 08 October 2025 till 14 February 2026 (inkl. Orientation Meeting)

summer semester: 08 April 2026 till 18 July 2026 (inkl. Orientation Meeting)

Important: On public holidays, government offices and many shops are closed.

Public Holidays

Events for exchange students

Are you under 30 years of age?

From the EU/EEA or certain countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom):

• Your health insurance from your home country may be recognised.
• You will need: EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) or GHIC (UK only) or a certificate of entitlement (form E-111, AT11, ATN11 or BH6) from your home country
• Contact a German health insurance company (find a list here)
• The health insurance company will send your data electronically to the UdK

⚠️ Important:

• Your insurance must be valid for the entire semester
• If you want to work in Germany, you need German insurance (approx. €150 per month). There are exceptions for students from Denmark, Austria and Luxembourg who take on a mini-job (max. 603€/ month).

From all other countries:

    Option 1: Take out statutory German health insurance (approx. €150 per month).
    Option 2: Use private health insurance → You need an exemption from statutory                                   insurance.

Are you over 30 years old?

• You do not need to submit proof of health insurance for enrolment.
• BUT: Everyone in Germany must have health insurance.
• Check whether your home insurance is valid.
• Otherwise: Take out private German insurance.

For visa applications: You usually need proof of health insurance.

Further information can be found here.

Amount: €309.00 per semester (as of winter semester 2025/26)

What is included:

• Student Committee (AStA)
• StudierendenWERK
• Germany semester ticket (public transport throughout Germany!)

 

Where to transfer the money:

    Recipient: Kasse der UdK Berlin
    Bank: Berliner Volksbank
    IBAN: DE72 100 900 00 884 101 50 46
    BIC: BEVO DEBBXXX
    Reference: Your name + degree programme + which exchange semester

 

⚠️ Important:

• Select the ‘OUR’ option (i.e. any fees incurred (such as exchange fees) will be paid by the sender)
• Send a payment confirmation (bank statement or confirmation as PDF/JPEG)
• A transfer confirmation is NOT sufficient
• Cash or credit card payments on site are NOT possible

Deadline:

• summer semester: mid-February
• winter semester: mid-August

What you need to send by email to: incomingstudents_ @udk-berlin.de 

• PDF of your identity card or passport
• Confirmation of payment of the semester fee

Enrolment is only possible with health insurance!

• Included in the semester contribution
• Valid: 1 October to 31 March for the winter semester/ 1 April to 30 September for the summer semester
• Use all public transport in Germany
• NOT included: EC, IC, ICE trains (regional trains only)

 

Further information can be found here.

• The course catalogue is published at the end of September (winter semester) and the end of March (summer semester).
• First, select general modules or lectures.
• You can adjust your selection in October/April.
• Your exchange coordinators in the degree programme will sign the Learning Agreement.
• Online Learning Agreement (OLA) is supported.

• You will receive your login details by post via the UdK's own internet service called O.A.Se. (Online Access Service).
• Activate your UdK email account within 42 days!
• Wi-Fi is available in all buildings.
• ‘eduroam’ works once you are registered.

Free courses from the International Office:

 

• Beginners A1: Monday, 5:00–7:30 p.m. (starting 13 October 2025)                                                     Bundesallee 1–12, Room 343
• A1.2 and A2.1: Wednesday, 5:00–7:30 p.m. (starting 15 October 2025)                                               Bundesallee 1-12, Room 343

 

You can earn 2 ECTS credits (with at least 70% attendance).

Registration: sandra.bayer_ @intra.udk-berlin.de 

Further options:

• Language and Culture Exchange (TU Berlin) – inexpensive (costs are published approx. 6 weeks before the start of each semester)
• Volkshochschulen (Berlin Adult education centres) – inexpensive and you meet non-students

• Cultural studies and interdisciplinary courses in addition to degree programmes
• Lectures, seminars, workshops
• Exchange with students from other degree programmes
• Some courses in English

 

Further information can be found here.

Volkswagen Library

Address: Fasanenstraße 88, 10623 Berlin
Open: Open continuously (except on public holidays and during previously announced closing times)
Registration: Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

To obtain a library card, you will need:

• Student ID card
• Identity card or passport
• Registration certificate (Berlin address)
• Residence permit (for non-EU students)

 

Costs: free of charge for enrolled students

Further information can be found here.

International Office

incomingstudents_ @udk-berlin.de 

Exchange Coordinators of the study programmes

An overview can be fund here.

StudyGuide (CampusCard, Deutschlandsemesterticket)

studyguide_ @udk-berlin.de 

Tel.: +49 30 3185 1480

AStA (Student Commitee)

• supports student projects
• Financial assistance available in emergencies
• Website: asta-udk-berlin.de 
• Meetings: usually weekly at Hardenbergstraße 33, Room 9

• Obtain the template for the form from your home university.
• Have it signed by the International Office at the Berlin University of the Arts.
• It can only be issued during the last week of the semester.

Very important: The UdK does NOT automatically register you for its courses!

How to obtain your certificate:

• Take the Record of Courses form (template available from the International Office here)
• After each course: Have the lecturers sign it
• Do not wait too long – lecturers are often unavailable during the holidays
• Submit the completed form to the responsible exchange coordinator of your study programme
• The exchange coordinator signs the Record of Courses
• Submit the confirmed Record of Courses to the International Office
• You will receive the Transcript of Records in 5 weeks (it will also be sent to your home university)

 

Grading system in Germany

    1.0-1.5 = very good
    1.6-2.5 = good
    2.6-3.5 = satisfactory
    3.6-4.0 = adequate
    4.1-5.0 = fail

Note: Grades are not always given at UdK. Talk to your lecturers at the beginning of the semester.

After successful enrolment, you can download your enrolment certificate from the my.udk portal (campus management portal). Here you will find a video tutorial.