From DAAD to OVGU Magdeburg — Your Complete Relocation Guide

Each year, selected MSI students earn the extraordinary opportunity to study and conduct their Master's Thesis research at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) in Germany, supported by the DAAD Mobility Scholarship. This guide covers every step — from the application window in Vietnam to the day you are fully settled in Magdeburg.

!NOTE We have built this guide from real experience. MSI students who have done this know: German bureaucracy is thorough, sequential, and non-negotiable. But with this roadmap, it is entirely manageable.

Step-by-Step Relocation Walkthrough

Step 1 — Application Window (December – January)

Around December to January, the VGU MSI program announces the internal selection round for DAAD Mobility. Students submit:

• An up-to-date CV and a compelling Motivation Letter explaining your research interests and why Germany is the right next step
• Reviewed and interviewed by: the MSI Academic Coordinators, Program Director, and one OVGU faculty member

Results are typically released within two weeks of the interview. Successful candidates receive:

• An Invitation Letter and Scholarship Award Letter from DAAD/VGU
• An Acceptance Letter from OVGU Magdeburg

Immediately upon receiving your result:

1. Contact the VGU International Office → io@vgu.edu.vn and CC VGU Outgoings → Outgoings@vgu.edu.vn for official processing guidance
2. Start preparing your visa documents before the Tết holiday — embassy slots fill up fast

Step 2 — Visa Application via VFS (Third Party)

Germany requires visa applications to be submitted through VFS Global, the official third-party visa processing service. DAAD scholarship holders are exempt from the German Embassy visa fee — but VFS charges their own service execution fee, which must be paid.

Process:

1. Book an appointment at VFS Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi)
2. Prepare all physical documents (Admission Letter, Scholarship Award, health insurance confirmation, APS certificate, passport photos, blocked account proof)
3. Submit physical documents to VFS — they forward everything to the German Embassy
4. Processing time: approximately 2 months from the date VFS submits your file to the Embassy
5. Receive your national visa (Type D, long-stay student visa) by post or collection

!IMPORTANT Plan your VFS appointment and document gathering to allow at least 3 months before your intended departure.

Step 3 — Flights to Germany

Once your visa is secured, book your flights. Two recommended airports near Magdeburg:

• 🛫 Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) — ~1.5 hours to Magdeburg by ICE/RE train
• 🛫 Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) — ~1 hour to Magdeburg by regional train

Tips for booking:

• Create a DB Navigator account (bahn.de) and register early — this is the German national rail app for all train travel
• Register a student account on European budget carriers or Turkish Airlines for discounted baggage allowances
• From either airport, use ICE (InterCity Express) flexible tickets in DB Navigator for the most reliable connection to Magdeburg Hauptbahnhof (main station)

Step 4 — The German Bureaucracy Sequence 📋

German administration is sequential and thorough. Each step unlocks the next. Follow this order precisely:

4a — Register Student Health Insurance with TK

This must be done first. German public health insurance (e.g., Techniker Krankenkasse — TK) is a prerequisite for OVGU enrollment. TK sends a digital confirmation directly to OVGU. Register online before you arrive if possible.

4b — Pay OVGU Semester Contribution Fee & Register for Dormitory

Simultaneously:

• Transfer the OVGU semester contribution to the OVGU bank account — this covers student services, the Mensa (cafeteria), and your Deutschlandticket (public transit pass).
• Apply for dormitory housing via Studentenwerk Magdeburg — do this early as spots are limited. Alternatively, find private apartments via student Facebook groups or WG-Gesucht.de.

4c — Update Address with OVGU & Receive Enrollment Letter

Once housing is confirmed, update your address with OVGU's Student Secretariat. You will then receive your official Enrollment Letter (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung) — a critical document for everything that follows.

4d — Finalize Dormitory Contract (Landlord Confirmation)

Use your Enrollment Letter to complete the dormitory/rental contract process. You will need:

• Enrollment Letter
• Rental contract
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation of your address)

4e — Anmeldung — City Registration at the Bürgerbüro

Within 14 days of moving into your accommodation, visit the nearest Bürgerbüro (citizen service office) in Magdeburg to complete your official city registration (Anmeldung). Bring:

• Enrollment Letter
• Rental contract
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung

You will receive a Meldebestätigung (registration confirmation). You now officially exist in Germany 🎉

👉 City of Magdeburg official site

4f — Open a German Bank Account

After your Anmeldung, you are eligible to open a bank account. Book your appointment in advance — German banks require it. Recommended options: Sparkasse or Deutsche Bank (both with in-person branches in Magdeburg).

4g — Receive Tax ID & Activate DAAD Stipend

Within 1–2 weeks after Anmeldung, you will receive your Steueridentifikationsnummer (Tax ID) by post. Immediately:

• Notify your bank of your Tax ID
• Submit your Tax ID to the OVGU Faculty of Mechanical Engineering secretariat — this finalises your DAAD scholarship contract and triggers monthly stipend payments

The Deutschlandticket — Travel Everywhere

As an enrolled OVGU student, your semester contribution includes the Deutschlandticket (formerly Semesterticket) — a pass valid on all local and regional public transport across Germany: trams, buses, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and regional trains (RE/RB).

!NOTE ICE and IC long-distance trains require a separate ticket — use DB Navigator to book these separately.

Your Support Network in Magdeburg

Studentenwerk Magdeburg

The Studentenwerk Magdeburg is the central student support organization — managing dormitories, the Mensa (cafeteria), psychological counseling, and financial aid.

IKUS — International Cultural Exchange

IKUS (Interkultureller Treff) is the intercultural meeting space run by Studentenwerk Magdeburg. It organizes social events, cultural exchanges, language cafés, and international student meetups.

Fachschaftsrat Maschinenbau — Student Council

The Fachschaftsrat Maschinenbau (Student Council of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at OVGU) represents your interests. As an MSI student enrolled at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, this council represents your academic and student interests directly with the Dean's office.

Daily Life & Shopping Guide in Magdeburg

!TIP Most stores are open Monday to Saturday until 9–10 pm. Sundays are closed — do your shopping on Saturday!