🇩🇪 Exchange Student Survival Guide – Part 1: Pre-Departure Checklist

Based on my exchange experience at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Summer Semester 2025 | Updated for 2025

Getting accepted as an exchange student was incredibly exciting. But what I didn’t expect was that the real challenge actually begins after the acceptance.

Using my exchange at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany as an example, after passing the internal selection process at National Taiwan University (NTU), there was a long waiting period. German universities typically do not receive official nominations from partner institutions until early October, so there’s no need to rush into preparing documents before that.

However, once October arrives and you receive the nomination confirmation from the German university, everything starts moving quickly. You’ll need to upload application documents, complete registration, apply for a visa, arrange accommodation, choose insurance, book flights, and more.

The German process can feel bureaucratic and sometimes requires early planning. Certain steps must be secured in advance—visa appointments cannot be booked too late, insurance decisions must be made early, and missing deadlines can quickly become stressful.

At the time, I searched through countless blog posts and forums to piece together the process step by step, yet the information always felt scattered.

To help future exchange students heading to Germany avoid unnecessary confusion, I’ve organized the entire journey into a time-based series of five articles:

(Links coming soon)

• (1) Pre-Departure Checklist (you’re reading this now)
• (2) Packing List Guide (what to bring from Taiwan vs. buy in Germany)
• (3) What to Do After Arriving in Germany (residence registration, telecom setup, insurance activation, etc.)
• (4) Useful Apps for Daily Life (transportation, living, language learning)
• (5) Before Leaving Germany (lease termination, insurance cancellation, dormitory deposit refund, and preparations for returning home)

Although this guide applies to most exchange students going to Germany, I’ve also added specific notes based on my experience at TUM. If you’re heading there as well, this series will be especially helpful.

🗓 My Pre-Departure Timeline Overview (For Reference Only)

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Below is my complete preparation timeline, starting from passing NTU’s internal selection to my actual departure.

TUM’s semester officially begins on April 1, and most students depart in late March or early April. My departure date was slightly earlier (March 10) because I chose to travel in Europe beforehand. However, the overall sequence and process remain applicable to most students.

📍 Nomination & Application Phase (Starting October 2024)

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In October, NTU completed the nomination to partner universities. From there, the application process depended on each host university. Below is my TUM timeline:

Note ¹: When sending documents back to TUM, remember to CC the NTU Europe exchange coordinator so both sides can track your progress.

Note ²: Required documents included: CV, study plan, motivation letter, language certificate, passport copy, undergraduate transcript, (graduate transcript if applicable), and (degree certificate if applicable).

Note ³: For TUM, student housing application only required indicating your housing preference in the system. Some universities allocate housing based on application order—apply early if that’s the case. If not assigned housing, Facebook groups (e.g., Taiwanese students in Munich) can help, but always beware of scams.

📍 Visa & Enrollment Phase (Starting December 2024)

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Once December begins, Admission Letters are issued. This marks the start of visa application and university enrollment.

I recommend organizing tasks into three categories:

1️⃣ Visa (appointment booking, application forms, required documents) 👉 German Exchange Student Visa Guide | Documents & Application Process
2️⃣ Enrollment (semester fee payment)
3️⃣ Blocked account & insurance (e.g., Expatrio package)

Note ¹: After receiving the Admission Letter, forward a copy to the NTU coordinator responsible for Europe. Then complete the following three tasks:

• Pay the semester fee (€85). (You can check the payment status in TUMonline after transferring.)
• Upload proof of German health insurance. (If you use Expatrio, the system will automatically notify the university — no manual upload required.)
• Upload your ID photo to TUMonline.

No confirmation email will be sent after completing these steps. You will need to wait until after the deadline to receive the official Registration Confirmation Email.

Note ²: Visa appointments at the German Institute must be scheduled within three months before the semester begins. In my case, since the semester started on April 1, the earliest possible appointment date was January 1. Appointments can usually be booked starting in early December.

Initially, I tried to arrange a group appointment together with other students admitted to TUM, but the German Institute replied that group applications were not available this year, so we switched to individual appointments.

Update: As of February 2025, there is no longer a need to compete for appointment slots. Please refer to this article.

Note ³: International bank wire transfer fees are expensive. For example, transferring money via Bank SinoPac may incur a fee of around NT$1,350, which is not cost-effective for small amounts.

The best solution is to ask a friend who is already in Germany to transfer the money for you. I asked a senior student in Germany to transfer the payment via Revolut and included my student ID number (Matrikelnummer) in the reference.

Note ⁴: After receiving the Registration Confirmation Email, you can access more features in TUMonline and obtain your TUM ID.

Go to: TUMonline → Admission → Documents to download your Certificate of Enrollment.

As for course registration, you can wait until late March to handle it.

Note ⁵: You can consider booking your flight as soon as you receive the Admission Letter. However, I chose to purchase my ticket only after receiving my visa, which felt like a safer option.

📍 Housing Payment & Revolut Setup (Starting February 2025)

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After completing registration and securing the visa, the final countdown before departure begins. During this period, students will gradually receive dormitory allocation notices and confirm rent and deposit details. Once a German address is available, it is also possible to start setting up essential tools for daily life, such as online banking (e.g., Revolut).

Below is a timeline of the tasks I handled between February and March before departure.

Note ¹: The dormitory confirmation email does not always include detailed room information. I didn’t know the room type until I actually moved in. In my case, I was assigned to an 8-person WG (shared kitchen) with a private bathroom. The room was furnished with a bed, mattress, desk, chair, and wardrobe.

The Service Package included a sleeping bag, pillow, pillowcase, and bedsheet. Only an Ethernet port was provided in the room, so it is recommended to bring an Ethernet cable and a Wi-Fi router. 👉 Exchange Student Packing List

Note ²: The monthly rent was €391.5, with a €430 deposit. A total of three months’ rent plus the deposit had to be paid upfront, amounting to €1604.5.

Note ³: Revolut is commonly used as a digital banking solution in Germany. Opening an account requires completing a video identity verification and providing a German address and a valid visa.

Note ⁴: I flew with Emirates and had an approximately 10-hour layover in Dubai. For those wishing to enter the UAE during transit, a 48-hour transit visa can be applied for through the airline’s website within one month before departure. I applied and received approval on the same day. The fee was $24.92 USD.

For a detailed application guide, refer to: this article.

Note ⁵: In Germany, residence registration (Anmeldung) must officially be completed within two weeks of arrival. However, the required document is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation of residence), not the Tenancy Agreement. This document can only be obtained after moving in.

If arriving early while the lease starts later (e.g., April 1), registration cannot be completed immediately. In practice, this situation does not typically result in penalties. Since appointment slots are limited, it is advisable to book a registration appointment online one to two weeks before moving into the dormitory.

📎 Additional Reminders (Fraenk Mobile Plan Recommendation)

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Having reliable internet access abroad is extremely important. I initially purchased a European travel eSIM and only applied for a local German mobile plan after arriving in Germany. Later, however, I realized that as long as you have a Revolut account, you can actually apply for a German mobile plan directly — which means you could (most likely) complete the application before departure.

I recommend using Fraenk, a convenient and affordable German mobile service. The entire process is handled through the app — there’s no need to visit a physical store, and everything can be completed online:

• The Fraenk app must be downloaded from the German App Store (it’s recommended to create a German Apple ID or switch your App Store region).
• Although the interface is in German, the process is intuitive and can be completed by following online tutorials.
• Fraenk supports roaming in most European countries, which is especially convenient for exchange students who plan to use their study period as a chance to travel around Europe.

💡 When signing up, you can enter my referral code: YUNF5. Both of us will receive an extra 5GB of data per month, which makes the plan even more cost-effective.

Finally, there are a few additional small but practical preparations worth taking care of in advance to avoid last-minute stress:

• Prepare an international credit card (a dual-currency card is recommended).
• Exchange some euros in cash (at least €300 is advisable; after receiving your physical Revolut card in Germany, you can withdraw more if needed).
• Apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you plan to drive while traveling in Europe.

Although these may not be part of the “main quest” in the application process, they can make your exchange journey much smoother and more reassuring.