Student Services
Bucerius Law School is committed to providing its students with the highest possible level of administrative support.
International Office
We are your experts in all matters regarding study abroad and international exchange. We will support before and during your time at Bucerius, so you can concentrate on making the best of your experience in Hamburg.
Practical issues
With your admission to one of the programs, you will receive a personal log in to access Bucerius’ intranet. There you will find extensive information on all academic and administrative matters.
Below we have gathered some administrative information on things you should think about before coming to Bucerius.
Finding a place to live in Hamburg
Bucerius does not have any on-campus or dormitory housing of its own. However, the campus is easily accessible by public transportation and the International Office actively assists you in finding suitable accommodation.
General Information
- Bucerius does not have its own residence halls
- The campus is centrally-located and easily accessible by public transport
- Short-term housing is difficult to find and prices are high
- Prices depend on size and location, they can range from EUR 500 for a room in a shared apartment to EUR 1,800 for a studio in a popular neighborhood
- We recommend that students search for shared apartments together (a LinkedIn group to connect will be set up)
- After admission, students will be given access to the Bucerius International intranet with further information about the Hamburg housing market, such as neighborhood information, useful websites, rental agencies etc.
- For information about the different neighborhoods, check out our "Living in Hamburg" section
Student Residence Halls
- For the exchange program, there is a limited number of rooms available in a residence hall
- Unfortunately, there are no residence hall rooms available for summer program participants due to the short duration of the program
Subletting from Bucerius students
- In the fall term, students are encouraged to swap their apartments with a Bucerius student who is going to spend their study abroad semester at the student's home university. They may also sublet without swapping their apartments.
- In the summer, there may be additional sublet offers from the Bucerius community.
Exploring Hamburg and its surroundings
The International Office organizes extracurricular activities for both the exchange and summer programs.
Something for everybody
Explore Hamburg together with the International Office! We organize trips to museums, medieval towns close to Hamburg, networking events on campus etc.
However, everyone should reserve some extra time to explore Hamburg on their own, too. Hamburg has something for everyone:
- Explore art and historical museums
- Allow yourself to be scared in the "Hamburg Dungeon"
- See the world in the "Miniatur Wunderland"
- Hone your German skills by going to the theater (or check out the English-language theaters)
- Dance the night away on the (in)famous Reeperbahn
- Go for a walk in beautiful neighborhoods such as the "Treppenviertel" in Blankenese
- Bury your feet in the sand at Hamburg's very own beach along the Elbe River
- Kayak or sail on the Alster Lake in the center of town
- Cheer on a club at a sports match
- Let your mind wander in one of the many parks and green spaces
- And let us know what else you found!
For some general background information about living in Hamburg, check out our "Living in Hamburg" section.
Walkable
"The transportation system is not too crowded, it's easy to walk anywhere in the city and it's more affordable than Chicago. It has been an excellent place to spend a few months immersing in a new culture and furthering my education."
Impressive
"I was really impressed with the variety of shops, restaurants, bars, and nightlife. I came to Germany because I love techno, and I was really impressed with the scene in Hamburg.The people were also very open and respectful."
Enjoyable
"Hamburg has the great advantage of being a big city but still very calm and quiet in most of its neighborhoods without necessarily being less lively or energetic, which makes it perfect for a balanced but still fun and enjoyable university life."
Getting around the city
Hamburg has an excellent public transport system (HVV) which means that you will not need a car to get around.
HVV Ticket
Exchange Program
- students receive a free student public transportation ticket
Summer Program
- students should purchase weekly tickets
Tickets are valid for the subway, some regional trains, buses and some commuter ferries
For more information on public transit, visit: HVV Website.
Hamburg by bike
- StadtRAD (City Bike), a bike-for-hire network that covers the whole inner-city area.
- Renting stations around the city
- 30 minutes free of charge, then you pay by the minute
- or rent a bike for a whole day
Comfortable
"Hamburg has an amazing integrated public transport service. Although I was living quite far from Campus, I had no problem arriving to classes on time by taking the bus and the metro with a monthly ticket, in a very comfortable journey. Walking or taking the public transport at any time feels safe."
Who needs a visa?
Check with the German mission in your home country if you need a visa to study in Germany.
* Details and all necessary forms will be available on the Bucerius intranet in May*
EU Students
- No visa necessary
Non-EU Students
- Most countries: entry visa must be granted by the German embassy/consulate
- Some countries: can enter Germany without a visa, must apply for a residence permit after arrival
* We strongly recommend that ALL students apply for a visa to prevent having to apply for a residence permit after arrival.
Entry Visa
- Apply as early as possible as processing can take several months
- The visa should be issued for 6 months, if possible
Visa Extension/ Residence Permit
- Students who can enter Germany without a visa and students whose visa is valid for 3 months must apply for an extension/residence permit
- The International Office provides information about this on the intranet and during orientation
Banking
- Students who require a visa may be asked by the German embassy/consulate to to open a blocked bank account
- Amount required: approx. EUR 3500 to prove you can cover your expenses
- This is a VERY FRUGAL budget, we STRONGLY recommend you consider our cost estimate as a better guideline as Hamburg is a very expensive city
Insurance
Exchange Program
- proof of health insurance is required for enrollment at Bucerius and your visa
- we strongly recommend buying German health insurance as international insurances can often not be accepted for enrollment
- students can purchase insurance through Bucerius
- detailed information will be available on the Bucerius intranet in May
- EU students can use their home country insurance
Summer Programs
- health insurance will be required if you need a visa
- for all others having travel health insurance is strongly recommended
Supportive
"Impeccable. It was not my first experience abroad but the support of the International Office was incomparable to anyone else."
Accompanying spouse
"My situation was a bit different than a typical student because my wife joined me for the semester. The team were extremely helpful and responsive leading up to our arrival. I felt very well prepared."
Information
"The information received was useful, timely and appropriate. The International Office team was always open to offer additional information and guidance."
International students welcome
Bucerius Law School grants all international students the same rights as German or EU students and offers all the services and assistance required by the National Code of Conduct on Foreign Students at German Universities.
