FAQ for international students
Last modification: 01.03.2022 / 2 p.m.
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I have a vaccination certificate that is not recognised in the EU. Will I still receive the OVGU passport?
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What should I do if I seriously suspect being infected with the Covid-19 disease or have been informed of a suspected case in my family, flat share, study or work?
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In which form will examinations take place for the summer semester 2022?
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Can I defer my admission to the following summer semester 2022?
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Where in Magdeburg can I get tested in order to shorten my mandatory quarantine time?
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What does quarantining entail?
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What can I do if during quarantine I experience any typical symptoms of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 such as coughing, fever, sneezing or new loss of taste or smell?
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Do I have to quarantine in Magdeburg or can I do that in another city in Germany?
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If I have a negative test result from my home country, will I still have to be quarantined for 10 days?
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Which vaccines will be accepted?
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Which rules apply if I have been vaccinated abroad with a non-EU-recognised vaccine?
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I would like to travel to Magdeburg, but I do not have a rental contract or the possibility to go into quarantine. What can I do?
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How can I get food during quarantine?
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My entry visa expires and I have not yet been able to travel to Germany. What can I do?
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My residence permit expires and I cannot come to the University of Magdeburg. What can I do?
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I want to renew my residence permit but I cannot book an appointment at the Foreigners’ Office in Magdeburg. What can I do?
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My embassy requires a personalised letter detailing mandatory presence in Magdeburg and a date until which I have to arrive in Magdeburg. Whom can I contact?
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My embassy requires a letter confirming my knowledge of German or English. Who can I talk to?
Yes, at OVGU we recognise the certificate. The prerequisite for this is that you have official proof in English (e.g. yellow WHO passport). If this is not possible, please contact the International Office.
Please contact the public health authorities in Magdeburg (Tel. 0391 540-6001), the hotlie 116117 or your family doctor and make an appointment for a test. As long as you are waiting for the test result, you must remain in domestic self-isolation. If the test result is positive, you must follow the instructions of the public health authorities. You should also inform the university about your test result, the quarantine instructions, and your last contact persons by sending an email to .
Due to the rapidly changing situation of the pandemic, it is not yet possible to make any statements on the realisation of exams. Please check your student email account regularly. If you have questions regarding the exam, please contact your teacher or the examination office directly.
You can postpone your admission to free-admission programmes until the next winter semester 2022/23, if the programme starts in the winter semester. Please contact by 15 July 2022 at the latest! The new admission letters will be sent out beginning on 15 May 2022.
For the admission-restricted degree programmes "International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship" (IMME) and "Operations Research and Business Analytics" (ORBA), submit an informal application by 15 June 2022 to with an updated letter of motivation. Please note that your application will participate in the selection process again and that a new admission cannot be guaranteed.
For scheduling an antigen test or a PCR-test students can contact
- the “Fieberambulanz”
Schedule an appointment via phone: 0171 3734288 or online
Address: University Clinic, Leipziger Straße 44, Building 59, 39120 Magdeburg
Opening hours:- Monday to Wednesday and Fridays: 7 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 7 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- the Corona-Schnelltest-Zentrum
Schedule an appointment via phone 0391/28896317 or online
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or by individual appointment
Address: Herderstr. 29, 39108 Magdeburg - the Corona Antigen Schnelltest Zentrum, Allee Center Magdeburg
Schedule an appointment online
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - or got to any of the various rapid test centres in the city, for example in pharmacies
You may not leave your apartment or room. Persons who live with you in your flat/room are not allowed to leave the flat either. They are not allowed to receive visitors. You'll find more information here.
If during your quarantine you experience any typical symptoms of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 such as coughing, fever, sneezing or new loss of taste or smell, you must contact the public health authorities immediately.
Hotline: 0391 540 2000 (Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-3.00 p.m.)
Email:
Fieberambulanz (Fever Centre), Brandenburger Str. 8
Register with the public health authorities (hotline see above) or use the appointment service hotline 0391 73740950
Opening hours:
- Monday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Yes, you can self-isolate in another German city. Please contact the public health department in the city where you are conducting the quarantine.
If you are not vaccinated and travel to Germany from a high risk area, you can end the mandatory quarantine after 5 days by producing a negative test result. Both rapid antigen test (no older than 48 hours) and PCR-tests (no older then 72 hours) are eligible. Travellers from a virus-mutation area must quarantine for 14 days without exceptions.
For scheduling a PCR-test or an rapid antigen test students can contact
- the “Fieberambulanz”
Schedule an appointment via phone: 0171 3734288 or online
Address: University Clinic, Leipziger Straße 44, Building 59, 39120 Magdeburg
Opening hours:- Monday to Wednesday and Fridays: 7 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 7 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- the Corona-Schnelltest-Zentrum
Schedule an appointment via phone 0391/28896317 or online
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or by individual appointment
Address: Herderstr. 29, 39108 Magdeburg - the Corona Antigen Schnelltest Zentrum, Allee Center Magdeburg
Schedule an appointment online
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - or got to any of the various rapid test centres in the city, for example in pharmacies
A vaccination process against SARS-CoV-2 will be considered complete once the following criteria are met:
- The proof of vaccination must include the following data:
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The personal data of the person vaccinated (at least surname, first name and date of birth or passport/ID card number).
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Date of vaccination, number of vaccinations,
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Name of the vaccine,
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Name of the disease against which vaccination was given, and
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Characteristics that indicate the person or institution responsible for carrying out the protective vaccination or issuing the certificate, for example an official symbol or the name of the issuer.
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- the vaccine appears on the list of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, and
- a) the respective required number of doses for complete protection as indicated on the list of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut has been administered and at least 14 days have passed since the administration of the last required vaccination dose,
- or b) the one required dose has been administered to a recovered person.
- You can find a list of vaccines' names abroad on this website.
I am travelling to Germany from abroad and was vaccinated with a vaccine that is not recognised by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.
Can I get tested free of charge?
Yes, all rapid antigen tests at pharmacies and test centres are free of charge.
You can also use the university's test centre in building 5, room 122 (by appointment only).
Will I have to be vaccinated a second time?
In their Epidemiological Bulletin 38, the STIKO (Permanent Vaccination Committee of Germany) advises these students to start a new vaccination process. This second process might cause stronger side effects due to the previously received vaccine.
"According to current law and vaccination recommendations depending on age, people who have been vaccinated abroad with a COVID-19 vaccine that is not recognised in the EU will need to undergo a new vaccination series in order to achieve the status of "vaccinated" in the EU. In these cases, the person to be vaccinated must be made aware of the fact that stronger local and systemic reactions might be caused. The medical staff distributing the vaccine are asked to actively check for stronger reactions and to report them to the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut if applicable." (Original: "Personen, die im Ausland bereits mit nicht in der EU zugelassenen COVID-19-Impfstoffen geimpft wurden, benötigen gemäß aktueller Rechtslage und unter Berücksichtigung der altersentsprechenden Impfempfehlungen eine erneute Impfserie, um in der EU den Status als Geimpfte zu erlangen. In solchen Fällen sollen die zu impfenden Personen darauf hingewiesen werden, dass vermehrte lokale und systemische Reaktionen auftreten können. Die impfenden ÄrztInnen werden gebeten, auf das Auftreten verstärkter Impfreaktionen aktiv zu achten und diese ggf. an das Paul-Ehrlich-Institut zu melden.")
Please contact the Studentenwerk Magdeburg and sign a rental contract for the quarantine period. During the quarantine period you will be provided with food by the dormitory tutors of the Studentenwerk Magdeburg. You have to pay for accommodation and food yourself. Please keep cash on hand for the delivery of food. You can contact the following email for information about accommodation after the quarantine.
If you have to take care of the food supply yourself, you can use Edeka4. They deliver basic grocery needs which you can pay by card or cash. The charge 5€ for delivery. Additionally, Lieferandoprovides delivery options for many restaurants offering various food styles.
If you have not yet been able to travel to Germany, please contact the German Embassy / the German Consulate in order to apply for a new visa.
Please contact the German Embassy / the German Consulate in order to apply for a new visa.
Please apply for the renewal of your residence permit via email preferably 8 weeks before your current permit expires. You must send the application for a temporary residence permit and all necessary documents via post to:
Landeshauptstadt Magdeburg
Ordnungsamt & Bürgerservice
Ausländerbehörde
Breiter Weg 222
39090 Magdeburg
or use the letter box at the Bürgerbüro. In case of mandatory deadlines, you can also send your application for the renewal of your residence permit via email to
Proof of compulsory attendance is not required, as higher education institutions regularly hold a mixture of online and face-to-face events. Allo, all admission letters sent out by OVGU contain a note on compulsory attendance.