A warm welcome to Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences!
This overview page is intended to provide you with information on (a) the position of the university on the Ukraine conflict, (b) options for university admission, primarily for students, (c) the contact persons responsible for your situation, and (d) support services. Please note that this page will be updated continuously.
(a) Position
Schmalkalden University condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine and is concerned about the people affected by it. Special attention goes to the members of our five Ukrainian partner universities. The position of the university was expressed by its president, Prof. Dr. Gundolf Baier, in a press release, and by the University of Applied Sciences in a resolution on the war in Ukraine. In line with this and endorsing the so-called "Lübeck Declaration" from March 2022, Schmalkalden University offers counselling and support services, for which this page is intended to provide initial orientation.
(b) Types of admission
Schmalkalden University offers short-term admissions for Ukrainian students. There are basically two possible options for admission, which are shown in the diagram below:
University admission is sought at short notice due to the war in Ukraine |
Exchange Programme |
Degree Seeking Programme |
Schmalkalden University accepts students from Ukrainian universities with immediate effect from the summer semester 2022. These students may attend courses offered in the exchange programme for the duration of one or two semesters and, if necessary, credits may be transferred to their home universities at a later point in time. For this purpose, students will be enrolled as "exchange students", which is why the following prerequisites must be fulfilled: (a) university entrance qualification, (b) proof of health insurance or exemption, (c) proof of enrolment at the home university and (d) payment of the semester fee (approx. 130,00 €). Should individual documents not be available at the time of application due to the war, a solution will be found. |
Schmalkalden University accepts students to continue their studies here. A degree can be sought and, under circumstances, credits may be transferred. Please note that most Bachelor programmes are offered in German (with the exception of International Business and Economics). Furthermore, there are German and English-language Master programmes for which additional requirements apply. For this purpose, students will be enrolled as "degree seekers", which is why the following requirements in particular must be met: (a) university entrance qualification, (b) proof of health insurance or exemption, (c) separate proof of the language of instruction and (d) payment of the semester fee (approx. 130,00 €). Should individual documents not be available at the time of application due to the war, a solution will be found. |
Should you have any questions about the admission types and their requirements, please consult the contact persons listed below at any time. If you are a teacher or research member of one of our partner universities, please also refer to the contact persons mentioned below.
(c) Contact persons
Admission to Schmalkalden University Please choose your preferred type of admission from the list above. Then, please register your planned arrival via "ukraine@hs-schmalkalden.de". The Department "Studies and International Relations" will then contact you and advise you on the admission formalities. |
Arriving as a student |
Arriving as a student |
Arriving as a student |
If you wish to be admitted to Schmalkalden University at short notice due to the current situation in Ukraine, however not as a refugee but as a regular student, Schmalkalden University can provide you with advice on your personal living conditions including suitable accommodation; as a rule, you will be required to finance your stay on your side. Please contact "ukraine@hs-schmalkalden.de" for more information. Please note that you have to register at the Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde). |
If you are seeking short-term admission to Schmalkalden University due to the current situation in Ukraine and on the grounds of a refugee situation, this will give you further rights, obligations and responsibilities. In this case, please register at the responsible Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde) and request a so-called “Fiktionsbescheinigung”. If you are enrolled as an exchange student, please also register with the Job Centre. They will check whether you are eligible for benefits to secure your livelihood, accommodation costs, ect. in accordance with SGB II. |
If you are seeking short-term admission to Schmalkalden University due to the current situation in Ukraine and on the grounds of a refugee situation, this will give you further rights, obligations and responsibilities. In this case, please register with the Foreigners’ Office and request a so-called “Fiktionsbescheinigung”. If you are enrolled as a degree-seeking student, please also contact the BAföG office. They will check whether you are eligible for BAföG in accordance to § 24 of the Residence Act. |
Thus, direct contacts are the Ausländerbehörde Schmalkalden-Meiningen (Foreigners’ Office), the Jobcenter Schmalkalden-Meiningen (Job Centre) and the BAföG-Beratung des Studierendenwerks (BAföG office) in Schmalkalden. If you have any questions about the necessary official procedures and the application process, you can also contact ukraine(at)hs-schmalkalden.de at any time; consultation can also be provided in Ukrainian.
(d) Financing and Support
Schmalkalden University supports Ukrainian incoming students within the framework of its counselling services and financially through the third-party and mobility funds available to them, as well as in cooperation with the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences (Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der Hochschule Schmalkalden e.V.).
If you have a financing need, the following options come into question depending on your situation:
Exchange Students |
Degree Seeking Students |
If you want to enrol as an exchange student and are not aiming to obtain a degree at SUAS, you are not eligible for BAföG. Instead, you can apply for benefits according to SGB II at the Job Centre. |
If you intend to enrol and graduate from SUAS, you will no longer be entitled to benefits under SGB II. Nevertheless, you can now apply for BAföG in accordance with §24 of the Residence Act. |
The following links may be helpful for you; we are also gradually expanding this list:
If you live in Schmalkalden and would like to volunteer or offer accommodation yourself, the responsible District Office will register your intent. If you are studying at Schmalkalden and would like to volunteer locally, the Department “Studies and International Relations” will register your intent.