Support for international and refugee students

Studying in Germany

As a rule, refugees are allowed to study at German universities. Normally, if you meet the requirements for admission to the study program you are interested in and your legal status is fully recognized (entitled to asylum, granted refugee protection etc.), you won’t encounter any problems in accessing the higher education system.

If you are not sure whether your previous studies can be recognized in Germany, the official websites of the DAAD and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research provide information on this and other general matters:

• https://www.daad-ukraine.org/en/
• https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/en/news/information-for-refugees-from-ukraine.html

The StudierendenWERK Berlin has a special counseling service for those interested in studying at one of Berlin's universities. You can contact them by e-mail or telephone and make an appointment to explain your personal case and clarify very specific questions:

• https://www.stw.berlin/en/international/refugees/koordinierungsstelle.html

For information on registration, residence permits, study and scholarships opportunities in the city of Berlin please visit:

• https://www.berlin.de/ukraine/en/arrive/
• https://www.berlin.de/sen/wissenschaft/en/policy/artikel.711405.en.php

Information on the current status of residence permits under § 24 Absatz 1 AufentG for refugees from Ukraine (February 2024)

Residence permits for temporary protection that are still valid from February 1, 2024 will be automatically extended until March 4, 2025. These were granted to foreigners who entered Germany due to the war in Ukraine in accordance with Section §24 (1) of the Residence Act.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) has published a nationwide information sheet for the affected title holders in Ukrainian, English and Russian, which contains the most important information on the continued validity of residence permits: 

•     Infosheet in Ukrainian: https://www.mkjfgfi.nrw/system/files/media/document/file/g4u_aufenthaltserlaubnis_de2ua.pdf
•     Infosheet in Russian: https://www.mkjfgfi.nrw/system/files/media/document/file/g4u_aufenthaltserlaubnis_de2rudocx.pdf
•     Infosheet in English: https://www.mkjfgfi.nrw/system/files/media/document/file/g4u_aufenthaltserlaubnis_de2en.pdf

Ernst Busch University of Theatre Arts

Our institution has a long history of artistic training and production in Germany. With its exclusive focus on the theater arts and its own studio theater, the university provides outstanding training in the fields of acting, directing, and contemporary puppetry. The master's programs in dramaturgy, choreography, and Spiel &Objekt expand this offering and aim to develop new narrative forms and realize aesthetic experiments within the framework of interdisciplinary artistic research. Click here for more information:

·  Acting

·  Directing

·  Dramaturgy

·  Contemporary Puppetry

·  Spiel & Objekt

·  Choreography

Please note that, regardless of artistic talent, a prerequisite for application is having a good level of German. Some departments even demand a German C1 certificate. You will find specific information on the individual study programs, application deadlines and required documents in the links listed above.

The Ernst Busch is an international, inclusive educational institution where people from different countries and diverse cultural backgrounds study, teach and work together. It is our responsibility as a university community to provide a safe environment and ideal dialog spaces for all. We work continuously to develop networks with other Berlin universities, foundations and government representatives in order to offer support and integration opportunities to students, professors and artists at risk.

Once you have started your studies at our university, you will receive a lot of support from your fellow students and teachers. If you are not yet officially enrolled but would like us to advise you, we have special staff available to assist international students and refugees. Please don´t hesitate to contact us!