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New Student FAQ for Fall 2024

New Student FAQ for Fall 2024
General

Classes will begin on Monday, September 2.

The "Freshie Journey" (orientation) will have both online and in-person components, and there will be different modules and events for undergraduate, graduate, and online students. 

By the beginning of August, you will receive login credentials for Campus Net (as long as you have submitted your study contract) and instructions on how to access the online portion of the Freshie Journey. There will be a number of online modules that provide you practical information on topics such as using your campus card and semester ticket, registering for classes, living in a multicultural environment, banking and insurance in Germany, and more. There will also be live Q&A sessions each Friday in August at 3 PM CEST.

Once you arrive in Bremen, during the week of Aug. 26th, there will be a number of in-person orientation events such as tours, residential college meetings, social activities, and more. 

You will be able to find more information and the schedule (TBP) on the Freshie Journey website.

Course registration opens on August 24. Students will receive their Campus Net login credentials by July 31, and the Freshie Journey will contain a module about course registration.

Arrival

We are excited to welcome you to Constructor University!

 

Early Arrival Days: Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25

Main Arrival Day: Monday, August 26

 

Check-in Day is August 26! We will welcome you at "Welcome Street" in our Sports and Convention Center (SCC) on this day, 8 AM - 6 PM (CEST). There will be signs and Peer Mentors directing you to the SCC. 

Early arrival can take place on August 24 & 25, but you will simply receive your room keys from our front gate security office on these days. Please note that check-in and in-person orientation will not begin until the 26th. You also will not receive your Campus Card to pay for meals until August 26, so you will need to get meal vouchers from the security office or pay with a debit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard) for meals on campus before then.

If you need to arrive outside of the "Welcome Street" open hours (8 AM - 6 PM) on the 26th or after the 26th, you can get your room keys from the security office (just inside the main gate). Be sure to visit the offices below as well during open hours: 

  • Student Service Center (RLH, Room 102 and 103), Mon-Fri 10 AM - 2 PM: Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are recommended (schedule here). Here you will receive your enrollment confirmation and semester ticket.
  • Housing (RLH, Room 104), Mon-Thu 10 AM - 12 PM & 1 - 3 PM: Here you will sign your rental contract, receive your campus card and register your campus address with the city of Bremen.

Campus Map

We certainly understand that many students will not be able to arrive during the official arrival period. 

You will be able to get your room keys from our security office (24-7), just inside the main gate. You can then visit the necessary offices during their open hours (see above).

August 24 is the earliest we can accommodate new students. If you would like to come to Bremen before that date, you will need to arrange your own off-campus accommodations. 

Incoming students will receive an Arrival Questionnaire via email during the month of July. Please fill that out once you book your travel, so that we know when to expect you in Bremen and when you'll be arriving on our campus.  If your travel plans change, please fill it out again. 

You can find directions to campus here

We will offer a shuttle service from the Bremen Airport to the Constructor University campus on Monday, August 26 (Timespan TBD based on the Arrival Questionnaire). Look for the Constructor University welcome desk outside international arrivals. From there, we will direct you to the bus with the Constructor University sign in the window.

On August 26, we will have signs and Peer Mentors at the front gate directing you to "Welcome Street" at our Sports and Convention Center (SCC). There you will check in with our Student Service Center, sign your housing contract, and get your room keys. If you arrive early (August 24-25), you should go to our security office immediately on the right as you enter the campus main gate. Our security personnel will provide you with your room key and direct you to your college room.

Campus Map

We know your family members may want to ensure you arrive safe and sound to your new home away from home, so we welcome them onto the Constructor campus to help you get settled and to tour our facilities.

Please note that parents will need to book accommodations off campus if they wish to stay in Bremen overnight.

Whether or not your parents come with you, we will have student assistants ready to assist you with your move-in.

 

Remember to bring your:

✓ Color copy of your passport
✓ Certified copy of your final transcript + diploma
Enrollment Confirmation Letter with accompanying Airline Letter (Airline Letter is only for students who come from non-visa countries; available in the app portal)
✓ Other documents you may need for e.g. residence permit, health insurance, bank account, etc.

The Airline Letter (if applicable) states that a return ticket within 3 months is not required. You may need to give this to your airline.

You can find a recommended packing list here.

Upon your arrival in the European Union (be it Germany or another country), please keep the following in mind:

Cash amount of 10 000 Euro or more 
If you bring more than 10 000 Euro (or equivalent in other currencies, bonds, shares or travellers’ cheques or other valuables) in cash, you need to declare it at customs. Usually, you will be required to file a declaration form before entry. You can request this declaration form from the airline staff or before clearing customs after landing. Failure to declare the cash may result in confiscation of your assets. We suggest not bringing large sums of cash, unless absolutely necessary (e.g. if this is a condition to your visa approval).

Bringing Brand-New Packed Goods
Be it your laptop or a fancy camera or the PS5, please refrain from bringing goods in their original package as they may be considered imports instead of personal items. In this case, you will be required to pay the VAT (20% in Germany). The goods may be seized by customs until you pay the VAT. Therefore, consider bringing such items unpacked.

Completing application and enrollment requirements

Students need to register for valid health insurance before arriving in Germany. If you require a visa to study in Germany, you will need proof of registration before the visa appointment. For information on your options, see here.

You can find information and links to apply here and in your app portal.

A few weeks after you receive confirmation that the university has received your enrollment deposit, you will receive an email from DocuSign requesting that you review and sign your study contract.

We're hopeful that all students will receive their visas in time to come to Bremen and start their classes on September 2. 

At the latest, students should plan to be on campus and start their classes by September 16 (course add/drop deadline).

 

If you were admitted to Constructor University for Fall 2024 without submitting SAT or ACT scores and you require standardized test scores for enrollment, you should take the earliest SAT or ACT available in your region and submit your scores (upload to the app portal or send to admission@constructor.university). Alternatively, students can come to Bremen, begin classes at Constructor University on September 2, and then take an on-campus SAT in October or November. You will need to pay for the exam, but the university will offer free test preparation to ensure you do well.