Frequently Asked Questions
Your Application
Bachelor thesis opportunities at GEOMAR?
We also provide Bachelor thesis spots to external students. Please take a look at the research groups in the research department 3 “Marine Ecology” or research department 2 "Marine Biogeochemistry" and contact the respective group leaders to ask for any ongoing projects.
Academic documents in local language?
Documents in languages other than English and German must be submitted as official, notarized translations.
Preliminary grade does not match the 2.5 threshold?
We may consider your application even if your preliminary grade average is below 2.5 in the German grading system. This can be the case if your exams for the respective term(s) have noch been graded yet. However, the preliminary grade must be 2.5 or better in order for you to enroll at CAU Kiel. Please contact us about your individual case.
Is it possible to defer the admission to the following year?
Yes, it is possible to defer the admission for one year. Candidates who want to defer their admission must apply for an extension and must not enrol for the year they were originally accepted into. Please inform the administrative study coordinator and contact the International Office at CAU Kiel.
Do I need a visa?
Students from outside the EU will generally need a student visa to study in Germany. Please make sure to plan ahead as much as you can in order to make an appointment with the respective embassy or consulate and to learn about the documentation you need to provide. You can use the information gathered by My German University or Study in Germany as starting points for your research.
Are scholarships available?
Unfortunately, Kiel University or GEOMAR do not offer any scholarhips. Please take a look at the DAAD database to see if any of their programs fit your profile. If you decide to apply for a DAAD scholarship we might be able to put you in contact with current scholarship holders in our program. Feel free to reach out to us.
Accommodation and Housing in Kiel?
Please take a look at the information provided by the International Center at Kiel University and the Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein for more information on different housing options.
International Student Associations?
Please take a look at the information assembled by the International Center.
Councelling in case of need?
Never hesitate to seek advice or councelling if you feel the need to. Here is a list of contacts and advisory services provided by the International Center.
At GEOMAR, we have an elected equal opportunities officer, you may also contact if there are any issues you would like to talk about.