Practical guidelines regarding refugees at university

24. October 2016

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) and German Rectors' Conference (HRK) jointly published guidelines on "University Access and Studies for Refugees Students" for university and student services employees.    
 

More and more refugees have a desire to study in Germany, thus confronting universities and student services organisations with new challenges. Despite their many years of experience in the integration of international students, the refugee target group presents them with specific questions:
What regulations imposed by asylum and residence policy apply to refugees wishing to take up studies? What needs to be taken into account when admitting and enrolling refugees? What study support options are available to refugees? Are there support services that traumatised refugees can use?

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) and German Rectors' Conference (HRK) have compiled the answers in an information document, with the assistance of the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration (SVR). It is now available to university and student service organisations staff for download on the websites of the participating associations and organisations. "The excellent cooperation between all participating organisations has resulted in the compilation of these guidelines, which offer on-site university and student services staff comprehensive and effective assistance in all matters regarding refugees' studies," says Dr Uta Dauke, Vice-President of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

In a practical manner, the document highlights the consecutive steps that refugees pass through during their integration into higher education, starting with the student advisory services and culminating in the degree course itself. All essential regulations imposed by higher education, labour and social policy are clarified and sources of further information are referred to. The guidelines are therefore an important tool that supports universities and student services in advising refugees who wish to take up or resume higher education.

In spite of the challenges posed by the integration of refugees in universities and student services, the following prospects are at the forefront for the participating organisations: The taking up and successful completion of a degree course helps refugees gain a foothold in society and the labour market, while Germany fundamentally benefits from well-qualified graduates.

The guidelines (available in German only) can be viewed at www.bamf.de/hochschulzugang,
as well as on all websites of the participating organisations

Your point of contact for press enquiries:

Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
Andrea Brinkmann
Press Officer
Frankenstr. 201, 90461 Nürnberg
Tel.: +49 (0) 911 943-4646
E-mail: pressestelle[at]bamf.bund.de

Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK)
Torsten Heil
Press Officer
Taubenstr. 10, 10117 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 25418-462
E-mail: torsten.heil[at]kmk.org

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Anke Sobieraj
Head of Press Relations
Kennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn
Tel.: +49 (0) 228 882-454
E-mail: presse[at]daad.de

German Rectors' Conference (HRK)
Susanne Schilden
Head of Press and Communications
Office
Ahrstr. 39, 53175 Bonn
Tel.: +49 (0) 228 887-152
E-mail: schilden[at]hrk.de

German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW)
Stefan Grob
Head of Unit Press
Monbijouplatz 11, 10178 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 297727-20
E-mail: stefan.grob[at]studentenwerke.de
   
Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration (SVR)
Sabine Schwebel 
Communication
Neue Promenade 6, 10178 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 2888659-29
E-mail: schwebel[at]svr-migration.de