3 The Program of - GPE Global Production Engineering - TU Berlin

Technische Universität Berlin 

Global Production Engineering (GPE) 

GPE Guide 2007 

Global Production Engineering 

Guide 

Intake 2007 

August 2007 1




Hi to all new GPE Students! 

The GPE-Coordination welcomes you warmly to the Technische Universität Berlin, TUB. We 

wish you successful studies and a pleasant time in Berlin. 

The GPE-Guide has been created to support all attending students of the GPE-Program and 

contains important information, which we hope will enable you to carefully prepare yourself for 

your studies in Germany. 

Students participating in the GPE-Program at the TUB will have to take care of several 

important matters. The most important document to bring with you is: 

• a valid visa, which you need to ask for prior to setting out for Berlin 

(“Studienbewerbervisum”) 

In addition to this, you will have to deal with a number of administrative matters upon arriving 

in Berlin, e. g, 

• finding a room or an apartment if it was not organized by the GPE coordination office 

for you 

• a residence registration (polizeiliche Anmeldung) 

• a registration at the TUB (Immatrikulation) 

• a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) 

We hope this guide will help you to have a comfortable and pleasant start at the TUB. 

Please read this Guide carefully prior to your journey to Berlin. 

The guide is structured chronologically so that you can refer to it according to the episode of 

studies you are in. 

Phone and Fax numbers 

Phone and fax numbers in this guide sometimes are Berlin local numbers (the numbers 

behind the slash ‘/’). 

• When calling from a telephone in Berlin, you only have to dial the local number 

without 030. 

• Instead when dialing with a mobile phone/cellular phone you have to add 030 before 

any number even when calling from Berlin. 

• From other German regions, you as well and always have to dial the area code for 

Berlin 030 before the local number. 

• From other countries, you have to dial the country code +49 plus the Berlin Code 

without 0: +49 30 ahead the local Berlin number. 

August 2007 2




CONTENTS 

1 GERMANY ........................................................................................................................................5 

2 TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN (TUB) ...........................................................................6 

2.1 GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................6 

2.2 EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ..............................................................................................................6 

2.3 STRUCTURE OF THE TUB ..........................................................................................................7 

2008/09 TO BE ANNOUNCED..................................................................................................................8 

2.4 AKADEMISCHES AUSLANDSAMT (AAA): INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION FOR TUB ......................8 

CHECK-IN ...............................................................................................................................................9 

2.5 IMMATRIKULATIONSAMT (REGISTRATION OFFICE) ..................................................................10 

2.6 PRODUKTIONSTECHNISCHES ZENTRUM BERLIN (PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY CENTER) ......10 

3 THE PROGRAM OF «GLOBAL PRODUCTION ENGINEERING (GPE)» ..........................11 

3.1 COORDINATION OF GPE..........................................................................................................11 

3.2 INTRODUCTORY EVENTS..........................................................................................................12 

3.3 SENIOR PROGRAM ...................................................................................................................13 

4 PREPARATION BEFORE DEPARTURE..................................................................................14 

4.1 STUDY VISA..............................................................................................................................14 

4.2 ACCOMMODATION ....................................................................................................................15 

4.3 TRANSFER OF HEALTH INSURANCE.........................................................................................16 

4.4 MONEY .....................................................................................................................................17 

4.5 FLIGHT......................................................................................................................................17 

5 PREPARATION UPON ARRIVAL ..............................................................................................18 

5.1 ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT........................................................................................................18 

5.2 SIGNING CONTRACT FOR ACCOMMODATION............................................................................18 

5.3 RESIDENCE REGISTRATION (POLIZEILICHE ANMELDUNG) ......................................................18 

5.4 FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION FORM FOR ADMISSION („ANTRAG AUF ZULASSUNG ZUM 

STUDIUM FÜR INTERNATIONALE STUDIERENDE, IMMATRIKULATION) ..................................................20 

5.5 BANK ACCOUNT FOR STUDENTS: STUDENT ACCOUNT (“STUDENTENKONTO”) .......................20 

5.6 HEALTH INSURANCE (KRANKENVERSICHERUNG)....................................................................21 

5.7 ADMINISTRATIVE FEES (IMMATRIKULATIONSGEBÜHREN)........................................................23 

5.8 REGISTRATION (IMMATRIKULATION) ........................................................................................23 

5.9 RESIDENCE PERMIT (AUFENTHALTSBEWILLIGUNG) ................................................................25 

6 STUDYING IN GERMANY ...........................................................................................................26 

6.1 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.......................................................................................................26 

6.2 CREDIT CARD FOR MEALS (GIRO-VEND-KARTE)...................................................................26 

6.3 MEALS ......................................................................................................................................27 

6.4 LIBRARIES.................................................................................................................................29 

6.5 COMPUTER ACCOUNT AT TUB................................................................................................30 

6.6 SPORT CLUBS..........................................................................................................................31 

7 GPE-PROGRAM ............................................................................................................................32 

7.1 BASICS .....................................................................................................................................32 

7.2 MODULES .................................................................................................................................33 

7.3 EXAMINATIONS .........................................................................................................................34 

7.4 WORKLOAD OF COURSES IN SWS AND ECTS .......................................................................34 

7.5 INTERNSHIP (PRAKTIKUM)........................................................................................................35 

7.6 MASTER THESIS.......................................................................................................................35 

7.7 ALUMNI (GRADUATES) .............................................................................................................35 

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8 APPENDIX ......................................................................................................................................37 

8.1 USEFUL LINKS..........................................................................................................................37 

8.2 ACCOMMODATION IN BERLIN ...................................................................................................37 

8.3 LIST OF BUILDINGS...................................................................................................................40 

MAP OF TU BERLIN..............................................................................................................................42 

August 2007 4




1 Germany 

Internet addresses, where you can get detailed information 

• about Germany: http://www.germany-tourism.de 

• about Berlin: http://www.berlin-tourism.de, www.berlin.de 

• about Technical University in Berlin http://www.tu-berlin.de 

• about GPE: www.gpe.tu-berlin.de 

Please note that even though the websites are in German you will always find an icon which 

you can switch to the English language. 

The time-system in Germany: 

Time in Germany is given in the 24-hour-system. 

So the AM time is according to the British system, but if you want to know the PM time you 

have to add 12, e.g., 4 PM is 4 + 12 = 16:00 h. 

In Germany accuracy and punctuality is very important. For example, if a course is set for 

8.00 am in the morning, it will start on time and it is not appropriate for students to arrive at 

8.15 am or even later. Please, try to adjust to this and be punctual for classes. 

On January 1 st 2002 the Euro (€) was introduced in most countries of the European 

Community. In Germany the Euro has replaced the Deutsche Mark (DM, German Mark) 

currency. 

August 2007 5




2 Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) 

2.1 General Information 


Straße des 17. Juni 135 

10623 Berlin (Charlottenburg) 

Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 0 

Homepage: http://www.tu-berlin.de 

By public transport: subway/underground station - Bahnhof Ernst-Reuter-Platz with 

undergroundline U2 or 

S-Bahnhof (suburban train station) Tiergarten 

The name of the Technische Universität Berlin means University of Technology Berlin. 

However, it used to be called Technical University Berlin in English. In compliance with 

German documents, we prefer to use the abbreviation TUB in this guide. 

Like almost all other universities in the Federal Republic of Germany the TUB is a public 

institution. Among the three Berlin universities (there are also the Freie Universität – FU and, 

in the former eastern Berlin, the Humboldt-Universität- HU) TUB is the largest and one of the 

oldest and most traditional of all technical universities in Germany. 

For more detailed information about TUB please visit http://www.tuberlin.de/eng/about_tu/index.html. 

2.2 Educational System 

The way of studying in Germany can be very different from the way of studying you have 

been used to in your home countries. 

It is very important to show a lot of initiative and to work in a self-determined way. 

You will be responsible for the management of your studies. The curriculum of GPE provides 

information about which subjects to take. In the information system of our website 

www.gpe.tu-berlin.de you can get the information, of which subjects have to be completed 

before taking an examination. But it is left to the students themselves to decide, when to 

complete the subjects or which alternative to chose. 

Lectures can be held for more than 30 students. Professors have more than one course so 

they often might not be familiar with their students. Rather, their scientific assistants are the 

people whom to talk to. Also, you will have exercises (Übungen) and classes with approx. 10- 

20 students, where a tutor repeats and deepens the subject of the lecture. Sometimes, there 

will be homework controlled by the tutors, but in the long run you have to get prepared on 

your own for tests and examinations. Of course, you can ask more experienced students or 

August 2007 6




go to the consultation hours of professors and/ or tutors. But do not forget: We will not leave 

you on your own. If you have any problems, you can also and always contact the GPE 

Office for help and advice. 

The traditional German educational system does not use the bachelor/master degree system 

that you are accustomed to. Unlike GPE (which is a true master program), a typical course of 

studies at the TUB is divided into a Grundstudium (basic studies) and a Hauptstudium (main 

studies). The purpose of the Grundstudium is the systematic introduction into the subject and 

the imparting of basic knowledge, whereas in the Hauptstudium, greater emphasis is put on 

exemplary learning and research-oriented teaching. Nevertheless, with the implementation of 

the Bologna Protocol from 1999, by 2010 the system of Master and Bachelor degrees will be 

introduced in Germany as well. 

2.3 Structure of the TUB 

The universities in Berlin are organized according to the principle of academic selfadministration. 

The main constituents of Germany’s university administration are: 

• the Academic Senate 

• the Council 

• the Board of Curators 

• the President 

The President is the Head of the University and is elected by the Council for a period of 

four years. 

The deans represent their faculty and deal with all matters of research and teaching. 

Departments and institutes autonomously organize: 

• their curricula 

• independent research projects 

• personnel planning and manpower budget 

Students are, of course, engaged in university politics, too. The official and most influential 

student organization is the Allgemeiner Studentenausschuss, ASTA (General Student 

Committee), which is usually formed by a coalition of several student parties. Apart from 

political activities, the ASTA offers a wide range of student services and activities, such as 

group travel for students, inexpensive movie screenings, a stationery shop and parties and 

events etc. 

August 2007 7




The faculties of the TUB: 

No. Name 

I Humanities 

II Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

III Process Sciences 

IV Electro Technology and Computer Sciences 

V Traffic and Machine Systems 

VI Civil Engineering and Applied Geo Sciences 

VII Architecture Environment Society 

VIII Economics and Management 

Academic Calendar 

(Attention: no instructions during official vacation) 

Semester Duration Period of 

lectures 

Summer Semester 1 April - 16 April - 

2007 

30 Sep 2007 21 July 2007 

Winter Semester 1 October 2007 - 15 October 2007 

2007/08 

31 March 2008 - 16 February 

2008 

Summer Semester 1 April - 14 April - 

2008 

30 Sep 2007 19 July 2007 

Calender for 2008/09: TBA 

Attention: GPE also offer additional courses in the semester breaks! 

Christmas 

break 

24 Dec. - 

06 Jan. 2007 

Link for detailed information: http://www.tu-berlin.de/eng/studying/termine.html 

2.4 Akademisches Auslandsamt (AAA): International Admission for TUB 

The Akademisches Auslandsamt (AAA) of the TUB is, among other things, responsible for 

international students’ affairs and the interests of those German or Germany-based students 

who wish to spend a period of their studies abroad. 

The AAA will support and assist you concerning all administrative, general and personal 

matters. In addition to the AAA, the coordination team of GPE in the Produktionstechnisches 

Zentrum Berlin, PTZ (Production Technology Center Berlin) and your senior student can 

also help you with matters concerning your studies. 

August 2007 8




For administrative purposes, it is important that the AAA always knows your current 

address in Berlin, which you should enter on our website as soon as you have arrived here. 

If you move during your stay in Berlin, please make sure to inform both the AAA and the 

Immatrikulationsamt (Registration Office) of your new address and keep your personal data 

on the database of our website updated. 

Akademisches Auslandsamt (AAA) 

Check-In 



10623 Berlin 

Main building of TUB, ground floor, room H39 

Janina Horoba, Michael Färber 

Office hours: Tue, Thu: 10:00 am – 04:00 pm; Mon: 10:00 am – 12:00 am 

Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 24695 

Fax: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 24067 

Email: infothek@tu-berlin.de 

During vacation 

Tue: 10:00 am – 03:00 pm 

Thu: 01:00 pm – 04:00 pm 

International Student Counseling room H 45, 

Nina Hunsicker, Thomas Brinkmann 

Office hours: Tue, Thu 02:00 – 04:00 pm 

Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 24696 

E-mail: exchange.programmes@tu-berlin.de 

http://www.tu-berlin.de/zuv/aaa/index.html 

Check-IN is a service of AAA. Tutors are available at the CHECK-IN desk for general 

questions. Specific matters can be discussed here with the appropriate officials. The CHECK- 

IN desk is located in the entry of the main building at the student service express. 

Opening Hours 

Mon, Thu, Fri: 09:30 am – 12:30 pm 

Tue: 01:00 pm – 03:00 pm 

Telephone Consultancy (dial 314-29999) 

Mon - Thu: 09:30 am – 04:00 pm 

Fri: 09:30 am – 01:30 pm 

August 2007 9




The responsible officials will be available personally during the consultation hours at the 

International Admission’s CHECK-IN. 

Automatic E-mail-service 

All important requests can be sent to the following e-mail address: 

international.admission@tu-berlin.de 

2.5 Immatrikulationsamt (Registration Office) 

Every German Student needs to go to Immatrikulationsamt in order to get registered as a 

student at TU Berlin. You will not need to go there for the fist registration in October (because 

AAA takes care of your first registration). Nevertheless it is important for you to know that all 

matters regarding your status as a student will be formally decided there. This office will be 

responsible to send you the letters for the follow up registration in the next semesters. So 

please make sure that Immatrikulationsamt always knows your current address. 

Immatrikulationsamt (Registration Office) 




Main building, ground floor, room H13/14 

Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 29999 

(Mon - Thu: 09:30 am – 04:00 pm, Fr: 09:30 am – 01:30 pm) 

Fax: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 22109 

Office hours: Mon, Thu, Fri 9:30 am – 12:30 am, Tue 01:00 am – 03:00 pm 

http://www.tu-berlin.de/studium/imma-amt.htm 

express@tu-berlin.de 

2.6 Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Berlin (Production Technology 

Center) 

The Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Berlin, PTZ is a building that hosts one institute from 

Fraunhofer Institut (the biggest research foundation in Germany) and one institute from the 

TUB called Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Fabrikbetrieb, IWF (Institute for Machine 

Tools and Factory Management). Most professors in GPE and also the GPE Coordination 

Office are located there, so this building will play a major role during your studies. It is located 

about 12 minutes walking time from central campus. 

August 2007 10




Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Berlin (PTZ) 


Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Fabrikbetrieb (IWF) 

TU Berlin 

PTZ 2 

Pascalstr. 8-9 


click here to see a map 

http://seth.kt.ipk.fhg.de/ptz/index.html 

By public transportation: 

� BUS 245 or 101 exit at 

Helmholtzstraße 

� or walk from S-Bahnhof Tiergarten 

3 The Program of «Global Production Engineering (GPE)» 

3.1 Coordination of GPE 

The coordination of GPE is carried out by the Department for Assembly Technology and 

Factory Management at PTZ. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Günther Seliger is both, the head of the 

department and the director of the program. The GPE Coordination Office is in the same 

department. Please contact the GPE Coordination Office for questions regarding organization 

of courses or other special documents as well as registration for exams or help with your 

applications for internships. 

GPE Coordination Office 


Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Berlin 

PTZ2 

Pascalstr. 8-9 

D-10587 Berlin 

Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 25041 / 79879 

Fax.: +49 (0)30 / 314 – 22759 

e-mail: info@gpe.tu-berlin.de 

Internet: http://www.gpe.tu-berlin.de 

Anneliese Ulrich (Administrative Officer), room 305 

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 10:00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Wed: 02:00 pm – 04:00 pm 

(anneliese.ulrich@mf.tu-berlin.de) 

Carsten Reise (Program Manager), room 306 

(carsten.reise@mf.tu-berlin.de) 

August 2007 11




3.2 Introductory Events 

GPE Coordination offers an introductory program for its students that helps to get familiar to 

the TUB environment. All important places of the TUB will be introduced to you for a better 

orientation. 

Monday, October 8 th , 

10:00 am Welcome speech and discussion with Prof. Seliger (small lecture hall, PTZ 

001, 

ground floor, at PTZ Building) 

11:15 am Meet the senior GPE students and the Program Manger (PTZ 001) 

11:15am Photo session with GPE photographer Mr. Misterek (PTZ 307) 

– 12:45pm 

01:00 pm Lunch at TU Mensa (dining hall) with seniors 

02:00 pm Guided tour to administrative offices at TU Berlin with Senior GPEstudents 

� Matriculation Office (room H 13/14) 

� International Office (Check-In and office for Visa extension H 51) 

� Coordination Office for students (H 2129/ H 2130) 

� Cash Office (H 2130) 

� “TUSMA“, job service for students 

� Nearest bank or cash point: Deutsche Bank near TEL-Building, Sparkasse in 

TU Mensa, Volksbank in main building next to the International Office 

� Volkswagen Library 

� Photo point for the Campus card in main building 

� Copy shops and copy facilities at Knesebeckstraße 

� Semesterticket Office (rooms H 2131-33) 

� Campus Card Office (H 01b) 

� ZRZ – get your wireless lan account 

� 

Tuesday, October 9 th , 

09:30 am Introduction of Modules in GPE (small lecture hall, PTZ 001, ground floor, at 

- 01:15 pm PTZ Building) 

� Lecturers 

� Contents 

� Examination type 

� Prerequisites 

01:30 pm Lunch with warm and cold buffet 

02:30 pm Information about GPE by the Program Manager (small lecture hall, PTZ 001, 

ground floor, at PTZ Building) 

05:00 pm Enrolment Party together with GPE seniors 

- 08:00 pm 

August 2007 12




Wednesday, October 10 th , 

11:00 am Welcome Speech of the Vize-President of TU Berlin (Room H 3010, 

TU Berlin, Main Building, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin) 

Afterwards: group picture and distribution of meal voucher for TU Mensa (dining 

hall) 

12:30 pm Lunch (TU Mensa) 

01:30 pm meet with senior GPE-students (where: TBA) 

01:45 am Guided tour to the relevant seminar rooms for GPE-students 

Friday, October 12 th , 

� Lecture rooms and secretary for 

� Energy Engineering (KT 1a) 

� Systematic Product Development (SPD- H4105/06, ED-H3024) 

� Logistics (Secretary H 9119, Lecture H3010) 

� Supply Chain Management and Advanced Planning Systems (H 110, WIL 

B201) 

� Basic German for Engineers + Sprach- und Kulturbörse (TEL 607, TEL 716) 

� Technology Transfer (ZTG 242) 

12:30 pm Get together and question and answer session with the GPE 

Coordination (PTZ 307) 

01:30 pm Presentation of German language education with Mrs. Hermann (PTZ 307) 

01:45 pm Video about Berlin (PTZ 307) 

02:30 pm Sightseeing Tour by bus (starting in front of the PTZ Building) 

06:00 pm Party with all new international students in Café Campus 

(Villa BEL, Marchstr. 6, 10587 Berlin) 

3.3 Senior Program 

To help you get off to a good start in Berlin, the GPE Coordination has organized a senior 

program. You will be notified via our mailing list, who is your senior student. Seniors are 

experienced GPE students who have volunteered to take part in this program to make life a 

little easier for you during the first couple of weeks of your stay and during your first semester 

of study. They will also help you managing the administrative issues connected to your 

registration and residence permit as well as introduce you to Berlin’s student life. 

August 2007 13




4 Preparation before Departure 

4.1 Study Visa 

Citizens of the following countries can skip this section because they are exempted from the 

visa requirement (status 15/01/01): 

• EC /EU (European Community/European Union) countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus 

(Greek part), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, 

Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, 

Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, 

• other countries: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Cyprus (also the Turkish part), Iceland, Israel, 

Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, USA 

Exchange students of other nationalities must obtain an entry visa, called 

“Studienbewerbervisum,” at the German diplomatic representation in their home country 

before entering the Federal Republic. Since it usually takes several weeks or even months 

(depending on your home country) to obtain this visa, it is advisable to apply well in advance. 

In Germany, upon formal admission to TUB, you will be able to change your applicants visa 

(Studienbewerbervisum) into the proper student visa (Aufenthaltsbewilligung zu 

Studienzwecken). Generally, you will first submit a Bewerbervisum mit Sichtvermerk zu 

Studienzwecken (applicant’s visa) for the purpose of studies at the nearest German consular 

or diplomatic mission in your home country with the following documents: 

· valid passport 

· high school/junior college leaving certificate recognized as a certificate of 

secondary education by the German educational authorities 

· the letter to the German embassy sent to you by GPE Coordination along with 

your letter of acceptance 

· financial affidavit / proof of sufficient financial support (e.g. a scholarship 

certificate or a maintenance guarantee by your parents or other relatives) 

· two passport photographs 

Note: ! ! ! Students will not be admitted to university with a tourist visa ! ! ! 

A tourist visa will, under no circumstances, be changed into a proper student visa 

(Aufenthaltsbewilligung) after you have entered the Federal Republic of Germany! 

Anybody entering Germany without a valid visa for the purpose of studies has to leave the 

country again and will be required to apply for the appropriate visa from their home country. 

August 2007 14




4.2 Accommodation 

It should be noted that many student dormitories are not in the immediate vicinity of Berlin’s 

university’s campus. The large student residences in the east and south of Berlin in particular 

are located on the outskirts of the city, and you may have to allow 20 – 60 minutes travel to 

university which is situated in the center of the city. 

GPE-coordination will arrange accommodation for GPE students in student residences with 

the Studentenwerk Berlin. We try to get single apartments with a bathroom and small 

cooking facilities not too far from TUB. You may also get a room nearer to TUB campus 

where you have to divide the kitchen and bathroom facilities with other students. It will cost 

about 200 Euro depending on facilities and distance from TUB. Cost for heating, water and 

power supply are sometimes included, but you have been ask for your choice already. If there 

are no apartments available in the residences next to TUB we will reserve apartments in 

residences a bit farer away. 

Attention: Due to the fact that our program starts with the introduction days on October 8 th , 

we can just ensure that you have accommodation starting from October 1 st . If you plan to 

arrive before October 1 st , it is up to you to find an accommodation for the meantime. 

Information, where to go in that case is enclosed at the end of this document. Furthermore, 

GPE can give some helpful information. 

But you can be sure that every student has a place to live for the first time here in Berlin 

beginning with October. Senior students and GPE-coordination will help you to change your 

accommodation to the better in case you are not satisfied after a short time, but at least after 

3 months. To get rooms near to TUB it is good to apply as soon as possible. 

Please notice, that student’s residences often do not offer dishes, bedclothes and curtains. To 

use German stoves for cooking you need pots with an even surface. Your senior will be glad 

to help you with these issues. 

The student administration office offers a great variety of dormitory rooms. However, the 

procedure for getting an apartment is quite complicated for a foreign student who has to 

manage it by himself. But once you have a place to stay it is easier to change. You might 

already want to check their offers on the internet: 

Studentenwerk Berlin 

Hardenbergstraße 34 


Tel.: 31 12 – 0 

E-mail: infopoint@studentenwerk-berlin.de 

Homepage: http://www.studentenwerk-berlin.de/en 

You may find it helpful to use the services of one of Berlin’s many accommodation agencies 

(Mitwohnzentralen). These agencies specialize in short term private accommodation, such 

as one-year sublets of apartments or rooms in shared apartments. Contact addresses are 

given in the appendix to this guide. 

Lodgings in a youth hostel or a hotel make sense if you simply need a place for a few days 

but they are inadequate for longer periods. 

August 2007 15




Basically there is no great difference between the different youth hostels. Usually you share a 

room with other persons. Some of them also offer breakfast. A number of addresses are listed 

in the appendix under “IYHA Hostels, Independent Hostels, Student and Youth Hotels”. 

IYHA hostels 

Short-term accommodation, for example for the time you are looking for private 

accommodation, is available at several Berlin youth-hostels. Enquiry’s can be directed to the 

Berlin head office. Please note that you will need an International Youth Hostel 

Membership card to stay at a youth hostel. Current rates at youth hostels are around 20 € 

per night per person. 

Independent hostels 

German Youth Hostel Association Administration 

Schulstr 9 

14482 Potsdam 

Tel.: 0331-58130 

German Youth Hostel Association Member Service 

Kluckstr. 3 


Tel.: 030-2649520 

Overview of hostels: 

http://www.hostel.de 

http://www.jugendherberge.de 

In the appendix to this GPE guide you will also find a list of independent hostels which do not 

require membership of their guests. 

A hint: If you wish to stay in a private accommodation, it is often necessary for students to 

have proof of sufficient financial support. 

Just in case you do not find satisfactory housing before you leave for Berlin, or enjoy taking 

risks and come here without making living arrangements, we have a small collection of private 

offers of accommodation here in the international office (AAA) in room H 51 (main building of 

TUB). 

4.3 Transfer of Health Insurance 

If you want to study in Germany, you must register with a German health insurance company 

(see Chapter Preparation upon arrival). In many cases, this registration is free, if you can 

show certain documents: 

August 2007 16




All states 

Privately insured people need a formal written confirmation from their insurance company. 

EC (European Community) and associated States 

If you have public health insurance in the EC or an associated country you need the form “E 

128” from your health insurance (See below 5.3 “Health Insurance”.) 

• EC countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus (Greek part), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, 

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 

Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the 

United Kingdom. 

• Associated states are: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, 

Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and Tunisia. 

• Candidates for the EC: Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Turkey 

4.4 Money 

Upon your arrival in Berlin you will have to spend some money. You have to pay rent for your 

apartment, semester fees, food etc. Living cost sum up to approx. 600 € per month and the 

semester fee is approx 290 €. Because the checks you brought with take up to 6 weeks to 

clear you should have other means of supporting yourself for this period of time. We 

recommend that you bring Traveler Checks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler's_cheque ) 

worth 6 weeks of living, rent, fees and other expenses you might have. You can get them in 

any mayor currency but Euro or US Dollar Traveler Checks are most advisable. When 

opening a banking account you can immediately access your money. Since it might take your 

bank a few days to get the Traveler Checks you should order them early enough before your 

departure. You can also bring cash, however it is not advisable to carry big amounts of cash 

with you. If you loose your Traveler Checks they will be replaced. 

4.5 Flight 

We advise you to arrive in Berlin between October 1 st and October 7 th . In order to make 

yourself familiar with your new environment and the University, please, inform your senior 

student in advance when exactly you will arrive (date, time, airline, flight number, etc.) and 

where you are going to stay so our seniors can pick you up at the airport and bring you to 

your apartment. We recommend you not to arrival on a week-end so that you can easier get 

used to supermarkets (which are closed on Sundays) and buy what you need. Make sure 

your senior receives the information of your arrival (ask for confirmation). 

NOTE ! ! ! You will definitely need the original of your bachelor diploma for 

registration (no exceptions, no substitutes will be accepted!) ! ! ! 

! ! ! Make sure to bring it along ! ! ! 

August 2007 17




5 Preparation upon arrival 

5.1 Arrival at the Airport 

Your senior student will welcome you at the airport in Berlin. In order to use the public 

transportation system of BVG (Berliner Verkehrs Betriebe) like bus, S-Bahn (Metro) and 

Underground the senior will give you a ticket. This ticket will be valid for one month. The 

senior will take you to the accommodation which the GPE-Coordination team has reserved for 

you. 

Attention: If you arrive before October 1 st , please, discuss the arrangements with your senior 

student in detail. Please note also that you are a student starting from October 1 st . This 

means that before that date you have to pay for public transportation by yourself as a tourist. 

You can get a monthly ticket for 70 €. 

5.2 Signing contract for accommodation 

Your senior will help you to sign the contract for your accommodation on the following day of 

your arrival at the administration of your students’ residence. You will need your: 

- Passport 

- First rent plus a deposit ( = amount of one month rent + 10 €) in cash 

You will be asked to submit the “Immatrikulationsbescheinigung” (confirmation from TUB 

about registration) as soon as it has been sent to you from TUB. 

Your senior will fill out the form for Residence Registration with you before you go to 

administration of your students’ residence. There you need a signature and a stamp from the 

administration of your students’ residence. Instead you can also bring your signed contract for 

your accommodation in order to prove your address when registering for residence. 

5.3 Residence Registration (Polizeiliche Anmeldung) 

Every person in Germany (including German citizens) needs to register with the police at a 

Meldestelle (a residence registration office) of your choice WITHIN 7 DAYS OF YOUR 

ARRIVAL. You will receive a Polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung (confirmation of residence 

registration). 

All Berlin Meldestellen have the same office hours. 

The closest “Meldestelle” to the University is: 

Mon 08:00 am – 03:00 pm 

Tue 11:00 am – 06:00 pm 

Wed 08:00 am – 01:00 pm 

Thu 11:00 am – 06:00 pm 

Fri 08:00 am – 01:00 pm 

August 2007 18




Bürgeramt / Meldestelle 28 

Etage 1 

Raum 103 – 109 

Otto-Suhr-Allee 100 


U7 (Richard-Wagner-Platz) 

Bus 145 or M45 

Tel.: 030 – 902 913 333 

You will need to bring the following documents to register: 

• Meldeformular (registration form) 

• Contract for accommodation or signature plus stamp from the landlord on “Meldeformular” 

• Valid passport or campus card 

You will get the Meldeformular from your senior and have to fill it out. In case of problems you 

can ask the coordination office or buy the Meldeformular at a stationery shop for little money 

or obtain it directly at the Meldestelle for free. Now you can also download the form from the 

internet under the following link: http://www.berlin.de/labo/formulare/index.html. The document 

you need is: Anmeldung bei der Meldebehörde (in German). 

The registration form has to be signed by your landlord. This, of course, means that you 

cannot register before you have found permanent accommodation. If you are subletting a flat, 

the main tenant must sign the form. Unlike in many other countries, in Germany you are very 

often asked to prove your identity and place of residence. Therefore in order to pick up a 

parcel which has been sent to your address or to register for a library card at TUB or when 

opening a bank account you need to show your residence registration and permit as well as 

your identity card. We recommend you to always carry the Anmeldebestätigung (residence 

registration) with you along with your passport because you will be asked for it as a proof of 

your address. 

You will have to register with the police whenever you move to another 

address. Please also inform the Immatriculation Office and GPE 

Coordination about your new address and change your contact data on 

our website 

www.gpe.tu-berlin.de . 

August 2007 19




5.4 Filling out the application form for admission („Antrag auf Zulassung 

zum Studium für internationale Studierende, Immatrikulation) 

As the next step you will have to fill out the application form for admission and submit two 

authorized copies of your Bachelors Degree Certificate. This will be collected from the GPEcoordination 

and given to the International Admission department (AAA). You will get the 

“Bescheid über die bedingte Zulassung” (Notice of Conditional Admission), which you will 

receive from the GPE-Coordination Office. 

5.5 Bank Account for students: student account (“Studentenkonto”) 

You will probably want to open a bank account in Berlin in order to deal with financial matters 

more quickly and efficiently. If your bank in your home country has a partner bank or even a 

branch in Berlin, you should open an account with this bank. Usually, this will avoid fees for 

transfers from and to your home country. 

Otherwise, you can open a student account which is free of fees with various banks (Even the 

Post office has a bank branch.) A bank account in Germany may be required for some 

services, e.g. to get a room in a dormitory or being registered with health insurance. 

In order to open a student account you will need the following documents: 

• passport or official ID 

• polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung (registration of residence) 

• TUB Studentenausweis / Bescheid (student passport of TUB) 

In case it is not possible to open a student account without the TUB Studentenausweis or the 

Bescheid, you should open a regular current account (for which you have to pay banking 

fees) and then, later on with your student ID, have it transformed into a student account. 

Here are some banks with departments close to TUB. Those banks have a cash 

confederation, so you can withdraw money at EC cash points from either bank free of charge 

even if your account is with another bank of the confederation. Otherwise there is usually no 

difference in the conditions of these banks. But therefore you have to ask whether you will be 

given an EC-card (eurocheque-card). Not everybody gets an EC-card, mostly only people 

who prove their regular income do. But why not ask- with an EC card it is easy to get money 

at any bank. 

Please ask for the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and the SWITF-code of your 

bank. This will ease the money transfer from your home country to Germany. 

Deutsche Bank 

Otto-Suhr-Allee 6-16 


Tel.: 34 07 - 0 

Mon, Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 06:00 pm 

Wed, Fri 10.00 am – 04:00 pm 

August 2007 20




Dresdner Bank 

Uhlandstr. 9 


Tel.: 315 325 84 

Mon, Tue, Thu 09:30 am – 01:00 pm, 02:00 pm – 06:00, Wed, Fri 09:30 am – 01:00 pm, 

02:00 pm – 04:00 pm 

Commerzbank 

Bismarckstr. 80, 10627 Berlin (Charlottenburg) 

Tel.: 030 / 327 619 – 0 

Mon, Wed 09:00 am - 01:00 pm and 02:00 pm - 04:00 pm 

Tue, Thu 09:00 am - 01:00 pm and 02:30 pm - 06:00 pm 

Fri 09:00 am - 02:00 pm 

5.6 Health Insurance (Krankenversicherung) 

Every student enrolled in a German university is required to provide a 

Krankenversicherungsnachweis (proof of insurance). 

Form E 128 

If you have the E128 form, the health insurance will be free of charge. An accredited German 

Krankenkasse (health insurance institution) will get the money from your health insurance 

company in your home country. 

The Krankenkasse closest to the TUB is the TK (Techniker Krankenkasse). 

Techniker Krankenkasse Berlin 

TK-Berlin-City 

Rankestr.34 


Tel.: 030- 68378-2233 

Fax: 030- 68378-4444 

berlin-brandenburg@TK-online.de 

or 

TK-Berlin-Charlottenburg 

Wilmersdorfer Str. 50-51 


Tel.: 030/68378-2233 

Fax: 030/68378-4444 

Email: berlin-brandenburg@tk-online.de 

August 2007 21




Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00 am - 04:00 pm 

Tue, Thu 10:00 am - 06:00 pm 

We will provide you a personal contact with Techniker Krankenkasse, after your arrival in 

Berlin. Other accredited Krankenkassen are, AOK (Allgemeine Orts-Krankenkasse), the DAK 

(Deutsche Angestellten-Krankenkasse), the BK (Barmer Ersatzkasse) or the KKH 

(Kaufmännische Krankenkasse). Their services do normally not differ substantially and the 

fees for students are the same. 

Certificate of the private health insurance 

Students who have their health insurance with private companies obtain an exemption from 

the compulsory German health insurance through any accredited Krankenkasse. However, 

once you have been exempted from the compulsory German health insurance, you can never 

be insured by the German state as long as you remain a student. For students who want to 

insure themselves in Germany some day, e.g. because they decide to spend their lives here, 

it may make sense to register health insurance by an accredited Krankenkasse or they will 

have to keep on using private (and the older you are) more expensive companies. 

With the AOK you will receive the exemption the same day you provide the certificate. Others 

might take a few days, but other public health insurance institutions are accepted, too. 

AOK Berlin 

Uni-Center 

Wilhelmstrasse 1 


Tel.: 25 31 – 3000 

ass.berlin@bln.aok.de 

(U1/U6-Bahnhof Hallesches Tor) 

Mon, Wed.: 8:00 am - 02:00 pm 

Tue, Thu: 8:00 am - 06:00 pm 

Fri: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm 

Exchange students who have no insurance or have insurance from their home countries not 

recognized in Germany must take a German health insurance for students. (For information 

contact for example the TK. See addresses above.) At the TUB in the Studentisches 

Koordinationsbüro or at one of the Krankenkassen you can obtain this insurance for a monthly 

premium of approx. 65 € at present. 

Please note, that you have to pay 10 € if you go to a doctor for the first time in a quarter of a 

year. (1. quarter: January to March; 2. quarter April to June; 3. quarter July to September, 4. 

quarter October to December). If you need to consult a second doctor the first one where you 

have paid gives you a transfer document with which you go to the next doctor with a different 

specialization. 

August 2007 22




Studentisches Koordinationsbüro (Information about health insurances) 

Main building, room H 2129 

Tel.: 314 - 22 989 

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 9:30 am – 01:00 pm, Tue 10:00 am – 05:00 

During lecture additional: Tue and Thu: 02:00 – 04:00 pm 

5.7 Administrative Fees (Immatrikulationsgebühren) 

Each semester, all students have to pay an Immatrikulationsgebühr (administrative enrollment 

fee, € 50), the semester ticket for public transport (€ 145 + social fee € 2), a fee to the 

Studentenschaft (student union fee, € 7.10), and the Studentenwerk (student service 

organization, € 30.68). 

The combined administration fee amounts to € 283,70 per semester of 

enrollment. 

Please, note that this is neither a tuition fee nor a fee for intensive international support! Every 

German student has to pay it. These fees can be paid by means of bank transfer or directly at 

the cashier’s office of the TUB in room H2106 (main building, 2nd floor). 

Cashier’s Office of the TUB 

Mrs. Trähne 

Main building, room H2106 

Tel.: 314 - 22 970 

Office hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am – 01:00 pm 

You will be given an Einzahlungs-Beleg (receipt of payment) which you must bring for 

registration (Immatrikulation). 

5.8 Registration (Immatrikulation) 

You will receive a “Bescheid über die bedingte Zulassung” (Notice of Conditional Admission), 

or just “Bescheid”, that temporarily replaces the TUB Studentenausweis, the campus card, 

which will arrive at your place by post within 2 to 4 weeks after registration. 

You can register at Check in of AAA as soon as you have your Zulassungsbescheid with this 

letter plus the documents mentioned therein. Upon registration you officially become a student 

at the TUB. 

August 2007 23




Check-In 

Tutors are available at the CHECK-IN for general questions. Specific matters can be 

discussed here with the appropriate officials. The CHECK-IN is located in the entry of the 

main building at the student service express. 

Opening Hours 

Mon, Tue, Fri: 09:30 am – 12:30 pm 

Thu 01:00 pm – 03:00 pm 

Telephone Consultancy (dial 314-28440 / 314-28441) 

Thu: 10:00 am – 11:00 am 

Starting on October 2004, the responsible officials will be available personally during the 

opening hours at the International Admissions CHECK-IN. 

Automatic Email-service (all important references can be forwarded via Email): 

international.admission@tu-berlin.de 

In order to register you are required to bring the following papers: 

• letter of admission to GPE 

• bachelor degree (original) 

• valid passport with the visa 

• proof of health insurance 

• proof of your payment of the Immatrikulationsgebühren (university semester fees 234,78 € 

) 

You need to register again for each semester as long as you have to undergo examinations in 

order to confirm that you intend to continue your studies at TUB. 

You will receive a letter with a request to pay the 

“Immatrikulationsgebühren” at the end of each semester. Therefore, you 

need to make sure that the Immatrikulationsbüro always has your current 

address! 

When you have paid again, you will automatically be registered for the next semester and get 

your new student ID from 2 to 4 weeks later. 

August 2007 24




5.9 Residence Permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) 

All foreign students, who live in Germany longer than 3 months, are required to have a 

residence permit. There are two choices how to get it - both entailing some advantages and 

some disadvantages: 

1) at TU Berlin Akademisches Auslandsamt (AAA) 



Room H 41c 

Tue, Thu: 09:30 am- 12:30 pm 

Draw a number: When your number is called (between 12:00 am and 03:00 pm), you can apply for a residence 

permit in the same room. 

Directly at TUB, but you have to wait for passport and permit about two weeks. 

2) at Landeseinwohneramt (LEA); Abt. Ausländerangelegenheiten 

Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24 


Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 90158-0 

Office hours: Mon, Tue, Thu from 07:30 am – 01:00 pm 

Wed closed! 

Fri 07:30 am – 12:00 pm 

Connection by public transportation: U-Bahnhof Amrumer Straße 

After a long waiting time, you will receive the permit and your passport back the same day. In turn, it is not close 

to TUB and you have to make your first stand against German bureaucracy. Some Wednesdays, it is open just 

for students. You can save much waiting time by calling, asking for these days and go there on students’ 

Wednesdays since there are less people waiting. In general, if you are there already at 7:00 am, there will be 

much less people before you than if you go later. 

We will try though to organize the “Aufenthaltsbewilligungen” for you from our GPEcoordination 

office, if possible in order to make your start more comfortable for you. You will 

receive the according information further on whether we are allowed to manage this. 

In any case you need to provide these documents: 

• TUB campus card/ Zulassungsbescheid zum Studium (admission to university) 

• valid passport or official ID 

• polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung (residence registration) 

• current proof of health insurance (original + 1 copy) 

August 2007 25




• 2 passport-size photographs 

• Finanzierungsnachweis (Evidence of financial support) or any other document that proves 

you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of living while you are in the country, e.g., 

statement of account or a letter in which your parents guarantee financial support. (original 

+ 1 copy) 

You have to get a first residence permit valid for 3 months. With this you can get a 

Zulassungsbescheid from University. With this Bescheid or the final student ID, you can go 

again and apply for a visa valid for the time of your studies. 

With student release (Exmatrikulation) or a change of your course of study, the student visa 

(Aufenthaltsbewilligung) will become invalid. 

6 Studying in Germany 

6.1 Public Transportation 

With the Immatrikulationsgebühren (university fees for each semester), students at TUB have 

to pay a public transport ticket from the Berlin Public Transport (BVG) valid for each 

semester. As long as you do not have your campus card, you will need to buy tickets at the 

normal price (2 € for each trip, valid for 2 hours) or a monthly “Ausbildungsticket” at a reduced 

price, for students. The BVG has been introducing a system of fare zones (A + B Inner City, C 

Outskirts). Try to find the most reasonable fare for your special needs. 

The public transportation plans and other information can be found on the following website: 

http://www.bvg.de 

6.2 Credit Card for Meals (Giro-Vend-Karte) 

You need the Giro-Vend-Karte in order to pay in the Mensa and in some cafés and cafeterias 

operated by the Studentenwerk (Students’ Service.) Other restaurants do usually not take 

Giro-Vend-Cards. The card can be charged in the machines in the foyer of the Mensa (ground 

floor) and in the area of the food pick up point (first floor, near the cash registers). When you 

pay the meal, you have to insert the card instead of paying money. Especially when the 

Mensa is very full (between 11:45 and 12:30), the Giro-Vend-Karte is very useful, since you 

can pay more quickly. There are only a few desks who allow you to pay in cash, most others 

require the Giro-Vend-Card. 

You can obtain the card at the cashier’s in the TUB Mensa, preferably between 11:15 and 

11:45 or 1:30 and 2:30, when it is not so full. You will need: 

• TUB Studentenausweis or the Zulassungsbescheid. 

August 2007 26




• A few Euro as a deposit for the card (will be refunded when you no longer need the card 

and return it) 

6.3 Meals 

The TU Berlin offers the Mensa (main student restaurant) and some cafés and other 

cafeterias for meals or snacks. The Mensa and some of the cafeterias are run by the 

Studentenwerk (students` services) usually mensas are large rooms which offer a wide range 

of meals and snacks, and give student discounts. 

Mensa (Main Student Restaurant) of TUB 

Hardenbergstr. 34 (1st floor) 


Mon - Fri 11:00 – 14:30 

The Mensa offers a variety of main courses, side dishes, drinks, salads and deserts. You can 

arrange your meals according to your taste. The meals are subsidized by the city-state of 

Berlin and therefore not expensive. 

Cafeteria and Ice Cream Parlour of the Mensa 

Mensa-building (ground floor) 

Mon – Fri 11:00 am – 03:30 pm 

Because of its long business hours, the cafeteria in the Mensa is a good alternative if you are 

too late for the main student restaurant. The food here, too, is subsidized by Berlin. Although 

the choices are not as extensive as in the Mensa, they do offer sandwiches, dinner and ice 

cream and coffee specialties. The current menu is announced on their homepage 

www.studentenwerk-berlin.de/mensen. 

Restaurant in the TU-Mensa 

Mensa building, 2nd floor 

Mon - Fri 11:15 – 14:30h 

Above the Mensa there is an alternative for those who wish to have food of a higher quality 

and are willing to pay more for it (no student prices). 

August 2007 27




Further Cafeterias of the Studentenwerk (no student discounts) 

Cafeteria in the architecture building 

A-building (see plan of TU campus) 

Mon - Fri 08.00 - 16.00h 

Cafeteria Franklinstraße 

FR-building (Untergeschoss) (see plan of 

TU campus) 

Mon - Fri 08.00 - 16.30h 

Cafés run by Students 

• Café TELquel (Building TEL) 

• Café in the Mathematics building 

(Building MA) 

• Atomic Café (Building PN) 

• Café A (Building A) 

• Café Chez King Louis (Building EB) 

Cafeteria in the BIG 

ACK-building (see plan of TU campus) 

Mon - Thu 08.15 - 15.00h 

Friday 08.15 - 14.30h 

• Café Wie jetzt? (Building BH) 

• Café Shila (Building E) 

• i-Café (Building FR) 

• Café Capital (Building WW) 

The cafeteria in the Mathematics Building is highly recommended. The meals are rather 

expensive, but the good quality and the wonderful view of Berlin’s center make up for it. 

Other cafés and cafeterias 

In all these cafés and cafeterias you pay normal prices, there are no discounts: 

• Cafeteria in the west of the main building 

• Cafeteria in the east of the main building 

• Café Campus (behind the Mathematics 

building) 

• Café Hardenberg (opposite the TUB 

Mensa) 

August 2007 28




6.4 Libraries 

For using the library of TU Berlin your campus card also serves as a library card. The address 

of the main library is: 

The University library includes: 

• the Hauptbibliothek (main library) 

Zentralbibliothek der TU Berlin (main library) 

VOLKSWAGEN-HAUS 

Fasanenstraße 88 


Mon - Fri 09:00 am- 08:00 pm 

Sat 10:00 am - 02:00pm 

www.ub.tu-berlin.de 

• the Abteilungsbibliotheken (departmental libraries) 

• the Dokumentationsstellen (document centers) 

The collection of approximately 2.11 million media units and 7.184 continuously held 

magazines are distributed among the Hauptbibliothek and departmental 

Abteilungsbibliotheken. The organization of the University library may be a little confusing to 

you: On the one hand, departmental libraries (Abteilungsbibliotheken) and document centers 

(Dokumentationsstellen) may be spread out in different places, on the other hand, there are a 

number of departmental and institute libraries which do not belong to the university library. We 

advise you to learn about the rules, the location and the opening hours of the specialized 

library at the Ortsausleihe of the Hauptbibliothek or at your department. 

We should also mention here the Lehrbuchsammlung (textbook collection) which holds 

several copies each of all the textbooks used in all the departments of the TU Berlin and lends 

them: 

Lehrbuchsammlung (Text Book Collection) 

VOLKSWAGEN-HAUS 



Mon - Fri 09:00 am - 08:00 pm 

Sat 10:00 - 02:00 pm 

http://www.ub.tu-berlin.de/Abteilungen/Hauptbibliothek/lehrbuchsammlung.html 

The lending period is two weeks time. During the summer holidays the library extends this 

period (please read the postings). It is not possible to extend the lending period or to reserve 

books if they are reserved by another student. If you do not return books before the due date, 

you will be charged a fine per book per week. Please watch the due date of your books 

carefully. 

August 2007 29




You can return these books at the counter of the Lehrbuchsammlung during the regular 

opening hours or at the lending desk. On request, you can get a Rückgabequittung (return 

receipt). Books can also be returned anonymously, i.e. without getting a receipt from Monday 

to Friday from 07:00 am to 04:30 pm and on Saturday from 09:00 am to 01:00 pm, by placing 

them in the book return container opposite the Lehrbuchsammlung. However, you will be 

responsible for your books until they have been checked in. 

You are allowed to borrow up to five books at a time but only one copy of any single title. If all 

the copies of a particular work have already been lent, there will still be one which always 

remains in the reading room. 

GPE library 

The coordination team also offers you a library where you find books you need for the exams 

of GPE. You can lend the books for 2 weeks and will have to pay a fine of 50 cents for each 

week when returning them back later. The organization of the library is integrated in our 

information system on our website www.gpe.tu-berlin.de/library. 

6.5 Computer Account at TUB 

For our GPE students we offer a special computer pool in the PTZ, room 313 which is open 

24 hours a day, also the week-ends. More information will be available on the information day. 

The computer rooms of the Zentraleinrichtung Rechenzentrum (ZRZ, computer center of 

TUB) are often overcrowded, but also open to all students after applying for an account and 

an email address. 

For applying at TUB computer pool you will need to 

• fill out an application form called Erstantrag auf Zugang zu Arbeitsplatzrechnern der ZRZ 

(B-Zulassung) at a computer in the GPE pc pool (here you do not need any application 

form) and after signing it you can 

• bring this documents together with your campus card or official letter of admission to: 

Zentraleinrichtung Rechenzentrum (ZRZ) Service and Information 

Einsteinufer 17 


Room EN-024, ground floor 

Mon - Fri 08:00 am – 06:45pm 

www.tu-berlin.de/zrz/ 

August 2007 30




Three days after submitting your application your account will be set up. 

The computer pools of the computer center (ZRZ) are located in the following buildings: 

PC-Pool building EN 

Room , EN-004, EN-025 

Opening hours: Mon -Fri 08:00 - 19:45h 

Room EN-048 

Opening hours: always; also on Sundays and bank holidays 

PC-Pool building MA 

Room MA 270 

Tel.: +49 (0) / 314 - 25 890 

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00 - 17:45h, 

during semester break (vorlesungsfreie Zeit) Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:45h 

Additionally, the departments and institutes often have their own computer pools at their 

disposal for which, however, the rules and application modes are different, e.g. you may need 

to register for certain courses of study. 

6.6 Sport Clubs 

The Zentraleinrichtung Hochschulsport (ZEH, university sports department) is responsible for 

the entire sports program at the TUB and offers a wide range of sports. Usually, you will have 

to register during the first few weeks of the semester. 

The Sportverzeichnis (sports calendar) lists all sports courses and events and is available at 

the beginning of each semester for free at the information desk in the main building. You can 

also try to get one in the main office of the university sports department (ZEH) or in the 

internet catalogue. 

Zentraleinrichtung Hochschulsport (ZEH) Secretary 



Building V, room V 102 

Tel.: +49 (0) / 314 - 23 179 

Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Fri 09:00 am - 12:30 pm 

Wed 02:30 pm - 17:00 pm 

http://www.tu-sport.de 

August 2007 31




7 GPE-Program 

7.1 Basics 

The GPE-program is structured in five module groups, each consisting of at least two 

modules as to be seen it in the table below. For each module a student can get credits. In a 

total you need 90 credit points. You should not take more courses than 90 credit points. 

Module Group Modules Credit (LP) 

A Production minimum 12 

Industrial Information Technology 12 

Manufacturing and Factory Planning 12 

Production Technology 12 

B Engineering minimum 12 

Energy Engineering 12 

Mathematics for Engineers 12 

Systematic Product Development 12 

C Management minimum 12 

Global Production Management 12 

Logistics 12 

Quality Management 12 

Supply Chain Management and Advanced Planning 

Systems 

12 

D Intercultural 

Communication 

minimum 12 

Basic German for Engineers 12 

Technology and Knowledge Transfer 12 

E Special Profile minimum 6 

Environmental Management 6 

Global Production Engineering Introduction 6 

Simulation of Production System 6 

Design for Six Sigma & Lean Production 6 

Energy Entrepeneurship & Rural Electrification 6 

total 90 

internship 12 

master thesis 18 

total 120 

You have to choose courses with a total of 90 credits ("LP") out of the modules in the first 

three semesters, do an internship of 9 weeks (12 LP) during the semester break or in the 

fourth semester and write a master thesis (18 LP) in the fourth semester. 

You have to complete at least 12 LP out of the module groups A, B, C, and D, and at least 6 

LP out of group E (total: 54 LP). You can decide on your own which module out of the group 

you want to complete. 36 LP have to be chosen out of all the other modules (e.g. to choose 

more than one module out of "Production") to gain 90 LP total. Please consider that you 

should not take more courses than 90 credit points for which you have paid with your fees. 

August 2007 32




7.2 Modules 

Detailed descriptions of the modules are available on our homepage www.gpe.tu-berlin.de in 

the section “modules”. Just click on the modules’ names. 

Many courses offered per semester at the TU Berlin are also listed in the course catalogue 

(Vorlesungsverzeichnis). In addition to the printed version, there is also one on the internet at 

the following website: http://www.tu-berlin.de/vv. Next to the title of the course and a brief 

description of its contents you will find the course number, the instruction form, the day, the 

time, the building and room (e.g., TEL2003), the frequency (e.g., weekly), and the name of 

the lecturer. 

The instruction forms you will encounter in GPE are: 

Vorlesung (VL, lecture): 

The lecturer, usually a professor, gives presentations and imparts theoretical technical 

knowledge. Group size can vary widely and students participate through listening and asking 

questions. 

Übung (UE, exercices): 

Knowledge from lectures is shaped out and detailed by analytical, design, or experimental 

examples supervised by an assistant. Medium-size groups of students learn to solve 

problems by working on example tasks and case studies. 

Tutorium (TUT, tutorial): 

Knowledge from practical courses and lectures is detailed and explained. Small-size groups 

of students work on exercise tasks with the help of a tutor (advanced student). 

Praktikum (PR, practical course): 

In experimental exercises, small groups of students learn to work with devices and gather 

practical experience about the lecture contents under supervision of an assistant. 

Projekt (PJ, project): 

Small teams work on a supervised planning or realization of processes. 

Integrierte Lehrveranstaltung (IV, integrated course): 

Various instruction forms take turns in one course without clear methodological distinction. 

Seminar (SE): 

Small or medium-size groups of students will learn to work self-dependently on selected 

topics with supervision of a professor or assistant. Discussions, presentations or written 

papers may be applied. 

Most courses require no previous registration with the lecturer - you simply go to them at the 

first class. However, before you undergo an examination in this course (the whole course can 

August 2007 33




be the examination, e.g., with the IV or seminar), you have to register with Prüfungsamt 

(examination office) for this examination. The Prüfungsamt is located within the GPE 

coordination office PTZ 2, room 305. 

7.3 Examinations 

There are two types of examinations: 

• Final Exam (written o oral): you register for it after having received the „Schein“ of the 

Exercise as a prerequisite 

• “Prüfungsäquivalente Studienleistungen“: you will have to submit several exercises 

during the class for which you get grades. You have to apply for your credits during the 

first four weeks of the semester. 

You can get further information on the website www.gpe.tu-berlin.de under modules. 

When you complete a course, you will be given a so-called Leistungsnachweis or Schein 

(evidence of academic achievement). To complete a course and get a Schein, you need to 

undergo an examination of some type. This can be an oral or written examination about a 

lecture, successful completion of an exercise, a project, a paper, a presentation, or an 

integrated course. The examination requirements vary according to the type of course and the 

professor. The Schein can be graded or not, depending on the course. A lecture itself is not 

credited. You need to undergo an examination to get credit for it. Instead of passing out a 

Schein, the professor might send your grade directly to Prüfungsamt, room 305 in PTZ. 

We strongly suggest that you inform yourself at the beginning of a course of the procedures 

for obtaining the Leistungsnachweis. Otherwise you may discover that it is too late (as for 

“prüfungsäquivalente Studienleistungen”). 

In order to cancel an oral or written exam, you have to sign a deregistration-form in the GPEoffice 

until 3 working days before the exam. With this deregistration you have to inform the 

examiner. I you like to cancel so-called "prüfungsäquivalente Studienleistung" ,you have 

to sign a deregistration-form in the GPE-office until 3 working days before the first part of 

"prüfungsäquivalente Studienleistung" e.g. presentation or homework has to be done. 

With this deregistration you have to inform the examiner. 

7.4 Workload of courses in SWS and ECTS 

The course extent is given in Semesterwochenstunden (SWS), which is the average number 

of academic hours per week of a particular course during this semester. An academic hour is 

actually only 45 minutes long, so that 2 SWS means 90 minutes, which is usually the smallest 

block size. 1 SWS is usually worth 1.5 ECTS points. 

Within Europe, universities have agreed upon the Bologna protocol which entails a measure 

for evaluating the workload of courses which makes this workload at one university 

“translatable” or “transferable” for another university. The goal of this system, known as the 

“European Credit Transfer System” (ECTS), is to heighten the mobility of students and to 

make possible the transfer and reliable assessment of academic achievement. 

August 2007 34




For this reason a certain number of ECTS credits has to be granted for every course that is 

identical with other courses with a comparable workload within Europe. GPE is completely 

compliant with the new ECTS system. 

7.5 Internship (Praktikum) 

GPE students have to complete at least a 9 week internship which can be performed at any 

site and any company in Europe. 

You will have to apply for internships in the industry by yourself. If you do not find an 

internship some professors may know companies where you can apply, or you can look for an 

internship place at the research institutes of the TU Berlin. Some companies may offer 

payment for the internship. Our coordination office also helps you with your applications and 

has contacts to industry partners who offer internship posts for GPE students. 

7.6 Master Thesis 

When you have completed all courses and the internship, you will have to write a master 

thesis in English or German. You will have to find a topic with a professor of one of your 

examination courses and work on it for 3-6 months. 

There are three ways to find a thesis topic: 

• The assistants offer several topics on the institute’s homepage, e.g., the PTZ-homepage, 

or in postings in the institute. You can also ask assistants personally, of course. 

• We are setting up a thesis pool in cooperation with several well-known companies. The 

topics there are in close cooperation with a company, so you will often work in the 

company. 

• You can look for a topic with a company on your own. PLEASE NOTE: No company can 

offer a master thesis (although it sounds like it in their advertisements.) They can only 

offer a project for a student, but a master thesis is an official examination that can only 

be offered by a lecturer of GPE by Technical University. If you ask a professor or 

assistant and he is willing to offer the topic of the company, then everything is fine. But you 

might run into difficulties and there is no guarantee to find an assistant or professor who is 

willing to pass out this topic. Please keep that in mind when you are looking for a master 

thesis with a company. 

Once you found a topic, you will have to register with Prüfungsamt for your thesis. You can 

choose the professor you have already talked to and make a suggestion for the topic, but 

he/she will assign the final topic (That is why no company can offer a thesis). They will check 

all your examinations and the internship for completion. 

7.7 Alumni (Graduates) 

After completing your thesis, you can come to the GPE office for a final photo. You should 

leave your contact data and maybe your future employer for the GPE Alumni page and join 

the Alumni mailing list. We are happy to keep contact with our former students! If you do not 

August 2007 35




find an employer, you can ask the professors for support. Excellent students can also 

continue an academic career as a Ph.D. candidate / researcher. 

August 2007 36




8 APPENDIX 

8.1 Other Useful Links 

- DAAD: Germany at a glance: 

http://www.daad.de/deutschland/deutschland/ueberblick/06281.en.html 

- DAAD: Berlin at a glance: 

http://www.daad.de/deutschland/deutschland/hochschulorte/07448.en.html?ort=551 

- http://www.young-germany.de 

- Berlin public transportation: www.bvg.de 

- Online Berlin city map: http://www.berlin.de/stadtplan/_html/index.html 

- German-English, English-German dictionary: http://dict.leo.org/ 

- Biweekly magazines about the Berlin nightlife: http://www.exberliner.net, www.tipberlin.de, 

www.zitty.de 

8.2 Accommodation in Berlin 

Mitwohnzentralen (Flatshare and Accommodation Agencies) 

Agentur Wohnwitz 

Holsteinische Straße 55 

10717 Berlin (Wilmersdorf) 

Tel. 861 82 22 und 861 91 92 

Fax. 861 82 72 

http://www.wohnwitz.com/eng/ 

wohnwitz@compuserve.com 

Erste Mitwohnzentrale 

Sybelstraße 53 


Tel. 324 30 31 

Fax. 324 99 77 

Freiraum Wohnagentur 

Wiener Straße 14 

10999 Berlin (Kreuzberg) 

Tel. 618 20 08 

Fax. 618 20 06 

http://www.freiraumberlin.com/english/index_engl.html 

info@freiraum-berlin.com 

Joachimstaler Straße 17,10719 Berlin 

(Wilmersdorf) 

Home Company 

Tel. 19 445 

Fax. 882 66 94 

http://www.homecompany.de/index.php?sp 

=en 

Mitwohnzentrale Mehringdamm 

Mehringdamm 72 


Tel. 786 20 03 

Mitwohnzentrale Eisenbach & Uhl 

Stadtbahnbogen 530 


Tel. 19 430 

Streicher Mitwohnagentur 

Immanuelkirchstraße 8 

10405 Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg) 

Tel. 441 66 22 und 442 65 76 

www.zeit-raum.de 

info@zeit-raum.de 

August 2007 37




IYHA Hostels 

(International Association of Youth Hostels, members only) 

Homepage: http://www.jugendherberge.de 

Jugendgästehaus Berlin 

Kluckstraße 3 

10785 Berlin (Tiergarten) 

Tel. 261 10 98 

Fax: 265 03 83 

Cost/night: EUR 15,00 (incl. Breakfast) 

Email: jh-berlin@jugendherberge.de 

Jugendgästehaus am Wannsee 

Badeweg 1 

14129 Berlin (Nikolassee) 

Tel. 803 20 35 

Fax: 803 59 08 

Cost/night: EUR 19,00 (incl. Breakfast) 

Email: jh-wannsee@jugendherberge.de 

Independent Hostels 

Mitte’s Backpacker hostel 

Chausseestraße 102 

10115 Berlin (Mitte) 

Tel. 28390965 

Cost/night: EUR 30, 00 

Homepage: http://www.backpacker.de 

Circus 

Am Zirkus 2-3 

10117 Berlin (Mitte) 

Tel. 28 39 14 33 

Cost/night: 32 EUR + 2 EUR Bedlinen 

Homepage: http://www.mind.de/circus 

Globetrotter Hostel Odyssee 

Grünberger Straße 

10243 Berlin (Friedrichshain) 

Tel. 29 00 00 81 

Cost/night: single EUR 35, 00 

in a 2-bed-room EUR 45,00 

Homepage: http://www.hostel-berlin.de 

Lette’m Sleep Hostel 

Lettestraße 7 

10437 Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg) 

Tel. 44 73 36 23 

Fax: 44 73 36 25 

Jugendherberge Ernst Reuter 

Hermsdorfer Damm 48-50 

13467 Berlin (Hermsdorf) 

Tel. 404 16 10 

Fax: 404 59 72 

Cost/night: EUR 15, 00 (incl. Breakfast) 

Email: jh-ernst-reuter@jugendherberge.de 

Cost/night: in a 2-bed-room EUR 48,00 

Studentenhotel Berlin 

Meininger Straße 10 

10823 Berlin (Schöneberg) 

Tel. 261 10 97 

Fax. 262 95 29 

Cost/night: Single EUR 23,60 

Jugendgästehaus Central 

Nikolsburger Straße 2-4 

10717 Berlin (Wilmersdorf) 

Tel. 873 01 88 

Cost/night: EUR 22,45 up 

in a 2-bed-room EUR 27,45 up 

Jugendgästehaus 

Deutsche Schreberjugend 

Franz-Künstler-Straße 4-10 


Tel. 615 10 07 

Fax: 614 63 39 

Cost/night: EUR 18, 00 

up 27 Years old EUR 21,50 

CVJM-Haus 

Einemstraße 10 

10787 Berlin (Tiergarten) 

Tel. 264 91 00 

August 2007 38




Fax: 264 91 0-22 

Cost/night: Single EUR 21,00 up 

Jugendgästehaus am Zoo 

Hardenbergstraße 9a 


Tel. 312 94 10 

Fax: 401 52 83 

Cost/night: Single EUR 25,00 up; 

Studentenhotel Hubertusallee 

Delbrückstraße 24 

14193 Berlin (Grunewald) 

Tel. 891 97 18 

Fax: 892 86 98 

Cost/night: Single EUR 30, 00 up 

in a 2-bed-room EUR 44,00 up 

Jugendgästehaus Feurigstraße 

Feurigstraße 63 

10827 Berlin (Schöneberg) 

Tel. 781 52 11 

Fax: 788 30 51 

Cost/night: Single EUR 22,50 

August 2007 39




8.3 List of Buildings 

A Architekturgebäude, Strasse das 17. Juni 

152, 

AA Agrarpolitik und Agrarstatistik, Albrecht- 

Thaer-Weg 2 

AB Angewandte Botanik, Rothenburgstraße 

12 

ACK Ackerstraße 76, 13355 Berlin 

AL Ausländische Landwirtschaft, 

Podbielskiallee 64 

AM Alte Mineralogie, Hardenbergstraße 38 

AP Acker- und Pflanzenbau, Albrecht-Thaer- 

Weg 2 

AT Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 4 

B Bauingenieurgebäude, 

Hardenbergstraße 40a 

BA Alter Bauingenieurflügel, 


BEL Marchstraße 6 und 8 

BH Bergbau- und Hüttenwesen, Ernst- 

Reuter-Platz 1 

C Chemiegebäude, Strasse das 17. Juni 

115 

C-L Chemie-Lager, Strasse des 17. Juni 115 

CAR-B Carnostraße IA 

CR Cranzbau, Jebensstraße 1/Hertzallee 

E Elektronische Institute, Einsteinufer 19 

EB Erweiterungsbau, Strasse des 17. Juni 

145 

EMH Elektrische Maschinen (EM) 

+ Hochspannungstechnik (HAT), 


E-N Elektrotechnik-Neubau, Einsteinufer 10 

ER Ernst-Reuter-Haus, Strasse des 17. Juni 

112 

ES Englische Straße 20 

EU Gebäudekomplex Landgut Eule, 

Kremnitzufer 53, 49 (W0), 63 (WS) 

F Flugtechnische Institute, Marchstraße 

12, 

FR Franklinstraße 28-29 

FRA-B Franklinstraße 15/15a 

FS Gebäudekomplex Franklinstraße, 

Franklinstraße 5/7 

GG-B Gärungsgewerbe, Biotechnologie, 

Seestraße 13-15 

GOR Gorbatschow Haus, Salzufer 11/12 

GD General-Pape-Straße 100 

GV Getreideverarbeitung, Seestraße 11 

H Hauptgebäude, Strasse das 17. Juni 135 

HAD Hardenbergstraße 4-5 

HE Hörsaal Elektrotechnik, Strasse des 17. 

Juni 136 

HER-A Heerstraße 446-448 

HF Hermann-Foettinger-Gebäude, Mueller- 

Breslau-Str. 8 

HFT-FT Hochfrequenztechnik (HFT) + 

Fernmeldetechnik (FT), Einsteinufer 25 

HH Hoechst-Haus, Steinplatz 1 

HL Heizung und Lüftung, 

Marchstraße 4 

HS Hellriegelstraße, Hellriegelstraße 6 

N Gebäudekomplex Invalidenstraße, 

Invalidenstraße 42 

J Jebenstraße 1, 

JS Joachimstaler Straße 31-32 

K Gebäudeteil Kraftfahrzeuge, Strasse des 

17. Juni 135 

KE Kehler Weg 

KEP Keplerstraße 4-6 

KF Ehem. Kraft- und Fernheizwerk, 

Fasanenstraße 1 A 

KG Kulturtechnik und Grünlandwirtschaft, 

Lenzallee 76 

KL Königin-Luise-Straße 22 

KPK Kompaktzyldotron-Bunker, 


KT Kerntechnik, Marchstraße 18 

KWT Kraftwerkstechnik & 

Apparatebau,Fasanenstraße 1 

L Lebensmittelchemie, Mueller-Breslau- 

Straße 10 

LB Landwirtschaftliche Betriebslehre, Im Dol 

27/29 

LT Landtechnik, Zoppoterstraße 35 

M Mechanik, Strasse des 17. Juni 135 

MA Mathematik, Strasse das 17. Juni 135 

MB Müller-Breslau-Straße 11/12, 10623 

Berlin 

ME Maschinenelemente, Helmholtzstraße 

13-14 

MHD Magnetohydrodynamik-Halle, 

Marchstraße 18 

MS Mechanische Schwingungslehre, 


NSH Neue Schönhauser Straße 20 

O Obstbau, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3 

OE Ehem. Oetker-Haus, Franklinstraße 29 

P Physik, Hardenbergstraße 36 a 

PF Pflanzenernährung, Lentzallee 55/57 

P-N Physik-Neubau, Hardenbergstraße 36 

PC Physikalische Chemie 

PHI Gebäude Philippstraße, Philippstraße 13 

PTZ Produktionstechnisches Zentrum - 

Doppelinstitut, 

Pascalstraße 8-9 

REU Reuchlinstraße 10-11 

RDH Rudolf-Drawe-Haus, Fasanenstraße 89 

RO Rohrdamm 22/Wernerwerkdamm 2 

SB Satellitenbeobachtungsstation, 

Munsterdamm 88 

SE-RH Reuleaux-Haus / Stadtbau-, Verkehrs- 

und Eisenbahnwesen, Strasse des 17. 

Juni 135 

SF Schweinfurthstraße 24 

SG Severingelände-Gebäude 1-13, Salzufer 

17/19 

August 2007 40




SPH-TR Sportgelände an der Harbigstraße, 

Harbigstraße 34 

SPW Sporthallen an der Waldschulenallee, 

Waldschulenallee 7 

TA Technische Akustik, Einsteinufer 25 

TAP Technische Akustik-Prüfhalle, 


TC Technische Chemie (Franz-Fischer- 

Bau), 

Strasse des 17. Juni 124 

TEL Ehem. Telefunken Hochhaus, Ernst- 

Reuter-Platz 7 

TH Tierzüchtung und Haustiergenetik, 

Lentzallee 86 

TIB 1-4 Gebäudekomplex Humboldthain, 

Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25 

TK Thermodynamik und Kältetechnik, 

Strasse das 17. Juni 135 

V Verformungskunde, Strasse des 17. Juni 

135 

VWS Versuchsanstalt für Wasser- und 

Schiffsbau 

- Schleuseninsel -, Müller-Breslau-Straße 

W Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft, 

Strasse des 17. Juni 144 

WF Werkzeugmaschinen und 

Fertigungstechnik, 


WG Wassersportgelände, 

Siemenswerderweg 27 

WW Wirtschaftswissenschaften, 

Uhlandstraße 415 

ZI Gebäude der Zuckerindustrie, Amrumer 

Straße 32 

August 2007 41




Map of TU Berlin 

August 2007 42

3 The Program of - GPE Global Production Engineering - TU Berlin

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