DEPARTURE PREPARATION

 

Congratulations! You are on your way to Saxony to participate in an internship. Here's some information to help you get started.

 

After you have accepted your nomination to go abroad, there are many tasks to complete before you actually leave Canada. Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to ensure that you have made all the necessary arrangements before going abroad.

 

Check out the Pre-Departure Checklist to ensure you are ready to go!

 

German Language Skills

An important part of this internship is having some German Language skills.  Remember, this program is more than just a job placement. It is an intercultural experience. Feedback from all of our students thus far is, "I wish I had more German language ability."   Preference will be given to applicants who have an intermediate-advanced level of German language skills. How you obtain these skills is up to you, why not try taking a course through your institution, your local community or online.

 

German Visa

Internship participants are expected to make the necessary arrangements themselves to obtain their work Visa for Germany.

 

Participants on this program usually apply for a Youth Mobility Visa. This Visa can be applied for in-person, at the German Consulate General in Toronto.  An appointment must be made at the Consulate to apply for the Visa and the processing time can take anywhere from 2 days – 3 weeks, so please ensure you do not leave it to the last minute.  It is best to begin this process as soon as you have a confirmed internship placement in Saxony.

 

**As of May 2014, applicants may now apply for their Youth Mobility Visa via mail. This visa will only be valid for 90 days and you will need to go to the Foreign Nationals Authority in Saxony upon your arrival in order to extend your visa for the duration of your internship. This extension might cost up to 100 Euros.**

Please refer to FAQ for more information on the visa application procedure:

ASiiA Youth Mobility Visa FAQ Resource for Alberta Participants.

We have provided you with a Visa ApplicationTemplate for guidance, however we are not affiliated with granting visas and only provide this to you to help answer some questions. Please contact the German Embassy in Canada for particulars on visa and applications.

 

Health Insurance

Obtaining Basic Health and Travel Insurance is mandatory. Proof of proper insurance must be submitted with your application for the German Visa. Health insurance must be valid for one year from the date of your arrival. Verify your current student coverage through your Student Health Insurance Provider. Beyond basic health and travel insurance, we strongly encourage you to consider obtaining liability coverage. You may be already covered through your parents' insurance policies.

Some recommended websited for insurance policies are: 

https://www.daad.de

www.travelcuts.com or

 

Finances

The following costs are estimates, based on average anticipated participant expenses. They may change depending on how long you are staying, which city you will be living in, and other factors:

 

Estimated Living Expenses (per month) in Saxony (in Euros)

 

Rent (including utilities, with at least one roommate)    300 € - 400 €

Groceries                                                                      150 € - 250 €

Public Transit Pass  (student rate)                               43 €

 

Total                                                                                493 € – 693 €

 

***PLEASE NOTE: This budget does not include allowance for entertainment or leisure and does not include the initial set up costs of flying to Germany and purchasing any required furniture or household items in order to get settled.****

 

See a comparison of prices between Edmonton and Dresden here.

 

Accommodation

Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation in Saxony prior to departing for their internship.  There are many resources available to you to assist in this search, please see below for some options:

 

  Europe Living

  International Guest House

  dreamflat

  wgfinden (flat sharing)

  wg-suche (flat sharing)

  wg-gesucht (flat sharing)

  TLG-Immobilien

  Studenten-WG (flat sharing)

  Studentenwerk (student union)

 

Facebook Group

ASiiA participants are encouraged to join the official ASiiA Facebook Group. The Facebook is a place where past, present, and future participants can interact with one another, ask questions, share their experiences as participants on the program, and arrange social events.

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Additional Information about Germany and the ASiiA Program

Find helpful information about life in Germany in this Guide for International Students provided by DAAD.

If you are curious to know about how the ASiiA program has started and learn more about the internship experiences of the past participants, check out the ASiiA Handbook.