Welcome Centre Supports Visiting Academics
Scholars planning to come to Heidelberg University can request advice and support from the university's Welcome Centre ahead of their arrival. This service and information centre, which works closely with other university institutions and with the city of Heidelberg, offers help in planning research stays and provides support and advice in all matters regarding life and work in Heidelberg, be it the formalities of entering the country, looking for housing, dealing with authorities or finding a kindergarten place or a good school. The Welcome Centre also organises regular events and excursions for visiting academics and their families. The centre's services are available to international academics with post-doc or higher status – international PhD students will find support and information at the Graduate Academy.
Visiting academics can register with the Welcome Centre online to access the complete range of information and services. University institutes hosting visiting academics can also contact the centre if they have questions on welcoming their guests.
Planning research projects, finding funding, obtaining visa and dealing with other formalities – these are tasks that visiting academics must tackle before beginning their research stay in Heidelberg. The Welcome Centre offers sound advice to academics planning a stay in Heidelberg and will also help visitors find accommodation, answer their questions on the German social security and tax system, help them set up a bank account and provide information on suitable language courses that are offered to visiting scholars and their families by the International Study Centre. The centre staff can also help with childcare, the German school system and financial support for families. In addition, the Welcome Centre hosts a comprehensive programme of events for international scholars, their partners and children that includes excursions, movie nights and leisure activities for children.
The Welcome Centre Heidelberg is a member of EURAXESS, a European network of service centres for internationally mobile researchers that is coordinated in Germany by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
