DS going to Germany for a uni semester in October- anyone else??

[Fordian]

To my surprise, DS (21), just finishing Y2 of uni in London is determined to go to a German uni, Oct-Feb. He has been accepted onto the course, but it appears he needs a visa and health insurance (thanks, Brexit). I have a couple of questions:

The uni concerned apparently hosts quite a few international students, there's a halls of residence (for all students, not just international), but is he likely to need to fully equip himself like he did at his UK uni? In which case I'll definitely have to drive him there!

Can he sort out a German bank account from the UK?

Xmas holidays start on Dec 27th!! I assume the locals go home on Dec 23rd (Friday) to do Xmas the following day.

The nitty gritty info is beginning to trickle in now, but any experience anyone has would be very welcome.

My DD is currently on a year abroad in Germany, she went last September and is on a year's course. I know she had to apply for health insurance and she was worried about a visa, but turned out she just needed to apply for a residents permit within three months of moving there - so the visa issue is worth checking. Her UK uni were very helpful.

DD is very independent and sorts everything herself, but I'm fairly sure she ordered her bedding to arrive shortly after she did. She travelled with two suitcases full of clothes and toiletries! and nothing practical. She went into a flat with others and basic kitchen items were provided, but where she is it's very common for locals to put things out in the street they don't want and she's acquired lots of things that way - even a settee!

I can't remember, but I'm fairly sure she sorted her bank account before she left.

Last year DD's xmas holidays started 23 Dec, but she came home around 18/19 Dec as she could still follow classes online.

Although, she's doing a year, many other international students are on a six month course. She's having the time of her life out there. Really doesn't want to come back to her UK uni.

If you want any more details about the bank account, PM. I'll ask her when she's not busy!! Is your DS going to a northern uni by any chance?

Thanks so much.

I can't recall the exact uni, but it's small, artsy and on Schwabisch Gmund (between Stuttgart and Munich). They were allocated at random.

I would like to know about bank accounts; I'm hopeful the uni will tell us what he needs for the Halls of Residence.

He has no German but tells me he is doing Duolingo and Babbel, so we'll see. He's determined to go, which I applaud him for....

I think!

I went to Bavaria, in a gap year decades ago, aged 17 with zero German, working in a small family run hotel. I had an absolute blast.

Doesn't sound like my DD is at the same uni.

DD's is actually studying with other German students and the course is in English. She's in northern Germany, but reckon all the students she's come across except for two speak English, so your DS should come across enough English people.

DD is at a Scottish uni and they actually provided a lot of helpful information to her.