guide i es fr ewc ers - Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid

GUIDELINES
FOR NEWCOMERS
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
Science Park Potsdam-Golm • 14424 Potsdam
Welcome ......................................................................................... 1
Welcome Office .............................................................................. 2
How to get here .............................................................................. 2
Location of Science Park Potsdam-Golm.............................. 3
Map of Science Park Potsdam-Golm .................................... 4
Your arrival ..................................................................................... 5
Works Council ................................................................................ 6
Equal Opportunity Representative ............................................... 6
Registration in Germany ............................................................... 7
Residence registration .......................................................... 7
Residence Permit .................................................................. 7
Registration Offices ............................................................... 8
Ausländerbehörde ................................................................. 9
Work Permit Applications ............................................................. 9
Income Tax Card ............................................................................ 10
Social Security Plans ..................................................................... 10
Health Insurance and Services ..................................................... 10
Pharmacies ........................................................................... 11
Money.............................................................................................. 11
Opening a bank account ....................................................... 11
1. Current account ................................................................ 11
2. EC-card: electronic cash ................................................... 12
Accommodation ............................................................................. 12
Looking for an apartment ...................................................... 12
…in the Guest-House............................................................ 12
…in newspapers ................................................................... 12
…on the Internet ................................................................... 12
Terminology .......................................................................... 13
Lease and deposit ................................................................. 14
Television Licence ......................................................................... 15
Public Transport ............................................................................ 15
Useful websites ..................................................................... 15
Different fare zones ............................................................... 16
Different tickets ..................................................................... 16
Traveling with the Semester Ticket .......................................... 17
Travelling with the Deutsche Bahn ........................................ 17
Communication .............................................................................. 17
Public Telephones ................................................................ 17
Private Telephones ............................................................... 17
Internet access ...................................................................... 18
Shopping ......................................................................................... 18
Day care, Kindergarten .................................................................. 18
Other Possibilities ................................................................. 19
Family Service with Besser Betreut....................................... 19
Schools ........................................................................................... 20
Further education .................................................................. 20
Leisure ............................................................................................ 21
Berlin ..................................................................................... 21
Potsdam ................................................................................ 21
Some recommended locations in Potsdam ........................... 22
Religion ........................................................................................... 23
PhD .................................................................................................. 24
Bureaucracy .......................................................................... 24
Details of Matriculation and PhD defense at the University of
Potsdam .......................................................................................... 25
Bits and Pieces .............................................................................. 26
Sports.............................................................................................. 27
Active! ............................................................................................. 27
PhD-Student Network of the Max-Planck-Society ................. 27
Alumni ............................................................................................. 27
Alumni Meeting ..................................................................... 27
Freunde der Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung e.V. ......... 27
maxNet - the Max Planck Network ........................................ 27
Imprint ............................................................................................. 29
Welcome
The Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces would like
to extend a warm welcome to you and wishes you all the best
for your stay in Germany!
With these guidelines we would like to inform you about the
formal paperwork necessary for your stay and also to give you
some basic information about the life and living in Germany.
While reading, please keep in mind that some contact
information may have changed over the time and that you
should always look up the current contact details on the
internet! http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/84880/4Welcome_Office
Visit the official website of the Federal Foreign Office of
Germany for a first impression and to get a general idea about
Germany before you come here www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/en/startseite.html.
www.berlin.de/,
the
official
Berlin
website,
and
www.visitberlin.de offer you a broader range of information
about Berlin in particular and in various languages. For those of
you coming to Potsdam, www.potsdam.de/cms/ziel/26670/EN/,
www.potsdam-tourism.com/ will give you relevant information
about the city, shopping, cultural events, health, social welfare
and many other things. Further information can also be obtained
on the webpage of the International Relations Office of the
University of Potsdam www.uni-potsdam.de/english/aaa/. The
Researcher’s in Motion Portal EURAXESS Germany is also
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recommendable for getting information on various issues like
funding,
taxes
and
even
child
care
www.euraxess.de/portal/home_en.html.
Welcome Office
For any questions or problems before or during your stay in
Germany, feel free to contact the MPIKG’s Welcome Office.
You will receive assistance with finding an apartment, a
kindergarten place, with filling in documents and other things.
You
can
either
send
an
email
[email protected], or come by personally, KGF
room 1.023 (central building), (0049) 331 567-9101.
How to get here
Located just outside Berlin, the Potsdam-Golm Science Park offers cutting-edge international research and training for tomorrow’s scientists, paired with research-based industry in start-ups
and small and midsized companies. The close proximity of the
Institutes of the Max Planck and the Fraunhofer Society, which
are two of the most important research organisations in Germany, the University of Potsdam and research-based companies
provide ideal conditions for the discovery and exploitation of
new collaborative ventures.
(see also www.wissenschaftsparkpotsdam.de/en/directions.html)
By bus:
Number 606, 605, 612 or X5 from Potsdam central station
By regional train:
RB 21 or RB 22 from Berlin central station
RE 21 from Golm train station to Berlin central station
By car:
e.g. on the A10 - take exit Potsdam Nord or Leest - direction to
Potsdam-Golm. The University compound is situated in front of
the station on Karl-Liebknecht- Straße.
For more details about public transport please consult the
homepage of the Verkehrsbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB):
www.vbb-fahrinfo.de
2
Location of Science Park Potsdam-Golm
3
Map of Science Park Potsdam-Golm
4
Your arrival
The secretaries will help you to answer your questions and will
allocate your office at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and
Interfaces (MPICI)
Theory & Bio-Systems
Ms. Susann Weber (Room K-1.122)
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9601
Email: [email protected]
Biomaterials
Ms. Kerstin Gabbe (Room K-2.211)
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9401
Email: [email protected]
Biomolecular Systems
Ms. Dorothee Böhme (Office in Berlin)
Phone: +49 (0) 30-838-59301
Email: [email protected]
Emeritus Group (Interfaces)
Ms. Stefanie Riedel (Room K-2.236)
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9201
Email: [email protected]
Colloid Chemistry
Ms. Carolin Nuglisch (Room K-2.122A)
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9501
E-Mail: [email protected]
Max Planck Research Groups
Mechano(bio)chemistry
Ms. Stefanie Riedel (Room K-2.236)
Phone: +49 331 567-9201
Email: [email protected]
Administration
Ms. Angelina Schneider (Room Z-1.023)
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9101
Email: [email protected]
The computer support is responsible for installing your computer
account. After your arrival please contact the computer support for
permission to use the institute IT environment and for the setup of an
email account and also for any problems you may have with your
computer.
5
Computer Support Team
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9696
Email: [email protected]
For more information visit http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/en/it-service
The library of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces is a
specialized library offering services mainly to the scientists at the
institute. The holdings include approximately 4500 monographs and
conference proceedings and 100 scientific journals. They are
searchable in an online-catalogue.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask the librarians
Ms. Silke Niehaus-Weingärtner
Head of Library
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9160 or ext. 9161
Ms. Annette Pape
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9162
Mr. Frank Grimm
Phone: +49 (0) 331-567-9322
For more information visit
http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/192924/3Library
Works Council
The Works Council represents the employees of the Institute in all
affairs concerning the relationship between employer (that is the
Max Planck Society, respectively the directors of our Institute) and
employee.
Consequently every employee may contact the works council
during working hours for the purpose of obtaining information or
advice, or if they have any requests, suggestions, or complaints
regarding some aspect of their labor conditions.
For our current representatives please go to:
http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/84946/2Works-council. (internal users
only)
Equal Opportunity Representative
Equal opportunities are a highly important issue at the Max Planck
Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. To guarantee these,
counseling and support is provided by the equal opportunity
representatives. The representatives will help to avoid and if
needed, help to remove institutional disadvantages to students,
staff and the faculty because of gender.
6
For more information visit
http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/382453/4Equal-OpportunitiesRepresentative
Registration in Germany
Residence registration
As soon as you find a permanent place to stay in Potsdam or
Berlin, you will have to register your address at the local
Residence Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt/ Bürgeramt),
usually located in the town hall. Here you will receive a copy of
registration
certificate
(Anmeldebestätigung/
your
Anmeldebescheinigung).
In Berlin you will find several offices, depending on which
district you live in. Check this link for addresses
www.meldebox.de/Einwohnermeldeamt/Berlin/
For Potsdam go to
http://www.meldebox.de/Einwohnermeldeamt/Potsdam/
Each subsequent change of address must also be registered
with the relevant local authority.
You need your registration certificate first in order to apply for a
residence permit (Aufenthaltsgenehmigung). Once you have
obtained the Anmeldebestätigung, take it to the foreigners’
registration office to get your residence permit.
Residence Permit
Residence permits are handled by your local foreigners’
registration office (Ausländebehörde). You will have to present
the above mentioned registration certificate and have to fill in
additional forms. These can usually be found at the information
booths or the waiting areas. The Berlin foreigners’ registration
office provides the form in various languages online.
http://www.berlin.de/labo/formulare//formularserver.php?detail
=72301
Citizens of the EU, United States of America, Australia, Canada,
Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and Switzerland may apply for a
residence permit after entering Germany without a visa. Citizens
of other countries are required to apply and obtain a visa prior
to entry (an option also open to US citizens) at a German
embassy or consulate in their country of residence. When
applying for a residence permit, you usually have to present the
following documents:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
application form
available at the Welcome Office
lease agreement for accommodation
confirmation landlord of renting a flat (for Potsdam only)
valid Passport
copy visa
passport photograph (biometric)
proof of valid health insurance (Germany)
contract of employment/grant/fellowship
proof of residence/address in Germany
certificate of academic degree for BlueCard applications
only for TVÖD employments
research agreement (Forschervereinbarung nach § 20
Aufenthaltsgesetz)
you will get more information at the Welcome Office
marriage certificate (if applicable)
Fee 60 €-110 € per person
Scholarship/Fellowship holders have to show written proof from
the Max Planck Institute.
If you are employed as a scientist by the Max Planck Society,
you do not need a work permit. Sometimes it is difficult to
convince the officials of this fact, but things usually work out.
Before you go to the registration office, call to check out the
latest details. Requirements can change, so try to get as much
information as possible to avoid multiple visits because you are
missing a document. Also check opening times before you go
there.
Your application for a residence permit will usually be processed
within one or two weeks. In this time you will be covered by a
certificate stating that you are awaiting a residence permit.
If you have further questions, please contact Angelina Schneider
in the central building (Z-1.023, tel.: 9101).
Registration Offices
Potsdam
If you live in Potsdam (including Golm) you have to register at
the Einwohnermeldeamt of Potsdam.
Stadtverwaltung Potsdam
Bereich Bürgerservice
Friedrich- Ebert- Straße 79/81
14461 Potsdam
Phone: 0331/2891111
8
Opening hours:
Mon
10.00-18.00
Tue-Thu
08.00-18.00
Fri
08.00-14.00
Sat
08.00-12.00
Ausländerbehörde
You will find the Ausländerbehörde on the same campus in
Haus 20 www.potsdam.de/cms/ziel/658710/DE/
Ausländerbehörde
Phone: 0331/289-1761
Fax: 0331/289-1764
[email protected]
Opening hours:
Tue
09.00-18.00
Thu
09.00-12.00
13.00-16.00
Fri
09.00-12.00
Berlin
In Berlin you will find for each borough a "Meldebehörde" to
register
your
address.
Please
follow
this
link
http://www.berlin.de/buergeramt/sonstiges/anmeldehinweis.htm
l.
On the top right-hand corner you will find all boroughs. Click on
yours and then you will find address + phone number.
Ausländerbehörde
Landeseinwohneramt Berlin
Opening times:
Abteilung Ausländerangelegenheiten Mon
07.00-14.00
Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24
Tue
07.00-14.00
13353 Berlin
Thu
10.00-18.00
Phone: (030) 90269-0
Fax: (030) 90269-4099
www.berlin.de/labo/auslaender/dienstleistungen/index.html
Work Permit Applications
In general, foreigners from non-EU countries, from countries not
affiliated with the European Economic Area or persons who are
not married to a citizen of the EU or the European Economic
Area require a work permit when working in Germany.
However, there are some exceptions. Scientific employees of
research institutions who are financed mostly or solely by public
funds do not need a work permit, providing that their skills and
abilities are of a public interest to Germany. Because of this,
most Max Planck scientists do not require a work permit.
Nevertheless, you have to submit a copy of your contract, job
description, academic transcript and university degree to be
exempt from applying for a work permit. Foreign fellowship
holders do not require a work permit because they are not
employees. The same applies for students not working more
than 90 days or 3 months a year.
9
All other foreigners, including the scientists´ spouses, require a
work permit for Germany. It can be obtained at the employment
office for foreigners (Arbeitsamt für Ausländer).
The form that you get there has to be filled in by yourself and
also by your potential employer. According to German law, you
have to wait 4 weeks before receiving a work permit and you
are not allowed to work while your application is being dealt
with. That is because the officials have to make sure that no
other German or EU citizen fits your position. You have to
renew your work permit every year. In order to receive a
residence permit, you must take your work permit to the foreign
registration office along with your residents’ registration,
documentation of health insurance, a valid passport and a
passport photo.
Income Tax Card
Every employee in Germany is required to have an income tax
card (Lohnsteuerkarte). This is issued by the tax office.
Scholarship/Fellowship holders do not need an income tax card,
as they do not pay taxes.
Social Security Plans
As a result of social security agreements with some countries,
guest scientists can apply to be exempt from contributing to the
German social security system. In this case, the payments are
automatically transferred to the respective social security plan
in the scientist’s home country.
If you have to contribute to the German pension plan, you can
apply for refunds but only 24 months after your contract has
ended and only if you were not required to be insured in
Germany within this time.
For more information visit
http://www.bva.bund.de/cln_227/nn_2143576/sid_5073FDD6B
DC685323BFC839444EE3931/DE/DasBVA/BVA__englisch/nod
e.html?__nnn=true
Health Insurance and Services
You are required to have a health insurance for the duration of
your stay in Germany. The type of your insurance (statutory or
private) depends on the work contract that you have signed
with the Institute. Please contact our Welcome Office for more
information.
10
The webpage www.aerzte-berlin.de offers you a list of
physicians in Berlin. You can also specify your search according
to the doctor’s language competence.
Pharmacies
You can get prescription and non-prescription drugs at the
pharmacy. For emergencies, there is always at least one
pharmacy open in every area day and night. The pharmacy at
Berlin Hauptbahnhof for example is opened 24/7 but you can
also
check
online
at
www.akberlin.de/akb/oeffentlich/notdienst/index.cfm
for
a
detailed list of all pharmacies that are opened in case of
emergency.
For
Potsdam
see
www.infopotsdam.de/notdienst.html
Money
The Postbank offers bank accounts without any charges as long
as more than 1.000 EUR per month are paid to the account
www.postbank.de. You can also check the DKB www.dkb.de/
(account without charges, worldwide free money withdrawal
with your credit card), the Deutsche Bank www.deutschebank.de/index.htm or any other bank that suits your needs best.
If you have frequent payments from or to your bank account in
your home country, ask your home bank whether it cooperates
with a bank in Germany. This could shorten and cheapen the
transfer of money to a bank abroad.
Opening a bank account
For opening an account you will need your passport and
registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung).
1. Current account
The most common form of an account in Germany is a
Girokonto (checking or current account). Most financial
transactions are completed using this type of account. In
general, a current account allows you to:
Withdraw money from your bank using an EC-card. This is
normally free of charge at your own bank's ATMs, but a fee of
several EUR may be charged for withdrawing money from other
banks' ATMs;
-
-
transfer money to pay bills using transfer forms;
set up regular fixed amount payments (e.g. your rent) paid by
standing order (Dauerauftrag);
-
11
set up regular payments (even of variable amounts, e.g.
telephone bills and health insurance contributions) to be paid by
direct debit.
-
At many banks you can choose between several current
accounts with various facilities (e.g. online banking, interest,
credit card at no charge, etc.) but the fees also differ. As a
student you can apply for exemption from the usual account
charges (Kontoführungsgebühren).
2. EC-card: electronic cash
When you have opened a current account, you are able to order
an EC-card from your bank. The card works like a credit card
with the same advantages and risks. If you lose your card,
contact your bank as soon as possible. You can also report your
loss to the emergency service- 116 116, please have your bank
account number and bank code at hand.
Accommodation
Housing in Germany is either let unfurnished, partly furnished,
or fully furnished. Unfurnished accommodation is the most
common and it really is "unfurnished”. A built-in kitchen is
usually mentioned separately in the advertisements.
Looking for an apartment
Looking for an affordable apartment in Potsdam and Berlin can
be quite time-consuming. On arrival in Germany, you may find it
necessary to stay in temporary accommodation for a few weeks
or months until you can move into your own apartment.
…in the Guest-House
(Please contact the secretaries for details)
…in newspapers
Large sections of all kinds of accommodation can be found in
various local newspapers on Tuesday and Wednesday. You can
also place an advertisement in the newspaper yourself.
…on the Internet
http://www.youniq.de/en/rent/jochen-klepper-str-1-7
www.studentenwerkberlin.de/en/wohnen/wohnheimseite/index.html
www.zweitehand.de/immobilien/mieten
http://kleinanzeigen.zitty.de/
http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeigen/
http://service.tip-berlin.de/anzeigen/index.php/Wohnen
12
www.studentenwerk-potsdam.de/wohnen.html
www.immobilien.de
www.wg-gesucht.de
http://www.immobilienscout24.de/de/finden/wohnen/index.jsp
http://www.mitwohnzentrale.de/ (+commission)
http://www.immonet.de/
http://www.studenten-wg.de/
http://www.homecompany.de/ (+ commission)
Alternative options
Shared apartments: For those who are coming to Germany
alone,
WGs
or
Wohngemeinschaften
(shared
living
arrangements) are often a good option as you can live at lesser
costs and meet new people. Be aware that WG rooms are often
not furnished. Please visit websites like www.wg-gesucht.de
Temporary accommodation: If you intend to stay in Germany for a
limited time, you can consider temporary accommodation. Sublets
can generally be found under the terms Untermiete or
Zwischenmiete. This means that the flats or rooms are sublet with
a contract signed with the tenant, not the landlord.
Terminology
The indications about the level of rent in most cases refer to
basic rent (Kaltmiete) which means that you will have to pay
additionally for water, heating and waste disposal
(Nebenkosten) and electricity. In contrast these subsidiary
charges are often included in the rent for furnished flats
(Pauschalmiete). When you are looking for a flat, keep in mind
that Warmmiete includes all costs, Kaltmiete does not.
3 Zi.-Whg
3 ZKDB
three room apartment
three
rooms
plus
kitchen,
hallway, bath
you have to buy some of the
fixtures and furnishings
loft apartment
built-in kitchen
ground floor
back of the house
Abstand
DG (Dachgeschoss)
EBK (Einbauküche)
EG (Erdgeschoss)
HH (Hinterhaus)
K (Kaution)
kalt
NR (Nichtraucher)
KM (Kaltmiete)
KN
Nachmieter
lease
deposit
heating extra
non-smokers
cold rent
kitchenette
tenant who takes over an old
13
NMM (Nettomonatsmiete)
net monthly rent (plus costs for
heating, electricity, gas, water,
waste disposal)
MVZ (Monatliche
Vorauszahlung)
Prov. (Provision)
qm (Quadratmeter)
TG (Tiefgarage)
VH (Vorderhaus)
WG (Wohngemeinschaft)
WBS erford. (Wohnberechtigungsschein needed)
Wfl. (Wohnfläche)
WM (Warmmiete)
Zi (Zimmer)
ZH (Zentralheizung)
zzgl. NK
rent in advance
commission
square metre
(size of the apartment)
underground garage
front of the house
shared flat
subsidised housing only rented
to holders of a special permit
(WBS)
living space
warm rent (this is the cold rent
plus additional costs)
room(s)
central heating
plus extra charges (heating,
electricity, etc)
Lease and deposit
Before signing the lease, it is essential to read the document
very carefully, including the small print. If you are interested in
an apartment, ask the landlord if he could give you a draft of
the lease.
As soon as you have rented the flat you will have to pay a
deposit of up to 3 months’ rent. If you leave the apartment
without any damages, this will be refunded when you move
out.
Normally, the lease includes the rent amount and additional
costs, the payment for any necessary repairs up to about 80
EUR, responsibility for renovation costs when moving out,
length of lease and terms of rent increase. Furthermore the
lease may contain additional arrangements (use of garden,
parking lots etc). If you want to keep pets, you must ask the
landlord before getting any. The lease also includes general
house rules like cleaning the staircases, entrance area or the
basement.
Before moving into your new home, you should make an
appointment with your landlord to inspect the apartment for any
defects (scratches, stains, wear and tear and damage). All this
should be included in the lease, even if the damage appears
very slight. Otherwise you may be charged for repairs or your
14
deposit will not be refunded when you move out, because it is
assumed that the respective damage has been caused by you.
The list of defects and damages has to be signed by the
landlord. You must keep this list until you move out.
Television Licence
In Germany, any household watching or recording live television
transmissions as they are broadcast is required to purchase a
television licence (GEZ = Gebühreneinzugszentrale der
öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten). As of 2012, this
costs for TV EUR 17.28 monthly and for radio/computer/laptop
EUR 5.76 monthly. The licence is required to receive any live
television transmission, whether it is received via terrestrial,
satellite, cable, or the Internet.
How can you get your TV licence? On the Rundfunkbeitrag
website. Simply fill in the following form
https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/anmelden_und_aendern/buerge
rinnen_und_buerger/
Unfortunately, it is only available in German.
For more information visit
http://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/index_ger.html
Public Transport
IMPORTANT:
Note that every city or administrative district has its own
regional transport system, which has its own charges, tickets
and services. There is no uniform system for Germany.
The main connection to the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and
Interfaces is by Bus 605 and 606, which run between Potsdam
Hauptbahnhof and Wissenschaftspark/ Science Park PotsdamGolm. The other connection is the RegionalBahn RB 21 that
runs every hour between Griebnitzsee and Wustermark.
You can find schedules for buses and trains that connect Golm,
Potsdam and Berlin at the bulletin boards. You can get those at
the reception in our central building.
Useful websites
http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/en Our site gives
information you need to get to the Institute.
you
all
the
www.vip-potsdam.de Here you can download schedules of
trams and buses.
15
www.havelbus.de List of buses in and around Potsdam. It has
good downloadable PDF files of bus schedules.
www.vbbonline.de List of all public transportation in Berlin and
Brandenburg with file searching and maps.
www.bvg.de The list of buses and trams that run in Berlin with
some PDF maps to download.
www.bahn.de Here you can get information about train
schedules for the whole of Germany. There is a file searching
service and you can buy your tickets online. They also offer an
English version of their website.
Different fare zones
Berlin and Potsdam each have their own fare zones (A, B and C)
which extend concentrically around the city centres.
Tickets can be purchased with the zone combinations AB, BC or
ABC.
To get from Potsdam to Golm you need a Potsdam AB ticket, to
get from Berlin to Golm you need a Berlin ABC/BC ticket.
Different tickets
Note that each ticket allows you to travel with all kinds of
public transport, e.g. S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, tram and
Regionalbahn.
Einzelfahrt/single ticket:
Is valid for one hour in Potsdam or two hours in Berlin one way
only.
Tageskarte/day ticket:
Is valid all day long until 3 am on the next day.
Wochenkarte/7-Tage-Karte/weekly ticked:
Is valid for a whole week and costs about the same as 5
Tageskarten.
Monatskarte/monthly ticket:
is valid for entire current calendar month or 30 days after
you’ve bought it.
Jahreskarte/yearly ticket:
is valid for one year and costs about as much as 10 monthly
tickets.
16
Traveling with the Semester Ticket
Students of the Potsdam University can obtain the student’s
semester ticket. With this ticket you can board all buses, trams,
urban lines and underground lines throughout the entire public
transport system of Berlin and Brandenburg (VBB).
You can find more detailed information on
www.asta.uni-potsdam.de/semesterticket/
Travelling with the Deutsche Bahn
For all who want to travel in Germany or Europe, some offers of the
Deutsche Bahn are listed below:
Bahncard: This card is recommendable for those who, travel by
train frequently.
www.bahn.de/international/view/en/prices/germany/bahncard.sh
tml
The card holders receive discounts on their tickets. It can be
purchased in every travel agency of the Deutsche Bahn. You will
need a photo and your valid passport for the application. For
further information use the link “Angebote/BahnCard” at DB’s
homepage www.bahn.de Also on this homepage you will find the
link “International Guests”, this service explains many special
offers, such as the GutenAbendTicket, SchönesWochenendTicket,
and gives additional timetable information.
Communication
Public Telephones
You can call any number in Germany or abroad from any public
telephone box. However, to some countries there is no direct
dialing, so you have to call an operator first at 0010 and ask for a
connection. In most public telephone boxes it is also possible to be
rung back; there should be a number on the phone or above it.
By the way, payphones have become fairly rare in Germany. Most
public phones are card-phones. You can buy a card for € 6 or € 25
at post offices or newspaper stands. The Telekom Weltkarte (Tcard) or the postal-bank cards (with integrated telephone chips)
enable you to call within Germany and to 50 other countries; the
charges will be deducted from your account directly.
For national inquiries dial 11880 or 11833.
The English Language Service can be reached by dialing 11837. For
international inquiries call 11834.
Private Telephones
You can get both the relevant application (Anmeldeformular) forms
at the post office, in the Telekom telephone shops in your town or
17
at www.telekom.de. If you apply for a connection, you can
normally be registered directly. You will have to show your
passport.
Internet access
Getting connected to the Internet in Germany is fairly easy, options
include: dial-up, ISDN, DSL and cable. Bear in mind that it may take
a while to get high-speed access, such as DSL, installed. Go to
www.dslweb.de/dsl-schritt4.htm or www.verivox.de/internet/ to
inform yourself about possible providers for DSL.
Shopping
Most shops are open between 08.00 and 21.00 (or 18.00 for small
shops) Monday-Saturday. Berlin shops are often open a bit longer.
Shops are usually closed on Sundays and public holidays.
In Berlin you will have no problems to do your shopping; you will
find department stores and shops all over the city.
www.shopping-hauptstadt.de/verzeichnis/index.php gives you a
list of some shops and their opening hours. Shopping areas can
be
found
around
Kurfürstendamm,
Friedrichstraße,
Tauentzienstraße, Wilmersdorferstraße, Hackescher Markt,
Schönhauser Allee, Alexanderplatz or Schlossstraße.
Potsdam has some nice and good places to buy food or non-food
things e.g. the pedestrian precinct Brandenburger Straße, the
shopping malls Bahnhofspassage, Marktcenter or Sterncenter.
For groceries you will either have to go to Potsdam-City or to
Potsdam-Eiche, where the closest supermarkets to the Max-PlanckCampus are located:
E aktiv markt
Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 97-98
14469 Potsdam-Eiche
Netto Potsdam - Eiche
Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 141
14469 Potsdam
Day care, Kindergarten
The staff members of the Max Planck Institutes have the possibility
to receive day care for their children (aged 3 months to 6 years) in
the Fröbel Kindergarten “Springfrosch”. Parents who would like to
enroll their child into this Kindergarten must meet the following
conditions:
18
- One parent must work in one of the Max Planck Institutes
- The other parent must also work or be engaged in another
activity (e.g. studying, language course, etc.) for at least six
hours per day.
If you are interested in the day care and the needed forms for the
Jugendamt, send an email to [email protected]
For further information, please go to
http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/84849/5Kindergarten Application forms,
as well as the latest updates, can also be found on that site.
Other Possibilities
If you would like to receive childcare in Berlin you will first have to go
and see the Jugendamt www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/senfamilie/kindertagesbetreuung/kindertagespflege/ansprechpartner
_bezirksaemter.pdf in your district. You will have to hand in a
registration form
www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/senbjs/service/formulare/an
meldevordruck.pdf, usually 2 months before you wish to start
childcare. You will then receive a voucher
www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/senfamilie/kindertagesbetreuung/anmeldung/gutschein_muster.pdf
that allows you to send your child to a childcare facility. You will also
have to go and see the Jugendamt in Berlin if you wish to send your
child to a kindergarten in Potsdam.
www.familienservice.com
As a partner of the Max-Planck-Society, Familienservice Berlin
provides special back-up centres that help you in cases of
emergency. They offer flexible child care at a very short time
notice, be it for a few hours, days, weekends, day or night. This
service might come in handy in case you need to attend a
conference, your child’s day care provider becomes sick or you
have a family emergency. You can use this service for up to 20
days a year.
Family Service with Besser Betreut
Besser Betreut GmbH offers solutions for finding and arranging
family services in areas including childcare, tuition, senior nursing,
petcare and household and garden services.
The company operates the largest database of care providers in the
German speaking part of Europe. Our experienced team provides
expert support in the areas of nursing and care.
Free family services advice
Phone: 0800 / 377 33 00
[email protected]
19
Schools
Finding a primary school for your children aged 6-12 is not a
problem. Generally, where you live determines which school your
children go to.
If you choose to live near the MPI in Potsdam-Golm, you have
these possibilities:
Grundschule 2 "Ludwig Renn"
Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 15a
14469 Potsdam-Eiche
Headmaster: Frau Fessel
Telefon/Fax : 0331/500526
Email: [email protected]
www.gs2-potsdam.de
Inselschule Töplitz
Mittelbruchweg
14476 Töplitz
Headmaster: Frau Wick
Telefon/Fax : 03320260234
Email: [email protected]
www.Inselschule.toeplitzonline.de (English-speaking)
If you choose to live in Potsdam please inform yourself about
primary schools on: www.potsdam.de/cms/ziel/275760/DE/
For other schools see: www.potsdam.de/cms/ziel/31565/DE/
For Americans, another option besides the German school system
is www.jfks.de
Schools and day care centers in your area in Berlin can be found
on:
www.berlin.de/sen/bwf/meine_fragen/wo_finde_ich/schule_kita/an
wendung/
There is also a Familien Service School in Berlin which might be of
interest to you. www.familienservice-lernwelten.de/familienserviceschule-berlin Keep in mind that they charge tuition fees.
Further education
Learning German
To help you feel more at home in Germany, the Max Planck
Institute of Colloids and Interfaces offers you German classes. For
detailed information please contact the Administration
Department.
Furthermore, there are language courses at the Volkshochschulen
in Berlin and Potsdam www.berlin.de/vhs/struktur/index.html,
www.potsdam-vhs.de/
20
The Potsdam University offers special classes for foreign students,
doctoral candidates or guest scientists, who are staying at the
university. Depending on their previous knowledge they can join
special courses (Aufbaukurs 1 und 2). German proficiency is
necessary, you will have to take a test and need at least 60% of
the points to be accredited.
´
You finish your class with a participation certificate and a mark.
Further information is available at www.uni-potsdam.de
Leisure
Berlin
Berlin is a captivating city full of sights and culture, a fantastic
nightlife and a vibrant atmosphere. If you are interested in the
sightseeing spots and would like to explore the city, taking bus 100
is recommendable. The bus passes almost every sightseeing spot
on its way from Zoologischer Garten to Alexanderplatz and is the
easiest way to get a first impression. It’s even possible to download
an audio guide for this ‘unofficial’ bus tour. Unfortunately it is only
available in German.
www.culture-to-go.com/produkte_bus_100.html
Potsdam
Potsdam has always been in Germany's focus. Out of the tiny
fishing village Poztupimi, first mentioned in writing in 993 A.D.,
a European royal residence city developed in the 17th and 18th
centuries. The “Great Elector” and Friedrich II shaped its
appearance in many ways. The large parks and palaces such as
Sanssouci, the New Palace, Charlottenhof, Cecilienhof and the
Marble Palace are well-known in the whole world.
Since the 17th century Potsdam has also been a “city of
immigration” in which its inhabitants lived together and
displayed tolerance for one another despite their different worldviews and religions. This is still evident today in the Dutch
Quarter (the only collection of such buildings on this scale
outside the Netherlands), the
Russian Alexandrowka Colony, the French church of the
Huguenots and other sights.
Potsdam is becoming more and more an attractive city with
historical flair. Presently the historical centre is reappearing in all
its former beauty. And the surroundings have much to offer as
well: numerous historic buildings and palaces, parks, extensive
woods, the River Havel and many lakes invite you to relax. And
Berlin is only a “hop, skip and jump” away.
21
www.potsdam-tourism.com/ gives you information about
Potsdam and its sightseeing-spots. Many restaurants, bistros
and cafés can be found on and near Brandenburger Strasse,
near “Nauener Tor”, in the “Dutch Quarter” and in Babelsberg.
Most of the restaurants are open until midnight. Events and
locations
can
be
checked
out
on
http://potsdam.bewegungsmelder.de/
Some recommended locations in Potsdam
Bar Gelb – Dortustraße 6, Potsdam- City-Centre, Phone: 0178 514
41 52
Café Labendig – Kurfürstenstr. 14, Potsdam- City-Centre,
Phone: 0176 239 061 94, www.cafe-labendig.de
Gleis 6 – Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 6, Potsdam-Babelsberg,
Phone: 0331 748 24 29, www.gleis-6.de
Hafthorn – Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 90, Potsdam- City-Centre,
Phone: 0331 280 08 20, www.hafthorn.com
Quendel – Sellostr. 15a, Potsdam-West, Phone: 0331 9792601,
www.quendel-potsdam.de
Waschbar – Geschwister-Scholl-Str.82, Potsdam-West, Phone:
0331 967 87 16, www.waschbar.de
Restaurants in Potsdam-Golm
Golmé – Reiherbergstraße 48, Phone: 0331 50 12 13 – traditional
German style
Landhotel Potsdam – Reiherbergstraße 33, Phone: 0331 60 11 90
– local cuisine
Dance and Music Clubs
fabrik – Schiffbauergasse 1, Potsdam- Berliner Vorstadt, Phone:
0331 280 03 14, www.fabrikpotsdam.de
LINDENPARK e.V. Lindenpark & j.w.d. - Stahnsdorfer Straße 7678,
Potsdam-Babelsberg,
Phone:
0331
74
79
70,
www.lindenpark.de
NachtLeben – Schopenhauer Straße 27, Potsdam- City Centre,
Phone: 0331 979 12 42, www.nachtleben-potsdam.de
Waschhaus e.V. – Schiffbauergasse 1, Potsdam- Berliner Vorstadt,
Phone: 0331 271 56 0, www.waschhaus.de
22
Stilbruch – Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 94, Potsdam- City Centre, Phone:
0331 200 82 48, www.stilbruch-potsdam.de
Cinemas
Filmmuseum – Marstall, Potsdam- City Centre, Phone: 0331 271
81-0
www.filmmuseum-potsdam.de/
Thalia Arthouse – Rudolf Breitscheid Straße 50, PotsdamBabelsberg, Phone: 0331 743 70-20, www.thalia-potsdam.de
UCI Kinowelt – Babelsberger Straße 10, Bahnhofscenter, Phone:
0331 233 7 33, gives you more detailed information.
www.uci-kinowelt.de/programm/potsdam/
www.kino-potsdam.de
Culture
Hans Otto Theater Potsdam – Am Alten Markt, Potsdam- City
Centre, Phone: 0331/ 98 11 8, www.hot.potsdam.de/
Kabarett Obelisk e.V. -Charlottenstr. 31, Potsdam- City Centre,
Phone: Tel.: 0331 / 280710, www.kabarett.potsdam.com
Nikolaisaal Potsdam – Wilhelm.-Staab-Straße 10/11, Potsdam- City
Centre, Phone: 0331/288 88 28, http://www.nikolaisaal.de/
Theaterschiff Potsdam – Alte Fahrt, Potsdam-City Centre, Phone:
0331/2800 100, www.theaterschiff-potsdam.de
T-Werk -Schiffbauergasse 1, Potsdam- Berliner Vorstadt, Phone:
0331 - 71 91 39, www.t-werk.de
Walhalla Potsdam, Dortustraße 5, 14467 Potsdam, Fon:
0331/7481679, Fax: 0331/7481680, http://www.walhallapotsdam.de/
Religion
www.berlinfo.com/Lifetime/Public/public_religion/index.htm
provides information for those, who are looking for spiritual
communities in the Berlin area. You will find useful general
information on the “big religions” and also lists with addresses
of churches, synagogues and centres in Berlin. For the
addresses
of
mosques
in
Berlin
please
go
to
http://islam.de/3068.php?q=Berlin.
http://linksammlungen.zlb.de/1.4.1.9.0.html gives you some
more links to other spiritual communities in Berlin.
23
PhD
This section contains information relevant to PhD students of
the MPI.
- Bureaucracy: rules of the University of Potsdam for PhD
students, like matriculation and the procedure of thesis
submission and defence
- Bits and pieces: Student ID & transportation ticket, sports
- Active! PhDnet – The network for all PhDs of the MaxPlanck-Society
If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask your department
PhD representative.
Bureaucracy
Formalities for submission of your PhD thesis at the University
of Potsdam are regulated by the “Promotionsordnung”
(German),
www.uni-potsdam.de/ambek/prom.html
The University of Potsdam provides detailed information in
English for PhD students, which does not only include formal
issues concerning your PhD but also university sports, public
transport, the canteen and so on.
www.uni-potsdam.de/aaa/incoming/en/promovenden
Moreover, the office of international relations is open for
students coming from abroad
International Relations Office
Am Neuen Palais 10, House 08
14469 Potsdam
Phone: +49 331 977-1760
Fax: +49 331 977-1798
Email: [email protected]
Go to
www.uni-potsdam.de/aaa/incoming/promovenden/dekanate.html
to find your current contact person.
NOTE!
Make sure to contact your advisor at university after having
informed yourself on the web, where you can actually find most
of the information you need.
24
Details of Matriculation and PhD defense at the University of
Potsdam
-
-
-
-
-
Matriculation at Universität Potsdam
German students have to hand in their Immatrikulationsantrag
directly
to
the
offices
of
the
”Dezernat
für
Studienangelegenheiten”
Foreign students are requested to get in contact with the
“Akademisches Auslandsamt” (foreign students’ office).
Their degrees have to be accepted as an equal qualification to a
German diploma by the faculty of Maths and natural sciences.
Check online for the current contact person.
The following documents have to be handed in for matriculation
as a doctoral student:
“Anzeige der Promotionsabsicht” (German version) or
“Declaration of intent to do doctoral studies“ (English version)
“Immatrikulationsantrag” (German version) or “Application form
for the enrolment as doctoral candidate“ (English version)
available at the “Akademisches Auslandsamt” or online
A certified photocopy of the certificate of your academic degree
and proof of the grades that you obtained (“Diplom-Zeugnis”
and “Diplom-Urkunde”)
Certified photocopies of your high-school diploma
Germans have to bring a copy of their “Exmatrikulations
Bescheinigung”
Foreigners have to bring their “Aufenthaltsgenehmigung”
Curriculum Vitae
Proof
of
health
insurance
(“Krankenversicherungsbescheinigung”).
“Betreuererklärung”. This is a formless letter (with an official
letter-head) written by a professor or habilitated researcher of
the faculty, in some exceptions also a “qualified group-leader”
(e.g. Privatdozent), in which he states that he is going to advise
you during your Ph.D. work.
All these documents have to be handed in at the
“Geschäftsstelle Promotionsausschuss”.
Remark: It is possible to bring the originals with their uncertified
photocopies and have them certified for free. For certificates
written in most of the European languages (English, French,
Italian, Spanish etc.) a translation is not necessary, but might be
required for other languages. For EU-countries and most
candidate countries for joining the EU, academic degrees are
considered to be equal to German degrees; degrees of other
countries are accepted after individual approval. In some cases,
25
attendance of additional
(“Auflagen” – conditions).
courses
might
be
demanded
Forms to fill in and additional information can be found here
(also
English
forms):
www.unipotsdam.de/u/studium/bewerbung/
Note!
Matriculation takes place only after payment of the tuition fees
Furthermore – Leave a hardcopy of your Ph.D. thesis for the library
(Ms. Stscherbina).
Bits and Pieces
Student ID: Your proof of life & Getting around
Your student-ID is going to be a chipcard called PUCK
(Potsdamer UniversitätsChipKarte). You have to send in a
photograph to the Studierendensekretariat (Postfach 60 15 53,
14415 Potsdam) indicating your name, date of birth and
matriculation number or submit it digitally under https://www.sbportal.uni-potsdam.de/foto/index.php.
Furthermore you have to pay a bail of 10 EUR. If you lose your ID
and need a new one, it will cost you an extra 15 EUR.
For further information on PUCK send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the service phone number (0331) 977 41 00
or refer to the
Studierendensekretariat
Am Neuen Palais
Haus 8
14469 Potsdam
You will pay a tuition fee of about 250 Euros per semester to
update your student ID which also serves as a transportation
ticket for the public transport all over Berlin and Brandenburg.
You are allowed to use any vehicle of public transport except
for the fast trains ICE and IC. Some specific IC tracks are,
however, covered, like e.g. the one between Cottbus and Berlin.
In general, the ticket allows for transportation of a bike within
the tariff area of Berlin ABC. For detailed information, check
www.asta.uni-potsdam.de/semesterticket/
or
ask
your
colleagues.
Besides transport, your student ID will help you get discounts at
various places like museums, theatres, and so on, which you
will find out at the respective counters.
26
Sports
The University of Potsdam offers a huge variety of sports
activities that start every semester, like soccer, volleyball, taek
won do, climbing, and water sports. The program can be found at
www.hssport.uni-potsdam.de/cms/
Course booking is online at the beginning of each term at a time
given on the home page, with a varying fee for the different
courses.
Active!
PhD-Student Network of the Max-Planck-Society
http://www.phdnet.mpg.de/
The PhDnet portal serves as a platform for exchange among
doctoral students at all Max Planck Institutes independent of
their field of research. The PhDnet offers soft skill seminars
such
as
scientific
writing,
time
management,
and
communication skills to the PhD students of the MPS. An
interdisciplinary workshop is organized every year, and formal
issues like the social status of PhD students are worked on at
the annual general meeting in close collaboration with the MPS
General Headquarters and the President of the MPS. All PhD
students are invited to join the activities of the PhDnet. Check
out the homepage or the PhDnet Wiki:
www.phdnet.mpg.de/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Alumni
Alumni Meeting
Together
with
the
“Freunde
der
Kolloidund
Grenzflächenforschung e.V.” the institute organizes an annual
meeting, which informs about the "Trends in Colloids and
Interface Science".
Freunde der Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung e.V.
Everybody who is interested in Colloid and Interface Science is
most welcome to join us. If you want to become a member,
please
inform
yourself
on:
http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/FKGF/FKGF-home.html
maxNet - the Max Planck Network
maxNet (https://maxnet.mpg.de/) is a virtual platform for ALL
former employees, visiting scientists, Ph.D. students, postdocs,
and graduate students from institutes and facilities of the Max
Planck Society. In the future we would like to use only this
database to invite you to our annual alumni meeting. To join the
community, please fill out the following registration form:
https://maxnet.mpg.de/register
27
Important telephone numbers
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
Reception desk at the main building
Welcome Office, Angelina Schneider
Administration Department
IT-Support
Caretaker, Olaf Gaida
0331
0331
0331
0331
0331
EMERGENCY
Police
Fire Department
Emergency Ambulance
28
110
112
112
567
567
567
567
567
7814
9101
9101
9696
7885
Imprint
Based on:
an original document by Scott H. Hawley, Brian Grady,
Guruswamy Kumaraswamy and Bao-Hang Han 2001
Living in Germany, Guide for Marie Curie Research Fellows by
Barbara Lieder, Andre Schlochtermeier, Jörg Schneider; DLR
e.V.
Leitfaden für Ausländer - Guidelines for Scientists New to
Germany by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Generalverwaltung
web: www.daad.de, www.uni-potsdam.de and further websites
listed in the document.
Editorial Team:
Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung
o Katja Schulze, Public Relations
o Angelina Schneider, Welcome Office
Stand: 10/2014
29