Refugees
Information for students with a refugee background
Refugees who want to start or continue their studies at the TH OWL are very welcome! We advise you individually on your questions.
As a refugee, you can basically study at TH OWL, even if your asylum procedure has not yet been completed.
Qualifications
In order to study, you usually need an educational qualification with which you can also study in your home country. You can prove this qualification with a certificate.
If your educational qualification is not yet sufficient to study at TH OWL, you have the option of taking an assessment test at a preparatory college, catching up on your A-Level or qualifying yourself professionally for a degree and then studying. We advise you on this.
Would you like to find out for yourself whether you have the qualification to start studying in Germany? Use the information offered by the DAAD to find out the specific application requirements for your country of origin.
In addition, further qualifications, such as an internship, may be required for studying at TH OWL.
Review of your records
The TH OWL tries to give refugee prospective students access to the course as quickly as possible, taking into account the different educational backgrounds and the current language level.
Depending on whether direct university admission is already possible according to your diploma or you have to complete a preparatory year at a preparatory college, we will be happy to advise you individually.
To do this, we will check your documents in advance and see to what extent enrollment at the TH OWL is already possible. So this depends on the level of education and language.
In order to be able to check your ability to study, we need the following documents:
- Tabular CV
- Translation of the school certificate or degree
- Current language certificate or confirmation of participation in a language course
- Residential status
Scholarships for refugees
Information on scholarships for refugees is currently being updated.
BaföG to support students
As a recognized refugee, you can apply for BAföG in Germany.
BAföG is a grant that the German state grants to students if you or your parents cannot cover the costs of studying. You can receive up to € 853 per month for your living and study costs. After completing your studies, you will pay back 50% of the funding you received to the German state, up to a maximum of € 10,000.
You can find more information about the BAföG application at
The International Office of the TH OWL offers German courses for study preparation and support during studies, which are funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia (MKW) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Consultation on studying
Anamaria Capsa
Phone: +49 (0) 5261 - 702 5086
E-Mail: anamaria.capsa(at)th-owl.de
Office hours (online): by arrangement
Room (Webex): https://th-owl.webex.com/meet/anamaria.capsa
Career consultation
Ananya Nagendran
Phone: +49 (0) 5261 - 702 5821
E-Mail: ananya.nagendran(at)th-owl.de
Office hours (online): by arrangement
Room (Webex): https://th-owl.webex.com/meet/ananya.nagendran
Consultation by students
Lemgo
Qutaiba Al Mousa
Phone: +49 (0) 5261 - 702 5304
E-Mail: qutaiba.al(at)stud.th-owl.de
Office hours (online): Tuesday, 10.00 - 12.00
Raum (Webex): https://th-owl.webex.com/join/qutaiba.al
Detmold
Mohamad Sharabati
Phone: +49 (0) 5261 - 702 5195
E-Mail: mohamad.sharabati(at)stud.th-owl.de
Office hours: Monday, 11.30 - 13.30
Room (Webex): https://th-owl.webex.com/join/mohamad.sharabati
Höxter
Irem Yavuz
Phone: +49 (0) 5261 - 702 5460
E-Mail: irem.yavuz(at)stud.th-owl.de
Office hours (online): Thursday, 09.00-11.00
Room (Webex): https://th-owl.webex.com/join/irem.yavuz
There are also helpful support offers for refugees outside of the university.
Integration projects at TH OWL
In order to provide refugees with the best possible support in starting or continuing their studies and in transitioning into professional life, the OWL University of Applied Sciences began developing an integration project in 2015 that is constantly being developed and adapted to current conditions. The project has been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MKW) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) since 2017.
The integration project includes the following measures to support refugees:
The INTEGRA integration project aims to integrate refugee students into their studies and to prepare them for entry into the labour market. At TH OWL, the Career Services IO division has been created in the International Offices as part of INTEGRA since January 2021. The offers of the Career Services IO focus on the support and preparation of refugee and international students for their professional entry after completing their studies. In addition to individual advice on career planning, students are also offered workshops on professional and career-oriented topics.
This project is funded by the BMBF in cooperation with the DAAD.
Information is currently being updated.
The QualifyING project is a cooperation project between the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, TH Agricola Bochum and the TH OWL. In a one-year program, engineers with a refugee background who have completed their studies in their home country are given additional qualifications at universities and partner companies. The aim is as comprehensive a theoretical and practical preparation as possible for the German job market and the acquisition of a certificate awarded by the universities.
The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW).
Information is currently being updated.
Useful Links
Accommodation
http://www.wohnen-owl.de/index.html
https://www.study-in-germany.de/de/aufenthalt-planen/wohnen/wohnung-finden_26611.php
Here you will find a large selection of apartments on offer in East Westphalia-Lippe.
Studierendenwerk Bielefeld (Bafög)
http://www.studierendenwerk-bielefeld.de/bafoeg/der-bafoeg-antrag.html
Bafög applications from TH OWL students are processed at the Studierendenwerk Bielefeld.
Studying in NRW
https://mkw.nrw/hochschule-und-forschung/studium-und-lehre
The Ministry of Culture and Science provides all the important information and facts about studying in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on this page.
DAAD: Studying in Germany
https://www.study-in-germany.de/fluechtlinge/
The DAAD has put together important information for students with a refugee background on this page.
Handbook Germany
https://handbookgermany.de/de.html
The Handbook Germany provides answers from A-Z to life in Germany with videos and texts.
Ankommen
https://ankommenapp.de/APP/DE/Startseite/startseite-node.html
On this page you will find the latest information about life in Germany.
Integreat App
https://integreat.app/kreishoexter/de
The “Integreat App” provides helpful information and contact details for important contact persons in the Höxter district.
Welcome Café
https://www.facebook.com/WelcomeHx/?ref=page_internal
The Welcome Café is a meeting place for volunteers and refugees in Höxter. Joint meetings take place here and everyday questions can be clarified together.
Ausländerbehörde Kreishaus Höxter
The immigration office is located in the district building and takes care of various services. For example, the residence permit can be extended there.
Re-register the apartment
After moving, the new place of residence must be registered with the citizen service in the city.
Jobcenter Höxter
http://www.jobcenter-kreis-hoexter.de/
In the job center, the income can be clarified before receiving Bafög.
Jobcenter Lippe
https://www.jobcenter-lippe.de
In the Jobcenter, the income can be clarified before receiving Bafög.
Ausländerbehörde Stadt Detmold
http://www.integration-detmold.de/beratung/auslaenderbehoerde
The immigration office, which takes care of various services, is located on Wittekindstrasse in Detmold. For example, the residence permit can be extended there.
Ausländerbehörde Kreis Lippe
The immigration office is located in the district building and takes care of various services. For example, the residence permit can be extended there.
Consultation in Detmold
http://www.integration-detmold.de/beratung
The city of Detmold offers general advice for any problem.
Re-register the apartment
After moving, the new place of residence must be registered with the citizen service in the city.
netzwerk-lippe
https://www.netzwerk-lippe.de/
The Netzwerk-Lippe offers help with finding an internship and writing applications.
Bürgeramt
https://www.buergerserviceportal.nrw/krz/lemgo
After moving, the new place of residence must be registered with the citizen service in the city.
Mehrgenerationenhaus Lemgo
https://mehrgenerationenhaus-lemgo.de/hilfe/
The Mehrgenerationenhaus is a meeting place and offers refugee aid.
Friedensbüro
http://friedensbüro.de/begegnung/
The Friedensbüro offers:
- Support in establishing contact with the home country through the Internet, e-mail, fax, telephone and letter
- Open meeting for the unemployed
- With the project "Help for self-help"
- Consultant exchange café
- Open meeting point
Jobcenter Lemgo
https://www.jobcenter-lippe.de/standorte.html
In the service office of the Jobcenter in Lemgo, financial matters can be clarified before receiving Bafög.