Offers and services for Ukrainian and Russian students and researchers who have fled their country

Dear members of Kiel University,

The hostile attack on Ukraine which violates international law continues unabated. Many people are fleeing, including students and researchers – from Ukraine, but also from Russia. As a state university, we declare our solidarity with all Ukrainian and Russian citizens who are opposed to Russia the aggressor and are forced to leave their country as a result.

In line with the federal scientific organisations, we at Kiel University have also suspended our cooperation with Russia. At the same time, we have also initiated an extensive range of assistance and support services. If you are in touch with students or researchers who have fled and need help, please let them know about our offers and services.

The University Board has set up a Ukraine Coordination Unit to bring together the various support and counselling services for students and academics affected by the war in Ukraine, which goes against international law, and by the dramatic restriction of academic freedom and freedom of opinion in Russia, and to advise the University Board on how to proceed.

Offers from the Kiel University

Offers and services for Ukrainian and Russian students and doctoral researchers who are already in Kiel or at the CAU:

  • Advice on financial support options: Students who find themselves in financial distress can contact the International Center to apply for financial assistance, including interim financial aid and qualification aid. More information about financial support options
  • Counselling for psychological or spiritual support: Students who require psychological support can go to the International Center for advice.
  • Questions and legal issues about residence status (such as extending the residence period in Germany) Advice for students and advice for researchers.
  • Problems with examinations: Students who have problems resulting from the high strains and stress at the time should contact their Examination Office.

Help for Ukrainian and Russian students, doctoral researchers and other researchers who are “at risk” or fleeing to Kiel:

From the International Center at the CAU:

  • (Study) Advisory services available in German, English, Russian and Polish
  • Evaluating qualifications from existing university documents
  • Assistance with asking the departments about aptitude checks for Master’s degrees
  • Simplified application options for those affected

Welcome offers for Ukrainian and Russian students:

From the International Center at the CAU:

  • Participation in degree preparation programmes like Fit fürs Studium as from language level B2 through to the DSH exam (German language proficiency test)
  • Exemption from fees for preparing for a degree
  • (Study) Advisory services available in German, English, Russian and Polish
  • English courses for those who have fled who are interested in studying
  • Maths and Computer Science refresher courses for those who have fled who are interested in studying
  • Socio-cultural offers in cooperation with Kulturgrenzenlos e.V. (international language café, international women's café)

Additional services by students:

  • “Safe Space”: weekly exchange with affected Ukrainian and Russian students and prospective students in cooperation with the General Student Committee (AStA). Please drop an email to sopo@asta.uni-kiel.de if you want to join.
  • Legal advice on residence status by the Refugee Law Clinic (Deutsch)

Scholarships and financial support

The CAU supports existing federal programmes to help students and researchers at risk.

  • The Hilde Domin Programme by the DAAD supports students or doctoral researchers at risk around the world who are denied the right to education in their home country with starting or continuing a degree in Germany. Potential candidates can be nominated by the University Management.
  • The Volkswagen Foundation wants to help Ukrainian researchers temporarily continue their scientific work in Germany. This offer is aimed at Ukrainian researchers who already fled to Germany after the Russian attack on their country, or who will arrive in Germany in the coming weeks. Applications must be made together by the University Management and the hosting scientist in Germany. The University Board supports corresponding applications from faculties and institutes with a favourable statement.
  • The European Commission has announced the launch of the MSCA4Ukraine scheme, part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions in order to support displaced scientists from Ukraine. The MSCA4Ukraine scheme is part of the EU’s response to the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new scheme aims at enabling ukraine  researchers to continue their work in Europe, helping to safeguard Ukraine’s research and innovation system, and the freedom of scientific research at large.
  • The German National Academy of Sciences introduces a special fellowship "Leopoldina Ukraine Distinguished Fellowship" for scientists from Ukraine who have their careers in science endangered or interrupted by the war to resume or continue their research activities, and remain in academia. The funding is person-related and designed for outstanding post-doctoral level scientists from Ukraine to work on an independent research project at a university or research institution in Germany for an initial period of one year, while maintaining their affiliation at a Ukrainian institution.

Call for donations by the Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine at Kiel University is following Russia’s attack on Ukraine with absolute dismay – and expressly supports the CAU University Board’s declaration to condemn the war against Ukraine.

In collaboration, the University Board at the CAU supports the initiative by the Faculty of Medicine and the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein. As part of the donation campaign “UKSH Gutes tun! UKSH hilft Ukraine” (do something good, the UKSH is helping Ukraine), the UKSH is donating medical supplies to help provide medical treatment for the Ukrainian population. If you would like to participate in this initiative, we are very grateful for any donations to the following account:

  • Recipient: UKSH WsG e.V.
  • IBAN: DE75 2105 0170 1400 1352 22
  • BIC: NOLADE21KIE
  • Transaction reference: FW14042: UKSH hilft Ukraine
  • More information: www.uksh.de/ukrainehilfe.html (Deutsch)

Entry to the country, residence and NGOs

Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)

News:

  • Residence extension with or without a visa
  • Ukrainians travelling on from Poland to Germany
  • Applying for a visa without a biometric passport
  • Applying for a long-term residence permit without a national visa
  • Acceptance programme for Ukrainian nationals and/or children
  • Keeping open/closing the borders between the EU and Ukraine

Link to the current information by the BAMF [Deutsch, український, русский]

 

“Welcome to Germany – information for immigrants”

  • What do I need to travel to Germany?
  • Where can I learn German?
  • Where can I find somewhere to live and work?
  • Where can I find childcare for my children?
  • Useful telephone numbers, contact addresses and tips for everyday life

Link to the information about "Welcome to Germany" [English, русский]

Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI)

  • Lengths of a short/temporary stay
  • Visas, asylum, evacuation missions
  • COVID-related travel restrictions to enter the country
  • Requirements for a passport

Link to the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community [English, український, русский]

Federal Foreign Office

  • Ukrainians entering the country
  • How long can you stay without a visa
  • Asylum, applying for a visa
  • Preparation of additional regulations for refugees from Ukraine

Link to the Federal Foreign Office [in German, український]

Federal integration officer

  • Entry to the country / residence issues / asylum
  • Housing / accommodation
  • Health / COVID-19 
  • Everyday life / living in Germany 
  • Financial support
  • School / vocational training / degrees / work
  • Contact details / important offices / contact people

Link to the integration officer’s information service [in German, English, український]

Federal family portal

  • What are the rules for travelling from Ukraine to Germany?
  • How can I help children and young people deal with the current situation and provide them with information?
  • Where can I get more support?
  • Where can I make a donation for people in Ukraine and refugees?
  • Where can I find more information about how refugees are being helped in my federal state?

Link to the family portal [in German]

Information by civic organisations and NGOs

Refugee rates in the different federal states:

Health

General healthcare

COVID-19 information

Psychological counselling

  • Initiative "Gemeinsam für psychische Gesundheit" (together for mental health) at the University of Greifswald [in German, русский]
  • Guide: Depression [русский]
  • he Krisenchat initiative (crisis chat) was set up so that those suffering from depression can communicate with each other and quickly receive professional counselling via text message or Whatsapp. Link to the Krisenchat [in German]

Chronic illnesses

Accommodation

Unterkunft Ukraine is an alliance of sustainable organisations which supports a civil society. gut.org gAG has taken over its coordination. The aim is to construct safe, long-term and partnership solutions for those who have fled who are seeking accommodation. Interested parties can offer private accommodation, those looking for shelter will be provided with accommodation options. Link to #Unterkunft-Ukraine [in German, український, русский]

Millions of people from Ukraine are already on their way to safe countries in the EU. Those fleeing urgently need places to stay. If you have a room available or can offer other accommodation like hotel rooms, please get in touch with host4ukraine [in English, український]

Children and parents

  • Guides for parents: Vocational education in Germany[русский]
  • Career advice: Information for parents [русский]
  • How to explain about war to children [in German]
  • How to explain about war to children, episode of the children’s programme Sendung mit der Maus [in German]
  • Explaining war to children, taking away fears but also allowing them, Deutschlandfunk [in German]

Women in distress

Help for LGBTIQ*

Learning a language

Refugeephrasebook.de offers a collection of helpful phrases, vocab and links for refugees and helpers to assist with orientation after newcomers arrive in the country. A network of volunteers translates words for initial orientation with a basic vocab, as well as medical and legal themes, in 44 languages. The translations and resources are available as open data and as ready-to-print files. All material is available under an open licence. Refugee initiatives, designers and helpers can use the data for free and adapt it to create their own versions for use in aid projects.

Link to the refugee phrasebook [in German, English український, русский, etc.]

Content: contacts, advice, services