序
Preface
德國在經濟方面作為世界第四大經濟體，在學術方面宣傳高等教育的免學費政策以及諸多排名前面的學校，吸引了不少青年學子嚮往著德國留學，這一篇主要就是要寫德國留學前的準備並且把我在交大的申請交換流程放上來。
Germany not only is the forth largest economy around the world but also have some policies and prestiguous universities to support its development in higher-education, which makes many young students aspire to a life in germany as students. This article will focus on what we should prepare before we depart and the procedure I applied for exchange programs in TUM as a student in NYCU.
TUM交換的流程(僅供參考)
Flow
The flow of process after handing in your application for exchange program in TUM( exclusively for reference):
(dorm) = things about dormitory
(tum) = things about application in TUM
(visa) = things about visa
1. (tum) 5th January - deadline for applications
2. (tum) 19th January - announcement of the result of your application
3. (tum) 18th March - information about the deadline for your application in TUM
4. (tum) 28th March - an email to inform you that your nomination has been approved.
5. (tum) 13th April - an email from TUM to remind you the deadline for your application to TUM and an email about the application form
6. (tum) 14th April - the day of my submission
7. (tum) 20th May - confirmation of my submission
8. (tum) 29th June - an email including the admission letter
9. (tum) 30th June - an email to instruct you on some preparation before your arrival in Germany
10. (tum) 6th July - data confirmation
11. (dorm) 8th July - an email about your application of student dorms.
12. (tum) 19th July - an email to inform you about TUMOnline access data
13. (dorm) 20th July - an email to tell you to wait for another email about the acceptance of accommodation letter
14. (visa) 25th July - handing in the documents to German Institute Taipei ( appointed on 11th July)
15. (tum) 10th August - a reminder of enrollment procedure ( deadline : 1st September)
16. (dorm) 16th August - acceptance of accommodation letter
17. (dorm) 17th August - a request for your sign on the accommodation contract
18. (visa) 22th August - a request to email German Institute Taipei
19. (visa) 25th August - receipt of visa
20. (dorm) 26th August - the detail of your accommodation
21. (tum) 2th September - a welcome email from your department
22. (dorm) 21th September - a meeting to inform you of things in your student dorm (sent on 19th September)
23. (dorm) 26th September - successfully appoint the anmeldung on 6.10
24. (dorm) 30th September - the landloard confirmation: '‘Wohnungsgeberbestätigung’"
25. 1th October - arrival in Germany
申請留學前的準備
Before your resolution
一定要先想清楚這個留學的意義以及想要留學的方式還有這些方式要求的文件與能力。這部分的準備不管是查找資料還是蒐集自己過去的文件，對於出國前的其他準備都很有幫助，因此一定要想清楚確定自己需要這個留學。
You must think carefully about why you want to study abroad, how to achieve it and what abilities and documents are needed. During this stage, you will need to search for much information and collect your own documents for it, which is a good traning even before your departure. In a nutshell, you have to know exactly why you need this.
以我自己為例，我在讀大學前就已經埋下希望以後能在國外工作甚至長居的理想，所以我大學的這個交換有很大一部分是因為我想看看在歐洲的生活是不是真的能如我預期的一樣比在台灣好。
Take myself for example, I’ve kept an idea about working and even living abroad before the start of my university life, so exchange programs are a way for me to verify whether the life there is better than the one in Taiwan as expected.
而在我大二快結束時，我才下定決心要選德國作為我體驗生活的新地方，除了我查到的資料都顯示德國的社會總體是比較安定也比較沒有什麼槍枝氾濫的問題，另外恐攻與種族歧視的問題我也有先調查，看起來德國相比法國或英國，在治安上更能讓人安心。我也在過程中發現他們低廉的學費與社會對高知識份子的尊敬都與他們的教育理念強調技術還有公平教育有關。這對自認不是特別優秀到可以申請英美獎學金的我而言非常有吸引力。有了理念跟事先搜尋的資料，接著就是思考這趟旅程實際要做的事。那時候，剛好我指導教授說他有認識一個TUM的教授，如果我可以交換過去的話，他願意幫我引薦給那個教授，因此我也預先設立好去德國留學除了是體驗生活也包含做研究。
In fact, just around the end of my sophomore year, I decided to choose Germany as a new place for me to experience. According to what I’ve searched for, the society in Germany is more peaceful with few problems of violence and guns around the Europe. Besides, the terrorist attacks and xenophobia both happen in Germany not as often as in the UK or France. During the search, I also found out that their low fees of enrollment and high respect from the society to the higher-educated are both related with their emphasis of your ability of application and fair education. This is quite attractive especially when I have no chance to win the scholarship in the UK or US. After setting up your idea and searching for related data beforehand, we should think about what we would do in Germany in detail. At that time, my instructor introduced a professor in TUM to me after I succeeded to apply for the exchange program in TUM. Thus, I can consider this trip a chance to enjoy life there and , luckily, to do some research.
思想上的準備都齊全了以後，接著就是針對要交換的國家找尋需要準備的文件，這部分資訊，以陽明交大來說的話，這個網站都會更新消息:https://oia.nycu.edu.tw/study-abroad/outbound-exchange-program/
After bracing yourself mentally, the next thing is to find which documents you need. For NYCU, this issue can be easily solved via the website due to its frequent updates.
另外，平常有時候也會收到國際處寄來的信說有交換的說明會，如附圖:
Incidentally, we sometimes can receive the emails from Office of International Affairs to inform us that there will be a seminar about exchange programs.
很建議大一大二的學弟妹，如果對交換不清楚但還是很想嘗試的話可以去聽聽看。
I really recommand all freshmen and sophomores to give it a try if you don’t know how to start but still want it.
這邊以111學年第二梯次的交換為例，第二梯次的名額通常是第一梯次剩下的，所以如果目標學校是比較熱門或是比較排名前面的，建議第一梯次就申請。
網站下面有一個可交換列表的網址:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/
Let’s look at the second round of exchange programs in 111 R.O.C year, first you should know that the splots in the second round are the remainder of those in the first round. Thus, if your target school is very popular or renowned for its ranking and techniques, you should apply for the program in the first round. Next, there is a website above and you can click it.
往下滑到感興趣的學校，並且仔細看要求條件，像TUM的語言能力就有要求要B1等級，就可以自己衡量要考什麼試來達到要求的水準。
After the click, scroll down to universities you’re interested in and note down the demands attentively so that you can think more about which exam you should take.
For instance, if you consider TUM, you may need to have a certificate of at least B1 English level.
之後主要就是在他的平台上申請交換，並且按照他的指示一一上傳需要的文件。
Afterwards, just use the platform to apply for it and upload necessary documents step by step.
值得一提的是，可以申請交換的學期通常是剛好與申請時隔至少一年，所以假如我是升大三時申請，那我就是升大四時去交換或是大四下去交換。
It’s worth noting that the time of your leave and the time of your application have a gap of at least one year. If I apply in the end of my sophomore year, then I will be an exchange student no earlier than the beginning of my senior year.
文件送出以後，之後公布結果時會有一個成績及錄取學校:
After sending documents, there will be a result of your application and a score to estimate your eligibility.
而大家也可以看到要繳交的文件裡還有一個有利審查文件，如果申請交換前有去聽說明會就會收到這樣的信件:
You can see that there is a column for “Other supporting documents” in the application page. If you attend the aforementioned seminar befor applying for programs, you could receive an email like this.
就可以拿來當作加分的依據。
Then, you can use this as bonus to add some points in your score.
出國前的準備
Before your landing
出國前，除了要處理在交換學校那邊的申請也要處理簽證與機票。這三件事就會需要更多其他的準備，因此下面會以我的經驗為例，分三個部分來講:
Before your leave, you should cope with the applications in your exchange university, the visa and an airline ticket. These three tasks would require more other preparation, so I will separate the things below into three parts around them based on my experience:
交換學校相關
About exchange school
基本上，TUM為例的話，會要你先填寫基本資料，以及語言能力跟交換的系所，還有要不要申請學生宿舍跟可接受的價格範圍。
特別注意的是，最好基本資料是對照著護照謄寫的，不然如果有輸入錯，後面更改都會有點小困擾。
Take TUM as an example, you have to fill in a form with your basic information, language abilities, the department you choose, whether to applay for a student dorm and your affordable payment range. Pay heed to this, you had better type in data while checking it on your passport. Otherwise, it is a bit hard to alter later if your data is wrong somewhere.
基本資料填寫完以後，就會要你給一個讀書計畫，值得注意的是，因為TUM算學分的方式基本上都要參加考試才會給予，因此這個讀書計畫只是要確保你有大概看過自己想要什麼課程。
After that, you need to hand in your study plan. It is noteworthy that the credits you can obtain usually need your attendance in corresponding exams, so this plan only aims to propel you to know more about what you want to study in the exchange period.
最後則是檢附一些之前就應該準備好的資料。
In the end, you also need to give them some documents you may have prepared.
簽證相關
About visa
能越早處理就越好的事情，在我申請的時候，申請visa必須要在學期開始的前三個月內才可以去申請，因此可能要注意會不會太早申請，太早申請會在現場被要求重新預約。
Visa is an very important thing that you should process as early as possible. Around the time of my application for visa, we are not allowed to hand in our application the 3 months before the next semester in your exchange school, so you should watch out whether your appointment is too early. If you do this too early, you will fail to applay for visa and be asked to appoint later time on the spot.
交換生簽證請看:https://taipei.diplo.de/tw-zh-tw/service/visa-einreise/-/2453292
For information of exchange student visa, you should check the following link.
證件照最好是三個月內的，或是至少不要跟護照上的一樣，除非護照是三個月內辦的。
Your photo had better be taken in 3 months, or at least, the photo should be different from the one in your passport unless your passport is appied for in 3 months.
財力證明可以找Fintiba 或Expatrio，普遍來說，因為還沒出國，所以爬文基本上這兩個都差不多。但因為一些本人實際遇到的問題，個人建議不要找Expatrio。
不過如果想要自己處理保險業務，其實也可以使用Skype打電話過去或是使用email寫信去申請，過程並不會很複雜也比較能自己掌握自己的進度。
As for your approval of wealth, you can get help from Finitiba or Expatrio. Normally, they both have a similar reviews if searching them on the internet because you haven’t arrived there to know more about what else you may need. However, I strong suggest that you should not try Expatrio due to some of my experiences.
If you want to apply for insurance by yourself, you can try Skype to call or emails. The process is not complicated and you have more control of your progress.
申請表格的部分，爬文看一下應該沒太大問題，注意的是，申請表格下載後的PDF可以直接在裡面輸入資料，因此不需要手寫兩份，可以直接繳交填寫完的PDF影本。
For the forms you should fill out, you may not encounter any problem by refering to posts about this online. Nevertheless, you should know that you can type your data in the PDF file, so you don’t need to handwrite 2 copies. In fact, you can hand in and print out copies of PDF file you’ve finished by typeing.
機票相關
About airline ticket
歐洲地區基本上離出發時間三個月前購買是最便宜的，另外就是要考慮購買的時間點是不是旺季，旺季的時候機票價格會漲很快。
If you want to buy the cheapest airline tickets in European areas, you should consider to buy them 3 months before your departure in addition to taking whether the time you are buying is in the high season into consideration. In the high seasons, you should notice that all tickets will soar all at once.
除此之外，購票時也記得要找有沒有學生優惠，像阿聯酋就有提供九折學生優惠還有送托運重量，也不需要先申請ISIC卡，只要提供入取證明就可以拿到優惠了。
Furthermore, you should try purchasing the tickets with student special discounts. For instance, Emirates airline offers the discount of 10% off as well as another extra luggage weights, and you even don’t need to have ISIC card. Instead, just show your approval of enrollment or acceptacne from the exhcange school.
阿聯酋學生票:https://www.emirates.com/english/special-offers/student-special-fares/
Emirates student special discounts can be checked via the link.
再來是出國前要準備的行李與要做的事，務必要在出國前確保自己把所有該做的都做了，像是換國際駕照又或是兵役問題，手機電話費或其他出國後用不到的費用也可以想想看怎麼處理比較好，因為這些額外雜事每個人要面對的不同，因此不一一列出。
The following content will be suggestions for what you should prepare and the things you should do before your departure. You must make sure everything you should do in your country is done, such as getting an International Driving Permit, military-service issues or payments of services that you won’t use abroad like telephone fees. Due to the fact that everyone will be confronted by different problems, I will not list these things below.
因為出國時必須確保帶在身上跟託運的東西要符合規定，因此以下就用我自己那時候分類的方式列表。
Since you have to obey the rules for check-in luggage and carry-on luggage, I will list them in this way.
| 託運行李 check-in luggage |
隨身行李 carry-on luggage |
當地買 buying locally |
|---|---|---|
| 衣服 cloth |
3C用品 3C products |
衛生紙 tissues |
| 文具 stationery |
充電器 chargers |
洗衣用品 laundry essentials |
| 機械工具 machine tools |
衛生紙 tissues |
清潔用品 cleaning supplies |
| 刮鬍刀 razors |
攜帶型鹽洗用品 carry-on toiletries |
SIM卡 SIM card |
| 藥品 medication |
無水水瓶 water bottles without water |
延長線 extension cord |
| 延長線與轉接頭 plug adapters and extension cord |
摺疊雨傘 folded umbrella |
垃圾袋 garbage bags |
| 厚外套 coats |
重要文件影本 copies of important files |
運動用品 sporting goods |
| 鹽洗用品 toiletries |
檯燈 lamps |
冰箱 refrigerator |
| 指甲剪 nail clippers |
網路線 ethernet cable |
過濾器 filters |
| 口罩 medical masks |
路由器 routers |
吹風機 hair dryer |
要特別注意，藥品跟電器還有尖銳物以及液體類都是會在搭機規定裡說明的，務必要再出發前看過一次規章並且最好打一次克服問清楚是否有疑慮的物品都沒問題。
Pay attention, medication, electronic appliances, items with sharp appearpance and liquid are all highly possible to be listed in the regulations for luggage. Check the regulations for your airline and had better call for their customer services to figure out whether your items are all accepatable.
另外，我這次交換也有帶變壓器跟吹風機，因為德國不只插座樣式不同，電壓也不同。 結果一插上去用不到五分鐘就跳掉了，吹風機也壞了，因此不建議帶變壓器及其他無法變壓的電器。
Additionally, I also broght a transformer and hair drye this time owing to the different socket shapes and voltages. Notwithstanding, my hair dryer was broken 5 minutes after plug-in, so I recommend that you should not waste your time and money trying this.
SIM卡可以在當地Lidl買就可以了，或是自己去找，要在出發前先買也可以，要自己衡量一下。網路卡是一定可以在出國前先買的，有網路可以幫助你很多事，假如你也不會德文的話。
For SIM card, it can be bought easily in the Lidl local shops, other shops if you want or you can even get the one before your departure for Germany. Moreover, the network access of your phones is of the utmost importance as they can help you a lot if you don’t know how to speak in German.
過濾器主要是因為當地水質偏硬，不一定適合喝軟水長大的人，這方面的資訊可以爬一下文自己衡量需不需要，不需要的話可以直接跟當地人一樣喝水龍頭的水即可。
As for filters, the reason is that water there is hard water, not necessarily suitable for people growing with soft water. Therefore, you can search it for a while to weigh it up, or just drink water running from faucets as the locals do.
後記
Some other notes
如果是十月左右過去的話，可以帶一個大棉被放入袋子，可以選擇託運。雖然下飛機以後要多拿一個東西有點麻煩，但是大棉被的保暖可以幫助你度過最冷歐洲之前的時光，之後再去買一個電毯或其他保暖物品。
If you come here around October, you should consider bring a big comforter,which can be one of check-in luggage. Although it will be a bit troublesome after your landing, it can help you to over the period before the coldest weather. After that, you can buy yourself an electric blanket or other items that keep you warm.
抵達以後至少要空出一個半小時給過海關跟等託運行李，務必確保考慮這些以後的時間足夠你從機場到你要居住的地方。
You should be certain that you get enough time to travel from the airport to where you will live because passing through customs and waiting for your check-in lugguage require at least one and a half hours.
入籍雖然有些不用預約可以現場等，但建議還是出國前就先預約好，這樣比較不會到當地後還要擔心入籍的事。
Some of the registration offices accept your application for registration without booking in advance, but I still suggest that you should book before your departure so that you won’t worry too much about registration.