About us

The International Welcome Center was established in 2009 following the example of other Welcome Centres being set up in Germany and was officially opened on 15 April 2010 in the Internationales Begegnungszentrum (IBZ).

Then as now, the primary goal of the International Welcome Center is to contribute to the internationalization of Rostock as a research and science location. To this end, it offers internationally mobile researchers comprehensive support for themselves and their families in all phases of their stay - from planning, arrival and the actual stay to departure and any follow-up support. The services are aimed at international doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and visiting academics who are doing their doctorate at the university or are completing a research or teaching stay.

New Rostock residents and guests should feel welcome in the Hanseatic and university city and find optimal conditions for their academic work. During the entire stay, the International Welcome Center acts as a central contact point, which is available for personal enquiries in all matters, offers assistance in dealing with authorities and organises events to get to know the culture, country and people.

The International Welcome Center under the roof of the Rostock International House (RIH)

Organisationally, the International Welcome Center is located under the umbrella of the Rostock International House (RIH). This replaced the „Akademische Auslandsamt (AAA)“ (International Office) of the University of Rostock in October 2013.

The new name is associated in particular with a broader orientation of the services offered. In addition to the primarily administrative tasks of the International Office, the RIH is also to form an interface between local and international target groups, as well as between an academic and non-academic public, with various programmes and events. It is intended to be a central hub in the encounter between the University of Rostock and the city of Rostock, engaging the international community and opening up the local citizenry to them in equal measure. Furthermore, this type of meeting place presents the University of Rostock as a lively place characterised by innovation and openness - which is also entirely in the spirit of the International Welcome Center.

Network

One of the success factors of the International Welcome Center is its large network. In addition to a good network with the numerous institutions of the university (institutes, secretariats, service facilities, etc.), the International Welcome Center also maintains good relations and a regular exchange with university-related institutions and partners outside the university. The following should be mentioned in particular:

Welcome Center Region Rostock

https://www.welcome-region-rostock.de/en/

The Welcome Center Region Rostock is one of our closest partners. Together we organise, for example, the International Career Day as well as events in Rostock and excursions beyond the city limits.

The Welcome Center Region Rostock has a similar field of activity as the International Welcome Center of the University of Rostock. While the International Welcome Center of the University of Rostock looks after the foreign researchers of the two Rostock universities and the research institutions close to the university, the Welcome Center Rostock Region is there to help all professionals from Germany and abroad who move to Rostock and the surrounding area. It works closely with companies from Rostock and the region and also actively promotes this place to live and work.

[Rostock denkt 365°] e.V. - Arbeitskreis Internationales

https://rostock365.de/

The association [Rostock denkt 365°] e.V. was founded in 2007 and is "committed to a strong, attractive and globally recognised science location Rostock". Various working groups were formed for this purpose; in 2008 the international working group "Arbeitskreis Internationales".

The members of the working group come from the Rostock International House (RIH), the Rostock University of Music and Drama (hmt), academic institutions, the Internationales Begegnungszentrum (IBZ), the Studierendenwerk, the administration of the Hanseatic City of Rostock, the citizens' initiative Bunt statt braun Bunt e.V. and other institutions.

The working group wants to promote public awareness of international actors in academia, their projects and their importance for the University and the Hanseatic City of Rostock. The conditions for foreign scientists and guests at the science location Rostock and the exchange of experience and information between the members of the working group are also to be promoted.

Internationales Begegnungszentrum Rostock e.V. (IBZ)

https://www.ibz.uni-rostock.de/en/

The International Meeting Centre was founded in 1998 by the University of Rostock, the University of Music and Theatre and associated institutes of the university as a non-profit association. The primary goal of the association is to create living space for international researchers from the institutions with a guest house and to offer them a comprehensive range of support services. In addition, scientific and cultural exchange between members of the university and other research institutions in the region, as well as the residents of the Hanseatic city of Rostock, is to be facilitated and promoted.

Rostock Migration Office of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock

https://rathaus.rostock.de/de/rathaus/international/migrationsamt/249700

For many of the researchers who come to Rostock, the Migration Office is one of the first places they go to apply for a residence permit for their time in Germany. In order to be prepared in the best possible way, the International Welcome Center is happy to support you in this step. Despite our extensive experience, we are also dependent on the experts at the Migration Office to answer some of your questions about the right of residence and are therefore in regular contact with them.

EURAXESS Germany

https://www.euraxess.de

The International Welcome Center of the University of Rostock is a member of EURAXESS Germany.
EURAXESS Germany [...] is an information and advice point for internationally mobile researchers wishing to come to Germany or go abroad to work in research. It is part of the EURAXESS Network across Europe. The objective of the centres is to facilitate international mobility amongst scientists and scholars." (Source: EURAXESS Germany)