Information for International Employees

Support offered by Forschungszentrum

International Advisory Services

Offers for international families

Insurance and formalities

Support offered by Forschungszentrum

International Advisory Services

International Advisory Services supports all of Forschungszentrum Jülich’s employees from abroad as well as their families on international matters and matters concerning German social legislation.

Advice and support is offered on a wide range of topics such as:

Matters concerning the right of residence

Registration of new employees’ place of residence with the town of Jülich and deregistration at end of stay
Weekly on-site consultations with representatives of the Düren Foreigners’ Registration Office at Forschungszentrum Jülich for residence permit applications and other international and legal formalities
This service is available to employees who live in the Jülich–Düren region. Employees who take up residence elsewhere (e.g. in Aachen, Düsseldorf, or Cologne) will be given the necessary information on the registration process in the respective area.

Matters concerning German social legislation

Support in choosing and applying for appropriate health insurance
Advice and information on the payment of contributions to the German social security system: pension contributions, supplementary insurance (e.g. VBL), necessity of taking out liability insurance, etc.
Application for benefits for families (e.g. child benefit, parental allowance)
Advice in applying for unemployment benefits
Applications for pension refunds

Matters concerning tax law

Other matters

Further information

For more information, please visit the intranet pages of the International Advisory Services or contact the following persons:

Letter division: A - L

Letter division: M - Z

Stefanie AbschlagGeschäftsbereich Personal Human ResourcesBuilding 15.3w / Room 3083+49 2461/61-85557

Martina BunnGeschäftsbereich Personal Human ResourcesBuilding 15.3w / Room 3083+49 2461/61-4474

Offers for international families

The Office for Equal Opportunities

Arriving in Germany poses particular challenges, especially for families. The team at the Equal Opportunities Office is available to our employees, their partners, children and relatives on all topics relating to a successful work-life balance. In addition to detailed advice on individual topics and questions, our colleagues also provide support in the search for suitable school places or other childcare options such as kindergarten, daycare or babysitters.

So that the staff at the Equal Opportunities Office can provide you with the best possible support and initiate possible steps before your arrival. To make your start at the FZJ easier, we recommend that you contact the colleagues as early as possible.

Further information can be found here.

School in Germany

Children over the age of 6 are required to attend school in Germany! It is therefore necessary for families to decide on a suitable type of school and register their children at a school as soon as possible after arriving in Germany. You can also register your child at an international school. Please contact us for this.

Children can also start school at any time during the year.

You can find a brief summary of the various school systems in Germany on the federal government's "Make it in Germany" portal.

Childcare

In Germany, children between the ages of 1-6 are legally entitled to childcare. There are three different types of childcare in Germany. You can find information on the differences between the different types of childcare and how you should proceed to register your children on the federal government's "Make it in Germany" portal

❗ Note: The district of Düren offers a fundamental advantage when it comes to childcare. All types of childcare are free of charge here.

In other districts and municipalities, the parental contribution for childcare is graduated according to the family's income. You can find out which contribution applies to you as a parent either directly from the childcare facility or from the relevant youth welfare office in your community/city.

If you have any further questions about childcare, please contact Ms. Margaretha Wirtz.

Margaretha Wirtz

Referentin für die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Sorgearbeit Spokesperson for reconciling work and care work

Equal Opportunities Bureau (BfC)

Building 04.7 /
Room 315

+49 2461/61-2624

E-Mail

Support for refugees

Refugee Representative Mr. Ulrich Ivens
Mr. Ivens will be available to you as your first point of contact for the employment of refugees and will advise you on internship, training and employment opportunities. For specific matters, Mr. Ivens will refer you internally to the right contacts.

Ulrich Ivens

Leiter der Zentralen Berufsausbildung Head of Vocational Training Centre

Human Resources

Building 20.15 /
Room 28

+49 2461/61-2246

E-Mail

Language courses

The research center offers various opportunities to learn a language. Whether classic language courses or language tandems, there is something for everyone.

General information on language courses

The Research Center offers various language courses. The language courses take place either online or on-site at the Research Center. English and German courses are primarily offered. In exceptional cases, if there is an official reason, participation in other language courses is also possible (e.g. Chinese).

You can take part in a language course if your current or future duties can only be performed with foreign language skills. In this case, your institute will cover the costs of the language course, if you have reached the minimum attendance of 75%.

Level tests for language courses

Registration for a language course

Language Tandems

The best way to learn languages is to speak them!

In addition to language courses, we therefore also want to support language tandems at the Research Center. A language tandem offers the opportunity to chat with someone in their native language or in a language they speak fluently in order to improve your own knowledge of that language. As the whole process is reciprocal, both tandem partners benefit.

If you are interested in a language tandem, please contact Regina Poschen to be added to the contact list.

Moving to Germany

Guest house

The Guest House is located in the town of Jülich (town centre), Münchener Str. 4, in the immediate vicinity of the Jülich citadel and near a stop for the local railway (Rurtalbahn). It has 61 accommodation units of five different types. Since these types include apartments and rooms of various sizes, the rent varies depending on the respective size as well as the term of rent.

Click here to find information on the Gästehaus and relevant contact details.

Finding a place to live

Welcome to Germany

In addition to the information provided by Forschungszentrum Jülich, the following external websites will also help you to find your feet in Germany.

Just Landed

Just Landed is a guide that will help you to deal with daily life in Germany by providing information on visa, accommodation, work, and financial matters.

Make It In Germany

The German Federal Government’s portal for skilled workers from abroad.

Deutschland.de

Information, service, dialogue - your link to Germany.

Euraxess

Euraxess provides information and advice for internationally mobile scientists wishing to pursue their research careers in Germany.

Insurance and formalities

Here, you will find information on insurance and formalities that you should address as early as possible. If you need further advice and support in addition to the links provided here, please do not hesitate to contact the above-mentioned colleagues at International Advisory Services.

Last Modified: 06.03.2025