Arriving in Ingolstadt was easy. Munich’s Airport has a bus leaving south for the Donau in 3-hour intervals. Previously the X109 left the airport every hour or so, however, its departure schedule, like many other things, has changed due to the pandemic. I bid the reader to take in mind that some impressions described here are results of the global situation then.
Acquiring a Visa takes time, especially if you are not coming to Germany under the student status. After checking if you have all the documents, it is necessary to book an appointment. For this, one must use the website of Ingolstadt’s prefecture,which is well organized and with clear explanations. The dates available usually are one month away, so check your deadlines. The employees in the immigration office do not speak English, but most of them try to speak a clear German once they see you are having trouble with the language. Nonetheless, if you are not confident in your German skills, you are allowed to take an interpreter with you. In the case where your current Visa, or stay permit, expires before the new document’s arrival, you are usually given a “Fiktionsbescheinigung” on the appointment, which is a stay permit valid for the interstice.

The city is relatively small, but it has everything, most big supermarket chains represent. Food shops are available in all ethnicities, so some will surely suit your taste. I recommend trying new ones, instead of looking for options from your home country. This will not only be cheaper but also fun. Cooking is also considerably cheaper than ordering it, therefore, looking for an apartment with a good kitchen may be a good idea. I cannot, unfortunately, comment on THI's university restaurant (Die Mensa) since it was closed during Corona. The Mensa Would be a good option in normal times, from what I have heard. Also, instead of buying food only from the main supermarket chains, one can go for Asiatic food shops or alike, some even sell ingredients from Latin America, such as tapioca and guaraná.

At last, if the student must perform research activities during his or her stay at THI, which is most likely, I recommend knowing when each technician, doctor, and supervisor will be at the university. This way the student can better plan his or her activities and get the proper – and required – instructions on each machine. Note also that one cannot work alone in the laboratories, because if some accident comes to pass it is safer to have someone nearby to provide first aid. Without planning, this normally limits the time that the researchers can expend in the lab, delaying schedules. I hope that those who come also have a nice and productive stay in Ingolstadt.

Learn more about my experience and research activities here.