Chad Wilson's Unofficial UAB/LMU Exchange Manual Information about the UAB/LMU Mathematics Exchange Program. Last Updated Saturday, January 3, 2004 at 1:04 p.m. (CST).

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This manual has general information about the exchange process between UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and LMU (Ludwig Maximilian's Universität in München). It is based on my personal experiences during the year 2001-2002.

See the bottom of this page for contact information.

The first place to start is the official UAB exchange program page, which explains some of the important details that you're probably interested in.

The second thing is a handbook for international students published in downloadable pdf format by LMU themselves. It is very useful.

Check out some pictures from the Munich area and beyond..

Things you'll need:
Passport. Apply for the passport at the Post Office. The approval process takes a while (up to three months in some cases).
Visa. Apply for the German visa in Munich. You need proof that you are a student before you can get a visa. You need the mandatory health insurance before you can get proof that you are a student. You need a bank account before you can get the mandatory health insurance. And you need a visa before you can get a bank account (!). Yes, it's a circle which seemingly cannot be broken. But do not fear, Prof. Siedentop and his assistants were very helpful, and once I arrived in the city there were no problems. It turns out the bank made a good-faith account for me without a visa (at the request of Siendentop and his assistants).
Several Passport photos. Two are required for the passport. Two are required for the visa. One may be required for student matriculation (I'm not sure, everything went so fast!), and one is required for a student transportation ticket (which you will likely use).

The academic year is divided into two semesters (terms):
Winter Semester (WS): from mid-October to late-February
Summer Semester (SS): from mid-April to late-July
For more info on this matter, click here

Taxes. I don't think the exchange students are doubly taxed. I imagine one needs only pay taxes in one's home country. For a list of U.S. IRS tax documents, click here.

Links.  Check out the following links for more information.

UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH:
Univeristy of Munich
University of Munich's Mathematics department
Exchange program, LMU's website This site has information provided by the LMU Mathematics department.
Professor Heinz Siedentop This is the director of the Munich program (the co-creator I imagine).
International Master's program in Mathematics in Munich This is a program which occurs independently of the Exchange Program with UAB. One may take classes offered by this program (courses taught in English).
Handbook for international students published in downloadable pdf format by LMU themselves. Very useful.
University of Munich's Physics department
Information for international Non-EU students at the University of Munich

OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS:
Studentenwerk A list of student dormitories near the University of Munich. Studentenwerk is an independent contractor of housing for students.
a GREAT online English-German, German-English dictionary
The German embassy in America
Modern German information
Modern Munich information
Country and city telephone codes from U.S.

TRANSPORTATION
The subway and light-rail in Munich is operated by MVV, and you will likely eventually memorize the Netzplan.
See the German DB train system (in German or in English) to see how to move around Europe using the mighty Deutsche Bahn.
Check out this Interactive Map of Germany, and this Interactive streetmap of Munich

CONTACTS
Prof. Rudi Weikard, UAB/LMU exchange committe, email: rudi (at) math (dot) uab (dot) edu
Prof. Heinz Siedentop, director of exchange program in Munich, email: hkh (at) rz (dot) mathematik (dot) uni-muenchen (dot) de
Dr. Maryanne B. Ivey, Director of academic programs and policy at UAB, email: mbivey (at) uab (dot) edu
Chad Wilson, past exchange student from UAB, email:  chad (at) math (dot) uab (dot) edu
Alexandra Kaffl, past exchange student from LMU, email: Alex.Kaffl (at) gmx (dot) de
Johannes Rueckert, past exchange student from LMU, email: Johannes.Rueckert (at) ePost (dot) de
Philipp Schlicht, past exchange student from LMU, email: philipp.schlicht (at) altavista (dot) net