Travel, Visa and Insurance

Arrival in Germany

If you join our optional Berlin trip, we expect you to arrive in Berlin. Therefore, we suggest you to land in Berlin.

If you plan not to join the optional Berlin trip, the international airport nearest to Kassel is located in Frankfurt am Main. We recommend you to book a flight that arrives in Frankfurt before noon so that you can be in Kassel on time (before 5 pm). Here you can find the airport map.

If you arrive at Terminal 1:       

• Pick up your luggage at baggage claim
• Follow the signs to the Regional Train Station (Regionalbahnhof) or Long Distance Train Station (Fernbahnhof)
• Buy a train ticket to Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe in the “Deutsche Bahn” Travel Center (DB Reisezentrum) or online prior to your departure to Germany (www.bahn.com)

If you arrive at Terminal 2:

• Pick up your luggage at baggage claim
• Take the Sky Line or the shuttle bus to Terminal 1 and the airport train stations (the shuttle stop is on level two just outside the terminal). The shuttle bus leaves every 10 minutes starting at 5 am and continuing thoughout the whole day. Please note that there is no shuttle between 00.30 am and 5 am, so please follow the signs “Train Stations via Sky Line" during that time
• Buy a train ticket to Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe in the “Deutsche Bahn” Travel Center (DB Reisezentrum) or online prior to your departure to Germany (www.bahn.com)

Trains from the airport to Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station depart approximately every half hour and take about 1 ½ to 3 hours depending on which train you take. Train connections can be found at www.bahn.com. You can either purchase your train ticket online prior to departure (requires registration and credit card), or directly at the German railway travel center (DB Reisezentrum) at Frankfurt airport

Train services from Frankfurt to Kassel

There are two different service classes bringing you to Kassel after your arrival in Frankfurt:

• The Inter City Express (ICE) from the station for long-distance trains “Fernbahnhof” (see airport map ca. 650 kB) for approx. 55 Euro one way; duration 1 ½-2 hrs. 
• The Regionalexpress (RE) from the station for regional trains “Regionalbahnhof” (see airport map ca. 650 kB) for around 39 Euro one way. If you take the Regionalexpress we recommend to buy the “Hessenticket” (35 Euro). (Valid from Monday to Friday for one day from 9 am until 3 am of the following day / on Saturday and Sunday and bank holidays  from 12 am until 3 am of the following day.) Duration: 2 ½ - 3 hours.

Please note: Up to five people can travel with one "Hessenticket". The more people you are the cheaper it gets for every person (www.bahn.com).

Arrival in Kassel:

Your first stop upon your arrival in Kassel is the Kassel Wilhelmshöhe Train Station, so make sure you get off at this train station. The IWU team or your host family will be there to welcome you and take you to your new home for the next weeks in Kassel.  

Please note: In case you arrive earlier, you should find alternative accommodation until December 29, 2022.

Departure from Kassel:

The day of departure for all IWU participants is January 18, 2023. 

Please note: If you are planning to stay longer it is your own responsibility to find alternative accommodation.

Depart from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe to Frankfurt Airport. The duration and the prices will be similar to your arrival.

The German Embassy in your home country will inform you whether or not you need a visa in order to participate in the IWU program. You can find contact information for the German Embassy on the German Foreign Office website.

Or have a look here: Visa requirements - List of countries  

In case you do need a visa, your visa application will require a “Letter of Invitation” from the University of Kassel. We will send you a “Letter of Invitation” as soon as you have registered and paid the registration fee (see Registration). 

Please note: Visa processing takes six weeks on average. If you apply for your visa too late, you might not be able to attend the IWU.

Your fee covers health, accident and liability insurance for the time of your enrollment at IWU Kassel.

If you need further detailed information concerning the insurance policy, please contact the IWU office.