Important Semester & Financial Information

Semester Dates: The Fall 2008 Semester is from September 3 through December 17. Students coming from abroad should arrive at the Frankfurt Airport by the morning of September 2nd (the day before orientation). Students must depart on December 18-19. More calendar information is here.

The Semester Schedule: The Spring and Fall semesters cover 15 weeks of instruction, including one week when students will leave campus on an outreach to a European city.

Tuition Costs: Tuition and housing for one semester is €2550/$3100 for those from outside the European Union. For those in the EU the cost is €1800. The tuition cost is slightly less than Calvary Chapel Bible College, Murrieta. Tuition is somewhat less for European students to encourage enrollment for those from Europe. A complete list of fees can be found here, including information about refunds of tuition and fees.

Tuition Deposit: After you receive a letter of acceptance, we will need to receive a €400/$500 non-refundable deposit to hold your reservation for the upcoming semester and to confirm your intention to come. Your place for the upcoming semester is not secure until we receive your deposit and we may give your place to another applicant if we receive their deposit first. The deposit is put towards the total cost of tuition. For example if a student pays a deposit of  €400/$500 and the total tuition cost is €2550/$3100 then there will be a balance to pay of €2150/$2600. The remaining tuition and fees must be paid in full on registration day unless prior arrangements have been made.

Medical Care & Insurance: Students from inside the EU must make sure the proper forms are filed so their home country medical insurance extends into Germany. For students outside the EU:

• If you are already covered on a medical insurance policy and that policy will cover treatment when you are here in Germany, you can bring a letter from your insurance carrier stating your name, date of birth, and affirming that the company covers you fully for the entire time you will be in Germany (by indicating how long the policy is valid or its expiration date). 

• If you do not have medical insurance that will cover you here in Germany, you will have to purchase it here through a German company. The Bible College will make the arrangements on your behalf and you will pay the necessary expenses (less than €100).

Visa Information:

How To Pay Tuition: Inside the EU students may pay using a bank transfer and the proper bank number. Checks from outside Germany must include an addition $20 check fee. Credit card payments are also accepted for an additional 5% fee. If full tuition is paid one month before the semester begins, a $100 discount is available. Contact the office for more details about this and other questions about payment. Because of exchange rates and conversion fees, we advise against bringing cash or traveler's checks. 

Obtaining Money: Once here in Germany, the easiest way for foreigners to withdraw money is to use an ATM machine that draws on your home country bank account. There are many ATM machines nearby. Current exchange rates can be found at www.xe.com. 

Married Couples: Calvary Chapel Bible College Germany provides limited housing for married couples. Married couples wishing to attend the college must check with the office about availability. The college office is ready to assist couples interested in off-campus housing. In addition, the college provides no arrangements for childcare.

Outreaches: Each semester students are required to go on an outreach that may last up to one week. These outreaches consist of a team going out to encourage, build up, and come alongside the local church in whatever they need. Outreach teams from CCBC Germany will focus on Western Europe. Costs for the outreach can be anywhere from €90/$100 to €270/$300 depending on where each student decides to go. Plan on a minimum of €90/$100 for an outreach.

Laundry: Cost is €3 per load for a wash & dry. Your student account will be automatically billed for laundry each week unless you sign out of your weekly laundry obligation.

Internet Access: Internet access is not required but available for €25 for the semester. We have computers available and email can be accessed through the internet. Students with wireless internet connections (WiFi) can use their notebook computers to access the internet from the Bible College dining room/coffee bar.

Local Outreaches: Students should plan to participate in local outreaches, both in the immediate area and within a few hour's drive.

Postage Costs: Mailing a letter to the United States from Germany is €1.55.

Receiving Packages: Students may receive mail and packages at the Bible College (click here for address). However, please know that packages sent from outside of the European Union may be charged customs fees of about 20%. When a package is insured for certain value, customs officials will often charge fees based on the insured value. For example, a student received a camera from home and the package was insured for $400. The student had to pay customs fees of about $60 to receive the package. Generally, items worth less than $40 and sent as gifts are not charged customs fees.

Remember: You will be able to buy basic personal items like shampoo, soap, snacks, and school supplies here. Any specialty items like vitamins, medications, or contact lens solution should be brought from home. These things can not be sent through the mail because the customs department does not allow it.

What To Bring When You Come

• Books: If possible, it is best for American students to purchase their textbooks in America and bring them with them (they will be cheaper and more quickly received). However, required textbooks can also be purchased at the school. Total costs for textbooks is usually not more than €100/$120. Click here for a list of textbooks for the current semester.
  

• Clothing: Germany has four seasons. Students should anticipate both snow and rain. Bring layers: T-shirts, sweaters/sweatshirts, vests, and definitely a warm coat. It is a good thing to bring is a vest or light jacket to wear to classes.
  

• MP3 Player: Listening to audio mp3s is part of required class work. Students may use the Bible College computers to listen to the audio classes, or they may buy or bring their own portable cd player that also plays mp3 audio files.
  

• Batteries: Generally, batteries are more expensive here than in the United States, so you may want to bring extra batteries or rechargeable batteries. However, a battery charger from the USA will not work here. Battery chargers can be purchased for about €15. 
  

• Computer: If you have your own laptop or notebook computer, it would be good to bring it because we have a limited number of computers. You may use your computer's wireless internet connection (WiFi) to connect to the internet. Do not bring a desktop computer.
  

• Electrical Appliances and Devices: Students must use the proper adapters, transformers, or converters. For fire safety reasons, unapproved electrical devices, plugs, or connectors are not permitted. For information about power needs, click here.
  

• School Supplies: Bring your own school supplies or bring enough money to purchase them here.
  

• Linens: Bedding is provided for you including a bottom sheet, a duvet with cover, and a pillow with a pillowcase. If you have a peculiar personal preference, bring your own sheets or pillow. Bring your own towel and washcloths.
  

• Closet and Storage: You will have only one narrow closet space to use, one drawer space and half the space under your bunk bed to store your clothes and belongings. Plus, remember that you will have to carry your luggage from the airport to the train station. So don't over pack.

Dorm Life

You don't have to live in a dorm to attend Calvary Chapel Bible College Germany. You are free to get your own apartment, take care of your own housing and meal needs, and attend as an off-campus student. However, if you choose to live in the school dormitory (or in an apartment supplied by the Bible College), you are expected to live under our house rules. We believe it is immature and irresponsible for someone to live with the benefits of dormitory life without obeying the house rules.

Students are housed in dorm rooms of 4-8 people per room.

You will have only one narrow closet space to use, one drawer space and half the space under your bunk bed to store your clothes and belongings. Plus, remember that you will have to carry your luggage from the airport to the train station. So don't over-pack.

You do not choose your dorm room or room-mates.

Each dorm room will have a room leader (a dorm steward), responsible for each dorm room.

Students of the opposite sex are not allowed to visit in the dorm rooms.

We do not allow meals to be taken into or prepared in the dorm rooms. Basic light-dry snacks are permitted.

Keep your things clean and in order. Remember others share your living space and may not appreciate any unclean space that you tolerate. So keep your area clean from dirty clothes, unkempt beds and other belongings. Do not leave trash around the room.

We do not allow candles or incense to be burned in rooms because of the fire hazard they cause.

CCBC Germany is not responsible for lost or stolen valuables. Some valuables can be stored in the office for safe-keeping i.e., passports and money.

Do not use anyone else's personal belongings without their permission. Don't assume it is okay to just borrow it.

Getting Along in the Dorm

A key part of the learning process here at CCBC Germany is the dynamic of living and interacting with other students. We have seen that God uses close living to teach the students about patience, other-centeredness, prayer, service and sacrifice. It is inevitable that there will be conflicts when a large group of people from various backgrounds, cultures and ages are living in close proximity for long periods of time. But it is also possible for them to live together in love and harmony when Jesus is kept at the center of living. With this in mind observe the following:

Guidelines for Campus Life

Prayer & Counseling: The staff is available to assist you in any prayer needs or counseling you may require. We understand that spiritual warfare is a major obstacle to students while in Europe and while in Bible College; this is why we are available to you for prayer day or night.

Devotions: Monday through Friday students meet before class for a short time of worship and devotion shared by a student or staff person. Devotions are at 10:00 on Monday and at 8:15 on Tuesday through Friday.

CM199, Practical Christian Ministry: Besides classroom learning each student is involved in serving in some practical area, such as housekeeping, dining room, dish-room, grounds keeping, and so forth. 6 to 8 hours of service each week is required.

Leaving Campus & Weekend Travel: When leaving the school to travel for a day or more to other cities a Travel Voucher must be filled out. Vouchers must include a destination and a hotel or hostel contact name and phone number in case of an emergency. Always carry your passport and the CCBC Germany phone number while off campus. Weekend traveling is one of the wonderful benefits of being here. We encourage it within reason. Your focus upon growing in Christ and your studies should be the purpose of your coming. The school is not here to be a base for tourism.

Seeing God's Work In Europe: Regarding travel, it is our hope that one of the things you will do is to seek out and experience various Calvary Chapel missionary works in Europe. So we pray that you use some of your weekends to go to other Calvary Chapels in Europe and see what those churches do. This kind of travel we highly encourage. Getting close to people from other countries and cultures is a tremendous growing experience.

Curfew & Noise: From the hours of 11:00 pm - 7:00 am (on school nights) we ask that there be no loud noise (such as loud talking, music, singing, etc). Overhead room lights will be out at 10:00pm at that time a sleeping environment must be maintained on the dorm floor (no showers, noise, etc.). All students should be on the grounds and in their rooms by 11:00pm. Bed lights and computers (including personal computers) are off at 11:00pm. On Friday and Saturday evenings, curfew time is 1:00am.

Entertainment: We assume that students have come to the Bible College for the purpose of learning the Bible, deepening their relationship with God, and preparing for serving God. We assume that they have not come to spend undue time on personal entertainment such as watching movies or internet entertainment. On most Friday and Saturdays we allow a limited number of movies to be viewed at the Bible College. Unauthorized movies will be confiscated by the staff. Students may only view authorized movies on their personal computers on weekends. Students who spend too much time on entertainment will be warned and then given a special assignment. 

Stewardship: To keep our utility costs down, please remember to keep showers under 5 minutes, and no more than one shower a day. Turn the lights off when you leave a room if no one else is there. During cold months when heaters are on please do not leave doors or windows open, allowing heat to escape. Germany has a sophisticated on-going recycling effort; take care to put your trash in the proper bins.

Moral Code - The "House Rules"

Calvary Chapel Bible College Germany is more than an educational institution where students attend classes. For most (but not all) of our students and interns we are also a community where students from many different nations and backgrounds live together. For this reason, the concept of the "House Rules" is important for those students who have their housing provided by CCBC Germany, either in our main residence hall (the "Villa") or in an apartment arranged by the Bible College. In other words, if you live in "our house" you are expected to keep "our rules." The option of living off-campus as an independent student is available to all students of CCBC Germany; they merely need to make the arrangements themselves. If a student desires maximum independence and will resent or resist the house rules, they should simply make their own living arrangements and attend the Bible College as an off-campus student. Those who decide to live and eat in CCBC Germany provided facilities will be expected to observe the rules.

The following things are not permitted by students while attending CCBC Germany, and may be reasons for immediate dismissal:

Student Romantic Relationships: Calvary Chapel Bible College is a special environment, giving students the freedom to draw close to Jesus Christ, to learn God's Word, and to prepare for a life of serving and honoring God. The director and the staff of the Bible College work hard and make many sacrifices to promote and protect this environment. Students who choose to use the freedom of this special environment to focus instead on romantic relationships are not welcome at the Bible College and will be asked to re-orient their focus. If they are unable to re-orient their focus and become disruptive to the spiritual and social environment of the Bible College, they will be asked to leave. This does not mean that romantic relationship are forbidden or even discouraged; only that they must be kept in the proper perspective. Students who are romantically attracted to one another should be especially sensitive to how any public display of affection affects the spiritual and social environment of the Bible College. Our sincerest desire is that students in romantic relationships would take seriously their responsibility to be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

Male and female students are not permitted to travel overnight together in any arrangement that might bring reproach to the reputation to the Bible College.

Clothing: Dress appropriately and modestly. The staff reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of a person’s dress. Do not wear clothing that will stumble your brother or sister or misrepresent Jesus Christ to the community.

Why These Rules? We know that some Christians feel the liberty to practice some of these things, and that some of these things are not prohibited by the Bible. The concern behind these rules is not primarily your personal righteousness, but how you get along with and affect others in the Bible College. We make the rules because:

1. For some of our students, these actions represent their old life before becoming Christians, and the actions of students who feel free to do these things may represent a strong and unnecessary temptation.

2. For some of our students, these actions are not personally tempting, but they nevertheless believe they are strongly inappropriate for Christians. Since we have Christians who come from many different backgrounds, we have to be sensitive to different consciences.

3. The reputation of Calvary Chapel Bible College Germany as a trusted and reliable place for students to grow, learn, and prepare for the future is important and will be guarded.

These rules simply seek to apply the heart Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 9:19: For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.