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Hey everyone, welcome to the official website of "Ubuntu Mondo"!
We are a student group founded by students doing their Master's in "Development Studies" at the University of Passau.
Our name is inspired by the term "Ubuntu", a Nguni Bantu philosophy that emphasizes humanity and interconnectedness
(“I am because we are”), and "Mondo", the Esperanto/Italian word for “world”.
Together, they reflect the spirit of global inclusion and solidarity, which is also what we want to represent as a group.
To make it more specific, the purpose of Ubuntu Mondo is to provide a platform for international students at the University of Passau — offering mentorship, guidance, peer support, and research opportunities.
As an international student society, we are strongly committed to inclusivity and international cooperation.
We actively advocate for the interests and representation of international students on campus.
Furthermore, through cross-cultural exchange and the promotion of global dialogue, we are also committed to
decolonize education and to reimagine academic spaces.
Please feel free to follow us on Instagram to always stay up to date, or reach out via Email in case of any questions you may have or ideas you want to share. If you want to join us, you may fill out the Microsoft Form linked below.
Mail: ubuntumondo@gmail.com
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News & Events
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Helpful Resources
As we have all gone through the trials and tribulations that come with arriving in Passau as a new student, we thought it would be a good idea to collect some tips, tricks and information to make your start as easy as possible. If you feel like we forgot something or you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out via the channels mentioned on the home page.
University
Building Plan
As it can be hard to navigate all the building abriviations that are being used on StudIP, the university has created a PDF with the adress of each building/room.
Citrix
If you want to access your university desktop via your private device to use Stata for example, you need to install and set up Citrix. The university has created a guide on how to do so for differetn devices.
Fachschaft SoBi
Information for International Students
University Therapy
If you need someone to talk to, the University offers psychological counseling services who can help you evaluate your next steps.
Exam Access Arrangements
If you are disabled, neurodivergent or suffer from a prolonged chronic illness, you can apply for accommodations like extended deadlines for essays or exams.
University Job Portal
CareersUP provides you with a list of fitting positions while also sending you any new openings to your University Outlook. You can log in using your usual University credentials.
Food Sharing
To reduce food waste, the University has established a food sharing system called Fairteiler. You can drop off or pick up food (rules apply) at a shelf at NK (Innstraße 40, room R226) for free.
Copy Shop
To print your thesis or an academic poster, you may visit the Kopierzentrum (Innstraße 50). Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 6 pm and Saturday from 10am to 1pm. For bigger projects, make sure to send your file(s) by mail in advance and they will notify you when it’s ready for pickup. Additionally, you can show them your Student ID for a student discount.
Mail: info@kopierzentrum.de
Alternatively, if you only want to print DIN A4 documents, you can also do so at dm, a drugstore located in the Stadtgalerie.
StudentID Revalidation
You must revalidate your CampusCard each semester using one of the machines located at:
• Foyer Verwaltungsgebäude (Innstraße 41)
• Mensa-Foyer (Innstraße 29)
• WIWI-Gebäude (Innstraße 27)
• NK-Gebäude (Kleiner Exerzierplatz 15)
The revalidation period starts about ten days before the beginning of every new semester.
Volunteering
The University has initiated a program called All You Can Do, offering different volunteering projects. As some of them are applicable for module group D, “Applied Development Studies”, you can potentially earn 5 ECTS.
Additional Courses
If you want to acquire any additional skills, the University’s Zukunft: Karriere und Kompetenzen (ZKK) offers free workshops on topics like Excel proficiency or refreshing academic writing skills. But be warned! If you enroll and don’t attend, you might get blacklisted.
Additional Library Access
Apart from the University library, students enrolled at a Bavarian University are eligible to access the catalogue of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (StaBi), a large academic library located in Munich. After online registration and document verification, you will receive temporary online access valid for 30 days. If you don’t want to lose access, you must visit the library in person within this period to present your original documents to obtain your library card which also lets you borrow physical books.
Emergencies
Emergency Phone Numbers
• Police: 110
• Fire Fighters and Ambulance: 112
• Medical On-Call Service: 116117
• Suicide Hotline: 0800 655 3000
Emergency Room
For medical emergencies, go to the Klinikum Passau (Innstraße 76). If arriving on foot, make sure to enter through the main entrance and follow the red floor markings that lead you to the elevators. The ER is located on the 3rd floor.
Emergency Pharmacies
As pharmacies typically have the same opening hours as grocery stores, they take turn providing 24-hour services. To find the current emergency pharmacy, you can check the website below.
Emergency Apps
To receive alerts about regional or national emergencies like floods or fires, and to know how to behave in those situations, you can install one of the following Apps:
NINA
nora
KATWARN
Nationwide Warning Day
Furthermore, the nationwide warning day occurs annually on the second Thursday of September. It aims to test warning systems like sirens and phone alarms. On this day, your phone will ring very loudly, and you will receive a notification marked “PROBEWARNUNG”, meaning, it’s only a test. Apart from turning off the alarm on your phone by pressing the off button, you are not required to take any action.
Mobility
Intracity Travel Passau
The Verbundtarif DonauWald (VDW) manages bus transportation in Passau. Apart from the “Oberhausbus”, you can take any bus operated by the Stadtwerke Passau (VBP) by showing the driver your validated Student ID when entering the bus through the front door.
However, it is important to mention that schedules differ on Sundays and during the Holidays and there is no bus transfer after 11pm. If you need to go somewhere during those times, you could either call one of Passau’s various taxi companies or use Uber.
Intercity Travel
If you want/need to leave Passau and travel to another city, you have different options. Depending on your destination, the easiest/most common option is going by train using the Deutsche Bahn (DB). Apart from that, especially when travelling internationally, checking out FlixBus may also be an option, as it tends to be cheaper.
Deutsche Bahn
FlixBus
Deutschland-Ticket
Frequent travelers might find the Deutschland-Ticket, a monthly ticket-subscription, to be a viable option, as it lets you use many forms of public transportation like Busses and specific trains nationwide. Students are eligible for a discount with the current price being 31,42 € per month.
Shopping
Commercial Grocery Stores
If you live in one of the student dorms, Aldi and Kaufland are nearby. Aldi is a more budget-friendly discounter, while Kaufland, a supermarket, offers a wider selection at higher prices.In the Altstadt, near the University buildings, you’ll find Rewe and Edeka (both supermarkets), and across from the central station, Netto (a discounter) and Go-Asia, a commercial Asian supermarket.
International Grocery Stores
Passau also has some smaller international grocery stores, most of which are also in the Altstadt. There is Ariana Market Passau (Oriental), Nour Alsham Passau (Arab), Omowest Afro Intercontinental Shop (West African) and Ceylan Market (Turkish).
Drug Stores
Regarding Drug stores, the most common ones are Müller, dm, Rossmann and Müller. You can find all of them in the Altstadt and dm and Rossmann also “near” the dorms.
Mall
The Stadtgalerie, also located in the Altstadt, is a typical mall offering clothing and shoe stores, stationary stores, a bookstore, the previously mentioned dm and a food court, to only name a few examples.
Heads Up
Lastly, it is important to note that most stores close at 8pm (the Stadtgalerie at 7pm) and remain closed on Sundays. If you need any essentials during closing hours, you can go to a gas station as they usually operate 24/7.
Apps & Websites
Kleinanzeigen
On Kleinanzeigen, you can buy, sell or exchange a variety of items ranging from books to furniture or even find jobs or apartments. It is exclusive to Germany.
Studo
Studo lets you access all University websites like StudIP and CampusPortal in one App.
Too Good To Go
On TooGoodToGo you can buy discounted food from restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and supermarkets that would have been thrown away otherwise, often in the form of “surprise bags”.
Unidays
If you are enrolled at a German University, you are eligible for a variety of student discounts from major brands. Some of those can be accessed through Unidays.
Vinted
Vinted is an online thrift store focused on smaller items like clothes or books. It is exclusive to a small number of European countries.
WG-Gesucht
Apart from Kleinanzeigen, the most common way for finding shared apartments in Germany is WG-Gesucht.
Good To Know
Quiet Hours (Ruhezeiten)
In Germany, quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am the next day and all-day Sunday. During this time, avoid loud activities such as vacuuming or playing loud music. Throwing away your trash at the public container assembly points is also prohibited during those hours.
Deposit System (Pfand)
For recycling purposes and store credit, bottles, cans and glasses with a Pfand-symbol can be returned to designated machines (Pfandautomat) located inside supermarkets. As the Pfand-logo has copyright, please feel free to check out the link below which displays it, while also providing you with additional information on the Pfandsystem.
Cannabis
Since 2024, cannabis is legal in Germany, but only under specific conditions. So, before consumption, make sure to check out the current official guidelines following the link below.
Future Projects
We are currently working on many new projects and events. Stay tuned!
In case of a Bad Day
