Fachhochschule Osnabrück (FHO) Student Exchange
Osnabrück - Germany
1st Semester (winter): mid-Aug thru early Feb (incl intensive German/final exams)
2nd Semester (summer): February thru early July (incl intensive German/final exams)
Courses available in most academic fields.
Advisor: Dr. Alexander Kovzik, Clow Faculty 313, 920-424-0178
Advisor: Dr. Marianne Johnson, Clow Faculty 317, 920-424-2230
Advisor: Dr. Ralph Gunderson, Clow Faculty 331, 920-424-7151
______________________________________
Complete paid or unpaid internships.
Osnabrück
Osnabrück, in the federal state of Lower Saxony, is in a university town with a medieval town center close to the Dutch border, Amsterdam, Hanover, Hamburg, and Berlin.
Fachhochschule Osnabrück (FHO)
Fachhochschule Osnabrück is a university of applied sciences with a strong international focus. 15% of the 8,000-student population has foreign nationality, its business programs rank in the top ten nationally and it is distinguished for promotion of student mobility abroad.
Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences
Students on this exchange enroll in courses offered through the Faculty (department) of Business Management and Social Sciences. This faculty offers full undergraduate and graduate programs in English as well as individual courses in English for visiting students. A hallmark of study through FHO, students will find close contact between students and professors and professors with professional experience in business and industry.
Buddy Program
Your assigned buddy can help your transition to living & studying in Germany. Your buddy can pick you up from the Osnabrück train station and give travel tips, help you move in and move out, answer questions about the university and more.
Student Organizations
STUDENTOP e.V. offers a training program followed by the opportunity to run a consulting business developing individual solutions for interested companies.
Join OS is a city-wide organization joining German and international students from all local universities.
VAMOS e.V. is for students interested in event management.
Sports
Exchange students may join competitive and recreational sporting activities through the Centre for Sports.
Support System at FHO
The central International Office at Fachhochschule Osnabrück is responsible for international relations and programmes on a university level and organizes German language winter and summer schools prior to the start of each semester.
In addition to the FHO central international office, the Faculty of Business Management & Social Sciences offers pre-semester orientation and on-going support services to its visiting students through the International Faculty Office (IFO). This office offers services to students, faculty and staff; "faculty" in its name refers to "department" rather than to professors. Staff and lecturers of the Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences and of the IFO assist students in study-related and personal matters in order to facilitate rapid integration into a new social environment. They also organize cultural programming, international conversation groups and English movie evenings. Support is offered both before arrival and during the experience. IFO Support Staff can be contacted directly by students interested in the FHO exchange even before applying through UW Oshkosh.
All of the information included here is subject to change. Modifications may be required depending on the exigencies of the situation.
Course(s)
Language Requirements
Courses are offered in both German and in English. While there is no German language requirement for students studying in English, it is highly recommended that exchange participants complete at least German 110 at UW Oshkosh in advance of their semester abroad. Students planning to study in German will be required to submit evidence of German proficiency.
Course Options
Before committing to an exchange program, applicants must spend time looking through the course selection available at the host institution. Not all FHO courses are open to visiting exchange students. Use the Course Catalogs to view the full list of courses open to visiting students. Use the Module Descriptions to see course descriptions; courses listed on the Module Descriptions pages are not open to visiting exchange students if not also listed in the course catalog linked from above.
Courses listed in the Course Catalogs are taught in German, unless otherwise specified. Look at the fine print at the bottom of each course list to see which courses are taught in English, and during which semesters. FHO offers its courses in English through the Faculty (Department) of Business Management and Social Sciences.
German Language Courses
German language courses are not required, but both FHO and the OIE highly recommend that students take at least one.
Students may enroll in the winter intensive German bridge program or the summer intensive German bridge program just before the start of each semester. These programs include general language training or business language training, visits to manufacturing and service companies and planned day trips.
During the semester, students may enroll in German language courses.
FHO also offers Preparatory Courses in intensive German for students at the beginning level during each semester; these courses carry an additional fee.
Block Seminars
These are optional, five-day study trips, projects or business games offered once every semester (in May and November). During this time no regular lectures are given.
Internships
UAS7 Study & Internship Program (SIP)
Students interning through the SIP are awarded substantial scholarships and paid internships in return for spending a minimum of 12 months studying and interning in Germany. The experience includes participation in an intensive German language bridge program before the start of the fall semester, study over the fall semester and a six-month internship in a company or research institute in Germany over spring. The program also includes visits to companies and other sites of interest.
FHO is one of seven universities of applied sciences offering the SIP. To apply to the SIP, send application documents directly to the DAAD New York office listed on the SIP web site. Let UW Oshkosh OIE staff know that you have applied for a SIP award so that we can advocate on your behalf with our partners at FHO.
These internships must also be pre-approved by FHO; pre-approval can take place during the fall semester of study.
Other Internship Options
The Career Center on the FHO campus assists students looking for internship placements in English. These internships MUST be pre-approved by FHO.
Course Approval
All applicants complete the Transfer Credit Prior Approval process. At the end of your program, you will transfer your FHO coursework to UW Oshkosh.
You will need to maintain full-time status while studying abroad. The number of UW Oshkosh credits you receive for your coursework will be different from the number of FHO credits you receive. In general, FHO courses using the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) will be worth at least double the number of credits you will receive at UW Oshkosh (a typical study load at FHO is 30 ECTS). The actual number of credits you receive for each course will be determined when you complete your Transfer Credit Prior Approval form.
Exchange students are not able to enroll in FHO courses until the week prior to the beginning of the semester. Because courses may be filled, exchange students should complete the Transfer Credit Prior Approval form for twice as many courses as you actually plan to take. This will give you flexibility in course registration without the need to correspond with faculty and advisors at UW Oshkosh while trying to register in Germany.
Registration
Course enrollment is completed through the host institution during orientation after arriving abroad. All participants will be enrolled in courses at the host institution and will transfer those courses back to UW Oshkosh at the end of their studies.
FHO requires that all exchange students enroll only in courses as listed on the Learning Agreement (see "Apply"). Visit the International Office at FHO to make changes to your Learning Agreement BEFORE taking a course which is not already on your list. Any course which is not on the Learning Agreement will NOT be included on the official transcript.
Transfer Credit
At FHO, grades are posted and transcripts are issued long after the semester ends (April for fall/winter semester and October for summer semester). If you plan to graduate at the end of your semester abroad, notify the OIE at UW Oshkosh BEFORE YOU APPLY so that we can discuss your graduation dates.
After you have successfully completed your study abroad experience, but before you leave for home, you will need to request transcripts from the Faculty of Business Management and Social Studies International Office and have them sent to the Transfer Student Coordinator in the UW Oshkosh Admissions Office. You cannot receive credit at UW Oshkosh without the certified transcript copy (you will receive the original).
All transcripts and related documents must be sent directly to:
Transfer Student Coordinator
Admissions Office
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901
U.S.A.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation
Students are typically placed in furnished single rooms in student flats (shared apartments) belonging to Studentenwerk Osnabrück. Flats are scattered around the city (locations/descriptions for accommodation); German universities typically do not have Residence Halls such as those found on university campuses in the U.S.
UW Oshkosh students apply for accommodation by submitting the Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences International Office accommodation request form (see "Apply" below) to the UW Oshkosh Office of International Education. Once your participation on the exchange program has been approved, you can secure housing by forwarding a refundable housing deposit directly to FHO.
You'll make your rent payments by direct deposit. After arriving in Osnabrück your Buddy or someone from the International Office will assist you in setting up a local bank account.
If you arrive in Osnabrück before your housing contract begins or leave after it ends, you will need to find accommodation in a local hotel or hostel.
Two staff in the Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences International Office provide accommodation support service:
Anne Juhr
Housing Officer
Room CN 0207
Phone +49 (0) 5 41/9 69-21 25
Fax +49 (0) 5 41/9 69-20 70
Email A.Juhr@fh-osnabrueck.de
Housing Assistant: Student Tutor
Room CN 0214
Phone +49 (0) 5 41/9 69-30 72
Fax +49 (0) 5 41/9 69-34 78
Email hiwi-dekanat@wi.fh-osnabrueck.de
Studentenwerk Osnabrück
The Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences International Office rents flats directly from the Studentenwerk Osnabrück, a student union charged with offering accommodation services, meal services and social activities.
Accommodation services through the Studentenwerk include
- "Residence Tutors", who help their fellow international students find their way around in the new environment.
- Counseling, especially as students navigate transitions into a new culture
- Events
Housing Alternatives
Alternatively, students may apply directly to Studentenwerk Osnabrück for housing.
Meals
In Osnabrück, students may purchase some meals from four student diners and eight student cafeterias at government-subsidized rates. All flats have kitchen facilities, where students make meals on their own.
Schedule
The academic year is divided into two semesters, each preceded by intensive German language courses.
1st Semester (Winter) |
2nd Semester (Summer) |
|
Intensive German Begins |
mid-August | early February |
Intensive German Ends |
mid-September | late February |
Orientation |
several days just prior to the start of the semester | several days just prior to the start of the semester |
Course Registration |
during orientation | during orientation |
Semester Begins |
mid-September | early March |
Semester Ends/Exams Begin |
mid-January | mid-June |
Exams End |
early February | early July |
For exact dates, see the FHO academic calendar.
Flight
Luggage Limits
Check with your airline for restrictions on carry-on, checked and excess baggage.
Money
Carry approximately €350 (about US$500) in cash to cover transportation fees to FHO from the local airport and living costs for the first few days, including your first month's rent.
Flight
Exchange students arrange and pay for airline tickets on their own. DO NOT purchase these until you have been officially accepted into the program by the HOST university. Students who have not traveled abroad on their own previously are encouraged to fly directly to Osnabrück. Students who are comfortable traveling independently may consider flying to Amsterdam (or other European cities) and using public transportation to Osnabrück.
Arrival Abroad
Students who make arrangements with their Buddy far enough in advance may be met at the train station in Osnabrück (there is no greeting service from the airport). Pre-plan your transportation route from the airport or from outside of Osnabrück to your apartment or a local hotel. The Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences is located on the Westerberg (Caprivi) campus.
Travel to your accommodation or a local hotel from Osnabrück airport is approximately 30 minutes by car. Students who have not traveled abroad on their own previously should consider taking a taxi. Students who are comfortable traveling independently may consider using public transportation.
Fees
One Semester (5 1/2months, including intensive German & exams)
| Tuition Estimate | |
$
3,020
° |
Tuition (2007/08 academic year) |
| Expenses in U.S. Dollars | |
$100 |
Application Fee ($200 for out-of-state applicants) |
$100 |
Passport & Pictures |
$750 |
Airfare estimate |
$0 |
Visa (U.S. citizen rate) |
$222° |
International Health Insurance ($37/30 days) ° |
$0 |
Immunizations |
$1,172 |
Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations) |
| Expense Estimates in Foreign Currency (Euro = €) | |
€60 |
Transportation by taxi to/from airport |
€60 |
Residence Permit |
€1,180 |
Meals (€215/month) |
€1,680 |
Accommodation (€280/month; 6 month minimum) |
€0 |
Housing deposit (€415; refundable) |
€200 |
Books/Study Materials |
€0 |
Local Transportation (free within Osnabrück) |
€_____ |
Preparatory Course in intensive German (optional) |
€_____ |
Block Seminar study trip (optional) |
€415 |
Personal Expenses, including cell phone (€75/month) |
€3,595 |
Total Expense Estimate while Abroad |
$5,075 |
Total in U.S. Dollars as of 5/16/08 (today's rate of exchange) |
$9,267 |
Total Estimated Expenses |
Academic Year (Fall followed by Spring; 11 months)
| Tuition Estimate | |
$
6,040
° |
Tuition (2007/08 academic year) |
| Expenses in U.S. Dollars | |
$100 |
Application Fee ($200 for out-of-state applicants) |
$100 |
Passport & Pictures |
$750 |
Airfare estimate |
$0 |
Visa (U.S. citizen rate) |
$407° |
International Health Insurance ($37/30 days) ° |
$0 |
Immunizations |
$1,357 |
Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations) |
| Expenses in Foreign Currency (Euro = €) | |
€60 |
Transportation by taxi to/from airport |
€60 |
Residence Permit |
€2,365 |
Meals (€215/month) |
€3,360 |
Accommodation (€280/month; 12 month minimum) |
€0 |
Housing deposit (€415; refundable) |
€415 |
Books/Study Materials |
€0 |
Local Transportation (free within Osnabrück) |
€_____ |
Preparatory Course in intensive German (optional) |
€_____ |
Block Seminar study trip (optional) |
€825 |
Personal Expenses, including cell phone (€75/month) |
€7,085 |
Total Expense Estimate while Abroad |
$9,995 |
Total in U.S. Dollars as of 5/16/08 (today's rate of exchange) |
$17,392 |
Total Estimated Expenses |
Study/Internship Program (SIP) (Fall followed by Spring; 12 months)
| Tuition Estimate | |
$ 6,040 ° |
Tuition (2007/08 academic year) |
| Expenses in U.S. Dollars | |
$100 |
Application Fee ($200 for out-of-state applicants) |
$100 |
Passport & Pictures |
$750 |
Airfare estimate |
$0 |
Visa (U.S. citizen rate) |
$444° |
International Health Insurance ($37/30 days) ° |
$0 |
Immunizations |
$1,394 |
Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations) |
| Expenses in Foreign Currency (Euro = €) | |
€60 |
Transportation by taxi to/from airport |
€60 |
Residence Permit |
€2,580 |
Meals (€215/month) |
€3,360 |
Accommodation (€280/month; 12 month minimum) |
€0 |
Housing deposit (€415; refundable) |
€200 |
Books/Study Materials |
€0 |
Local Transportation (free within Osnabrück) |
€______ |
Preparatory Course in intensive German (optional) |
€______ |
Block Seminar study trip (optional) |
€900 |
Personal Expenses, including cell phone (€75/month) |
€7,160 |
Total Expense Estimate while Abroad |
-€4,900 |
SIP Award |
-€3,000 |
Paid Internship (€500/month) |
-€740 |
Total Adjusted Expense Estimate |
-$1,050 |
Total in U.S. Dollars as of 9/8/08 (today's rate of exchange) |
$6,384 |
Total Estimated Expenses (+ monthly contribution to German Health Insurance program) |
°Indicates the expense will appear on your UW Oshkosh student account.
You may need to budget for transportation to and from your home town and the airport, shipping charges/insurance for personal belongings mailed to the host country (remember that each individual airline imposes a luggage limit), non-program-related sight-seeing (transportation, entrance fees, etc.), long distance phone calls to the U.S., TV (basic fee of ¥1,395/month, additional ¥945/month for satellite broadcast); unexpected emergencies, and other expenses which may come up from time to time.
Working Abroad
Students may complete paid or unpaid internships through the UAS7 Study & Internship Program (SIP) or on their own. Internships MUST be pre-approved by FH Osnabrück; applications for the SIP program MUST be made through the UAS7 office in New York.
Students are also allowed to work (without completing an internship for credit) up to 180 half days per year. The maximum number of working hours is generally restricted to 20 hours per week. (information current as of September 2008)
Students are required to follow German laws related to working while studying on a student visa. You must be aware of these laws and take care of any required paperwork before working/seeking employment.
Apply
You will apply to participate through the UW Oshkosh Office of International Education (OIE). The OIE will send a list of recommendations to FHO a few days after our application deadline. FHO does not send official program acceptance correspondence to the OIE, but directly to each student. Therefore, the student is the only person who will be notified.
| ADDITIONAL documents required for this program. Due by the application deadline: |
|
| Two Recommendations One recommendation must be from a professor in a department related to your major. The second may be from a professor, an advisor or from a professional person with whom you work. If you plan to take regular university courses IN GERMAN, at least one recommendation must be from a professor of German. |
|
| Transfer Credit Prior Approval form The OIE recommends choosing twice as many courses as you plan to take per semester and completing the Transfer Credit Prior Approval for all of these courses. In the case that a course you intended to take abroad is full, not offered or is not what you expected, you will then be able to easily make changes to your enrollment while abroad. |
|
| FHO application documents | |
| Registration Form for Incoming Students | |
| Application Form for Enrolment as a Visiting Student You'll need the following information to complete this form: Study Programme: choose from Business & Management, Business Law, Health, International Programmes, or Public Management & Social Work. Choose the programme through which you plan to take the greatest number of courses. Study Abroad: choose an area from a study programme listed at http://www.wiso.fh-osnabrueck.de/10237.html Cooperation Agreement: Fachhochschule Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences/University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Bilateral Student Exchange Duration of Stay: write in your tentative travel dates |
|
| Learning Agreement Write in the name of the FHO courses you plan to take in the column titled "Title of Module". These MUST be the same courses as listed on the UW Oshkosh "Transfer Credit Prior Approval" form. If the courses listed are not the same, the UW Oshkosh OIE cannot sign the form. |
|
| Certificate of Registration You must have this stamped and signed in the Registrar's office (D130, behind the big window inside the office) |
|
| Application Form for Accommodation for Visiting Students Read the Accommodation Conditions BEFORE applying for housing. |
|
| Application Form for the German Language School | |
| Official Academic Transcript Order on-line or in the Registrar's office (D130, at the window inside the office) |
|
| SIGNED Curriculum Vitae (CV) in tabular form-in German or in English Don't have one? See a sample CV for Germany and fill in the blanks on this Microsoft Word CV template. |
|
| Due by the Friday following the application deadline: | |
| FHO-Required Photos
Submit 5 passport photographs for the following: housing application (2 photos), Visiting Student application (1 photo), Curriculum Vitae (1 photo), Residence Permit (1). You should have these taken at the same time that you have your photos for your passport taken. WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE BACKS OF EACH PHOTO. |
|
| Receipt for Housing Deposit and, if applicable, German Language School fee
Send your housing deposit and, if applicable, German language school fee directly to FHO by wire transfer. Bring your receipt to the UW Oshkosh OIE. To complete a wire transfer, bring the wire transfer details (available from your Application Form for Accommodation for Visiting Students) to your bank or credit union. When requesting a wire transfer, you must request that the bank include the wire transfer fees. If you don't, your payment will be reduced by the amount of the fee and you will end up still owing. Order the transfer in Euro. You will be charged the equivalent in U.S. dollars after the transfer has been processed. Wire transfers typically take 3-5 days to process. Be sure that you make payments by wire transfer far enough in advance of payment deadlines. |
|
| Due by the 1st Friday in November or April: | |
| Passport Copy Copy of the picture page of your passport. |
|
| Complete and carry this with you to Germany. | |
| Financial Declaration - REQUIRED for your residence permit application | |
| Proof of payment of tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh You will be required to show this to International Office staff at FHO BEFORE you will be allowed to register for courses. |
|
Resources
Office of International Education Orientation Materials
Visa
A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by officials of a foreign country on a U.S. passport that makes it possible for the bearer to visit that foreign country. Germany allows students to enter for study purposes WITHOUT having first applied for a student visa, provided they apply for a residence permit immediately following their arrival.
Residence Permit
To apply for a residence permit, you MUST bring proof of financial means with you to Germany. Once in Germany, you will work with the International Office to apply.
Emergency Contact (during program dates)
In a life and death emergency ABROAD
U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center: 1 (202) 647-5225
The Department of State will relay messages to the Embassy in the country in which program participants are traveling. Embassy personnel will try to locate your student, pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back.
To reach your student directly
Use the phone/fax information given to you by your student or, if your student is staying in a hotel, use the hotel contact information listed on the web page for your student's program.
The Office of International Education cannot give out homestay phone numbers unless authorized in advance by the student, but we would be happy to try to contact your student for you in an emergency.
To reach someone at UW Oshkosh during office hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F)
- Office of International Education Phone: 1 (920) 424-0775
- Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-1410
- Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-0300
- Office of International Education Fax: 1 (920) 424-0185
- Dr. William Baurecht: Coordinator, National Student Exchange - baurecht@uwosh.edu
- Jenna Graff: Director, Office of International Education - graff@uwosh.edu
- Becky Triatik : Front Line Advisor - triatikr@uwosh.edu
- Brian Mylrea: International Student Advisor - mylreab@uwosh.edu
- Karlin Stukenberg: Program Manager - stukenbk@uwosh.edu
To reach someone at UW Oshkosh outside of normal office hours
University Police: 1 (920) 424-1216
To reach local contacts associated with our program ABROAD
International Office
Fachhochschule Osnabrück
Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences
International Faculty Office
P. O. Box 19 40
D-49009 Osnabrück, Germany
ifo@wi.fh-osnabrueck.de
Fax: 0049 (0) 541/969-3010
Time Zone Differences
This page was last updated on: October 23, 2008