Study/Intern in Hessen, Germany
Hessen - Germany
Fall and spring semester
Courses in all academic fields in German
Semester programs in English in Social Work, Media Production, Engineering, Business and General Education
Internships in German; Internships in Social Work in English
Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Wade-Sirabian, Radford 307, 920-424-0909
______________________________________
Study/intern for a semester or year through the Hessen-Wisconsin exchange at one of 12 Universities or Universities of Applied Sciences in the State of Hessen, Germany!
Fachhochschule Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt
Fachhochschule Fulda
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
Fachhochschule Gießen-Friedberg
Universität Kassel
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach am Main
Fachhochschule Wiesbaden
Apply for a Christianson Grant
(for individuals on work, intern or volunteer abroad programs)
Buddies
The Hessen-Wisconsin Buddy Program pairs students from Wisconsin with exchange alumni from Hessen. A Buddy is a primary contact person who provides information and guidance, picks up from airports or train stations and leads the international student through his/her first week at a Hessen university. A Buddy may also serve as translator, tour guide or even as a night-on-the-town-specialist. Buddies care for the well-being of exchange students and make them feel comfortable at their host university in Hessen. The Buddy Program is offered for free in addition to any other orientation program at the respective university.
Talk to German and American students who have already participated!
Login, set up an account and use this German equivalent to Facebook to get connected. with the Hessen-Wisconsin Groups of 2006/07 and 2007/08.
All of the information included here is subject to change. Modifications may be required depending on the exigencies of the situation.
Course(s)/Internship Opportunities
Language Requirements
Study in German
Completion of any 300 level German Language course with a grade of A or B, completion of GERMAN 204 with consent of the department, or equivalent proficiency with consent of the department is required.
Study in English
No previous experience with the German language is required!
Course Options
Before committing to an exchange program, applicants must spend time looking through the course selection available at the host institution.
Study in German
Begin by using the searchable program database. From here, you can search on each institution's department web pages for course information. A broad spectrum of courses are offered based on course availability, language competence and academic preparation. If you have questions about course availability, email the international office in the university of interest.
Study in English
Business Information Systems
Computer Science
International Finance
International Summer Universities
International Undergraduate Study Program (IUSP) (courses)
Social Work
Intensive German Language
Intensive pre-semester German language courses are offered by Hessen Universities free of charge to their international exchange students. Classes feature language instruction on all levels, plus lectures on German culture and society. The courses are organized by the International Offices in Hessen and most of them can be taken for ECTS credits. They serve the purpose of preparing for study in Germany, and focus on specific skills such as reading comprehension, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar. The language courses are accompanied by an orientation program. During the afternoons, formalities such as enrolment, health insurance and applying for a residence permit are dealt with and assistance is given in selecting courses. In addition, guided tours around the universities - including the library and sports facilities - are offered. Other features of the program are a rally through town or excursions to sights in the region (for a small fee).
Internships
In addition to coursework, students may choose to complete an internship in Germany or elsewhere in Europe. Internships may be completed either during academic studies or following academic studies in Germany. All internships are organized through the student exchange by an organization called Hessen Networks. For more information on internship possibilities, see the Hessen Networks web page.
RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) also offers internships, giving North American students in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geology and Physics the chance to spend a summer working with German doctoral students on serious research projects. The doctoral students help integrate the undergraduate directly into the lab work and serve as personal and professional mentors. The application deadline is in early February.
Apply for a Christianson Grant
for individuals on work, intern or volunteer abroad programs
Course Approval
All applicants complete a Transfer Credit Prior Approval form. At the end of your program, you will transfer your German 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 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits you receive. In general, dividing the number of ECTS in half will give you the total number of UW Oshkosh credits. However, the actual number of credits you receive for each course will be determined when you complete your Transfer Credit Prior Approval Form and may be different from what is listed here.
Registration
Course enrollment is completed through the host institution 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.
Transfer Credit
After you have successfully completed your study abroad experience, but before you leave for home, you will need to have your transcripts sent to the Transfer Student Coordinator in the UW Oshkosh Admissions Office. You cannot receive credit at UW Oshkosh without the official transcript.
To get a transcript, make sure that for every course you take, you arrange to earn/receive a "Scheine". This is proof that you have completed the course requirements and are entitled to credit. A Scheine can be obtained by writing a paper, taking a test, doing an oral report, etc. How you earn a Scheine will vary by instructor--make sure you ask and be proactive with professors. They are typically not as "forward" in assisting students as US professors--a cultural difference. Toward the end of your semester, you must collect your Scheine from each professor and then submit them to the International Office in Germany. You will then need to have the Auslandsamt print out a transcript for you and send both it and the Scheine to the UW Oshkosh Admissions office to complete the credit transfer process.
BE AWARE!!! Transcripts in Germany can only reflect what is in the “Scheine”. If you do not earn or collect “Scheine” AND submit them to the International Office, your courses WILL NOT appear on your transcript. Issuing a “Scheine” after you have returned to Wisconsin is impossible.
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.
You should also consider ordering a copy of your transcripts for yourself.
Accommodation & Meals
Students stay in residence halls or in apartments near campus, depending on the institution at which they plan to study. Generally, residence halls have shared kitchens where students cook their own meals either individually or in groups with other German or international students.
All campuses have a student Mensa (cafeteria) which offers meals at subsidized rates (€1.50-€3.00).
Schedule
The academic year is divided into two semesters, beginning with the winter semester in October.
Universities
Winter Semester (Wintersemester/WS): usually from late October to mid-February
Summer Semester (Sommersemester/SS): usually from early April to late July
Universities of Applied Science (Fachhochschulen)
Winter Semester (Wintersemester/WS): usually from early October to mid-February
Summer Semester (Sommersemester/SS): usually from late March to mid-July
International Undergraduate Study Program (IUSP)
Winter Semester (Wintersemester/WS): from late Aug/early Sept to early December
Summer Semester (Sommersemester/SS): from late Feb/early March to early/mid-June
UW Oshkosh Interim
If you find a program which ends before the UW Oshkosh interim begins, It is important to note that although you may return to the U.S. in time to take a UW Oshkosh interim course, you will need to pay tuition for the credits earned over the interim period. This is because on exchange programs each student pays tuition to his/her home institution ON BEHALF OF THE INCOMING STUDENT. In return, the student coming to UW Oshkosh from UNB pays tuition for you. Therefore, the tuition you pay will cover your exchange partner's tuition and fees during the regular semester and interim; it will not cover YOUR tuition and fees during the regular semester or during interim at UW Oshkosh.
Flight
Luggage Limits
Check with your airline for restrictions on carry-on, checked and excess baggage.
Money
Carry approximately €300 (US$450) in cash to cover transportation from the airport to your residence and living costs for the first few days.
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.
Arrival Abroad
Hessen Universities offer the option of connecting with a German "buddy" before traveling to Germany. Part of the program connects buddies with their American students at the airport upon arrival so that the American students have someone who can escort them to their residence. Be sure you request a buddy and that you CLEARLY COMMUNICATE your travel plans to your buddy FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE OF TRAVEL so that someone can meet you.
As always, have a back-up plan. Purchase and read a guidebook and read through the orientation materials provided by your host (if available). Be sure to plan your route from the airport to your residence BEFORE traveling JUST IN CASE. Share your travel plans with administrators in Germany before arriving.
Fees
The following has been generalized to cover study at any institution in Hessen. Fees at the institution you choose may be higher or lower than the fees listed below. Hessen institutions may change these fees without notifying exchange partners in Wisconsin.
One Semester (4 months; courses taught in German)
| Tuition Estimate | |
$
3,020
° |
Tuition (2008/09 academic year) |
-$250° |
Approximate reduction for segregated fees |
$2,770° |
Total Tuition Payable to UW Oshkosh |
| Expenses in U.S. Dollars | |
$100 |
Application Fee |
$100 |
Passport & Pictures |
$900 |
Airfare |
$0 |
Visa (U.S. citizen rate) |
$148° |
International Health Insurance ($37/month) ° |
$0 |
Immunizations |
$1,248 |
Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations) |
| Expenses in Foreign Currency (European Euro = €) | |
€50 |
Transportation to/from airport |
€60 |
Residence Permit (U.S. Citizen rate) |
€1,000 |
Accommodation (€250/month on average) |
€1,000 |
Meals (€250/month on average) |
€0 |
Local Transportation (walking; student fees at SOME institutions include a local - not high speed - bus and train pass which covers most of the state of Hessen. |
€200 |
German Sozialbeitrag student fees (amount varies depending on the university) |
| refundable | Housing deposit usually payable on arrival to the Studentenwerk; approx €500 depending on the university |
waived |
German Health Insurance (If your institution does not waive this fee, contact the UW Oshkosh OIE.) |
€_______ |
IUSP Fee (€1,500 - €200 meal subsidy = €1,300 total); €1,000 accommodation fee from above will also be payable directly to Marburg) |
€900 |
Personal Expenses, including cell phone (€225/month) |
€3,210 |
Total Expense Estimate while Abroad |
$4,700 |
Total in U.S. Dollars as of 8/18/08 (today's rate of exchange) |
$8,718 |
Total Estimated Expenses + Optional Components |
Academic Year (Fall/Winter followed by Spring/Summer; 10 months; courses taught in German)
| Tuition Estimate | |
$
6,040
° |
Tuition (2008/09 academic year) |
-$500° |
Approximate reduction for segregated fees |
$5,540° |
Total Tuition Payable to UW Oshkosh |
| Expenses in U.S. Dollars | |
$100 |
Application Fee |
$100 |
Passport & Pictures |
$900 |
Airfare |
$0 |
Visa (U.S. citizen rate) |
$370° |
International Health Insurance ($31/month) ° |
$0 |
Immunizations |
$1,470 |
Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations) |
| Expenses in Foreign Currency (European Euro = €) | |
€50 |
Transportation to/from airport |
€60 |
Residence Permit (U.S. Citizen rate) |
€2,500 |
Accommodation (€250/month on average) |
€2,500 |
Meals (€250/month on average) |
€0 |
Local Transportation (walking; student fees at SOME institutions include a local - not high speed - bus and train pass which covers most of the state of Hessen. |
€400 |
German Sozialbeitrag student fees (amount varies depending on the university) |
| refundable | Housing deposit usually payable on arrival to the Studentenwerk; approx €250 depending on the university |
waived |
German Health Insurance (If your institution does not waive this fee, contact the UW Oshkosh OIE.) |
€_______ |
IUSP Fee (€2,500 - €500 meal subsidy = €2,000 total) (€2,500 accommodation fee from above will also be payable directly to Marburg) |
€2,250 |
Personal Expenses, including cell phone (€225/month) |
€7,760 |
Total Expense Estimate while Abroad |
$11,360 |
Total in U.S. Dollars as of 8/18/08 (today's rate of exchange) |
$18,370 |
Total Estimated Expenses + Optional Components |
°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., unexpected emergencies, and other expenses which may come up from time to time.
Working Abroad
In the European Union, although the labor market is open to American citizens, work permits are normally issued only to people with special skills, making the prospect of obtaining a work permit by unskilled citizens extremely unlikely. You should not plan to work when you are studying in Germany.
Apply
| 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 must be from a professor or from a professional person with whom you work. |
|
| 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. |
|
| Hessen Wisconsin Exchange Application (3 pages) NOTE - the "home campus" field on page 3 does not work. Please write in "UW Oshkosh" by hand. |
|
| Resume or CV | |
| Two references These can be from the same people who fill out the recommendation forms linked above; your references need to complete BOTH forms. |
|
| Check for $50 made payable to "UW Milwaukee" | |
| For study in English, also complete the International Undergraduate Study Program (IUSP) Form | |
| Due by the Friday following the application deadline: | |
| Photo Submit one photo, any style, to be shared with Hessen Coordinators. WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE BACK OF THE PHOTO. |
|
| Due by the 1st Friday in November or April: | |
| Copy of the picture page of your passport | |
Resources
Office of International Education Orientation Materials
Studying in Germany
Scholarships for Study in Germany
Young Ambassadors
If you are considering studying in Germany and/or have questions about what it's like, the Young Ambassadors (undergraduate students from North America who have recently studied in Germany) are there to help! Find someone who studied where you want to go or who specializes in your field and ask them whatever you want to know about study or research in Germany!
Passport
You are required to have a valid passport with a date of expiry at least three months after your intended departure from Germany.
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. U.S. citizens in possession of a valid passport do not need to apply for a visa to enter Germany. U.S. citizens planning to study in Germany need to apply for a Residence Permit, in person, after entering Germany.
Residence Permit
All persons who wish to study in Germany are required to obtain a residence permit. Citizens of the United States of America may apply for their residence permit after entering Germany without a visa. Alternatively they can apply for a residence permit prior to entry at the German Embassy in Washington or at a German Consulate (Chicago). See the web site for the German Consulate in Chicago for details.
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
- Molly Witt : Front Line Advisor - mchughm@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
There is a different emergency contact for each institution in Hessen. Click here for a list of international offices and contacts in Germany. Please keep in mind that many staff in the international offices are often working split positions and are not always in the international office. If may be difficult to get a response from some of these contacts.
Time Zone Differences
This page was last updated on: August 26, 2008