Education Abroad & Exchange - Germany

Baden-Württemberg Program

The Baden-Württemberg Program encompasses nine universities in the state of Baden-Württemberg: Freiburg, Heidelberg, Hohenheim, Karlsruhe, Konstanz, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Tübingen, and Ulm. It offers study in virtually all academic disciplines and each year sends between 30 and 40 American students to Germany.

At-A-Glance
Eligibility / Requirements	2.8 GPA
Open to Non-UMA?	Yes
Fall, Year	Rolling until May 1
Spring	Rolling until December 1
Classes Taught In	German, English
Abroad Advisor	Regine John

Documents	UMass Application, Non-UMass Application, Expense Estimate, Summer Application

Eligibility

The Baden-Württemberg Program accepts graduate and undergraduate students in good academic standing. All majors are welcome to apply.
Program participants enroll directly in one of the participating German universities. For students planning to earn credit by taking regular university courses taught in German, a good command of German and a strong background in the major field are important. Most universities also offer “German as a foreign language” classes as well as some courses taught in English.

Non-UMass Students

Students from outside the UMass system should check their home institutions' regulations for overseas study and should remain enrolled at their home institutions while participating in the Baden-Württemberg Program.

Academic Calendar

September/March: preparatory language and culture course at the host university
Mid-October to mid-February: Wintersemester (fall term)
Mid-April to mid-July: Sommersemester (spring term)
Enrollment in the program is for a full year or one semester, preferably the spring semester. Summer courses are available.

Program Administration

The program is administered by the UMass Amherst International Programs Office. Our program center in Freiburg offers a two-day orientation program , and our Resident Assistant Director will support and advise students on all aspects of life in Germany during their stay.

Curriculum

Every August/September and March the program sponsors a mandatory language and culture course for new students. Students with a high proficiency in German will be admitted directly to regular university courses; others are required to take at least a portion of their coursework in German classes for foreign .The introductory language and culture course consists of a grammar review, composition exercises, practice in text analysis, oral comprehension and speaking exercises, as well as an introduction to university life. Participants receive grades and three undergraduate credits. Non-degree graduate students may receive non-degree credit for completing the course.

Credits

Unless engaged in research, program participants are expected to enroll full-time in the program. This means that undergraduates must earn a minimum of 12 semester credits each semester, and graduate students 9 credits. Courses vary in credit hours depending on the required amount of work in and outside of the classroom.

Course Enrollment

Baden-Württemberg Program participants enroll directly in German university courses, either regular courses in their major and/or courses in German for foreign students. Most course work is conducted in German, and students must complete and submit written work in order to receive credit. Many of the universities now offer courses taught in English in one or more subjects.
Information on each university and course listings are available on the UMass Amherst International Programs Office website. Actual course offerings are determined shortly before the start of each semester.

Music and Art

Courses in music theory and history are offered at regular German universities while instrumental and voice instruction take place at the independent Musikhochschulen. The same concept applies to the study of art. Admission to a Musikhochschule or Kunsthochschule is extremely difficult, and is not possible through the program.

Transcripts

Upon completion of course work, students receive a Schein, or grade report, from their instructors. The Program then converts these Scheine into University of Massachusetts grades and credits. All participants receive a UMass transcript upon request; grades earned in Germany appear on the transcript, but are not averaged into the cumulative average.. All non-UMass Amherst students should check with their universities and departments for recognition of grades earned abroad.

Housing

Students live in dormitories, all of which have kitchen facilities and single rooms. Prices for dormitory rooms range from Euro 200-270.
Housing is difficult to find in university towns, and students who choose to live privately will need to find their own housing. The program has a guaranteed number of dormitory rooms available in each town, and will make every effort to find additional housing if necessary. The number of rooms is limited, however, and students should be prepared to accept placement in another university if housing is unavailable.

Preparation

All applicants are urged to learn as much as possible about Germany and the German university system by reading relevant books and German-language newspapers and periodicals. Talking with past participants in the program or with students from Germany who are studying in the U.S. may answer many of your questions. Please do not hesitate to contact the Program Director and her assistant at the International Programs Office at UMass with inquiries about the program.
A one-day orientation is held in Amherst for all students accepted into the program.

Cost

The program fee includes the costs of the language and culture course and comprehensive health insurance for 10/5 months. The program fee may be subject to change.
Living expenses, including room, board, and incidentals, are not included in the program fee. Because exchange rates can change drastically, we strongly advise you to keep track of them. Bear in mind that incidental expenses (e.g., travel) and monthly expenses vary according to personal habits and arrangements, so that your costs may fall short of or exceed our estimates. For our current cost estimate please see our Expense Estimate.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid can usually be applied to program costs. Students should check with their home institutions.

Scholarships

A number of scholarships, awarded on the basis of financial need and academic merit, are available through the program. Preference is given to graduate students enrolled in degree programs at UMass. Non-degree graduates are ineligible to apply.
If you wish to apply for a scholarship, write a separate financial statement to the members of the Scholarship Committee, being as specific as possible about your financial situation. It is a good idea to ask the professors who write your letters of recommendation to include a paragraph about your eligibility as a scholarship recipient. You should also include any financial aid award letters, tax returns or other relevant documents.

Contact

Regine S. John, Director of Programs in Germany
International Programs Office
111 Infirmary Way Ofc 3
University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, MA 01003-9335
Tel.: (413) 545-2710

UMass Amherst Dept of Germanic Languages & Literature