The Application Process
Spending a year at one of the Baden-Württemberg
universities is a wonderful opportunity for personal, academic and
professional growth. In order to make your year in Germany as rewarding as
possible, we need to be able to assess your goals and needs. With this in
mind there are a few important steps in the application process:
Before beginning the 3-part application
process, we will first meet with you individually
meetings to work together on deciding which Germany
university is best for you.
STEP #1:
You will apply through the
study abroad office at your home university.
STEP #2:
Only after you are accepted by
your study abroad office, will you then
submit a completed
BW application. Through this, we will truly come to understand
your unique goals, needs, concerns and reasons for wanting to study in
Baden-Württemberg.
STEP #3: And finally, we will assist you in applying to your chosen
German university!
Selecting a German University
An important factor in
making your study abroad experience as rewarding as possible is ensuring that
you spend it at a university which is best for you. Our desire is to place you
at a university of your choice. With this in mind we will work with you
regarding your preferences, and advise you regarding your options. Together we
will determine the best university for your time in Baden-Württemberg.
The
university that is right for you depends
on several factors:
Level of German proficiency
The universities in Baden-Württemberg
welcome exchange students with eagerness. Nevertheless, certain universities
require a higher level of language competency than others. Your year will
be the most rewarding if you choose a university that is a good match to your
level of German proficiency.
Program
of Study
German universities offer a variety of academic programs. Depending on what you
wish to study, certain universities may offer you more than others. If you wish
to study business, then the University of Mannheim is a great choice. If you
wish to study engineering, then the University of Stuttgart is the right choice
for you. We have over fifteen years of knowledge and experience to help you pick
the university that will best fit your desired academic goals.
Personal preference
Some students have general preferences regarding the university they wish to
attend. Perhaps you prefer to be in a metropolitan environment, or perhaps you
prefer the historic feel of a medieval university town. We can offer you a wide
range of environments to suit your preference.
These are
considerations to factor-in when making your decision.
Your German
University Application
Once you have
determined which university is right for you, it is time to fill out that
university's application paperwork. For most of the universities in
Baden-Württemberg you will be required to fill out three forms; an
application for admission, an application for housing, and an enrollment
form for the preparatory language course. We will provide you with the right
forms and help you to fill them out correctly. They must then be returned to
our office so we can hand them over to the German university.
Acceptance to Your German
University
Once you are accepted
by your German university, they will send you an official acceptance packet.
The documents contained in this packet will vary depending on the German
university to which you applied. Nevertheless, regardless of which
university you have chosen, your acceptance packet will contain your
official letter of acceptance; your Zulassungsbescheid.
In addition your
acceptance packet is likely to contain detailed instructions about arriving
and registering at your host university, orientation information, and other
helpful hints.
An
important note:
It is very important that you
carefully go through the documents you receive in your acceptance packet.
Some of the German universities include in your acceptance packet, paperwork
that must be filled out and returned to them. Go through the documents you
receive carefully and if there are items you do not understand we will be
happy to review them with you.
Receiving Your Room Assignment
Before you leave you
will receive your housing assignment from your German university.
Most of the
universities will send you a housing contract (Mietvertrag) that
you must immediately sign and return. In addition some universities require
that you send in a security deposit (Kaution) with your signed
contract. If this is the case, arrangements for this payment should be made
in consultation with our office.
One exception is
Heidelberg Students going to Heidelberg do not receive their housing
contract until they arrive in in Heidelberg. Once there, students are
required to sign their contract and pay the security deposit.
An important note:
Some of the universities have begun sending housing offers via email.
This means that it is absolutely essential that you carefully monitor
your emails during the months before your departure.
|
