About the Baden-Württemberg Exchange

The Baden-Württemberg Exchange offers students an opportunity to earn college credits in one of Germany's top nine universities. Students spend the academic year at the university they choose.

The Baden-Württemberg Exchange originated from a legislative partnership formed between the State of Connecticut and the German state of  Baden-Württemberg in 1989. The agreement invites all students enrolled in four-year colleges and universities in Connecticut to study at any institution of higher learning in Baden-Württemberg. With nine universities from which to choose and a large number of Fachhochschulen and Kunsthochschulen, students of all disciplines can be accommodated.

The Baden-Württemberg Exchange is a reciprocal exchange program for participating institutions. This means that the institutions sending students must be willing to receive students themselves. Students participating in the program prepay their home institution tuition and fees and then trade places with another student from the Exchange.

Distinguishing features of the Baden-Württemberg Exchange

• A four-week orientation at your host university where you will meet new students and new friends from all over the world;

• A substantial language support program (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) to get your German better than you ever dreamed possible;

• Dormitory housing with Germans and other international students;

• Access to peer advisors - native German students - who know your host university well and can be your guide during the first few weeks and the rest of the year;

• A customized program that responds to your needs: You decide which university and language program are best for you!

• A generous scholarship fund to help you with airfare and other expenses

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Baden-Württemberg

Situated in the southwestern part of Germany, Baden-Württemberg shares its borders with France, Switzerland, and Austria. This region is filled with picturesque beauty and historical landmarks: Heidelberg Castle, the Black Forest, Lake Constance.

This region is also a powerful economic engine within Europe. Some of the world's most successful companies are located here: Mercedes-Benz (Daimler-Chrysler), Porsche, and the German computer software giant SAP. Connecticut chose well, wouldn't you say, when it formed a state-to-state partnership with Baden-Württemberg over ten years ago!

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Student Eligibility

1. The BW-Exchange is for undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates are eligible to participate any time after completing their freshman year.

2. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-) or above and have demonstrated that they are mature,  self-directed learners who will receive the most satisfaction from experiencing German university life as an insider

3. Students planning to take regular German university courses will find that they can do so with less frustration if they have completed a minimum of four semesters or more of college-level German.

4. Students who have achieved less than intermediate level proficiency in German can strengthen their language skills the first semester by taking an intensive language course (20 hours per week) in the Deutsch als Fremdsprache program (DaF) at their German university. You can obtain examples of the various DaF programs from the BW-Exchange Director.

5. Students who choose the above option can supplement their intensive German language studies with one or two university courses taught in English. Many departments offer a selection of courses taught by visiting professors from English-speaking countries, which  vary from one semester to the next.

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Our Programs

The Baden-Württemberg Exchange is designed for an entire academic year. Over 80% of the students who participate in the BW-Exchange choose to do so for the entire academic year. However, students who wish to apply for only one semester can also be accommodated in our Sommersemester Plus option.  Although 99% of the students who have gone on this program wish they could have stayed for the entire academic year, we know that this is not always possible.

Full Year Option

If you go to Baden-Württemberg for two semesters, you will begin your year  with a four week preparatory language course at your host university. This language course is offered by your host university and generally runs from the first through the fourth week in September. The course is designed to familiarize you  with German culture and customs and jump-start your language abilities. At the end of your preparatory language course you will have the option of taking a language exam called the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für die Hochschulreife (DSH). If you pass this exam you are considered ready to take all your courses in the regular university curriculum.

However, your enrolling at your German university is not contingent on your passing the DSH. If you do not achieve a high score on the DSH, you can still enroll at your German university, but are advised to limit yourself to courses in the Deutsch als Fremdsprache curriculum and to courses taught in English.

After your preparatory language course, you will enroll at your host university and begin the first of your two semesters in mid-October. Based on your language skills and the course requirements at your home university, you will enroll in a combination of DaF and regular university course . Depending on how many classes you take during each semester, you should receive about the same amount of credit for your year in Germany as you would as a full-time student at your Connecticut college or university. Final credit evaluation is determined by your home university. As such, you should consult with your academic advisor before your departure to determine what credits you will attempt to fulfill during your year in Germany.

Sommersemester Plus Option

Due to the differences in the academic calendars of American and German institutions of higher education, students wishing to spend one semester in Baden-Württemberg are advised to go for the period corresponding to their home institution's Spring semester.

With this in mind we have developed our Sommersemester Plus option. If you participate in this option you will begin your stay in Germany with  twelve weeks of intensive language study from January through March. After the completion of the twelve weeks of language study you will enroll for one semester at the Baden-Württemberg university of your choice.

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Academic Calendar

The German academic calendar is different from the American academic calendar..

The academic year in Germany is divided into two semesters: the fall (Wintersemester), and the spring (Sommersemester). Between the two semesters is a lecture free period. The approximate academic calendar for Connecticut students in Baden-Württemberg is as follows:

Language & Orientation	September
Wintersemester	Mid-October   --   Mid-February
Sommersemester	Mid-April        --   Mid-July

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Housing

As a Baden-Württemberg participant you will be housed in a student dormitory. Your dormitory room reservation will be  made by the International Office (Auslandsamt)) of your host university. Most German dorms have only single occupancy rooms and are equipped with shared kitchen facilities. Student dormitories usually house a mixture of  German and other international students. The cost of dorm rooms varies depending on size, age and location of the room. The average cost of a dorm room in 2005-2006 was €220.

Meals are available in inexpensive cafeterias (Mensa). Students can also prepare their own meals in their dormitory kitchen facilities, or enjoy the local cuisine in a restaurant of cafe.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

Unlike many study abroad programs the Baden-Württemberg Exchange is quite affordable. There are two primary reasons for this: Financial aid and BW-Scholarships.

Most forms of financial aid for which you are eligible at your home university can be applied to the Baden-Württemberg Exchange. This means that if you already qualify for student loans or grants, or receive a scholarship,  you can likely keep these awards for the year you spend at your German university. Check with your college's or university's financial aid office for specific details.

In addition, the Parliament of Baden-Württemberg has made a number of room and board scholarships available for Connecticut students. Students may apply for a full or partial room and board scholarship. To apply you must fill out the Baden-Württemberg Exchange Scholarship Application Form. Even if you are not normally eligible for student financial aid you may be eligible for a full or partial  Baden-Württemberg Scholarship. The maximum scholarship is €410 per month for ten months. Scholarships range anywhere from €2,000 to €4,100 for participants who commit to a full year of study and half that amount for those going abroad for a semester (including Sommersemester Plus option).

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Program Costs and Expenses

Tuition

The Baden-Württemberg Exchange is a reciprocal exchange program. As such, you will pay your home institution tuition and fees (as well as Study Abroad Fee if applicable) and then trade places with a student from Baden-Württemberg.

Fees

There is a $625 BW-Exchange program fee for the academic year ($425 for the Sommersemester Plus option).

Additionally, Connecticut students must pay the student activity fee at their German institutions (approximately €65 per semester).

Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for all student participants. The German health insurance costs approximately €60 per month. It is a good buy for the money. It is quite comprehensive and includes many dental procedures and eye examinations as well as most prescribed medications.

Note:  Your German health insurance will not go into effect until you matriculate at your German university ( October 1 - beginning of fall semester; April 1 - spring semester).

Room and Board

Each student accepts financial responsibility for room and board and personal expenses incurred while studying abroad.

Dormitory housing is arranged through the Akademisches Auslandsamt of your host university. The average costs of a dorm room in 2005-2006 was €235.

Students are advised to budget €600 per month for room and board and an additional €150 per month for health insurance, transportation, books and incidentals. Spending money varies from student to student - depending on life style. (Please note that the full academic year program covers 11 months!) Students must also set aside money for the cost of travel to and from Germany.

Most students report that they can live quite well within a budget of €750 per month.

Transportation

Getting from your dormitory to your campus may require you to purchase a public transportation pass. The cost will vary between €30 and €50 per month. Many students prefer to purchase a bicycle. Some prefer to walk wherever they go.

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