Study Abroad

Year Abroad Program

• February 1: Applications due for Year Abroad program
• March: Applicants informed of acceptance
• Beginning of September: Arrival
• September: 4-week intensive language and orientation program (Deutsch-Kompakt)
• Mid-October: Winter semester begins
• Mid-February: Winter semester ends
• Mid-April: Summer semester begins
• End of July: Summer semester ends

Semester Abroad Program

• May 1: Applications due for Semester Abroad program (for the following spring)
• September: Applicants informed of acceptance
• Late January: Arrival
• February: 4 week intensive language program at the Goethe-Institut Bonn
• March: 4 week intensive language and orientation program at Universität Tübingen (Deutsch-Kompakt)
• Mid-April: Summer semester begins
• End of July: Summer semester ends

Year abroad program prerequisites

Students must complete Ger 302D with a grade of B- or better in order to be eligible for the year abroad program. It is also highly recommended that students complete Ger 401, 404, or 408D, courses that help prepare students linguistically and/or culturally for study abroad. All students admitted to the University of Tübingen must pass a Sprachprüfung, which is administered in October in Tübingen. Washington University students attend a four week language and orientation course in Tübingen (Deutsch-Kompakt) that is designed to help prepare them for the test. Fees for this course are included in the cost of the program.

Semester abroad program prerequisites

Students must complete Ger 301D with a grade of B- or better in order to be eligible for the semester abroad program. All students admitted to the University of Tübingen must pass a Sprachprüfung, which is administered in April in Tübingen. Washington University students attend a four week language course at the Goethe-Institut Bonn and a four week language and orientation course at the Universität Tübingen (Deutsch-Kompakt) that are designed to help them prepare for the test. Fees for this course are included in the cost of the program.

Applications for the Tübingen program are available online through the Overseas Programs office website. 

• Applications are due May 1 of the prior year for the semester program
• Applications are due February 1 of that year for the year abroad program

The exact number of credits earned by each student and the distribution of credit among subject areas are determined following completion of study abroad. In general, it is expected that a student will earn between twelve and seventeen credit units per semester abroad. Students may, with the advice and approval of the Tübingen Program director, enroll in any course in which they are interested. However, during each semester abroad, students must complete at least one course in German literature, culture, art, history, or politics. Distribution requirements as well as requirements for a number of different majors may be completed in Tübingen. Students will need to check with the study abroad adviser in the respective academic department before going to Tübingen to see whether Tübingen courses will be accepted for the major or minor. Courses taken in Tübingen that relate to the study of German language and culture may count toward the major or minor in German; however, in the case of such courses as art history, cultural history, sociology, etc. that are not squarely in the field of Germanistik, students must first check with the program director to see if the courses will count toward the German major or minor. Courses may not be counted in two separate departments. A limited number of distribution credits (a maximum of three unclustered units in one of the four main distribution areas per semester abroad) may be completed in Tübingen. Letter grades are not awarded for work in Tübingen. Courses are listed on the transcript under the numbers of corresponding Washington University courses with the notation “University of Tübingen, Germany.”

Please review the prerequisites for the year abroad program or prerequisites for the semester abroad program, as well as the information about transferring credits (see sections below) from the German academic system.

Students in Tübingen may receive up to 17 credits per semester for participating in seminar courses, lecture classes, ISP courses, and Deutsch-Kompakt or for composing special reports about their experiences abroad. The transfer of credits will be handled directly by the program director at Washington University. The basis for the transfer of credits regarding seminars, lecture classes, and ISP is the Schein (credit certificate) received for the particular course.

Throughout their time abroad, students should consult both the program director at Washington University and the on-site directors in Tübingen about their academic plans, accomplishments, and problems. In addition, students are advised to consult WebSTAC with regard to course listings and their academic record so that they can plan for the transfer of credits (i.e. major and distribution requirements) appropriately.

Students may receive three credits for regular university seminars taken in Tübingen. In order to transfer these credits, they will have to complete whatever work is required by the instructor for receiving a Schein for that course. Students should speak to the respective instructor at the beginning of the semester to see what requirements are necessary for receiving a Schein and whether they can realistically expect to fulfill them.

Students may receive two credits for participating in lecture classes. In order to accrue these credits, students must speak with the course lecturer at the beginning of the semester to find out what extra work must be performed (papers, oral exams, written tests) in order to receive a Schein for that course. Students cannot transfer credits for more than two lecture classes per semester.

Students may receive two credits for ISP (Internationale Sprachprogramme) classes designed for improving foreign students' German-language skills. Students cannot transfer credits for more than one ISP course per semester (apart from the Deutsch-Kompakt course).

Students may also receive up to three German credits for the whole year if they submit a total of four reports (Erfahrungsberichte) of 10 pages (250 typed words a page, double spaced). Students in the semester program may receive two German credits for writing three Erfahrungsberichte. Each report should reflect and conceptualize the student's academic, intellectual, or cultural experience during specific periods of his or her residence in Tübingen. These reports are to be emailed to the program director at Washington University. Deadlines for the Erfahrungsberichte are: Report 1 - November 15; Report 2 - February 15; Report 3 - May 15; Report 4 - August 15.

At the end of each semester, a list of all courses completed during the semester and copies of all Scheine received must be sent directly to the program director at Washington University. In some cases, a student will not have received the Schein for a particular course by the time he or she leaves Tübingen, even though all required work for the class has been completed. In such cases, the on-site director in Tübingen will contact the respective professor regarding the missing Schein and will forward it to the WashU program director once it is issued. For students on the year abroad program, course Scheine (or evidence of forthcoming Scheine) for the winter semester must be submitted by the end of March. If it is determined at this time that the student had not completed the equivalent of 12 units of credit for the winter semester, the student will be placed on academic probation.

The exact number of credits earned by each student and the distribution of credit among subject areas are determined following completion of study abroad. In general, it is expected that a student will earn between twelve and seventeen credit units per semester abroad. Students may, with the advice and approval of the Tübingen Program director, enroll in any course in which they are interested. However, during each semester abroad, students must complete at least one course in German literature, culture, art, history, or politics. Distribution requirements as well as requirements for a number of different majors may be completed in Tübingen. Students will need to check with the study abroad adviser in the respective academic department before going to Tübingen to see whether Tübingen courses will be accepted for the major or minor. Courses taken in Tübingen that relate to the study of German language and culture may count toward the major or minor in German; however, in the case of such courses as art history, cultural history, sociology, etc. that are not squarely in the field of Germanistik, students must first check with the program director to see if the courses will count toward the German major or minor. Courses may not be counted in two separate departments. A limited number of distribution credits (a maximum of three unclustered units in one of the four main distribution areas per semester abroad) may be completed in Tübingen. Letter grades are not awarded for work in Tübingen. Courses are listed on the transcript under the numbers of corresponding Washington University courses with the notation “University of Tübingen, Germany.”

Please review the prerequisites for the year abroad program or prerequisites for the semester abroad program, as well as the information about transferring credits (see sections below) from the German academic system.

The cost of the year abroad program includes tuition, insurance, accommodations, miscellaneous fees and group outings and organized activities. All students who receive financial aid from Washington University may transfer that aid to the study abroad program. Determination of the exact amount is made by the staff of Student Financial Services. If you receive money from other sources you should continue to receive these funds as you are still officially enrolled at Washington University. Information concerning the financial side of the program may be obtained from Amy Suelzer in WashU's Overseas Programs office.

Students will make and pay for their own travel arrangements. Students will usually be housed in dormitories, but occasionally will live in a private residence. Housing is extremely tight in Tübingen and we have little choice about dormitory assignments.

• Students who enroll in a language course in Vallander for two quarters can earn 3 credits at a level commensurate with their previous coursework.
• Students who enroll in a topics course taught in German can earn an additional 3 units at the 300- or 400-level.
• In order to complete their major or minor, students must take at least one German course at Washington University after they return.

The minute you step off the plane in Berlin, you’ll feel its energy. It’s a place of new ideas, where sustainable technology and modern design are a way of life, and art galleries can be found on nearly every corner. But don’t forget, Berlin has also been at the center of modern European history--from the intellectual foundations of Socialism and the introduction of the modern European welfare state to the catastrophe of two world wars that divided the continent: Berlin has no equal for leaving its imprint on the political, social and cultural history of the 20th century. We invite you to study the historical and cultural heritage of this vibrant city.

The program runs from early June through late July. You can find the exact dates on the IES website.

The Washington University Berlin application is available online through the Office of Overseas Programs website. Students must also complete a short application via IES. Participants will be billed directly by IES. The estimated cost of the program is $6,100.

All students in good standing at Washington University may apply to the summer program. A minimum of one semester of German or the equivalent is required.

Participants can receive up to 6 credits at Washington University for successful completion of the program. Beginning students will generally take one language course in German, for which they will receive 3 German credits, and one topics course in English. More advanced students can take two courses in German and will receive 6 German credits. Credit for topics courses in English will be awarded but will not count toward the German major. The awarding of credits is dependent on attendance and performance in class. German credits can be used to fulfill part of your Language and Cultural Diversity requirement. However, you cannot complete the LCD sequence in Berlin. Rather, you must take your final required LCD course of the sequence at Washington University.

Credit in German will be awarded at the following levels, based upon the most recent level of German completed prior to attending the program:

* Please be advised that all 400-level courses except 402/404/408 require that you have completed or are concurrently enrolled in German 340/340D, 341/341D, or 342/342D. Completion of one of these courses is also required for the German major and minor.

In addition to drawing on their regular financial aid package to fund study abroad, students can apply for one of several fellowships that will cover a portion of their expenses: the department offers travel grants of $1,000 and 2-3 Celia Hospes Fellowships in the amount of $3,000, and the German American Heritage Society of St. Louis provides us with a grant of $1,500. IES also offers some scholarships for qualifying students See the website for additional details.