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 301D 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. Washington University students attend a four week language and orientation course in Tübingen (Deutsch-Kompakt) that is designed to help prepare them for taking course work in German. 

Semester abroad program prerequisites

Students must complete Ger 2020 with a grade of B- or better in order to be eligible for the semester abroad program. 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 taking coursework in German. 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

Students can earn a maximum of 21 Washington University credits per semester in the Tübingen program, though the typical expectation is 15-18. This includes credit for the language preparation courses as well as courses taken at the University of Tübingen. At Tübingen, students can take a variety of courses related to German language and culture in order to receive credit for German at Washington University in St. Louis. Additionally, a limited number of Arts & Sciences distribution credits may be completed in Tübingen. Tübingen also offers courses, some in English, across a wide variety of fields and disciplines. Prior participants have earned Washington University credit in areas from Art History to Computer Science. If you wish to earn Washington University credit for a major or minor other than German while at Tübingen, you should contact the relevant department’s study abroad advisor as early as possible before applying.

The course formats and grading scale at Tübingen are very different than in the American higher education system. The credit transfer process is handled by the program director at Washington University. Therefore, students should discuss their academic plans with the program director and before they enroll in courses.

German majors and minors are required to take at least one 400-level course in German at Washington University after their return from Tübingen.

Please contact Dr. Katherine Kerschen for further details on the credit policy and to discuss your individual situation.

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.

In addition to drawing on their regular financial aid package to fund study abroad, students can apply for one of several scholarships that will cover a portion of their travel-related expenses. The department offers 1 Detjen Family Study Abroad Award in the amount of $4000 and 1 Cecilia Hospes Travel Grant in the amount of $3000.

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 3000- or 4000-level.
• In order to complete their major or minor, students must take at least one German course at Washington University after they return.

• The Fall semesteer program runs late in August to mid-December. Applications are due February 1 of that year.
• The spring semesster program runs early Janurary to mid-May. Applications are due May 1 of the previous year.

Applications for the BSBA Germany Semester Abroad program can be found on the Office of Overseas Programs webpage.

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 programs run from approximately early June through mid July. You can find the exact dates on the IES websites Language and Culture and Internship.

Students must apply through the Office of Overseas Programs as well as via IES. The Washington University  application for the Language and Culture program can be found here. The Washington University application for the Internship program can be found here.

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.

Language and Culture Program

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.

Internship Program

Participants can receive up to 6 credits at Washington University, 3 of those in German, for successful completion of the program. Participants have the option to take a language course in German, for which they will receive 3 German credits. 3 Washington University credits will be awarded for the internship, but will not count towards the German major/minor requirements.

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 4000-level courses except 4020/4040/4080 require that you have completed or are concurrently enrolled in German 3400/3401. Completion of one of these courses is also required for the German major and minor.

The estimated cost of the program is $6900 for the Summer 2025 session. Participants will be billed directly by IES.

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.

Students interested in the UROP program at RWTH Aachen University should contact Melanie Osborn. You will need to apply to the UROP program directly. More information can be found on the Office of Overseas Programs website.