Study abroad in the United States

Study abroad referred to a study period of usually one or two semesters in a country other than that in which the study was recorded and usually can be completed, but increasingly, the study, which is carried out entirely in a country other than the home country of the student.

Dimensions

Many universities in Germany it is common to spend a part of their studies abroad. According to a study by the university information system for the winter semester 2006/07, around 23 percent of German students have completed a study-related stay abroad. Here were 30 percent of university students and 18 percent of students from colleges abroad. About two-thirds of the students were in Western Europe, especially Britain and France, 13 percent in North America and ten percent in Eastern Europe, primarily Poland and Russia.

Annually collected in Germany, around 58,000 foreign students to study. In addition there are students who complete only part of their studies within exchange agreements here.

Motivation

There are several reasons that may play a role in studying abroad:

• Insights out in their own field of study of foreign perspective
• Learn or improve their own language skills
• Getting to know a new country and its culture
• Formation of a network of international contacts
• Acquisition of frequently requested international experience
• Bypassing a numerus clausus at German universities
• Use of as in competition with German universities to be better respected framework and study programs abroad
• Get another academic degree ( double degree )
• Desire to move to the host country and work abroad start

You can study abroad in German on the one hand in a foreign language and the other. Many universities outside the English-speaking world set up programs that are carried out completely in English so that it is no longer necessary to speak the local language of the host country in order to study there.

2004 selected German students abroad to about 30 % German as the language to English about 30% to about 10 % to about 10% French and Spanish. 20 % opted for other languages ​​. The increasing tendency to study abroad in German language has the following causes:

• More and more foreign universities set up a German -language courses.
• German students want lectures can better follow.
• German students want to complete exams in foreign countries with better scores than before.
• German students want to participate equally in foreign research projects.
• Due to licensing restrictions ( numerus clausus ) at German universities no university place could be obtained domestically. Abroad, however, a place of study for another selection was available (example: medicine in Hungary)

There are now outside the German language area about 700 German -language courses. They are found in many countries, such as Finland, China, Hungary and the USA. These courses are largely unknown, although they play a prominent role, given the current debate on education.

The deals offer German students the unique opportunity to gain global experience abroad and at the same time to complete an international studies without language barriers with lectures and exams.

But the field of business can be learned at over 40 universities in German. Jura is offered, for example, about 20 times. Even something as special German -language media - degree courses is equal to 10 times abroad.

In Austria and Switzerland, of course, can also be found German -language study opportunities.

For students who are seeking a degree in Germany, often raises the question of whether after a further conclusion to be sought abroad, or whether only one or two exchange semesters are the target without a degree. Although the exchange programs such as ERASMUS usually brings to the elimination of tuition fees, but does not guarantee that a foreign degree can be acquired.

Unlike in countries with tiered study systems. In France, for example, it is easy to be classified with the appropriate services of two major term paper in the year of the Maitrise after the pre-degree or intermediate examination in the year of the Licence or after 6 semesters and to make the appropriate financial statements, which in its turn German on the final exams can be taken into account.

Graduates of the Maitrise can be adopted in general the German thesis, for example, the thesis in state exams, and a major seminar certificate. An admission to doctoral work is also directly possible. Also in the education system of the United States and the United Kingdom ( and the countries that have adopted this system from the mother country ) is a double integration of the studies possible: Students from the German system with undergraduate / intermediate examination and two semesters in the U.S. to Graduate Studies, therefore admitted to the one-year study for the master. It is here, especially in the humanities, often also make optional a master with thesis ( dissertation).

After the conversion of the German study programs at the Bachelor 's / Master's studies, integration into each of the following studies is easier.

Accurate information and consultation with examination offices and professors from the home university and the host university are advised.

Organization

There is a whole range of possibilities to start the way abroad.

A much- trodden path is the use of an exchange program, which can be located at the institution, faculty, university or state level. In all cases, the International Office helps further, for example through counseling or direct placement of a study place at a partner university. Such International Office can be found in the management of each university.

Another possibility is the direct application to the foreign university. If no suitable exchange programs available or the number of places is limited, this form of individual planning offers. Organized to be autonomous semester abroad, one is referred to (especially in the ERASMUS program ) as a free mover. Here too, the International Office can help, especially through the provision of information and individual advice.

Financing

On most foreign universities tuition fees are payable, which are often higher than those for residents (including United States, United Kingdom, Australia). Germany ranks among the few countries that collect little or no tuition. Within the EU, for German students of the advantage that they have to pay the tuition fees for residents, while the tuition fees for EU nationals may be much higher (eg in the UK).

When going abroad on an exchange program often accounts for the tuition fees, which many students allows studying abroad in view of the often very high fees in the first place. In some cases, charges remission shall be granted for all courses, so that in a few cases, no academic degree / degree is possible.

For a direct application to other forms of financing offer. Basic financial support is possible through federal financial aid or foreign federal financial aid or an education loan. Moreover, there exists a plethora of organizations and foundations that award scholarships, such as the DAAD, the Fulbright Commission for the United States or the Erasmus program of the European Community. Furthermore, all Begabtenförderungswerke offer its students to foreign scholarships. In a few universities, especially in American, even financing by Assist power points ( Graduate Assistantships ) or university's own scholarship is possible.

Recognition

Most study abroad with the aim of is connected to obtain recognition visited abroad courses for study in the home, so that the total duration of study not or only slightly elongated. Depending on the university and the Department of the recognition of courses taken abroad will, however, varies widely and sometimes depends on the personal assessment of individual professors. Most important is that course content, course intensity (number of hours per week) and intensity test (duration test) approximately match; However, general statements of recognition are difficult. Therefore, a possible recognition with professors or academic advisors at their own university should be discussed as possible before the commencement of study abroad. Simple and transparent recognition of study abroad services in the EU by the Bologna Process and the Erasmus program has become. Through the introduction of tiered studies Bachelor / Master and the introduction of the European Credit Transfer System ECTS recognition is simplified.

The Recognition of Foreign Academic degrees is regulated by law. The approval of acquired outside the EU degrees must the competent Culture / Science Minister 's home state applied (for a fee, for students with no income at the request usually free). The grades are usually approved in its original form with the addition of the country or the awarding university.