Outgoing Students

Jacobs University Study Abroad

Exchange Program

Within the framework of the Exchange Program Jacobs University students are eligible to spend a semester abroad as an exchange student at one of the partner institutions Jacobs University has an exchange agreement with, while a student from the partner institution comes to study at Jacobs University. As a participant in one of those exchange programs, the credits you earn at the host institution are transferable to your Jacobs University transcript. The tuition fee of the partner institution is waived, and your financial conditions at Jacobs University remain the same. Any additional costs connected to your stay abroad have to be covered by you personally. As an exchange student you are eligible to apply for financial support from Jacobs University via the Study Abroad Scholarship Fund.

Visiting Program

If you want to spend a semester abroad, but our partner institutions are either not of interest to you or all places are already taken, you have the alternative option of spending a semester abroad as a visiting student within the framework of the Visiting Program. Please keep in mind that although the International Office is there to help you, in this case selecting a university, applying, and organizing your semester abroad is your responsibility. While selecting a potential host university you should make sure that its academic standards are similar to Jacobs University, confirm that it accepts visiting students, and inquire about the application process. Please note that visiting students are not eligible for financial support from Jacobs University via the Study Abroad Scholarship Fund.

Selecting Your Courses for Credit Transfer

Once you have chosen a program and a host university you would like to study at, you should take a closer look at the courses offered there. As part of your application to one of Jacobs University Study Abroad Programs, you will have to fill out a form called Request for Credit Transfer. In this form you must state the courses you would like to take at the host university, matching them with equivalent Jacobs University courses. This list must be approved by respective professors, your academic advisor, the Registrar and by the Dean's Office of your school.

Credit Transfer Form

NOTE: If there is no equivalent Jacobs course, please state clearly the function of the chosen host university's course in your program's curriculum (home school elective, other school elective, specialization course etc.).

When you plan your courses please be aware that you are not eligible to participate in any intersession (winter school) courses in January after your study abroad. This is due to the fact that you would not be insured by so-called Unfallkasse Bremen (university-sponsored accident insurance) when you have a leave of absence. Please also be reminded that intersession (winter school) is structurally part of Fall Semester, for which you are registered to be away.  Please note that your private insurance will not cover the costs for accidents on campus during this time.

Eligibility and Requirements

In order to be eligible for participation in the Exchange or Visiting Program of Jacobs University, the following requirements should be met by an applicant. The selection criteria is based on the following criteria:

GPA

The cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0. Your courses at the host university must be equivalent to Jacobs University courses and your credit transfer request must be approved by the Jacobs University course instructors, your academic advisor, the school's office, and the Registrar; and you need to make sure you will be able to graduate from Jacobs University on time.

Language Criteria

If English is not the language of instruction at your host university, you have to provide the proof of language proficiency accordingly. Your level of language of instruction has to correspond to the minimum of B.2 level in accordance with the common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If the required level of proficiency specified by your respective host university is higher, you need to prove that you meet this requirement. In the case that an exchange student is studying in English in a non-English speaking country, the student should demonstrate at least a basic understanding of the local language.

Completed Application

A fully completed application is necessary to facilitate an adequate assessment of whether or not an exchange student meets the criteria of the Exchange and Visiting Program. An incomplete or erroneous application will impede that process and will thus not be noted. Furthermore, the following criteria are essential for an application to be considered for an exchange semester:

Focused Application: Applications should be as focused as possible. In the event that a student applies for more than one exchange program, that student must convincingly justify his or her reasons for doing so. Preference will be given to students who have a clear reason for wanting to study abroad at a particular university or in a particular location.

Convincing Course Plan: Students must present a convincing study plan demonstrating which courses will be transferable and how many courses they will have to complete upon return. A semester abroad should in no way impede upon a student’s ability to graduate within six semesters.

Convincing Budget Plan: Students must demonstrate a clear and convincing budget plan, based on accurate assessments of the costs of studying abroad. Attempts to obtain external funding from organizations such as the DAAD will be positively noted.

Home Country

As the exchange program is designed to support students in their attempt to gain new experiences in a new cultural environment, students will not be permitted to receive study abroad credits for courses taken in their home country (where "home country" is the place where the student has spent a majority of his/her lifetime).

Balance between Schools and Genders
 

When possible, applying students will be selected in a manner that will attempt to balance the number of students of each school (SHSS and SES) and gender.

Application Process

1. Exchange Program

It is important to know that when you are applying for an Exchange Program to study at any of our partner institutions, you have to apply through the International Office. Applications sent directly to our partner institutions cannot be considered. Please keep in mind that the deadline for applying to an Exchange Program is February 15th. NOTE: Late applications will not be considered.

Your Application Package includes:

1. Request for Credit Transfer
2. Exchange Student Application Form including a Budget Plan
3. Personal statement
4. Your official transcript or grade report
5. Language Certificate if necessary

In addition, depending on the Exchange Pogram, the application may also include letters of recommendation (if required by a host university). Once you are selected to participate in the Exchange Program, you will be asked by the International Office to fill in the application form for the exchange university and to submit evidence of funding (for U.S. universities only).

2. Visiting Program

The deadline for submitting your application for the Visiting Program to Jacobs University is February 15th if you are applying for the fall term and September 15th if you are applying for the spring term. Please keep in mind that you should apply to the host university for admission as a visiting student.

Your Application Package includes:

1. Request for Credit Transfer
2. Visiting Student Application Form including a Budget Plan
3. Personal Statement
4. Your official transcript or grade report
5. Language Certificate if necessary

Receiving Final Approval for Your Participation in a Study Abroad Program

A Study Abroad Committee consisting of faculty and staff is responsible for the selection of the Study Abroad participants. Once you are approved by Jacobs University to participate in the Exchange or Visiting Program and admitted at the host university, you must submit the full documentation package to the International Office, RLH 289, or via e-mail to Iris Heine, Assistant for International Programs.

Please visit the Study Abroad Forms page to download remaining documentation.

Financing Your Study Abroad

As a Jacobs University student participating in a Study Abroad Program you will continue to pay certain fees to Jacobs University while other fees will be waived. In your application to a Study Abroad Program, you will be asked to provide the International Office with a Budget Plan detailing how you plan to cover the expected expenses. Please carefully read the information below. 

Tuition

Exchange Programs: You continue paying your tuition to Jacobs University, while tuition at your host university is waived. Your financial package at jacobs University remains the same.

Visiting Programs: Your tuition at Jacobs University is waived, and you pay full tuition fees to the host university. Your financial aid package at Jacobs University is frozen for one semester.

Room & Board

Exchange and Visiting Programs: When talking about accommodation, your Room & Board fees at Jacobs University are waived, but you have to cover the expenses for Room & Board at your host university. 

Semester Ticket

Exchange and Visiting Programs: You do not pay any fees to Jacobs University for the semester ticket during your semester abroad.

Travel Costs

Exchange and Visiting Programs: You are to cover your travel expenses by yourself.

Other Expenses (e.g. visa, health insurance, books and supplies)

Exchange and Visiting Programs: You are to cover any expenses by yourself.

Study Abroad Scholarship

Exchange Students: You are eligible to apply for financial support from Jacobs University via the Study Abroad Scholarship Fund and Promos.

Visiting Students: You are not eligible to apply for financial support from Jacobs University via the Study Abroad Scholarship Fund.

Exchange and Visiting Students: you have an opportunity to search for additional third-party funding via our internal informational resource Study Abroad Stipend Programs.