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This international exchange is currently available to five graduate or undergraduate students in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics or the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. To participate in this exchange as an undergraduate student you must be working toward a minor or major in German.
University Population
Students: 11,000
What would I be studying?
Students usually take courses in German as a foreign language for 6 credit hours per semester and may take any other courses offered by the University, many courses in the English Department are taught in English (subject to registration limitations). Course listings (courses listed in English will typically be taught in English
).
Students coming to Oldenburg to perfect their German can generally take a 3-week intensive German course in the month before classes begin (September or March). More information (in German)
The Oldenburg University Exchange Coordinator assigns student "buddies" to each incoming American exchange student. The "buddies" play an integral part in introducing students to Oldenburg and to Germany.
How can I study at Universität Oldenburg as an Exchange Student?
Students enroll and pay Florida State University tuition and fees, and tuition and fees are waived at the host university. All participants must be currently enrolled and degree-seeking students in good standing with all academic credit earned at the host institution being credited to The Florida State University. A student participating in the exchange must be in attendance at The Florida State University for one semester prior to the exchange.
Deadlines
June 10th for admission to Fall Semester, which begins in early October of the same year.
December 30th for admission to Spring Semester, which begins in early April of the following year.
Academic Calendar
The Fall-Winter semester is mid October to mid February. The Spring-Summer semester is early April to mid July.
Financial Aid and Universität Oldenburg's Academic Calendar
FSU students going to Universität Oldenburg's Fall semester (mid October–mid February) and who have been awarded financial aid and are scheduled to have their aid disbursed within a week of the start of classes at Universität Oldenburg. You may be eligible for a tuition deferment if your FSU tuition is due prior to this date. FSU students going to Universität Oldenburg's Spring semester (early April–mid July) can be enrolled at FSU for the exchange during the FSU Spring semester and who have been awarded financial aid and are scheduled to have their aid disbursed within a week of the start of classes at Universität Oldenburg. You may be eligible for a tuition deferment if your FSU tuition is due prior to this date.
How do I secure a student visa?
Upon your arrival in Oldenburg, you will need to apply for a residence permit (Anmeldung) within 10 days. The application is simple and is done at the local Citizen's Office (Bürgerbüro). All non-EU foreign nationals studying in Germany are required to have a student visa for the duration of their academic stay. American citizens can obtain the visa after entering Germany. The International Student Office arranges visa appointments for exchange students, though it is the student's responsibility to obtain it.
Accommodations- Where would I live? What is the cost of Living?
A separate housing form is available for the Incoming Exchange Students - Note: a visa is NOT required for application by American citizens; you should get your visa after you arrive in Oldenburg. Exchange Student housing requests will be sent to Oldenburg with the application form for exchange study in Oldenburg. They are processed by the the Student Services Foundation (Studentenwerk Oldenburg), an entity separate from the University which owns most of the dormitories, and which is funded by student fees and public money. Exchange students who apply for housing will be offered placements in dorms or shared flats or other private housing before their arrival. Amenities and what is provided vary. The Studentenwerk runs six student dormitories and a number of houses located both downtown and close to the campus. Studentwerk accommodations are reasonably priced: a furnished room is about 120 to 150€ per month.
Cost of Living in Oldenburg per semester (affected by exchange rates and by the individual behavior of the student)
Accommodation |
$1000-1600 |
(including room deposit) |
Books & study materials |
$100 - 200 |
|
Transportation in the entire region |
$240 |
|
Food |
$1500 -2000 |
*All students must have sufficient funds to cover their daily expenses during the period they are on the exchange program.
Health Care
In addition to the health insurance requirements for The Florida State University students participating in international exchanges there are German requirements for health insurance. Those requirements can be best met (the insurance is most comprehensive) by purchasing standard German student health insurance at about $85 per month. American health insurance is sometimes accepted, if the student can prove that she/he is insured and show in writing that the policy coverage is sufficient for German legal requirements. The requirements are either: a) The health insurance corresponds in kind and extent to the legally-required health insurance, meaning that there are no larger exclusions, there is no high co-payment, there is no limit to costs covered in case of illness, no age limit, or limitation because of employment or legal status. The contract must either be for an unlimited period or renew itself automatically. b) The Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht in Bonn has certified the insurance company's product as fulfilling the legal requirements for health insurance as set forth in Section 257,Paragraph 2a of the Sozialgesetzbuch V (German Social Code V).
Life in Oldenburg
Oldenburg is located in north-west Germany in the federal state of Lower Saxony. It is within easy reach of the international airports of Hamburg, Hanover and Bremen. Fast InterCity trains connect Oldenburg with other cities. With its 150.000 residents, Oldenburg is a manageable size. The city features everything you might need as a student: plenty of social and cultural life. Oldenburg is known as a city of cycling. There are about 270 kilometers of municipal cycling paths, thus everything is within close reach: the pedestrian area in the town center, municipal offices and public institutions, cultural venues like the theater, and the castle, museums and cinemas, pubs, coffee houses and clubs, and Oldenburg University itself. Buses are free with your student ticket.
The City of Oldenburg includes a variety of green spaces, parks and woods. It has a rural neighborhood with small villages, lakes and moors. The climate is determined by the nearby North Sea: it is rather mild and not too hot in summer while not too cold in winter. There are plenty of destinations you can go to: the North Sea is about 60 kilometers, the City of Bremen about 50 kilometers, and the City of Hamburg about 160 kilometers. you can travel for free on the Semesterticket, a rover ticket for buses and trains. This is included with university enrollment. Even the Netherlands are nearby. Trips to Groningen (100km) and Amsterdam (300km) are inexpensive. All together, Oldenburg is a pleasant place to live, perfect for your studies: cosy but not dozy, manageable but not at all boring.
Campus Map
