University of Heidelberg

    • Region: Baden/Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar
    • Districts:
      • Humanities: Old Town (Historic Center)
      • Social Sciences and Economics: Campus Bergheim
      • Natural Sciences and Medicine: Neuenheimer Feld
  • Numbers of students enrolled: 29,488 (WS 2011/12)
  • Faculties and fields of studies:
    • Exchange students cannot be admitted to medical studies, attendance of individual courses may be possible upon prior consultation with your exchange coordinator. Further restrictions in several Master-Programs, as well as in Bio-sciences are to be considered. For further Information please contact the International Office in Heidelberg.
    • Theology
    • Law
    • Medicine
    • Philosophy
    • Modern Languages
    • Economics and Social Sciences
    • Behavioural and Cultural Studies
    • Mathematics and Computer Sciences
    • Chemistry and Earth Sciences
    • Bio-sciences
    • Physics and Astronomy
  • Course offers:
    • A small number of courses taught in English should be available in most subjects.
    • Courses taught in English are very common at the English Department, in American Studies as well as Translation. A fair number of courses taught in English is usually available in Art History (European and East Asian), in Chinese Studies and at the Institute for South Asian Studies,In Physics and Astronomy, students may opt for lectures to be held in English.
  • Special focus on certain fields of studies by the University:
    • Concerning research: The concept of the comprehensive university is a central component of Heidelberg University's institutional strategy and ensured the University's success in the German Excellence Initiative. The University places special emphasis on initiating and maintaining a dialogue across traditional subject boundaries and developing new forms of interdisciplinary cooperation. The following are four of the University's outstanding research areas:
      • Molecular and cellular basis of life
      • Structure and pattern formation in the material world
      • Cultural dynamics in globalised worlds
      • Self-regulation and regulation: individuals and organisations
    • The two clusters of excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context" and "Cellular Networks", both funded by the Excellence Initiative, represent additional research focuses. Another strength of Heidelberg University lies in its numerous collaborations and alliances with non-university research institutions and companies in Heidelberg and the Rhine-Neckar region and its strong involvement in two top-level clusters of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
  • Academic Calendar:
    • Fall/ winter semester: mid-October – beginning of February
      • Christmas Break: 2 weeks
    • Spring/ summer semester: Mid-April - End of July
  • Orientation Days: One or two weeks before the lecture period starts, an additional orientation session is offered to exchange students participating in the preparatory German language course.
  • German Language Courses:
    • Summer/ winter courses before the semester:
      • Offers: 4 weeks’ preparatory German language course in September and March (80 hours of instruction)
      • Scholarships, financed by the Ministry
      • Application: registration via the International Office by June 15 for the winter semester and December 15 for the summer semester
    • Language Courses during the semester:
      • Offers: Supplementary German language course (A1-C2), 4 or 8 hours / week
      • Additional Courses:
        • Creative Writing
        • German Literature
        • Introduction to German Studies in Films
        • German for Business
        • Technical Language Bio-sciences/Medicine
        • Art and Language
        • German for Law Students
        • German History (1500 – 1990)
        • Introduction to the natural sciences
        • Script and film
      • Costs: covered by the International Office
      • Application: Registration via exchange coordinator at the International Relations Office: Information regarding registration procedures is sent to the students via email in mid-September/mid-March respectively. Mandatory placement test for students who do not attend the preparatory language course.
  • Accommodation:
    • Representation of the dorms
    • Types of accommodation:
      • Single room with a sink - shared showers/toilets & a kitchen on each floor.
      • Double apartment: 2 single rooms with a shared shower/toilet & kitchenette.
      • Single Apartment with shower/toilet & kitchenette.
      • Co-ed flat with 3 to 8 single bedrooms - shared kitchen and bathroom(s).
      • Family apartment for single parents & families – must be requested well in advance.
      • Double apartment or shared flat for students with disabilities, usually on the ground floor.
    • Availability: rooms guaranteed for all overseas exchange students
    • Costs: 200 – 300 Euro
    • Application: via the International Office
      • Deadlines: June 15 (winter semester), December 15 (summer semester)