University of Erfurt

Programme Details

Minimum mark 60%

Level Undergraduate

Language/s B1 German required

Agreement Scope Language and Linguistic Science department exchange

Exchange Places 2 full year places or 4 semester places for 2026/27

University of Erfurt exchange students website

Events and information sessions

Overview

About:

The University of Erfurt is a public university located in Erfurt, the capital city of the German state of Thuringia. It was founded in 1379 and closed in 1816. It was re-established in 1994, three years after German reunification. It, therefore, claims to be both the oldest and youngest university in Germany!

Highlights:

Erfurt is known as the green heart of Germany and with an affordable cost of living in a centrally located, culturally lively and historically interesting city, Erfurt is a great location for international students. The university is a campus university with on-campus accommodation and student restaurants. It has an Award-winning support programme that enables international students to meet German and international students and people outside the university.

Location:

Erfurt, Thuringia , Germany

Academic information

Courses / Modules:

You can find advice on choosing a study programme and view the course catalogue which is published 2-3 months before the beginning of each semester. Before its publication, course catalogues from previous semesters can be used as a rough guide for courses on offer.

Credit (Full-time Load per semester):

You must take a full credit load while on exchange. University of Erfurt uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values. 30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.

Teaching Periods:

Teaching takes place across two semesters. The winter semester typically begins in mid-October and ends at the start of February and The summer semester typically begins in mid-April and ends mid-July

Language:

B1 German is required.

Student life

Accommodation:

Erfurt has residence halls which exchange students can apply for, although a place is not guaranteed. Find out more about housing in Erfurt from the university webpages.

Support Services:

The International Office hosts a tutoring programme to assign exchange students with a personal student tutor who will be in contact via email before arrival, and can help you during the initial arrival phase with things like showing you round the campus and city.

The University of Erfurt runs a Mentoring programme through which every student gets assigned a member of the faculty at which they are enrolled, who will give advice throughout the course of studies. Participation in the mentoring program is obligatory for exchange students who study at the University of Erfurt.

The project Strangers Become Friends (Fremde werden Freunde) links international students at the University of Erfurt and the University of Applied Sciences with host families in the city of Erfurt. By doing this, they help students establish contacts beyond the campus and get acquainted with Erfurt as quickly as possible.

Visas:

You may need a visa to study in Germany. If you are a UK National you must refer to the Travel Advice page for Germany and its Living in Germany guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate. If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.

Travel insurance:

If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries. You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange.

Health insurance:

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

Information about health insurance for international students is also provided by the University of Erfurt (see under 'Costs').

Student experiences

Conor, semester abroad, 2016/17

"I was really grateful for the chance to be able to travel so easily whilst I was in the country."

“It’s made me realise that I don’t necessarily have to lead my life strictly adhering to routines just because I’ve become used to them and makes me excited for similar opportunities in the future.”

Matilda, year abroad 2016/17

"It's made me realise that I don't want to limit myself to one city, one country, one language, even."

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website.

Top Tips for Studying in Germany

Please note: these tips have been provided by students who have studied abroad - Global Opportunities recommends that you use these as a guide only and do your own research on what is best for you.

Money and Banking:

Monthly budget: Living costs are currently estimated by the authorities to be around EUR 850 per month, based on
- Rent for a room in a student residence hall (from 160 Euro to 300 Euro) or for private accommodation (prices may vary)
- Security deposit for a room in a residence hall (approx. 300 Euro), which is returned after the lease has expired
- Semester contribution (approx. 270 Euro per semester) including the semester ticket, which enables travel free of charge on all local public transport in and around Erfurt
- Health insurance contributions (approximately 100 Euro per month for students under 30 years old)
- Costs for books and learning materials
- Other everyday costs (e.g. groceries)
Banking: Get a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees so that you can take cash out easily without opening a bank account. There are several companies that offer these cards, such as Caxton, Starling, Monzo and Moneycorp.

Staying Connected:

Make plans: Going to International events is a good way to meet people, especially the trips the international desk organise early in the term A great way to connect with people is also by joining clubs, groups and societies.
Call or send a postcard to your friends and family at home: A little thing like sending a postcard to your friends or family or having a quick catch-up on the phone can make all the difference and can help you feel a bit more settled.

Food:

On-campus: The university’s student cafeteria (Mensa) offers breakfast and lunch from Monday through Friday at reasonable prices. Vegetarian food is on offer, too. Also, all the student halls of residence have cooking facilities.
Food shopping: Prices for groceries are relatively moderate in Germany and supermarkets are generally open from Monday to Saturday between 8:00 and 20:00. There are outlets with large supermarket chains at the terminus of tram number 6 (Rieth) and at the Thüringenpark tram stop of the number 3 tram (Europaplatz).
Local food markets: You can also buy good quality fresh fruit and vegetables at very reasonable prices at the local market on the Domplatz from very early on in the morning to approximately 13:30. In Germany, all shops are closed on Sundays. Petrol station shops and the shops near the train station are the only places that remain open during the night as well as on Sundays and public holidays.

Paperwork and bureaucracy:

Be organised: There will be a lot of paperwork to do throughout the year, so be as organised as possible. Make a list of things that need to be done and by when and start working your way through it as soon as you can. The earlier you do it, the better, as sometimes it can take quite a while for documents to be signed and approved.
Remember your supervisor: They are there to help. If you are struggling with the amount of paperwork, both your supervisor in York and your host insition are there to support you if you feel stuck or overwhelmed.
Paperwork for the University of Erfurt: find out more detailed information about preparing for study at the University of Erfurt.

What I wished I'd known...

Making the most of your experience: That I wouldn't be spending as long as I hoped there - you never know what'll happen. So go all out all the time, because it could end when you least expect it.

Useful links

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

Contact Global Opportunities

Global Opportunities - Find us in Derwent College

Click here to make a virtual appointment to speak to one of our advisors

Page updated

Report abuse