Frequently Asked Questions

Students choose to study in Germany for a wide variety of reasons. Some may be interested in specific programs offered by our partner universities. Others may wish to start learning or improve their knowledge of the language. Germany is also one of North Carolina’s most important partners for international trade. In 2023, North Carolina imported over $5.3 billion in German goods, and there are 230 German firms operating in North Carolina that employ almost 45,000 people.  

Because the BW-NC Program operates as a direct exchange, you will remain enrolled in your home university and will pay your normal tuition and fees. You can use financial aid while participating in the program, and your study abroad advisor at your home university can best answer questions on that. Housing is not included in the program, and students are encouraged to apply for housing through the “Studierendenwerk” at their host university. The costs vary by location and room type.  

Baden-Württemberg provides a one-time 700 Euro scholarship to BW/NC participants from North Carolina, based on availability of funds.       

Students can also use their financial aid and scholarships to cover the costs of their enrollment. Some UNC System universities offer travel grants for study abroad, so check with your advisor on campus. You may also be eligible for external scholarships, such as the Gilman Scholarship. Check out the list of study abroad scholarship opportunities maintained by Appalachian State University’s Office of International Education and Development. 

Finally, the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung offers scholarships for international exchange students studying in Baden-Württemberg. Host universities maintain their own criteria and selection process, and you will be informed if you are preselected by the host university to apply.

You do not need to speak German to participate in the exchange program. Most of the 9 universities in Baden-Württemberg offer more than enough classes in English that you will not need to take courses in German (this can be more difficult at Freiburg and Stuttgart, depending on the subject area). 

Many Germans speak at least a little English, but knowledge of German may be helpful in navigating day-to-day life. So, we encourage students to consider enrolling in the preparatory German-language courses offered by their host campus prior to the start of regular classes. 

A completed language evaluation form is necessary only if you intend to enroll in courses taught in German. You will not need a language evaluation if you intend to enroll in only classes with English as the language of instruction (including classes teaching German as a foreign language). 

Please review the individual campus profiles for information on areas of study open to exchange students. The campus profiles also include links to catalogs with more information on courses. 

Depending on the university, some courses may only be offered in German and require a high level of language proficiency. Likewise, be sure to check that your area of studies is open to exchange students at specific universities. Some subjects at some universities may be closed to exchange students, most often medical, dentistry, and pharmacy. Again, the best places to find information are the campus profiles, their links to course offerings, and your study abroad advisor.

Except for the University of Mannheim, the Baden-Württemberg universities follow the German academic calendar: a winter semester from October into February with exams lasting into March and a summer semester from April to late July with exams lasting into August or September. Because the traditional German fall/winter semester overlaps with the American spring semester and makes it harder to do a fall semester abroad, UNC System students generally deal with the alignment of semesters in one of three ways: 

1. Study during fall or spring semester at the University of Mannheim, which has an academic calendar similar American universities’ calendars 
2. Study abroad during your spring semester / the German summer semester 
3. Study for a full year in Germany 

We encourage students to take advantage of housing options offered by the Studierendenwerk at their host university. Housing can fill quickly, so please submit a housing application to the Studierendenwerk promptly after receiving information with your admission. The universities’ websites for exchange students offer further information about student housing, deadlines, and private housing. Demand for housing is very high, so be aware that it can be very difficult to find and arrange private housing. Private housing may also be more expensive than options through the Studierendenwerk. 

In the past, we have recommended that students enroll in both GeoBlue and a German health insurance plan to address gaps in both policies. The benefit caps on the GeoBlue policy did not meet German requirements, and students potentially needed to pay high up-front costs for treatment and wait on reimbursement. Students could not drop GeoBlue coverage in favor of only enrolling in a German policy, because German policies did not cover medical evacuation and repatriation.  

GeoBlue has recently introduced an unlimited policy that may be sufficient for students to obtain a waiver for the insurance requirement. Students who wish to enroll in the unlimited policy should be mindful of the following considerations: 1) students may be faced with paying a large bill out of pocket and waiting on a reimbursement; 2) students will need to obtain a waiver from a German insurer; 3) the BW/NC Program cannot guarantee that insurers will waive the requirement for those holding the unlimited plan. 

UNC System students will receive information on the German insurance providers prior to arrival and/or during the Welcome Week at each BW university. There are about 160 companies Germany-wide. The costs are standardized and approximately €125 per month. 

For additional guidance on insurance, please contact the study abroad coordinator at your home university. 

You should start by reviewing information on this website and speaking with the responsible study abroad advisor on your campus. Follow their instructions for applying through your home university. When you apply, you will need to complete the application for incoming students from Baden-Württemberg to North Carolina. This includes filling out the form, your advisor completing their form, and you providing supporting documentation (transcripts, language exam results, scan of your passport). 

The BW/NC Program coordinator in Baden-Württemberg will collect, review, and send the applications to the BW/NC coordinator in North Carolina. The coordinator in North Carolina will review applications and work with incoming exchange student advisors to nominate you to a host university. After being nominated, you will receive and must complete an application to study as an exchange student at your host university. 

In principle, you can study at any of the 15 participating UNC System universities. Because the program operates on an exchange basis, placement at high-demand campuses (UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, UNC Charlotte, and UNC Wilmington) may be highly competitive or not possible, depending on the exchange balance each year. Check with your study abroad advisor about ranking preferences for your application. 

Please check both the individual campus profiles and the UNC System’s Degree Finder tool to learn more about programs at different universities. Please be aware that some programs may be closed to exchange students or may require departmental approval for enrollment in their courses. 

Your host university will inform you about housing options and application procedures when you are accepted into your program. As an exchange student, you may be required to live in on-campus housing, depending on policies at your host institution.