University of Applied Sciences Konstanz: Study Business German, Business or Professional Writing in the Heart of Europe

Spring Semester 2010

22 weeks (early March to early August)

Sponsored by the Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages in the College of Arts & Letters; Eli Broad College of Business; and in cooperation with James Madison College

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This program at the University of Applied Sciences Konstanz (Hochschule Konstanz) in Germany allows students in the College of Arts & Letters and in the Eli Broad College of Business the opportunity to study professional writing or business and German for a semester.

Upon completion of the semester, students may choose to remain in Germany for an additional 3-4 months and complete a paid internship at a German company.  Internships typically run from late July through late October.  The Hochschule Konstanz assists students in obtaining internship positions.

This program is unique in that it offers students the chance to study and work in Germany. 

Where does it take place?

The University of Applied Sciences Konstanz (UAS) is located in southern Germany on the coast of beautiful Lake Konstanz.  As one of Germany's most picturesque cities, Konstanz is a popular tourist destination for German and other European travelers.  Austria and Switzerland lie directly across the border, and France is only a short distance away. 

Konstanz has a rich cultural life, and numerous interesting cities lie near and around Lake Konstanz - Basel, Zurich, Freiburg, Lindau, and Bregenz.  This is an area of great scenic beauty, and opportunity for outdoor activity abounds. 

The UAS campus is located directly on the Rhine in the heart of town with numerous shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and pubs within walking distance.  The dormitories are a block from the campus.

What can I study?

Specializing in engineering and business, UAS offers a strong focus on international business language and business administration and professional writing. 

Students will choose between three course tracks:

1. Students who have completed GRM 311, the first semester of the third-year business German track, and wish to pursue the study of German business and German language at an advanced level, will choose course offerings from the entire spectrum of business management and economics and German language at the appropriate level. Classes will be taught in German.
2. Students studying professional writing will choose from a wide course selection and German language at the appropriate level.
3. Students from the Eli Broad College of Business may choose from a range of business courses offered in English and will take a German language course at the appropriate level.

Students will make arrangements with their MSU academic adviser(s) prior to departure regarding the transfer of courses.  In addition, UAS regularly offers the course “Germany within Europe” (taught in English) which counts toward the European Studies cognate required for the German major.

Students will be required to take a minimum of twelve (12), maximum of eighteen (18) credits during the program.

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details see co-sponsored programs.

To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit Transfer MSU and Office of the Registrar - Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

INTERNSHIP

Generally students will not receive credit toward the German major for completing an internship. Students should consult with their academic advisor in other departments to determine if credit can be granted.

What are the requirements?

This program is open to MSU students only.  Applicants may be in any major but the program is primarily designed for those individuals with a specific interest in German, international business and management and professional writing.  Students wishing to participate must also have a strong commitment to learning about and living in the business and cultural environment of Germany.

All applicants must have at least junior status and be in good academic standing, with an overall grade point average of at least a 2.5 at the time of application.

Students in track 1 must have completed GRM 311 before departure and have a GPA of 3.0 in German. Typically, students will complete the equivalent of GRM 312 in Germany (if they do not have credit for GRM 312 already).

Students in track 2 will be majors in Professional Writing and will have completed 4 semesters of college-level German or the equivalent.

Students in the third track will be majors in the Eli Broad College of Business and do not need any prior German language skills to apply.

Additionally, students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

During the semester, students will live in student dormitories.  Kitchen facilities are available in the dorms so students can prepare their own meals.  UAS also has a cafeteria where meals are available at a reasonable price.  Students will be able to negotiate the city and environs easily with public transportation.

For students participating in an internship, the UAS International Office will assist in finding housing after the semester ends.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Business majors:

Jayne Braverman
Eli Broad College of Business
Undergraduate Academic Services
402A Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 355-7605

Dwight Handspike
Eli Broad College of Business
Undergraduate Academic Services
402A Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 355-7605

Arts & Letters majors:

Bethany Judge
College of Arts & Letters
200 Linton Hall
Phone: (517) 355-6519

Other majors or on site issues:

Elizabeth Plagwitz
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone:  (517) 432-9544

An “International Exchange Student Handbook” prepared by former MSU students studying at UAS is available at the Office of Study Abroad.

It is highly recommended that students considering this program visit UAS's Web site and follow the link to “English Pages”.  Complete information about courses and fields of study at UAS, including course descriptions in English, will be found at “Studying at HTWG Konstanz à Exchange Programs”

Do I need a passport or visa?

Students studying at UAS will need a valid passport and visa (Aufenthaltserlaubnis).  The UAS International Office will assist students in obtaining their visa upon arrival in Konstanz.  Alternatively, students may apply for a visa in advance through the German Consulate in the U.S. once they have received formal acceptance into the program.

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

How much does it cost?

Funds paid directly by the student include:

• transportation to and from Germany
• accommodations
• meals
• books and supplies
• German health insurance (required)
• MSU tuition and fees*
• passport application fee
• visa application fees
• pre-departure doctor visits
• personal spending money

Excluding MSU tuition and fees, an estimated total for these costs is $6,142 (SS08) per semester.

The program fee of $135 (SS08) covers pre-departure orientation and requisite accident and sickness insurance. 

Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

NOTE:  Students who have been admitted to this program are eligible to apply for a Baden-Württemberg scholarship that offers a generous monthly stipend.  The deadline for application is November 30, 2009.

How do I apply?

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).