The Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program

Program features

The Baden-Württemberg exchange offers you the opportunity to conduct research and/or engage in coursework at any of the institutions below while building your professional network with faculty and peers in Germany. In addition, depending on the length and timing of your exchange, this program allows you to:

• enroll in a substantial language program to enhance your proficiency in German
• be eligible by separate application for a monthly stipend from the Baden-Württemberg Foundation 
• plan for flexible program dates to coincide either with an academic term, a year, or the summer months (minimum program length is three months to a maximum of a year)
• eligibility for dormitory housing (in single rooms) with German and other international students 
• access to peer advisers who know the host university and the city

Participating institutions

University of Freiburg

The University of Freiburg is located in a picturesque valley on the western border of the Black Forest. Founded in 1457, it is the second oldest university in Germany and offers a wide range of liberal arts courses as well as a robust Deutsch als Fremdsprache program.

University of Heidelberg

The University of Heidelberg was founded in the 14th Century and has a strong tradition in the liberal arts, the sciences, and medicine. It also has an extensive Deutsch als Fremdsprache program.

University of Hohenheim

The University of Hohenheim is located in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg. Its roots date back to 1818 with the founding of an agricultural research and teaching institute. While the emphasis at the University of Hohenheim remains in the biological and agricultural sciences (including animal science), other fields of specialization include economics, nutritional sciences, and communications.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology was founded in 1825 as a polytechnic school. With 20,000 students today, it is a major technical university comparable to MIT or California Polytech. Karlsruhe offers degrees in 40 different fields, with its largest programs in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering; computer science; and the natural sciences. It also has offerings in the humanities and social sciences.

University of Konstanz

The town of Konstanz lies on the shores of Lake Konstanz (Bodensee), which shares its borders with Switzerland and Austria, and the university was founded in 1967. Its largest program of study is political science and public administration. 

University of Mannheim

The University of Mannheim was founded as a school of commerce and business in 1907 and offers a metropolitan environment with easy access to some of Baden-Württemberg’s largest business firms and cultural centers. Its largest program is in business administration and economics. It is also highly regarded in the social sciences and has excellent programs in the humanities (including in modern and ancient languages).  As a school of business, Mannheim has consistently received the highest ranking, not only in Germany, but also throughout Europe.

University of Stuttgart

Located in the capital of Baden-Württemberg, the University of Stuttgart was founded in 1829 as a high school of commerce and trade. By 1890 it had developed into a technical college. In 1967, it was elevated to a full university. Today, Stuttgart boasts 120 departments housed in 14 schools. The university is highly regarded in all branches of engineering and has an especially strong profile in the natural sciences and mathematics. Like Karlsruhe, the University of Stuttgart has much in common with MIT or California Polytech.

University of Tübingen

Located at the edge of the picturesque Swabian Alb, the University of Tübingen was founded in 1477 and now offers a wide range of academic disciplines, from traditional liberal arts to computer science. Tübingen offers number of courses in Deutsch als Fremdsprache.

Ulm University

Situated on the banks of the historic Danube River, Ulm University was founded in 1967. Its curriculum centers on medicine, mathematics, and the sciences (including electrical engineering and computer science). Ulm does not have courses of study in the humanities and social sciences, with the exception of economics. 

Application information

Please see the Exchange Scholar Program admissions page for additional information about eligibility requirements, application instructions, and a link to the applications for inbound and outbound international exchange programs.

If you would like to participate in the exchange during the spring term, applications to the Graduate School for nomination are due on or before October 1.

For a fall-term or full-year exchange, applications to the Graduate School for nomination are due on or before March 1. 

If your anticipated program dates do not align with an academic term, you should submit your application to the Graduate School at least 90 days prior to your intended start date.

Academic calendar

The academic year in Germany is divided into two semesters: the fall (Wintersemester, from mid-October to mid-February), and the spring (Sommersemester, from mid-April to mid-July). Between the two semesters is a lecture-free period. Through the Baden-Württemberg exchange, you are eligible to enroll in an intensive language course during the month of September.

Additional opportunities for language study are available through Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures and the MacMillan Center.