Universities in Baden-Wuerttemberg

Baden-Wuerttemberg is an excellent study location in Germany, containing several nationally and internally renowned universities. 

The following pages will inform you about the nine universities in Baden-Wuerttemberg that take part in the State-To-State Program with North Carolina. University profiles as well as links that guide you directly to the websites of the universities provide insight into these places of study.

University Profiles

  • University of Freiburg

    Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

    • Location of the University
      • Region: Freiburg is located in the Breisgau region, one of the most popular vacation destinations in Germany. It sits between the Rhine River and the Black Forest, where the sun shines more than in any other part of the country, and is also nestled in the border triangle between Germany, France and Switzerland. Freiburg is known as the “Green City“ due to the high status of environmental issues in all aspects of life – politics, industry, research, and citzenry.
      • District:No campus, the university buildings are spread over the city, mainly in the old town center.
    • Numbers of students currently enrolled: ca. 25,000
    • 11 Faculties and fields of studies:
      • Faculty of Theology
      • Faculty of Law
      • Faculty of Economics and Behavioral Sciences
      • Faculty of Medicine
      • Faculty of Philology
      • Faculty of Humanities
      • Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
      • Faculty of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Earth Sciences
      • Faculty of Biology
      • Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences
      • Faculty of Engineering
    • Course offers
    • Courses offered in English
      • Some courses are taught in English. For detailed information please see the current course catalog and search for English taught classes of consult study advisors at the faculties.
    • Academic Calendar: 
      • Fall semester: Mid October – Mid February
        • Christmas Break: 2 weeks
      • Spring semester: Mid April – End of July
        • Pentecost break: 1 week (End of May/Early June)
    • Orientation Days
      • The International Office's Incomings Team offers a variety of services for exchange students. This includes
        • “Arrival Days” both before the intensive language courses begin and before the semester starts, where students are assisted with all formalities surrounding their stay in Freiburg
        • “Welcome Days” the week before classes begin, which is a full week of orientation. More information
    • Language Courses
      • Four-weeks long intensive German language courses are offered by the Language Teaching Center (SLI) in March, August and September (scholarships provided by the ministry). During the semester a variety of tuition-waived German language courses and seminars (language levels A2-B2) are offered for Freiburg Global Exchange students through the SLI. Freiburg Global Exchange students will be informed about registration to these classes via email.
  • University of Heidelberg

    Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg

    • Location of the University:
      • 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: ca. 28,000
    • 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-Programmes, as well as in Biosciences 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
      • Biosciences
      • 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 in 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 foci. 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 – early 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 15 June for the winter semester and 15 December 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 StudiesGerman in Films
          • German for Business
          • Technical Language Biosciences/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.
  • University of Hohenheim

    University of Hohenheim

    • Location of the University:
      • Region: Stuttgart
    • Numbers of students enrolled: ca. 9,000
    • Faculties and fields of studies:
      • Faculty of Natural Sciences
      • Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
      • Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
      • Central Scientific Centers
      • State Institutes (Landesanstalten) and Experimental Station Agricultural Sciences
    • Course offers
    • International Programs: English-taught master programs in Agricultural Sciences, as well as in International Business and Economics. International majors available in Natural Sciences starting in winter 2013/14.
    • Special focus on certain fields of studies by the University: Agricultural, Natural, Communication and Economic Sciences.
    • Academic Calendar:
      • Fall/winter semester: mid-October to mid-February
        • Christmas Break: 2 weeks
        • Examination period: end of February
      • Spring/summer semester: beginning of April to end of July
        • Pentecost Break: 1 week
        • Examination period: beginning of August
    • Orientation Days:
      • Orientation Week: mid-October/beginning of April
      • Buddy Programme, orientation for exchange students, welcome evening, guided tour of Stuttgart, cultural and leisure activities
    • German Language Courses:
      • Summer/winter courses before the semester:
        • Offers: Intensive Courses are available in March and September
        • Scholarships, financed by the minstry
        • Application: Deadlines will be at the end of January for March and end of July for September. The special information and application forms for exchange students will be sent by the Office of International Affairs
      • Language Courses during the semester:
        • Costs: 20–40 € per course (depending on hours of instruction)
        • Application: see website
  • Karlsruhe Intitute of Technology

    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

    • Location of the University:  Karlsruhe
      • Region: Baden-Wuerttemberg, Upper-Rhine Valley
      • District: East part of the city
    • Numbers of students enrolled: Approximately 25,000 students (2019)
    • 11 Faculties and fields of studies:
      • Architecture
      • Civil Engineering, Geo- and Environmental Sciences
      • Chemistry and Biosciences
      • Chemical and Process Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
      • Humanities and Social Sciences
      • Informatics
      • Mechanical Engineering
      • Mathematics
      • Physics
      • Industrial Engineering and Management
    • Special focus on certain fields of studies: KIT focuses are characterized by their uniqueness in certain scientific fields, a high originality and significance of their scientific objective and by a medium-term perspective. Like KIT centers, KIT focuses are organizational units that bundle research projects. These projects give KIT research its profile and allow for the strategic planning of KIT research. The following KIT Focuses have been founded:
      • COMMputation
      • Humans and Technology
      • Optics and Photonics
      • Anthropomatics and Robotics
    • Academic Calendar:
      • Fall/winter semester: mid October – mid February
        • Christmas Break: 2 weeks
      • Spring/ summer semester: mid April – end of July
        • Pentecost Break: 1 week
    • Orientation week for exchange students:
      • Mid September – End of September (winter semester)
      • Mid March – End of March (summer semester)
    • German Language Courses:
      • Summer/winter courses before the semester: Preparatory German classes are provided by the Studienkolleg three weeks before the lectures start. Students who are from overseas are notified and invited by the international office of KIT to take part in these classes. The application are send via email.
      • Language Courses during the semester
  • University of Konstanz

    University of Konstanz

    • Location of the University:
      • Region: The town of Konstanz with its picturesque surroundings lies in the ‘Dreilaendereck’, a triangle of the three countries of Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and is nestled between the Alps and Lake Constance. It stands out with an enormous range of leisure activities, as well as being home to one of the nine German universities established under the Excellence Initiative by the German Federal and State Governments. With around 80,000 inhabitants (many more tourists in the summer), an old and quaint city centre, lots of cafes, music pubs and outdoor seating areas, surrounded by rolling vineyards and islands covered with flowers or locally grown vegetables – it is no wonder that one of the main residential areas is called “Paradise”.
    • Numbers of students enrolled: about 11,000 students from more than 80 different countries
    • Faculties and fields of studies:
      • Faculty of Sciences:
        • Mathematics and Statistics
        • Information Engineering
        • Physics
        • Chemistry
        • Biology
        • Psychology
      • Faculty of Humanities:
        • Philosophy
        • History
        • Sociology
        • Sports Science
        • Literature
        • Linguistics
      • Faculty of Law, Economics, Politics:
        • School of Law
        • Economics
        • Politics and Management
    • Course offers:
      • Undergraduate Courses (taught in German or English)
      • Master's Programmes (taught in German or English) 
      • Course offers
      • Courses specifically aimed at exchange and international students:
        • Courses on regional studies, cross-cultural topics and topics such as ‘German Academic Culture’ or employment-related topics are offered free of charge.
    • Special focus on certain fields of studies by the university: The University of Konstanz was founded in 1966, and with some 11,000 students from more than 80 countries is one of the smaller universities in the state, but proves its strength in depth and quality at all times, particularly also with the services and attention provided to international students. Internationalization is taken seriously: app. 40% of our students have spent academic or practical time abroad as part of their studies. The range of study opportunities offered at the University of Konstanz extend across more than thirty different subjects in the natural sciences, the arts and humanities, law, economics and administrative sciences (with the exception of medical subjects). The consistent expansion of its strengths and innovative concepts and ideas have contributed significantly to make it a top-level research university with its Institutional Strategy “Model Konstanz – towards a culture of creativity”.
    • Academic Calendar:
      • Fall/winter semester: mid October – end of February
        • September Intensive Language course with Integrated Orientation (highly recommended)
        • Orientation (for students who did not attend the Intensive Language Course): early October
        • Christmas Break: 2 weeks
      • Spring/summer semester: mid April – end of July
        • March Intensive Language course with Integrated Orientation (highly recommended)
        • Orientation (for students who did not attend the Intensive Language Course): early April
    • Orientation Programme
    • German Language Courses:
      • Summer/winter courses before the semester:(scholarships, financed by the Ministry
        • GO Konstanz German Intensive Language Course with Orientation Programme
        • Bodensee Summer School: For incoming international students who are set to study at a higher education institution belonging to the institutional network of the International University of Lake Constance, the University of Konstanz, Germany offers an annual Intensive German Language course at the levels “Grundstufe” (Basic Level), “Mittelstufe” (Intermediate Level) and “Oberstufe” (Advanced Level). The language course is accompanied by a welcome program in the afternoons and on some weekends. The welcome program includes lectures on history, art and culture and politics, as well as guided tours, visits to towns and excursions in the Lake Constance region. In addition, visits to some member institutions of the International Lake Constance University are planned. The Lake Constance Summer School is organized by the International Office of the University of Konstanz in collaboration with the Language Institute of the University of Konstanz. Arrival Dates are usually the first 2 days in August. Tuition (Summer 2020): 390 €.
  • University of Mannheim

    University of Mannheim

    • Location of the University:
      • Region:
        • a modern city located in a beautiful region in the north-western corner of Baden-Württemberg
        • Heart of the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region with about 2.4 million people: one of the most important business locations in Germany, with renowned scientific research institutions and a very high quality of life
        • Perfect starting point to explore Germany and the rest of Europe
      • District: With approximately 320,000 residents, Mannheim is the second-largest city in Baden-Württemberg, topped only by Stuttgart. Mannheim, the historic palace city of the Kurpfalz, is now an important transportation centre in Germany. The university town is a well-known industrial centre and is situated 70 km south of Frankfurt/Main and 95 km northwest of Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg’s capital city. The grid system in Mannheim's city centre is also very unique. The palace, in which most of the university classrooms are located, is situated southwest of the city centre. From the palace, the so called “Breite Straße” leads directly into the city centre, where it intersects with the main pedestrian street, the “Planken”. The “Breite Straße” and the “Planken” create a large and beautiful pedestrian district filled with many shops, cafés, restaurants, and cinemas.
    • Numbers of students enrolled: About 12,000 students are currently enrolled
    • Faculties and fields of studies: The University comprises five schools:
      • School of Law and Economics
      • Business School
      • School of Social Sciences
      • School of Humanities
      • School of Business Informatics and Mathematics
      • Academic Programs
    • Special focus on certain fields of studies by the University: The University of Mannheim is one of the leading universities in Germany. This is proven by the fact that the university is awarded within the national “Excellence Initiative”, by the Mannheim Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences being funded. Numerous rankings, awards and evaluations also attest to the quality of research and teaching at the University of Mannheim. The university’s trademark is its distinct profile. This is characterized by Mannheim’s renowned economic and social sciences which are closely intertwined with humanities, law, mathematics and computer science. Its schools and research institutes cooperate in numerous international research networks. Institutes and projects like the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES), the Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging (MEA) or collaborative research centres underline the university`s reputation as one of top ten to twenty institutions in economic and social sciences in Europe.
    • Academic Calendar:
      • Fall Semester: early September – early December
        • Exams: in the 2–3 weeks after the lecture period  
      • Spring Semester: mid February – end of May
        • Easter Break: 2 weeks
        • Exams: in the 2–3 weeks after the lecture period
    • Welcome Week: We request that students arrive one week before the start of lectures in order to enrol and attend the orientations. The orientation session is mandatory and includes:
      • an introduction to the study system
      • campus tour
      • welcome reception: faculty-specific sessions
    • German Language Courses:
      • Summer/winter courses before the semester: The International Summer/Winter Academy is a four-week intensive language course including seminars about German culture and society.
        • International Summer Academy: August
        • International Winter Academy: January
        • Scholarships, financed by the Ministry
        • Registration Deadline: 15 June (Fall Semester) and 30 November (Spring Semester)
      • Language Courses during the semester: German language and terminology courses are offered by the International Office during the semester for a small administrative fee (€15 per course). There are a range of German classes, including general language courses at different levels and specific German courses (e.g. Business German, European Union, Cultural Studies, etc.). As a rule, students can take a maximum of 3 courses per semester.
  • University of Stuttgart

    University of Stuttgart

    • Location of the University:
      • Region: geographically centrally located in the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg; Stuttgart is the capital of the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg
      • District: There are two main campuses – one downtown, the other one in a part of town called “Stuttgart-Vaihingen”
    • Numbers of students currently enrolled: Approximately 25,000
    • Faculties and fields of studies: The university consists of eleven departments:
      • Architecture and Urban Planning
      • Civil- and Environmental Engineering
      • Chemistry
      • Energy Technology, Process Engineering and Biological Engineering
      • Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Information Technology
      • Aerospace Engineering
      • Geodesy
      • Engineering Design, Production Engineering and Automotive Engineering
      • Mathematics & Physics
      • Humanities
      • Management, Economics and Social Sciences
    • Support for International applicants
    • Special focus on certain fields of studies by the University: Engineering and Sciences
    • Academic Calendar:
      • Fall/winter semester: mid October – mid February
        • Christmas Break: 2 weeks
      • Spring/summer semester: mid April – end of July
        • Pentecost Break: 1 week
    • Orientation
  • University of Tuebingen

    Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen

    • Location of the University:
      • Region: in the middle of Baden-Wuerttemberg, approx. 25 miles south-west of Stuttgart
      • District: We are also called a UniverCity because the university buildings are in almost every part of the city.
    • Numbers of students enrolled: ca. 27.000 students
    • Faculties and fields of studies:
      • Protestant Theology
      • Catholic Theology
      • Law
      • Medicine and University hospitals
      • Humanities
      • Economics and Social Sciences
      • Science
    • Course: The course offerings can be found in the Vorlesungsverzeichnis
    • English-taught courses and German as a Foreign Language
    • Special focus on certain fields of studies by the University: Extensive course offerings in the Humanities and Social Sciences (Political Science, History, Sociology, Economics and Business Administration, Empirische Kulturwissenschaften – Cultural Anthropology, Modern Languages, Theology, etc.); Extensive course offerings in the Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences, etc.); Law; Medicine
    • Academic Calendar: 
      • Fall/winter semester: mid October to mid February
        • Christmas Break: 2 weeks
      • Spring/summer semester: mid April to end of July
        • Pentecost Break: 1 week
      • Academic Calendar with specific dates
      • Or go to the information sheet
    • Orientation Days: See academic calendar or information sheet
      • Generally: Orientation week takes place during the first week, prior to and after the beginning of each semester. Advisory course “How to Study at a German University” (highly recommended if your students do not attend the pre-semester language and orientation course in Tübingen) begins on the Wednesday before the regular university courses start. This is a 4-day course which includes a guided city tour, an introduction to our library, academic advising by staff of the schools (“Faculties”) and assistance in creating a course schedule. It starts off with a welcome reception by a representative of the President’s Office on the Wednesday afternoon.
    • German Language Courses:
      • Summer/winter courses before the start of the semester: Deutsch Kompakt or START-course
        • Scholarships, financed by the Ministry
        • Application: See above website for instructions, application forms and contact details. The state program students receive priority, but early in June and early in January, Ms. Hahne has to confirm which applicants are eligible for those reserved places. Places not needed at this time will be distributed to regular exchange students.
      • Language Courses during the semester:
        • Costs: The “Unkostenbeitrag” or “Arbeitsmaterialien” (copies, books, excursions) mentioned in the schedule have to be paid by each student. “Kursgebühren” (e.g. € 260 for the intensive Aufbaukurs) do not have to be paid by exchange students.
        • Application: Registration for the German courses takes place during a personal appointment during the first week of the semester. After their arrival in Tübingen, students register with the department and then receive a date and time for this personal registration appointment. Upon registration, they also receive recommendations regarding their language level (EU standards).
  • University of Ulm

    University of Ulm

    • Location of the University:
      • Region: Baden-Wuerttemberg (between Stuttgart and Munich / Bavaria)
    • Numbers of students enrolled: ca. 10,000 students
    • Faculties and Fields of Studies:
      • Engineering & Computer Science (Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Technology, Computer Science, Media Informatics, Psychology, Communications Technology)
      • Mathematics & Economics (Mathematics, Mathematics & Management, Biometrical Mathematics/Biostatistics, Business & Economics, Finance)
      • Medicine (Human Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Dentistry)
      • Natural Sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry & Management, Physics & Management, Advanced Materials, Energy Science & Technology)
    • English taught MSc Programs: Exchange students will be admitted into these programs if they have completed either: a formal Bachelor degree, three years of study, an equivalent of 180 ECTS:
      • Advanced Materials
      • Biology
      • Communications Technology
      • Energy Science & Technology
      • Finance
      • Molecular Medicine
    • Special focus on certain fields of studies by the University: Life Sciences, Financial Mathematics, Material Sciences, Information Sciences
    • Academic Calendar:
      • Fall/winter semester: mid October until mid February
        • Chritsmas Break: 2 weeks
      • Spring/summer semester: early April until end of July
    • International Office: The International Office organizes a month-long orientation program, including an intensive German language course prior to the beginning of each semester lecture period (September/October or March/April)
    • Language Courses: Additional German language classes are offered by U Ulm Language Center during semester period