If you enroll in partner university courses, you are required to complete partner university exams before departure and depart IES Abroad housing the following day. Partner courses at the University of Freiburg for ESS are also three-week modules, with examinations within the modules. If you use a university module instead of an IES module, the exam is in the module period, i.e. before the official move out. If you extend your stay with a fifth module at the university, the exam is also within the extended period - no exams are planned or permitted after the module periods and so also not...

Partner Institution Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg The University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität) takes great pride in its tradition. Founded in the 15th century, its faculty and researchers have made history in numerous disciplines. Among them are the philosophers Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, and the economist Walter Eucken. Several Nobel prize winners have been teachers at the University of Freiburg. Today the University of Freiburg is flourishing more than ever. It is one of the leading research universities in Baden-Württemberg, the large state in which Freiburg is...

Orientation The mandatory orientation, which includes a day trip to the Black Forest, will focus on language preparation and serve as an introduction to various aspects of life in Freiburg. Orientation will be partially virtual and on-site, and will begin before you even set foot in Germany! On-site orientation is a great opportunity to become acquainted with the Freiburg staff and your fellow students. You will receive practical information on living and studying in Freiburg, covering topics such as housing, the city, leisure activities, diversity and academics. During this time, you will...

If you enroll in partner university courses, you are required to complete partner university exams before departure and depart IES Abroad housing the following day. Partner university courses currently do not have a final exam date and some exams might take place after the official departure date. Because no modifications or early exams are allowed, we encourage you to purchase a ticket with a flexible reservation change policy or select a course with an early exam date in order to ensure your db departure by the official departure date. Important: the latest possible departure for students...

If you are a US citizen and will be in Europe before or after the dates of the IES Abroad program, notify your IES Abroad Advisor immediately, as this could affect the residence permit process. You are permitted to be in the Schengen Area, which includes Germany, as a tourist for no more than a combined total of 90 consecutive or non-consecutive days in a six month period. You will be considered a tourist until you are issued a residence permit, which will be a few weeks after the start of the program. If you remain in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days within a 6-month period, you will...

Prior to applying for the residence permit, all students must also be registered as residents of the city of Freiburg. EU Citizens must have a valid EU passport. This is required by German law and is a necessary pre-requisite for the residence permit. IES on-site staff will need to collect all student passports for this process, which generally takes one week. If your 90 tourist days expire before you have your residence permit, you will not be able to travel during this time. Consequently, IES Abroad does not recommend arriving to Germany more than 2 weeks before your program begins to ensure...

Paying Your Confirmation Deposit To secure your place, submit the Confirmation Form with your $500 deposit. Note that Remote Internship Program confirmation deposit is $250. What you should know about confirming your place on our program: Depending on your school’s policy, you will pay the confirmation deposit either to IES Abroad or to your college or university. The form in your account reflects your school’s policy on deposits. Submit your Confirmation Form according to the timeline and deadline for your program. The due date is listed next to the form in your account. Contact your IES...

Mail & Shipping in General It’s possible that your family and friends at home want to send you stuff while you’re abroad. If so, there are some considerations when shipping personal items internationally. Below are some general precautions and things to consider when shipping things abroad. General Precautions: Shipping internationally can be very expensive. Packages aren’t guaranteed to arrive, and IES Abroad cannot influence local custom rules. As fun as it may be to get packages from home while abroad, be prepared for potentially restrictive foreign customs and long delays. If friends and...

Volunteering Volunteering at local organizations provides another great opportunity for integration into the local culture. If you are interested in volunteering, our Center staff can provide you with contact information for volunteering and non-profit organizations. Specific duties vary according to the volunteer’s previous experience and training, availability, interest, language ability, and specific needs of collaborating organizations.

Final grades (unofficial copy) are posted online via your MyIESabroad account. Grades from courses taught by IES Abroad are typically available within four to six weeks of the final day of the program and are made available for approximately six months. Partner university grades will take longer to post. Non-reported "NR" grades indicate that your professor has not yet reported your grades. These grades can be viewed regardless of having a financial hold on your IES Abroad students account. Note that viewing your grades via your MyIESabroad account is separate from an official transcript. An...