Orientation The mandatory week-long orientation serves not only as an introduction to your program and the various aspects of life in Freiburg. Program information sessions are also organized to help you orient yourself in Freiburg. Discussion points include housing, health and safety, and academics. During Orientation Week, staff will also walk students through the necessary paperwork for registering in Germany and getting a residence permit. Staff can also assist you with questions regarding cell phones, sim cards and public transportation. This is an ideal opportunity for you to get to know...

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...

City Registration & Residence Permit for US citizens U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Germany, since they can travel in the Schengen Area (which includes Germany) visa-free for a total of 90 days within a 180 day period. IES Abroad staff will help you with the city registration process (anmelden), which is required by German law. After the city registration, staff will help you apply for a residence permit on site. The residence permit will be valid for the duration of your IES program. Passports must be handed into the German authorities for the city registration and residence permit...

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...

You may request to reside with one roommate of the same gender on your Life Demographic Survey. For the IES Abroad Center staff to accommodate roommate requests, both you and your roommate must: indicate each other on the Life Demographic Survey. rank your housing preferences in the same order. submit your forms before the submission deadline. Note that your form will not be considered complete or processed until you and your roommate have completed your housing forms. Keep in mind we will strive to meet you/your rooming request, but it is not a guarantee. Your Program Advisor will let you know...

Confirm Your Spot & Understand Arrival Instructions Wait until you have officially confirmed your spot in the program and completely read arrival and departure information prior to booking your flights. Once you are confirmed, you will be responsible for booking your own travel. When booking flights, please keep in mind flight times and time differences. In many cases, you may need to depart the day before to arrive in your program host country on the official arrival date. IES Abroad strongly encourages you to book flexible flights and/or contact the airline to determine their cancellation...