Application Process USA Programs

If you apply for a study place in the state programs of California, North Carolina, or Oregon, you must choose at least three universities within the respective state program at which you would like to undertake your study abroad plans. This counts however as ONE preference. You have the possibility to choose two other preferences for other exchange programs (either other state programs or other universities with a direct exchange). If you apply for the state-to-state-programs in Massachusetts or Connecticut and you choose the University of Massachusetts, Amherst or the University of Connecticut in Storrs as your study location, you do not have to choose any other universities in these state programs. If you apply for other universities in these state programs, you must choose at least one other university.
In regards to the selections of candidates for the state programs (especially CSU, North Carolina, Oregon), Heidelberg University cannot generally ensure any specific placement for a particular university as a balanced distribution of all candidates from Baden-Württemberg to the participating universities must be kept in mind. The placement thus takes place in a secondary step through the respective program coordinators in Germany and the USA. The primary criterion is of course the feasibility of the study plan. You should therefore ensure that your study plan is feasible at several of the participating institutions if you are applying to a state program.

The study places are available to Heidelberg students from all subjects with the exception of medicine. Studying at US Medical Schools is unfortunately not possible within the framework of the exchange programs. Law Students can only apply to the University of Oklahoma as their Law School is a participant of the exchange program (for more information, see below). Economics students should not assume that they will be able to study Business in the USA. Admission to Business Schools is extremely restrictive and they do not generally take part in our exchange programs.

Bachelor students who receive their Bachelor prior to the commencement of their scholarship must continue to be enrolled at Heidelberg University during their participation in the exchange program (generally proof of enrollment in a Master’s program at Heidelberg University must be demonstrated).

A selection committee of Heidelberg University decides which applicants should be nominated to the US partner universities.

Along with good academic performance the selection process places great emphasis on social and communicative competencies. It is expected from the exchange students that they become involved in their US host universities and that they will be compelling “ambassadors” for German culture and Heidelberg University. Knowledge regarding both the host country as well as Germany and Heidelberg University is expected. Naturally, the choice of study location must also be well-founded with regards to your academic discipline.

Because the ultimate decision regarding admission rests with the US universities, the following points must be especially considered:

Admission as a graduate student is provided for or is at least possible at some of the partner universities. The admission criterion for the graduate schools is generally proof of a Bachelor’s degree or at least a three-year course of studies prior to the commencement of the scholarship. The decision regarding admission as a graduate student will always be made by the corresponding department and only after careful review of the disciplinary qualifications of the applicant. Absolute prerequisite for admission is therefore a very concrete, well-thought-out study plan aligned with the course offerings of the department.
Students who are not as advanced in their studies cannot be accepted at the graduate schools.

A 10-15 minute selection interview in English will likely take place in the second half of November. Applicants will be invited to their interview per email. Placement in US universities will occur with regards to the first preference. The second and third preference will also be considered. The commission reserves the right to suggest a different study location if necessary. By mid-December all students will have been informed on the outcome of their selection process at Heidelberg University.

Application documents of successful candidates will be subsequently forwarded to the US host universities. The final decision regarding admission of the applicant rests with the US University, or the corresponding department. For all programs additional application forms, vaccination records, and proof of sufficient financial support must be submitted during this final stage of the application process. The final acceptance will generally arrive no later than June.
 

At most partner universities the academic year is divided into two semesters. The Fall term starts generally in mid- to late-August and ends in mid-December. The Spring term begins in January and ends in early to mid-May. Some universities however have trimesters or quarters (e.g. the University of Washington, most universities in Oregon and some universities in the CSU-system).
Experience shows that students benefit a great deal more when they study for a whole academic year at the partner universities. We therefore urge all applicants to strongly consider studying abroad for a full academic year. Nonetheless one-semester stays are possible, with only a few exceptions, during the Fall term. They are not possible however during our Summer semester (starting in April) due to differing semester dates with the US host universities. At universities with trimester or quarter systems, stays from September to the end of March are feasible. Beginning study abroad in the last trimester or quarter (from April) is not possible. 

22th October 2024