Studying at the University of Freiburg
Language skills
At the University of Freiburg, students normally do not have to prove their language proficiency by submitting language certificates, however the subjects usually require level B1 German language skills. The Bilateral Erasmus Agreements set out the precise details. If in doubt, please ask the respective departmental coordinator at Freiburg.
An exception are the requirements for courses at the German department. Here, the minimum requirements for the students' language level are DSH 2, TestDaF 4 or C1.
At the University of Freiburg, exchange students are offered the opportunity to attend a broad range of German language courses at the SLI (Sprachlehrzentrum; Language Center of the University of Freiburg). Before the beginning of the semester, intensive fee-based German language courses are organised. Free courses (above level A2) on German language and culture are offered during the semester.
More information about SLI language courses
Academic calendar
Summary of semester and lecture periods at the University of Freiburg
Choice of course / Learning Agreement
If you have any questions regarding course selection, registration, ECTS points and the Learning Agreements, please contact your departmental coordinator at Freiburg.
The University of Freiburg offers a wide range of individual courses at either bachelor's (BA) or master's (MA/MSc) level each semester.
The online course catalogue lists all courses available at the University of Freiburg. The full list of courses will be available 2–3 months before the semester starts.
At the University of Freiburg, like all German universities, we essentially offer three forms of courses: lectures, seminars and exercises.
While lectures are exclusively given by teaching staff, seminars (undergraduate seminars for undergraduate students, graduate or advanced seminars for graduate students) are shaped by the active involvement of the students, such as in the form of presentations and subsequent discussions. The exercises are used to practise the application of material that has already been taught.
At the start of the semester, you will normally have to register for the courses that you would like to attend via our online system HISinOne. Please note that you will only be able to use this online course registration platform if you are enrolled as a student at the University of Freiburg and have a student’s account.
ERASMUS+ students can acquire ECTS points on all courses agreed with them in the Learning Agreement. Performance is usually confirmed by the teaching staff. Confirmation takes place at the end of a course, once a record of academic achievement (e.g. an examination or written assignment) is available. Your performance is then transferred by your departmental coordinator into the Transcript of Records and can be downloaded in HISinOne.
One more minor point: most lessons last two hours. In fact, this includes the “academic quarter hour”, which is standard in Germany, i.e. lessons actually start a quarter hour later than officially stated. This is often explained with the note c.t. (lat.: cum tempore). If, however, it states s.t. (lat.: sine tempore), the relevant lesson starts at the given time.
Students with special needs
The central contact for students with a disability or chronic illness is Solveig Roscher