University of Würzburg
Located in Northern Bavaria, the University of Würzburg (Wuertzburg) dates back to 1402 - making it one of the oldest universities in Germany.
Ranked in the top 20 universites in Germany (#14-ARWU,2018 & #19-THE,2019), the university is highly ranked in the sciences - top 200 globally in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, and Life Sciences (QS 2019). The university is famous for its stunning (and free!) 9 hectare, 17th century botanical garden with thousands of unique plant species, and the city's remarkable baroque and rococo architecture makes it an incredibly scenic place to study or relax with a coffee.
Key information
Application information
Program details
Wuertzburg offers a selection of science courses in English. Students can choose from Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Physics.
There are also a variety of courses taught in a hybrid of English and German, where exams may be able to be conducted in English, with permission of the professor.
Students can also take courses outside of Science, here is a list of all the faculties, for an overview use the course catalogue: Wuestudy. Advice on how to use the catalogue can be found here. The majority of classes is held in German. Some courses are taught in English. Select "Teaching Language" on the bottom left to see what courses are offered in English.
Besides the regular semester courses, students can also participate in the Würzburg English Language Program (WELP). This program has a selection of approx. 10 courses per semester, all taught in English. The dates for this program are Winter Semester (Fall at UCalgary): October to December and Summer Semester: May to July.
Course requirements:
In Europe, full-time course load is typically 30 ECTS (European credits), and exchange students are typically expected to take 24-30 credits per semester. 6 ECTS = 3 UCalgary units (1 half-course).
The amount of credits each course is worth corresponds to the workload/contact hours, and can vary from 1-30 ECTS per course, so please be mindful of this in your selection.
The academic year at Würzburg is divided into two semesters. In Germany, semesters are named for the season they end in, rather than the season the semester starts in:
- Winter Semester runs from early October to early March
- Summer Semester runs from early April to early August
Wuerzburg also offers an intensive German language program in September before the semester start which is free of charge for exchange students. The A1/A2 course with 5 hours per week receives 8 ECTS (this could transfer back at 1 UCalgary courses, consult your academic advisor). The B1 with 3.5 hours per week receives 5 ECTS (this would not transfer back as 1 UCalgary courses because it is under 6 ECTS). And both receive an official transcript.
Besides the regular semester courses, students can also participate in the Würzburg English Language Program (WELP). This program has a selection of approx. 10 courses per semester, all taught in English. The dates for this program are Winter Semester (Fall at UCalgary): October to December and Summer Semester: May to July.
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
Living cost estimates for Würzburg can be found here.
Also, don't forget to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange?
Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.Internal and External Funding opportunities for study abroad in Germany, including DAAD awards, the AGEC award, etc. are available on our funding page.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Info on Accommodation is available here.
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the University of Calgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
TASSEP is the Trans-Atlantic Science Student Exchange Program, a consortium designed specifically with the curricular needs of science students in mind. Canadian students have access to European Partners in the consortium. Beyond the TASSEP agreement, this exchange is also open to students outside of Science.
Courses at Würzburg are primarily taught in German. If courses are all taken in English, we still recommended that applicants have completed a minimum of German 204 (or have an A2 level of German) before departing for this exchange. For most courses, applicants should have a command of German at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) at a minimum, or have completed at least two 300-level or above courses in German. Certification of language proficiency may be required. Students do have the opportunity to take German language courses during their stay.
How can I learn or improve my German?
The Language Center of the University of Würzburg offers German courses before and during the semester. These courses are free of charge for program students, and are designed for language learners with an A1-A2+ language proficiency. More information can be found here.
Wuerzburg also offers an intensive German language program in September before the semester start which is free of charge for exchange students. The A1/A2 course with 5 hours per week receives 8 ECTS (this could transfer back at 1 UCalgary courses, consult your academic advisor). The B1 with 3.5 hours per week receives 5 ECTS (this would not transfer back as 1 UCalgary courses because it is under 6 ECTS). And both receive an official transcript.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Flavien Niederst
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.