Exchange Students
Semester abroad at Karlshochschule
You come to Karlshochschule as an exchange student from one of the many partner universities around the world. Internationality and the exchange between cultures are part of our everyday life. At our small international university, you will receive individual support with your application, preparation for your arrival, bureaucratic processes and all questions on site. The orientation program and intercultural activities during the semester will provide you with all the important information you need to quickly feel at home at Karlshochschule.
Exchange students can spend their semester abroad at Karlshochschule within the framework of official exchange agreements with our partner universities (ERASMUS+ or bilateral agreements). You have the opportunity to come to Karlshochschule for a semester or the entire academic year.
The application for an exchange semester is made via the International Office of the home institution, partner university of the Karls. If you would like to join us as an exchange student, please contact your coordinators and ask them to nominate you to the Karlshochschule International Office.
Application process
Nomination and application deadlines:
Start of the semester abroad for the winter semester: April 30th
Start of the semester abroad for the summer semester: October 30th
You can only apply for the coming semester if we have received a nomination from your home university. As soon as we receive it, we will contact you and inform you about the next steps. You can then upload the required documents via our online application portal. As soon as we have received and checked your application, we will send you the letter of acceptance and all further information about your study abroad program.
Application requirements:
- Nomination from your home university
- Proof of sufficient knowledge of English (at least B2)
- Valid health insurance
English language skills B2 or higher according to CEFR:
We accept the following documents:
- IELTS with at least 6.0 points
- Internet-based TOEFL score with at least 80 points
- Confirmation of English level B2 or higher from the International Office or language teacher at your home university
Course offer
As an exchange student, you will be integrated into the regular study program. You can find an overview of our Bachelor’s degree programs here. You can also take German courses, which are offered specifically for international students, or a language course in another foreign language. Please note that you can only choose from the courses offered and that the course offerings vary.
Costs
There are no additional tuition fees for exchange students who come to Karlshochschule from one of our partner universities.
Free-mover students (link to the text passage below “Free-mover students”) are subject to tuition fees.
All students pay a contribution of € 67.70 to the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe, which allows them to use various services provided by the Studierendenwerk.
My way to Karlsruhe
For your stay abroad at Karlshochschule, there are a few formalities you need to take into account, such as valid health insurance or a visa. It is also important that you look for an apartment in Karlsruhe in good time. Below you will find a list of what you need to consider before entering the country. The International Office will be happy to advise you on your preparations.
Visa
Citizens from countries outside the EU or EEA who wish to study in Germany generally require a residence permit or student visa to enter the country. As a rule, student visas are now issued for the entire duration of the stay. If this is not the case, the student must apply for a residence permit before the visa expires.
Applicants from certain countries can enter Germany without a visa. If they stay longer than 90 days, they require a residence permit for students. This residence permit must be applied for in Germany at the relevant immigration authority. This applies to the following countries.
Nevertheless, we advise ALL STUDENTS to apply for a student visa in advance at the German representation in their home country. As student visas for exchange students are usually issued for the entire duration of their stay, this eliminates the bureaucratic effort on site.
Citizens who enter the country on a tourist visa cannot convert this into a study visa after entering the country.
The visa application must be accompanied by a letter of acceptance from Karlshochschule and proof that you are able to finance your living costs from your own assets or income. Students can obtain details on the visa application procedure from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in their home country or on the websites of the Embassy and the Federal Foreign Office.
Important: Please start the visa process as early as possible so that you receive your visa on time and can enter the country at the desired time.
All information on the regulations is subject to change. Please check the current requirements with the German embassy or consulate in your home country.
Click here to go to the Visa Navigator of the Federal Foreign Office.
Health insurance
International students must have sufficient health insurance cover in order to be enrolled at a German university. Social security agreements exist with countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area. If students have statutory health insurance in their home country, they will receive the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). On presentation of the EHIC, students can claim insurance cover in Germany from a statutory health insurance fund.
Students from Turkey: Germany has a special agreement with Turkey under which Turkish health insurance policies are recognized. The A/T11 certificate is required to carry out the recognition. Please contact your Turkish health insurance company so that they can issue you with this certificate.
Other health insurance policies from abroad can also be recognized in Germany under certain circumstances. In order to be able to check this, students must bring the exact list of benefits and the dates of validity of the health insurance taken out in German or English. These are submitted to a German statutory health insurance company for recognition.
Due to a change, most insurance policies are no longer recognized, so we recommend that non-European students take out statutory or private health insurance in Germany. Statutory health insurance covers, among other things, medical treatment by doctors and dentists, hospital stays and the provision of medicines, dressings, remedies and aids.
Important: In most cases, travel or international insurance is not sufficient for enrollment.
If you are planning to take up a student union contract, a student assistant job or part-time employment during your stay, you are obliged to take out German health insurance.
Bank account
We recommend that all students who are not from the EU open a bank account in Germany, as foreign bank accounts can incur fees and costs for every transaction and cash withdrawal.
If you want to finance your studies with a student job, employers generally require a German bank account for the transfer of your salary. Most German banks have accounts specifically for students, which are often free to open and can easily be closed once you have finished your studies.
Accommodation
It is not always easy to find an apartment in Karlsruhe, as many students are looking for accommodation at the start of the semester. That’s why it’s important that you start looking for accommodation as early as possible, even before you arrive in Karlsruhe! Karlshochschule does not arrange rooms and does not have a hall of residence itself – it is your responsibility to find accommodation. We try to support you in your search for accommodation by providing information on how to apply to a student hall of residence or links to find a shared flat. You can find all the links and tips here.
Orientation program
Together with our student initiative “KarlsBuddies”, the International Office will help you during the orientation program to tackle all the bureaucratic steps that need to be taken in the course of studying abroad – e.g. registering with the city, applying for a residence permit, choosing a health insurance company or opening a bank account. We will answer all your questions about procedures at the university, everyday questions about life in Karlsruhe and in Germany. Together with the KarlsBuddies, we undertake various activities so that you are quickly integrated and your semester abroad is a complete success. If you start your studies abroad in the winter semester, there will be a whole week of introduction together with all first semester students starting at the Karls.
Find all the important information in the Freshies Guide.
Free-mover students
Your home university is not a partner university of the Karls?
Your home university is not on the list of partner universities, but you would still like to come to us for your semester abroad? You can still study with us as a so-called “free-mover”. Please note that you will incur fees here. Contact the International Office for more information about admission and the application process: international@karlshochschule.de
Your Contact
Eva Hilla de Menacho
Mobility Coordinator
ehilla@karlshochschule.org
international@karlshochschule.org
Tel.: 0721 48095-308