Due to the hygiene and infection protection rules that currently apply, the University of Cologne plans that teaching in the winter semester 2020/21 will be “hybrid”. This means that most courses are realized in online formats and only a few selected courses will be held presencially, by strictly respecting the hygiene and infection protection measures, if the pandemic situation allows it. The faculties ensure that also in the presencial courses sufficient teaching material is made available online to ensure that (online) examinations can also successfully be taken for students who are not able to participate presencially.

At this point in time, it is not yet clear whether the summer semester 2021 will take place in hybrid form (online and, if applicable, classroom teaching) or in presence. The planning depends on the course of the pandemic and can be changed at short notice. As soon as we know more, we will publish it here.

If you have any questions, please contact us at exchange-to-cologneverw.uni-koeln.de

The Rectorate of the University of Cologne published a comprehensive website on various measures taken in regard to Covid-19. The website is updated on a regular basis: https://portal.uni-koeln.de/en/coronavirus.

The University of Cologne has six faculties and offers courses in the most comprehensive study fields:

• Faculty of Arts and Humanities

• Faculty of Law

• Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

• Faculty of Humanities

• Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (for exchange students with limitations)

• Faculty of Medicine (for exchange students with limitations)

Exchange students also have the opportunity to participate in the English taught program Cologne Global Study Program (CGSP) - Contemporary European Studies. This program is coordinated by the International Office of the University of Cologne in cooperation with various faculties.

The academic year at the University of Cologne is divided as follows:

winter semester: 

Pre-semester: September
In the pre-semester our pre-semester German courses takes place.

Semester: October 1 to March 31
During the semester, the lectures take place in the lecture period.


summer semester:

Pre-semester: March
In the pre-semester our pre-semester German courses takes place.

Semester: April 1 to September 30
During the semester, the lectures take place in the lecture period.

You can start your exchange studies in the winter or summer semester.

To ensure that you get the best possible benefit from your stay abroad at the UoC, we recommend that you study at your home university on an advanced level. 

We also recommend a knowledge of German at level B2 (CEFR), so that you can follow the courses in German and communicate well and confidently in your everyday life.
If you want to attend courses in English, we recommend a knowledge of English at level B2 (CEFR) or a TOEFL score 80 or IELTS score 5.5.

Furthermore, we require the following documents from you (you will receive further information after your nomination):

• copy of your passport

• passport photo

• CV

• motivation letter (1-2 pages)

• High School Diploma

• current Transcript of Records of your home university

• German language certificate

• English language certificate (for the CGSP)

First of all, you have to be officially nominated by your home university for an exchange programme of one or two semesters. Please contact the responsable office at your home university (e.g. International Office) and inform yourself about the application process there.

Your home university must inform us by the nomination deadline that you have been selected for the exchange programme:

Nomination deadlines
winter semester: July 15
summer semester: January 15 

Following the nomination you will receive further information about our online application and the further procedure by email.

You will find the course catalogue of the current semester in the Campus Management System KLIPS 2.0 
(Search -> Courses -> Search term, semester specification: e.g. 19W = winter semester 2019/20, 19S = summer semester 2019)

The course catalogue of the upcoming semester is published about 2-3 months before the start of the semester. Since many courses are offered in both the summer and winter semester, you can use the current semester for orientation.

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the courses offered at an early stage and select the first courses that interest you.

If you have any further questions about KLIPS 2.0. please visit the KLIPS 2.0 Support website.
 

Exceptions:

If you want to study at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, please search for your courses in the "Module Guide for International Short Term Students".

If you want to study at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, please search for courses in the course overview "Course options for incoming students".

The course of the Cologne Global Study Program (CGSP) can be found here.

The department "German as a Foreign Language" (DaF) of the International Office at the UoC offers German language courses for exchange students.

You can choose between the Pre-semester German course (20 hours/week) or Semester German course (6 hours/week).

You will receive further information about the German courses after your official application to us.

EU/EEA citizens:
EU/EEA citizens do not have to apply for a visa for entry into Germany.

Non-EU/EEA citizens:
After having sucessfully applied at the University of Cologne and being accepted you receive an official admission letter of the University of Cologne. Please use the admission letter for the visa application at the German Embassy/Consulate in your home country. On the website of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany you may find further information whether you need a visa for entering Germany.

Please note:

• Please apply for a student visa and not for a tourist visa! Tourist visas cannot be converted into a residence permit for academic programs in Germany.

• The visa application process lasts up to four weeks on average. The process may differ from country to country. In order to receive your visa on time before your studies begin we recommend that you make an appointment at the German Embassy/Consulate prior to receiving your admission letter and hand in the required documents. You have to turn in the admission letter at a later date. This way, you probably are able to speed up the processing time of your visa. 

All international students from non-EU countries who stay in Germany for more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners Registration Office.

Further information:
Information on the legal framework conditions for Immigration and Residence of foreign students and scholars (DAAD)

On our pages "Study in Cologne: Accommodation for international students" you will find detailed information about living in Cologne.

At the beginning of each semester we offer a "Welcome Session" for our exchange students from partner universities.

In the "Welcome Session", students are officially welcomed and receive information on enrolment, the semester schedule and the organization of life in Cologne. We recommend all students to participate in the "Welcome Session"! You will receive further information by email after your nomination.

Also at the beginning of the pre-semester we offer our international exchange students an Intercultural Training (in English) to prepare them in the best possible way for their stay in Germany. You will receive further information on this by email after your nomination as well.

The University of Cologne does not charge tuition fees.

Each semester, all enrolled students of the University of Cologne must pay the semester fee. The semester fee is recalculated each semester and consists of the social contribution for the Kölner Studierendenwerk (KSTW) and the contribution for the student council AStA. In addition, it is used to finance university sports and the semester ticket (free travel on public transport with the UC Card). The amount of the current semester fee can be found here.

According to the 21st Social Survey of the "Deutsches Studentenwerk" (2017) the cost of living for a student in Cologne are at least 832,00 €: