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Any Questions?

Why should I take part in the Pre-Sessional Course?

The Pre-Sessional German language course is a great opportunity for you to hone your German language skills and explore the city of Osnabrück. In addition to learning German, you can expect a leisure programme which lets you explore Osnabrück’s culture and nightlife while getting to know a lot of new and friendly people from all over the world along the way. Together you will explore the sights, restaurants and bars in the city, visit other cities and towns in the vicinity or simply have a good time finding out more about each other’s cultures and languages. In sum, the Pre-Sessional German Language Course aims to help international students find their feet in Osnabrück and at the University before classes start in the Winter Semester.

What is the course structure?

The Pre-Sessional German Language Course covers the CEFR levels A1 to B2. Lessons take place every morning from Monday to Friday over approx. three weeks. They cover a total of 50 teaching units and for your efforts, you‘ll be rewarded with 4 ECTS credit points. You won't recieve a final grade, however! After your daily fix of German language, you can enjoy the leisure programme organised by your peers from Osnabrück University. Activities range from excursions to sights in and around the city, visits to parks, bars and restaurants, to week-end trips to nearby towns and cities.

How do I apply?

You should submit your application until the start of July. Please download the application form (PDF, 202 kB) and send it to intensivkurs@uos.de. To participate in the course, you must either be an international exchange student or a degree-seeking student at Osnabrück University. The registration fee is 395 €. However, the fee does not include your accommodation during the programme. If you have questions regarding student housing, please contact our colleagues at the International Office.

How do I find accommodation?

If you are planning to stay in a student hostel, it may very well be possible to move into your room earlier, before the start of the Pre-Sessional. However, if you move in earlier, your rental period will start on 1 Sep. Moreover, you have to contact your hostel’s caretaker before you arrive in Osnabrück to arrange for the hand-over of your room key. For any questions regarding accommodation, please contact our colleagues at the International Office at incoming@uos.de.

Living and studying in Osnabrück

Trust us, you won’t get bored in Osnabrück thanks to a wide range of cultural attractions and culinary choices. Especially University students enjoy many discounts in bars and restaurants, reduced ticket prices in cinemas and theatres and, last but not least, free transport in and around Osnabrück.

University Canteens and Semester Ticket

Osnabrück University has two canteens - one in the city centre (next to the castle or main admin building), the other on Campus Westerberg. At both canteens you can choose between a wide selection of dishes, including vegetarian and vegan options, as well as salads and desserts; all for a small price. With the Semester Ticket, which is automatically available to every student in Osnabrück after enrolment, you can use regional trains in the federal state of Lower Saxony free-of-charge, so that it’s easy to travel to the North Sea coast or cities such as Hanover, Bremen and Hamburg on weekends! For an additional 49 € per month you can obtain the Deutschlandticket, which allows you to use regional trains and buses all over Germany.

Lakes and Parks in Osnabrück

You can find several parks and green spaces spread out over the city. Especially popular with students is the Schlossgarten, which is located directly behind the University’s main building, or the castle. Here you can take a break there in between lectures or after lunch or meet up with friends to enjoy a drink after your last seminar of the day. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus or mount your bicycle to go to Rubbenbruchsee, a lake just at the outskirts of the city. Although you aren’t allowed to swim there, it’s popular with students, because you can have a picnic or BBQ, play miniature golf or simply enjoy the view.

Culture and the Arts in Osnabrück: Theatres and Museums

Students can attend performances at the Theatre of Osnabrück for free. However, take note that the majority of plays are in German! You can find more information about the current programme at www.theater-osnabrueck.de/. Moreover, there are a number of interesting museums in Osnabrück which also offer reduced entry for students. For example, the Felix-Nussbaum-Haus features a collection of works by Osnabrück-born German-Jewish surrealist painter Felix Nussbaum and offers guided tours in both German and English. You can find more details at www.museumsquartier-osnabrueck.de.

Nightlife in Osnabrück: Clubs and Bars

There are many options to spend a good night out and about in town with your friends - both on weekends and weekdays. Check out the following link and find out about some of the most popular bars: www.osnabrueckbesten.de/bars-osnabrueck/.
Traditional German pubs can be found along the cobble stone streets of the historic centre of Osnabrück. If you prefer to go to a club instead, there is an option for almost every style of music, from electro to rap. You can take a look at some of the popular clubs here: www.osnabrueckbesten.de/clubs-osnabrueck/. There is a bunch of other possibilities, if you want to party all night long: Just check out the calendar of events at www.os-kalender.de and never miss a thing!