Studierende aus dem Ausland/Incomings
The School of Cultural Studies and Social Sciences welcomes international students in several different contexts. Students have the following options to apply to Osnabrück University:
Degree Seeking Students
International Students can apply for a full bachelor’s or master’s degree at Osnabrück University. Please note that there are special application requirements and deadlines for international students.
Erasmus and Exchange Students from Partner Universities
The School of Cultural Studies and Social Sciences holds a wide range of international partnerships all over the world and in Europe in the context of the Erasmus program. Bachelor and master students from our partner universities can study at Osnabrück University for one or two semesters within our regular study programs and obtain ECTS points (no degrees will be awarded to exchange students).
Master Program Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding
The “Master in Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding” is a four-semester study program that focuses on linking research and practice. It aims to provide students with a broad understanding of peace and conflict studies, while at the same time familiarizing them with the practical fields of peacebuilding and conflict management. The program is entirely taught in English. International students are invited to apply.
International Short-Term Programs, Summer Schools
Each July, Osnabrück University hosts students from all over the world for its International Summer Schools. With a mixture of well-established programs and innovative courses, they represent a unique opportunity to experience student life at a renowned German University. As a participant, you will get to enjoy challenging academic classes, a variety of cultural activities, introductory German lessons as well as an exciting buddy program.
Information for Refugees
Language development courses, occasional studies, leisure activities: students and teaching staff at Osnabrück University have developed a range of offers and initiatives in a bid to offer practical assistance and support to refugees in and around Osnabrück, giving them a warm welcome.
Applicants who are interested to study a full bachelor’s or master’s degree at Osnabrück University can find further information about the application requirements here.
Please note that the application procedure depends on the different groups of applicants:
With a German secondary school diploma
Applicants who have earned a secondary school diploma from a German school either in Germany or abroad must meet the same admissions requirements as German students. They are considered international students with German diplomas ("Bildungsinländer").
With foreign certificates
International students with foreign certificates applying to study in Osnabrück must meet certain conditions related to their subject and linguistic competence. Their educational background and country of origin also affect the admissions procedure. Please contact the Admissions Office (Studierendensekretariat) for more information.
Study program websites of the Institutes
Institute of Geography
Institute of Social Sciences
Department of History
Institute of Art/Art Education
Department of Textile Studies
The School for Cultural Studies and Social Sciences holds a wide range of international partnerships all over the world and in Europe in the context of the Erasmus program. Bachelor and master students from our partner universities can study at Osnabrück University for one or two semesters within our regular study programs and obtain ECTS points (no degrees will be awarded to exchange students). To come to Osnabrück University please follow the application procedure for exchange and Erasmus students.
Nomination and Application procedure
- First, students need to apply for studying abroad at their home university.
- Before students can directly apply to Osnabrück University they need to be officially nominated by their home university. The international coordinator should send the nomination using the nomination form via email to our International Office to incoming@uni-osnabrueck.de. Please make sure to send the nomination well before the application deadline.
- Nomination Deadline for Partner Universities: 1st April to 15th June for following winter semester, 1st October to 15th December for following summer semester.
- After the nomination information has been send, exchange and Erasmus students need to complete an online application and send the supporting documents by post.
- Application deadlines for students: 1st July for the following winter semester (beginning in October), 1st January for the following summer semester (beginning in April).
Contact
Office for Study Abroad & International Cooperation
Mareike Tudor
Room: 15/108
Phone: +49 541 969 4381
international@sozialwiss.uos.de
mareike.tudor@uos.de
Service hours: Monday-Tuesday 9:00-12:00 and 14:00 -15:30, Wednesday 14-15:30, Thursday 09:00-12:00 (and by appointment)
International Office
Coordinator for Incoming Students
Sabine Jones
Kathrin Beermann
incoming@uni-osnabrueck.de
Academic Calendar
- Spring Semester 2024
Start of the Semester: 1st April 2024
Welcome Week for International Students: 25th - 28th March 2024
Start of Lectures: 2nd April 2024
End of Lectures: 6th July 2024
End of the Semester: 30th September 2024
- Autumn Semester 2024/25
Start of the Semester: 1st October 2024
Welcome Week for International Students: 14th – 18th October 2024
Freshman Week for Degree Seeking Students: 21st – 26th October 2024
Start of Lectures: 28th October 2024
Christmas Holidays: 21st December 2024 – 4th January 2025
End of Lectures: 15th February 2025
End of the Semester: 31st March 2025
Language Requirements
- There is no need to include proof of German language proficiency in the nomination or application, but our partner universities are supposed to select students who meet the required level: German B1 for Courses in German/English B2 for courses in English.
- The main language of instruction at Osnabrück University is German, especially in bachelor programs. However, there are a number of courses in English offered each semester.
Courses
- General information: Exchange and Erasmus students must take the majority of courses at the institute/department where they are enrolled according to the partnership. Courses from other schools and institutes may be chosen upon agreement with the respective coordinator and needs to be confirmed via the Learning Agreement.
- Bachelor's students from their 5th semester/3rd year onwards can also take part in Master's courses, provided there are no specific prerequisites/restrictions for the course and places are available.
- Please note that we cannot award ECTS for final theses.
Search for courses from all degree programmes and departments via Stud.IP (Login with your Osnabrück University account, choose "Veranstaltungen" for selection of subject areas)
Learning Agreement and Course Enrollment
- Students need to enroll in courses through our online course registration system ( stud.ip) before the start of the lecture period. They will receive the access data with their enrollment documents.
- It is compulsory for incoming students to conclude a Learning Agreement before the start of the semester. Learning Agreements can be adjusted up to five weeks after the start of the semester if places are available.
- For all students in the framework of the ERASMUS program we would prefer to conclude the new Online Learning Agreement (OLA). Students can fill in all information through the webpage and have it signed digitally by all parties.
- If you are an exchange student outside ERASMUS or if your university doesn’t participate in the OLA you can still use the paper-based version ( LA ERASMUS/ LA Exchange Students) and send it via email.
- Responsible persons of the institutes for the signature of Learning Agreements
Exam Registration
- In addition to registering for the courses in Stud.IP, students must also register separately for the examinations and coursework of their courses in HisInOne at the end of each semester.
- Registration Period for Exams in HisinOne Winter Semester 2024/25: tbd.
- If it is not possible to register via HisInOne, achievements can be confirmed by the lecturers via the ECTS-Certificate. In this case, students must register their exams and assignments by email with the lecturer during the official registration period and submit the ECTS-Certificate together with the examination/course work (e.g. term paper).
- Registration Period for Language Course Exams Winter Semester 2024/25: tbd.
- For information on registration formalities and deadlines for courses in other departments, please ask the lecturers of the courses.
- Issuing of the Transcript of Records: An overview of the completed courses and the ECTS-Certificates (if applicable) must be submitted to the International Office (to Sabine Jones, incoming@uos.de). The overview of achievements can be generated as a pdf document in HisInOne.
Language Courses
- Pre-sessional German language course (for international students and exchange students, fee-based)
- During each semester our language center offers a wide range of free German language courses on different levels. There will be a placement test at the beginning of the semester.
- For more informationen please visit the webpage of our Language Center.
Accommodation
- Exchange students from partner universities can apply for accommodation in the student dorms operated by Studentenwerk Osnabrück (Student Services) through the International Office.
Services for International Students
- Our servicewebpages offer information about visa and entry requirements and your arrival in Osnabrück. You can also find information about accommodation and insurance. And last but not least check out our tips for culture and leisure activities!
- Please visit our Welcome Hub for International Students for all important organizational topics related to your study stay in Osnabrück!
Nomination and Application Procedure
We are glad to welcome students from our partner universities for one or two semester in the framework of our cooperation agreements. For this, it is necessary that the students are nominated first. Please send the nomination form via email to our International Office ( incoming@uos.de) within the deadline mentioned below.
Afterwards, the students will be contacted by our International Office and provided with further information on how to apply.
Nomination | Application |
| Winter Semester/Full Year: 1st April to 15th June | Winter Semester/Full Year 1st July |
| Summer Semester: 1st October to 15th December | Summer Semester: 1st January |
Language Requirements and Courses
We do not require language certificates to be handed in with the application. But since the main language of instruction in most of our study programs is German (especially on bachelor level), we ask our partners to consider the following required language levels when selecting students: German B2 for courses in German, English B2 for courses in English according to CEFR.
However, we offer multiple courses in English every semester. Up to 40% of courses may be taken at other institutes and departments outside the partner department/institute. However, preference will be given to students from the own department if space is limited.
Please be aware that we are not able to award any ECTS for thesis work.
Incoming Teaching Staff
With many Erasmus+ partner universities, there are agreements for Erasmus Teaching Mobility in addition to the student exchange. Interested lecturers can approach the respective institute directly if they already have contacts.
Otherwise, lecturers are welcome to contact the Office for Study Abroad & International Cooperation with a proposal for a desired period of stay and a short outline of their teaching interests. We will then arrange the contact to the relevant institute.
Please consider our semester dates when planning your stay.
Contact
School of Cultural Studies and Social Sciences
Seminarstraße 20
49074 Osnabrück
Contact for Agreements
Office for Study Abroad & International Cooperation
Mareike Tudor
Office 15/108
Phone: +49 541 969 4381
mareike.tudor@uos.de
International Office
Head of International Office
Malte Paolo Benjamins
+49 541 969 4972
malte.paolo.benjamins@uos.de
Coordinator for Incoming Students
Kathrin Beermann
Sabine Jones
incoming@uni-osnabrueck.de
Institutional Erasmus Coordinator
Laura Rohe
+49 541 969 7408
laura.rohe@uos.de