Marburg, Germany: Philipps-Universität Marburg

UTD has a regular student exchange program with one of Germany's oldest universities, the Philipps University in Marburg, a beautiful middle-sized city about an hour's ride north of Frankfurt in the state of Hesse. A fine medieval castle overlooks the historic city center as well as Germany's first purely Gothic church (St. Elisabeth's) to give Marburg a picturesque quality, while the modern city is very much a university town, enjoying a reputation for its high academic tone and active student life

On the university generally, see http://www.uni-marburg.de/

UTD students have three different possibilities for studying in Marburg, and all offer financial advantages, either free tuition for the regular academic curriculum (conducted largely in German) or competitive tuition scholarships for participation in two special programs for international students (conducted in English and German). As with most international programs, students pay their own travel and living expenses.

Regular Curriculum Studies

At its general Web site, www.uni-marburg.de/ , you can find information in German and English about the university's setting, organization, and regular curriculum. Almost all courses are offered in German, and special refresher language courses help to prepare international students for course work. (Graduate students emphasizing lab work in the sciences can often get along in English with only rudimentary German these days.)

Under our exchange agreement, Marburg sends a few students to UTD each year, and up to five UTD students may work there tuition free. They pay only a registration fee and their travel and living expenses. If students want course credit here for their Marburg work, however, they pay tuition here and seek prior approval from their UTD advisers.

Note that UTD's own International Education Fund Scholarship (IEFS) can be used for this exchange program. Aplications are due in the Office of International Education on May 26, 2009 for Fall, 2009, and on October 30, 2009, for Spring 2010.

ISU = The International Summer University

See the description of the 2009 program at www.sommeruni-marburg.de/.

The summer study program (from 21 July to 14 August) offers:

1. German language courses (all mornings). Students may start German language study or continue at their appropriate intermediate or advanced levels, but all participants must take a language course.

2. Seminars and lecture courses (in English, German or Russian) on current
European and German political, economic, and cultural topics. Special emphasis is placed on the European Union. Undergraduate credits for these courses may be transferred into some UTD degree plans (with prior approval of advisers here).

3. An extensive cultural program, with weekend excursions, special evening lectures, parties, etc.

Scholarships for UTD students are available for this summer's program. They cover the program fee of €1,900 (about US $2,850), course materials, and a dormitory room for the four-week stay in Marburg. Students pay their own travel, meals, and miscellaneous living expenses. Contact the Office of International Education about applications (due March 2) for these special scholarships.

Remember that UTD's own International Education Fund Scholarships (IEFS) can be used for this program. Applications are due at the Office of International Education on March 30 for the summer of 2009.

IUSP = International Undergraduate Study Program
See the description at http://web.uni-marburg.de/iusp/ .

This new program offers undergraduate courses during the two regular semesters in English or in German with special English tutorials, assignments, and tests. Initial emphasis has been on German language and culture as well as American studies, English Literature, political science, economics, and psychology. More subjects will be added, with special care to keep international perspectives in the developing curriculum. Students may register for one or both semesters, with courses offering transfer credit in many degree plans (with prior approval of advisers here).

One scholarship is available for a UTD student participating in this program. The grant covers the tuition of €2,000 (about US $3,000), so students must pay the remaining €2,500 (about US $3,750), for a dormitory room, a meal subsidy, course materials, and a cultural program. Contact the Office of International Education about applying for the scholarship.

As usual, students pay their own travel, other meals, and miscellaneous living expenses.

Remember, once again, that UTD’s own scholarships for international study can be used for this program. Applications are due at the Office of International Education on May 26, 2009 for Fall, 2009, and on October 30, 2009, for Spring 2010.