Study Abroad in Germany: Tauchen Sie Ein in Die Deutsche Kultur
Castles and gothic architecture characterize the setting of St. Lawrence’s newest study abroad addition. Nestled in central Germany, Philipps-Universität Marburg, or the University of Marburg, holds some exciting opportunities for students eager to spend a semester in Europe. This past year, CIIS has started a new connection in Marburg, replacing the former Freiburg program, and set a new standard for a semester abroad.
The program offers a wide variety of students an opportunity to study in a historic European area, while gathering a deeper understanding of the German language, culture and life in general. Associate Professor of German Studies and Digital Media & Film Brook Henkel noted, “I’m really excited about the new program. I think it’s going to be a great option for all different types of students with a variety of backgrounds. For those with more experience in German, there are opportunities for language immersion or for students with no to little background in the German language, there are other opportunities for that as well.” In addition, Henkel also noted that the location of the program is great with a feel of a classic German university town.
This university also offers a unique helping hand for international students. They created the International Undergraduate Student Program. SLU students will be encouraged to enroll and will be able to select from multiple classes including informatics, mathematics, history, business, english, peace and conflict, and more. Caitlin Hatz, Director of Off-Campus Programs, noted that the Marburg program will allow for greater student engagement as it has more majors and better language accessibility than Freiberg. For students more proficient in German, the university will also welcome enrollment into their main courses as well as the IUSP.
When it comes to traveling in a foreign region, the learning curve and budgeting can be daunting. Laurentians who studied in London and other cities know all too well the tough navigation of public transportation in a new country and the costs that can come with it. Luckily, the University of Marburg takes a generous step in with a free bus pass for all students, which can be used throughout the state of Hessen where Marburg is located. There will also be on-campus, shared-student housing. Assistant Director of Off-Campus Programs, Kimberly Longfellow, is especially excited for this addition to the diverse list of study abroad opportunities. From discounts on museums and landmarks to access to an abundance of academic resources, she cites how much care the university puts into its students.
“Having studied abroad in Germany during my own undergraduate experience,” says Longfellow, “this new partnership is also very personally exciting for me. I look forward to supporting Laurentians interested in studying abroad in Germany as well! I would encourage any students interested in learning more about this program to attend our Off-Campus Study Fair on October 3rd, and/or to schedule an appointment with me through Starfish.” CIIS is also excited to announce more programs that it has added, so keep an eye out for more news in the coming weeks.