Language Requirement: Varies
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or Above
Location: Europe, Germany
GPA: 2.75

IE3: Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program

Applications for Spring Quarter close on 11/01/2026

Program Overview

The Baden-Wuerttemberg/Oregon state-to-state academic exchange program started over 50 years ago. Since 1968, the exchange has given Oregon students the opportunity to live and study in one of Germany’s most prosperous and scenic regions.

Located in the southwest corner of Germany, Baden-Württemberg is home to some of the oldest, most renowned, and prestigious universities in Germany. 

  • Encompassing fifteen different universities, the Baden-Württemberg program offers a wide variety of disciplines and courses for students of all majors. For more information on what each university has to offer, view the Baden-Württemberg Universities Overview sheet (opens in new window).
  • Students can take German language/culture courses and/or regular courses in almost any field of study.
  • An experienced full-time Resident Director provides on-site support to students.
  • Every student on the exchange program is eligible for a generous monthly stipend provided by the education ministry of Baden-Württemberg.

You do not need to choose a university before applying. As part of the application process, you will have the opportunity to talk over the options with program staff and indicate your preferences. IE3 will work with you to find the best fit for your academic and personal goals.

Please note, the University of Mannheim is the only fall semester program that ends prior to winter break. All other Fall/Winter semester programs continue into February. 

For further information about the program, including dates and course information, please visit: IE3: Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program

*The programs taught all in English do not require any previous language study, though it is always suggested as a way to feel more comfortable in Germany and in interacting with the local community.

Dates and Deadlines

Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Spring Quarter 2027 11/01/2026 Early April Late July
Fall Semester 2027 03/15/2027 Early August Late December
Fall/Winter Semester 2027-28 03/15/2027 Late August Mid February
Academic Year 2027-28 03/15/2027 Late August Late July

NOTE: You are encouraged to complete both the GEO application and the IE3 Global application by IE3's priority deadline as you will have the most university options in Baden-Württemberg to choose from. Applying after IE3's priority deadline will mean your options for university partners in Baden-Württemberg will be limited. 

Fall & Academic Year programs:

  • Priority deadline March 15 for Mannheim, Freiburg, ABK Stuttgart, MHDK Stuttgart, KIT, Ulm
  • Standard deadline April 15 for Heidelberg, Tübingen, Konstanz, PH Ludwigsburg, HdM Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Hohenheim

Spring programs:

  • Priority deadline October 1 for Konstanz, HdM Stuttgart, Stuttgart, KIT, Ulm, ABK Stuttgart, MHDK Stuttgart
  • Standard deadline November 1 for PH Ludwigsburg, Hohenheim, Heidelberg, Tübingen

The Fall Semester application is for Mannheim only. 

IMPORTANT: There are two applications for IE3 programs that are both due by the application deadline:

  1. Completion of the GEO online application.
  2. Completion of the IE3 online application, which includes the following:
  • Essays
  • Two Recommendations
  • Official Transcripts

Application fees are due at the time the applications are submitted and are non-refundable under any circumstances.

Application Link to IE3 Global App IE3: Baden-Württemberg Exchange 

Students are notified about acceptance AFTER the application deadline. 

Graduate Students

In addition to the process described above, graduate student applicants must also complete the Graduate Enrollment in GEO Study Abroad Programs form. This form requires that you obtain pre-authorization for your program from your adviser, department head and the Graduate School.

 

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Academic Details

You can choose from traditional liberal arts universities, technical universities, or institutions specializing in education and teacher training, music, or art. Sites include Freiburg, Heidelberg, Hohenheim, Ludwigsburg, Karlsruhe, Konstanz, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Trossingen, Tübingen, and Ulm. 

Many universities in this program have excellent offerings in German as a Foreign language classes if you want to focus on German language skills development or earn credit for a German major or minor.

You may also choose to directly enroll in regular university classes, which are primarily taught in German and sometimes available in English. You should consider your own language level as well as prior work in that subject area (in the case of pre-requisites) when reviewing course offerings. Some universities offer a wide selection of classes taught in English, depending on the academic area. Business, International Studies, Media Studies and Journalism, and Political Science are examples of subjects with good course offerings in English.

Many students find they are most successful when they mix German as a Foreign Language classes with regular university classes, or if going for a full academic year focusing on German language skills during their first semester and enrolling in regular university classes during the second semester.

For high-achieving undergraduate students who will be in junior or senior standing while abroad, the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), offers scholarships for semester-long study in Germany. 

Note: Many German universities do not finalize their course offerings until a couple weeks before the semester starts. Courses offered by each university are subject to change from year to year, so it's important to be flexible as you are planning your class schedule in case a course you are interested in is either unavailable or not offered during your time abroad. 

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Additional Requirements

The Baden-Württemberg exchange program is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all fields of study. To be eligible, students must meet the following minimum requirements before departure:

  • 45 credits or more (sophomore standing)
  • an overall GPA of 2.75 or above (3.25 for graduate students)

German language proficiency requirements depend on your intended academic pursuits while in Baden-Württemberg.

  • Students wanting to focus on German as a Foreign Language classes must have completed at least one year of college-level German. (For students still in their first year of German language studies, please see the Heidelberg Accelerated Program).
  • For students who will be taking regular university classes taught in English at certain university partners, no previous German language is required (though strongly encouraged).
  • Students wanting to take regular university classes taught in German should have strong German language skills at the 3rd or 4th year level, depending on the academic area and university.
  • Some academic programs may require previous successful completion of upper-division coursework in the academic field at their home university.

Housing Description

Housing varies from university to university, however, there are a few commonalities at all housing facilities: all students will be housed in single rooms in university student housing (Wohnheim). Each room typically has a bed, desk, chair, shelves, large closet, and a sink. Usually about 8-12 students share a kitchen, showers, and toilets. Your floor mates will be German and other international students.

The dormitories are co-ed but bathrooms and/or shower stalls can be locked. Shared laundry facilities exist in each building complex. All student housing has in-room internet access.

Budget and Price

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IE3: Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program

Exchange programs have a fixed program fee that is calculated based on your Oregon residency status and the number of semesters that you spend abroad. Please note that the terms available for each exchange vary based on the university's academic calendar.

Please only include the relevant program fee when determining your estimated total cost of attendance.

2026 Fall Semester

GEO Program Fees
Description Amount
UO Study Abroad Fee ($1000 per Semester) $1,000
Estimated Additional Expenses
Description Amount
Estimated IE3 Global Program Fee (Paid to IE3) - Oregon Resident $6,900
Estimated IE3 Global Program Fee (Paid to IE3) - Non-Resident $13,050
Estimated IE3 Lodging & Meals (Paid to IE3) $3,853
Estimated IE3 Incidental Fees (Paid to IE3)* $116
Estimated Airfare from Eugene $1,600
Estimated Books & Supplies $173
Estimated German University Registration Fees $230
Estimated Local Transportation $311
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses $225
Estimated German Health Insurance $863
Estimated Cost of Acquiring a Passport $150
Estimated Additional Living Expenses $500
Total
Description Amount
Estimated Total Cost of Participation - Oregon Resident $15,921
Estimated Total Cost of Participation - Non-Resident $22,071

Included in Program Costs: Program tuition, housing, some meals, medical insurance, pre-departure orientation and on-site orientation, on-site student support, excursions

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Please note that IE3's cancellation and deferral policies may differ from GEO's. Please consult with IE3 regarding their cancellation and deferral policies. 

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date Cancellation Penalty
8 weeks before program start date

Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees
Program start date or after program begins

Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees
Note that scholarship funds are not able to be applied to program deposit.

2026-27 Fall/Winter Semester

GEO Program Fees
Description Amount
UO Study Abroad Fee ($1000 per Semester) $1,000
Estimated Additional Expenses
Description Amount
Estimated IE3 Global Program Fee (Paid to IE3) - Oregon Resident $7,066
Estimated IE3 Global Program Fee (Paid to IE3) - Non-Resident $13,216
Estimated IE3 Lodging & Meals (Paid to IE3) $5,635
Estimated IE3 Incidental Fees (Paid to IE3) $576
Estimated Airfare from Eugene $1,600
Estimated Books & Supplies $173
Estimated German University Registration Fees $230
Estimated Local Transportation $311
Estimated Local Transportation $300
Estimated German Health Insurance $863
Estimated Cost of Acquiring a Passport $150
Estimated Additional Living Expenses $630
Total
Description Amount
Estimated Total Cost of Participation - Oregon Resident $18,534
Estimated Total Cost of Participation - Non-Resident $24,684

Included in Program Costs: Program tuition, housing, some meals, medical insurance, pre-departure orientation and on-site orientation, on-site student support, excursions

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Please note that IE3's cancellation and deferral policies may differ from GEO's. Please consult with IE3 regarding their cancellation and deferral policies. 

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date Cancellation Penalty
8 weeks before program start date

Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees
Program start date or after program begins

Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees
Note that scholarship funds are not able to be applied to program deposit.

IMPORTANT: The GEO Cancellation Policy is effective from the time a student agrees to pay their non-refundable program deposit or electronically signs the program commitment form, regardless of application or acceptance status. It is essential to read this policy before a potential cancellation takes place, to fully understand the withdrawal and cancellation penalties, and to understand what it means financially to commit to a study abroad program.

To view the program specific cancellation policy dates and penalties, click the term budget dropdown menu.

Students who cancel their participation must notify GEO in writing. Email is acceptable (geoinfo@uoregon.edu). Verbal notification to GEO or notification given to a non-UO campus study abroad office is not sufficient.

For full details, see the complete GEO Cancellation Policy.

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