Study in Germany - German Language & Liberal Arts (in English) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• With its charming, medieval atmosphere, Marburg is enchanting! Just an hour north of Frankfurt, you can stroll along the idyllic river, stop by a café, and enjoy the views from the hilltop castle.
• Deepen your understanding of German language and culture while also learning more about business, sciences, global studies, and humanities from a German perspective.
• You will have access to the Marburg buddy system, a program that will connect you to a new friend who will help you navigate daily life and assimilate into the culture of your new home.
• On a regular basis, the International Office offers trips and excursions to introduce you to German history, culture, and people. These getaways are offered during the semester and are either completely free or very affordable.
LIFE ABROAD
While you are in Marburg, experience all the city has to offer by renting a rowboat on the Lahn River or attending a Christmas market full of seasonal goodies and souvenirs. Check out the fairy tale pathway, which weaves through Marburg and commemorates the Brothers Grimm, who were heavily inspired and influenced by Marburg’s romantic streets in their many stories.
LIVE
Live in a single room in one of the university dormitories with easy access to campus by foot or by bus. You can expect to share a bathroom and kitchen access with local German students and other international students from campus. Students with families are welcome and easily accommodated on this program.
DINE
You will have plenty of access to grocery stores, cooking facilities (communal kitchens), and a multitude of dining options with affordable meal choices. In addition, all students can choose to purchase a meals and incidentals card credited with up to 200 EUR per semester to use on campus. We recommend budgeting 300-400 Euros for food each month.
EXPERIENCE
As part of the program, the required German Culture course includes weekend excursions to places like Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, and Weimar! Plus, it’s easy to get involved and make local friends through the numerous extracurricular organizations and activities, including the sports program, the student symphony orchestra, the debate club, and Dramarasmus (a European theater troupe open to all that are interested in the dramatic arts).
EXPLORE
Marburg is a university town with gothic-style academic buildings, rich cultural experiences, and museums scattered throughout the city. Spend an afternoon exploring Marburg Castle, climb the Kaiser Wilhelm Tower, or try a Hessen-style beer with lemonade and fruit. With your student card, transportation by bus is free which makes exploring easy and affordable.
THRIVE
Access the “Sprachenzentrum” (Language Center) for extracurricular language learning programs including the self-study center and the Language Tandem project. If you are interested in taking part in competitive sports or just keeping fit, try the University Sports Centre, which offers several gymnasiums, a clubhouse at “Edersee” (a lake), a boathouse on the river Lahn, and several tennis courts. Marburg also offers a range of support services for students with disabilities. Support may include barrier-free student accommodation, transport services, academic assistance, mobility training, Braille translations for visually impaired students, and more.
What We Love About Marburg
There are plenty of things to love about studying at Marburg, including the university leisure sports program which offers numerous water sports, as well as martial arts and wellness classes with yoga and shiatsu (and much more). Plus, there is a guesthouse owned by the Marburg University Association which can be used by students for skiing and hiking trips in the Austrian Alps!
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses
Course Description
The Study in Germany program at Philipps-Marburg is composed of two components: Required German Language and Culture Classes and Direct Enroll Classes in English or in German. Students can choose 2-3 classes in English from a range of options in business, sciences, global studies, and humanities. Students fluent in German can choose from the catalog of hundreds of class options. Below is a table of some of the more popular classes students have chosen in the past. Also included as part of the culture class are weekend excursions to places like Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, and Weimar.
Credits Earned
Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn 24-32 ECTS credits which ISEP recommends is the equivalent of 12-16 U.S. Credit hours. Classes are broken into 6- and 8-week modules.
If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid.
Required Courses:
• Intensive German Language Class
• German Culture Class
• Two courses from the International Undergraduate Study Program (IUSP)
The IUSP courses are announced in the months prior to the start of the program. They change yearly, but offer options taught in English in Sociology, Anthropology, Peace and Conflict Studies, Media Studies, English literature, American Studies, and Business. Students are required to take two IUSP courses, but may choose to enroll in a third IUSP course for an additional fee.
Past IUSP courses available include:
• U.S. American Young Adult FIction
• Iconic Imagery and the Myths that Made America
• Corporate Governance & Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Institutional Economics
• Sex & Money in Early Modern Plays
• German Literature
• Germany History
• Linguistics
• Social Media and Affect
• Gender and Social Inequality
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
The program is broken into two blocks: German Language and Culture, and Direct Enroll.
The German Language and Culture block consists of an intensive German Language Class (120 hours) and a German Culture Class (56 hours). This combined program meets for the first 6 weeks of the program. Included as part of the culture class are 2 (required) weekend excursions to places like Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, and Weimar, plus an optional day trip. Students can expect to spend approximately 30 hours per week in class during this 6-week block. Some contact hours for the culture class are reflected in the 2 required weekend excursions. Classes meet Monday-Friday.
The Direct enroll block consists of 2-3 classes from their standard English or German course catalog that are 8 weeks long. Standard classes meets for approximately 6 hours per week and are broken into a 2-hour lecture + a 4-hour required discussion for a total of 48 contact hours per class. Students can expect to spend approximately 12-18 hours per week in class during this 8-week block.
In addition to direct enroll, students can opt into a German Conversation class during the 8-week block that meets approximately 2 hours per week for a total of 16 hours and is worth 2 ECTS.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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