Preparing for the Year Abroad - Germany

Most students leave for the year abroad in September and return a full twelve months later.  Students studying at TU-Braunschweig will participate in a one month immersion program between September and October. After the immersion program ends, the official semester will start at the end of October until mid-February.

Preparing for the year aborad in a stress-free way takes approximately nine months of planning.

Timeline for students going abroad for fall 2013 - please check back for updated links.

December 2012

1. Intended Costs/Expenses for Year Abroad

Refer to this handout for expected costs and expenses for your year in Germany. Please note that the total costs are subject to change.

2.  Passport application or renewal

If you do not yet have a valid passport, you need to apply for one.  If you already have a passport, you need to ensure that it will not expire within six months of your planned RETURN date: e.g. if you will be abroad until August 2013, your passport should be valid until February 2014).

3.  Visa

US citizens do not need to apply for a visa before entering Germany. The International Office at TU Braunschweig will assist incoming URI students in obtaining an "Aufenthaltsgenehmigung" for the year in Germany which also allows for an internship in a German company. 

Important: Non-US citizens need to check whether they are on the list of countries whose citizens need to apply for a visa.  Apply for a visa in October/November! All visa information can be found here

4.  Scholarships

The following scholarships are avilable only to German IEP students:

Sharon Wallace Memorial Scholarship

German Section Awards

DAAD Scholarship and Awards

Apply for other available IEP scholarships.

5.  Office of International Education Step 1

By December 31st, complete the General Information Session on the Office of Internation Education website.

January 2013

1.  Financial Aid Questions

If you have questions about financial aid during the year abroad, you should contact a financial advisor in Green Hall.

March 2013

1.  Partner University Application

Complete the Braunschweig exchange student application form and submit to Dr. Berka by February 11^th. https://moveonline.tu-braunschweig.de/moveonline/incoming/login.php?_type=login. Pick up TU-BS Exchange Approval Form from Dr. Berka when you hand in application.

2. Office of International Education Step 2

By March 11^th, complete your URI application for IEP study abroad and submit it to Dr. Berka.: URI-IEP Application

3. Passport Photos

Give 12 passport photos to Dr. Berka by March 15^th.  Make sure you are well-dressed in the photo.

4. Transcipts

Submit 2 official transcripts to Dr. Berka by March 15^th.

5. Housing Application

Complete the Braunschweig housing application form by March 15^th. Submit online and then make a copy for Dr. Berka at: http://www.international.tu-braunschweig.de/incoming/accom/accommodation.php

6. Prior Approval Forms

Complete Prior Approval Form for all of the courses you would like to take while abroad. Here is a list of German course equivalencies. Please bring sheet to Dr. Berka to sign off on German and general education classes and to your engineering advisor to sign off on engineering classes by March 31^st. Dr. Berka will then send it on to Dr. Veyera for further signatures. Please bring a check for your Off-Campus Study Fee by April 15^th and Dr. Berka will send it to the Office of International Engineering along with your Prior Approval Form and the IEP acceptance form which she will fill out and sign. After April 15^th you will be responsible for getting everything signed and taken to the Office of International Education by May 1^st.

7. Meet with your advisors to discuss your academic plan for your 5th year.

Think ahead to returning in the fall of your 5th year and that you will be registering for classes while you are still abroad for year 5.

Make sure to work on a graduation worksheet with your IEP advisor before leaving for study abroad so that you know which classes you will still have to take for graduation. It is highly important to register for 5th year fall courses at URI as EARLY as possible in Spring 2013; we won't be able to accommodate anyone if a course is canceled due to under-enrollment. Also, let us know immediately if there is a conflict between a German (change accordingly to other languages on their web pages) course and courses required for engineering -the more heads-up time we have the better to adapt.

8. TU-BS Exchange Student Guide

Read through the guide provided by TU-BS for incoming students. TU-BS Guide

April 2013

1. Heath Insurance

Submit proof of health insurance to Dr. Berka by April 15^th. If you do not have health insurance that is sufficient for living abroad please obtain MEDEX insurance at the information below.

MEDEX

MEDEX Emergency and repatronization is mandatory for each student going abroad if your insurance company does not include these services. Please fill out the Medex Emergency Evacuation form and if you have any questions please email Anne Gregson at anne@uri.edu.

2. Special Project at a Braunschweig Research Institute

Visit this site to sign up for special research project.

May - June 2013

1.  Office of International Education Step 3
If you have not already done so, you must submit the final original copies of your Prior Approval Forms (that you completed in March) with all appropriate signatures to the Study Abroad Office in the Office of International Education along with a check for Off-Campus Study Fee by May 1^st. More information at http://www.uri.edu/international/studyabroad/paperwork.html.

2.  GIEP Internship Application
Set up appointment with Dr. Berka to discuss company choices prior to summer break. Submit German Lebenslauf with photo and application letter to company to Dr. Berka by July 1^st.

3.  Travel arrangements

GIEP students usually go on a group flight around September 10-15^th that is put together by Dr. Berka. Group flight payment must be paid by July 15^th to Dr. Berka. If you are not taking the group flight, you are responsible for finding your own flight.