Starting college after graduating from high school is something many young adults do today. Thanks to the abundance of possible majors and the many university locations in Germany, there are more students today than ever before. Yet a degree that was begun in Germany does not have to be completed entirely here, or at a single location. So you can also study abroad for a semester.

What Is a Semester Abroad?

Study abroad for a semester

Studying abroad for a semester means that one or two (partial) semesters of your degree are completed at a university in another country.
More and more students take advantage of this option nowadays, partly because many universities and colleges openly advertise the possibility of studying abroad and support you with the organization. In addition, universities and colleges often cooperate with a large number of foreign universities, know important contacts there and can arrange things well.

This network is usually very large, so a semester abroad is possible in a wide variety of countries, cities and regions of the world. These often include Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, but also America, Australia, Oceania, Peru, Singapore, Spain, South America, the USA, or even Vietnam.

Reasons to Do a Semester Abroad

Special incentives for why you can or should study abroad for a semester include getting to experience other people and their customs and cultures. A semester abroad also offers the unique chance to further expand your knowledge in your chosen field, all within the standard time to degree. Getting to know other university systems and internal processes are further incentives. Particularly striking, however, is the fact that a semester abroad improves and expands your own language skills.

Pros and Cons List

There are surely a few other incentives and advantages, but also possible obstacles to a semester abroad, which are put together in the following list.

Study abroad for a semester

These are the possible advantages:

  • Expanding and building a new body of knowledge
  • No lost time, the semester abroad is completed within the standard time to degree
  • Getting to know other university systems, cultures, people and countries
  • Improving your own language skills, possibly learning a new language
  • Good organization and support from your German university or college
  • Ongoing opportunities for reflection with instructors at your home university or college
  • Possible financial support from your German university or college
  • Flexible choice of courses on site at the foreign universities and colleges

Alongside the many advantages, there are also a few obstacles:

  • Sorting out who covers the costs
  • Long lead time, at least 1 to 1 ½ years of planning are needed
  • Uncertainty about what the living conditions in the chosen country are really like
  • The obligation to submit a number of forms and applications. These often include a language test passed with a minimum score, a statement of purpose, and confirmation from the host university or college

So there are several advantages and incentives for studying abroad for a semester. The negative aspects should definitely be taken into account, too. If you plan your semester abroad in good time, right at the start of your studies or in the first semesters, these negative aspects can often be avoided.
It is advisable to get in touch with the relevant contacts at your university in Germany and ask about organizational and support options.