Planning Your Stay

When do I need to arrive in Regensburg?

You should plan your arrival in Regensburg according to whether you participate in the intensive language course prior to the semester, or whether you take part in the regular orientation programme for exchange students.

The pre-semester intensive language course (ILC) takes place approx. 6 weeks before the semester starts (= beginning of March and beginning of September).

The orientation programme for students begins about 2 weeks before the semester starts.

Academic Calendar including arrival dates, orientation and intensive language course

You will find the exact dates of arrival in your information package that you will receive from us in mid-June or in mid-January, respectively. Please book your flight or arrange your trip in a way that you will arrive exactly on the two days mentioned in the information package!

On the days of arrival, you can pick up the keys for your room at the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt). On top of that, you will receive important starter information regarding your studies and the orientation programme / language course.

Winter Semester

Photo: Regensburg Tourismus GmbH

if you attend the intensive German language course, please arrive on the first or second business day in September.
if you attend the orientation programme, please arrive on the first or second business day in October.

Summer Semester

Radfahrer An Der Donau 4 Bearbeitet Rtg Foto-stefan Gruber

Photo: Regensburg Tourismus GmbH

if you attend the intensive German language course, please arrive on the first or second business day in March.
if you attend the orientation programme, please arrive on the first or second business day in April.

The Pre-Semester Intensive Language Training Course

Universität Regensburg offers a pre-semester intensive language course for exchange students with little exposure to German (Level A1 to B1+). The course takes place 5-6 weeks before the semester starts (= beginning of March and beginning of September). Student assistants will support and advise the participants during the entire programme and help them get organised (including all formalities).

Students will be credited with 14-18 ECTS for the regular and successful attendance of the course which covers approx. 160-180 hours of instruction. The course fee for participants in the ERASMUS programme is currently €270; the fee for participants of other exchange programmes is € 400. The fee includes tuition, orientation, and extra-curricular activities. However, costs for accommodation and other living expenses during the programme are not covered. Students from some partner institutions (especially those coming from less developed countries) are eligible for a language course scholarship offered by UR. If you are unsure whether you can obtain such a scholarship, please contact the Akademisches Auslandsamt.

Please note:

This course should be attended by every student that has German knowledge below B2 level. The supporting programme and the orientation phase of the language course will be in German and English. Even though the course will be very intensive, students arriving with an A1/A2 level will in all probability still not be able to successfully attend (German taught) lectures. Therefore, we urgently recommend that these students take further German classes during the semester period.

Students with a language performance on a good intermediate level (more than 400 hours of German) should participate in the regular orientation programme.

* Only students participating in the English-taught programme of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Management Information Systems do not need any prior German knowledge.

The Orientation Programme

The orientation programme begins about two weeks before classes start and offers a general orientation, an overview of Germany, information about studying at Universität Regensburg (registration, choice of courses, etc.), information about the formalities you will go through at the Municipal immigration office, and information about health insurance. You will also be shown around the campus and the city of Regensburg.

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During the orientation programme, there will also be a German test. This test is obligatory for students wishing to participate in German as a Foreign Language courses. The orientation class will be held in German! Students whose German language skills are not sufficient to understand lectures in German are strongly advised to attend the intensive German language course.

Please come to Regensburg in time for the orientation programme. This course is especially designed for your needs as an exchange student and provides you with answers to your questions. This saves time and effort for you and the Akademisches Auslandsamt!