General Information About Study and Work Abroad Programs . . . with links.

DR. ARND BOHM from Carleton University has the following general advice for his students:

Many students look forward to spending some time in a German-speaking country in order to improve their knowledge of the language and the culture. Although most Canadian German departments do not have their own study abroad program, a wide variety of opportunities and programs are available to Canadian students. The following information is intended only as a guide. In every case, you should contact your department and the sponsors early to get full information.

Some basic steps to follow:

1. Understand the situation
You should do some preliminary research about the country where you want to study. Find out what you can about the way that universities are structured there or what kind of courses you might be able to afford. Also keep an eye on the news -- current events can often influence the learning environment, both positively and negatively.

2. Decide what it is you want to accomplish
Make some preliminary decisions about what you want to achieve. Do you want to concentrate on learning the language? On meeting people? Or on some special interest, such as music, art history or business? Decide on how important it is for you to go. Should you go now or take a couple of more language courses here before you go? How much can you afford, realistically?

3. Consult with your department
Early on, you should be talking about your intentions with someone in the department where you have declared a Major. This is especially important if you are in an Honours program or are planning to go on for graduate studies, since there may be academic requirements or regulations that you have to take into consideration. Don't forget to read the Undergraduate Calendar carefully!

4. Get a Letter of Permission
If you want to get academic credit at your university for courses done somewhere else, you must get approval of the specific course BEFORE you go. No matter how excellent the program, you will get no credit if you apply after you return. For more information, contact your Faculty Registrar.

As part of the procedure, you will be asked to provide detailed information about the courses you plan to take. This means that you should have written to the school or program for information and application forms. All of this takes time. Start early. In most cases, students who wait until the last minute (which in this case is December-January) have a lot of trouble getting what they want. You should be planning and organizing in October and November.

5. Apply to the program
Once you have received all the application forms, you should fill them in carefully and neatly. Many European application forms require a lot of information; most will also require a passport-sized photo. And of course you will need a valid passport (application forms are available from any post office; allow a good 3-4 weeks for this to be completed).

6. Go!

7. Follow-up
If you have applied to receive transfer credit to your university, it is your responsibility upon your return to make sure that all transcripts and letters supporting your work arrive in good order. You will not get credit if this does not happen. Do not simply expect this to get done automatically!

If you received any support, such as grant or fellowship money, you may have to write a brief report. In any case, it does not hurt to write a short letter of thanks to anyone who has been particularly helpful (there may have been several).

And think about ways to put your new knowledge to the best possible use. Perhaps there are now opportunities open for you at your university or in the job market that you did not consider before.

Kinds of Programs and Opportunities:

1. Exchanges
Exchange programs are the result of arrangements between two universities or governments. Usually, both sides agree that a fixed number of positions will be made available for students or candidates from the other side. The main advantage is that the student does not have to worry about admission to the other institution: a place has been guaranteed. Sometimes the agreement also includes scholarship money or money to cover travel costs or health insurance, but not always. Each program has different rules! Usually travel costs are not covered. Credit will be given at your university if it is a student exchange and if the proper letter of permission was received and if regular tuition is paid.

Exchanges are flexible programs. You should come talk with people in the German Department, usually the Undergraduate Co-ordinator, as early as possible to get more advice.

2. Working Abroad
Working abroad has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include the chance to earn money, to meet "real people," and to gain life experience. It may also look very good on your resumé to have had a job in another country. Disadvantages include not getting any academic credit, meeting "real people" who may not speak the language you want to learn (for example, you might be working with so-called "guest workers" in Germany, who come from many different countries and do not speak German fluently or you might have been hired for your English language skills to work in a hotel or restaurant), and, not least, the fact that you have to work. For most people, working abroad is a positive experience in their lives.

You should be aware that if you are a Canadian citizen, it is illegal to work in Germany or Austria unless you have proper permission from the government there. If you have dual citizenship, you may be able to get around that obstacle. But do not expect to be able to go to Germany or Austria and simply "pick up a job": that isn't possible over there.

Work Student Program: PAD Foreign Language Assistantship Program: http://www.cautg.org/

3. Study Year-Abroad Programs

Canadian Year-Abroad Programs
In these programs, a Canadian university, under the supervision of a Canadian professor, offers courses abroad. These courses are designed so that they can receive credit in the university that organizes them. As a result, it is not difficult to transfer credit. Basically, you enroll for a year in the other university and then transfer the credit back to your home university.

Mannheim Program
Freiburg Program

American Year-Abroad Programs
There are many American programs and courses available. Their major drawback for Canadian students is the cost of tuition, which is often very high. Even at state universities, you would have to pay out-of-state tuition.

A useful summary on these programs is provided by: Academic Year Abroad, ed. E. Marguerite Howard (New York: Institute of International Education, 1989).

For those who have the money, Middlebury College offers very well-respected summer programs and programs abroad, running at about $4,000 US for the summer and $10,000 US for the year abroad. For information, write to Middlebury College, The German School, Middlebury, VT 05753-6131, USA.

4. Summer Courses Abroad
The Canadian Summer School in Germany ("Kassel Program") is a joint enterprise of many Canadian German departments and is currently organized and administered by the University of Victoria. One of the many advantages of this program is the fact that it meets most, if not all, German departments' requirements for second- and third-year courses. A student taking such a course can be reasonably sure that he or she will encounter course content that is comparable to what would have been offered at home.

"Kassel Program" (Canadian Summer School in Germany)

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and the Goethe Institute offer programs and several scholarships for courses in Germany:

DAAD-Programs and Scholarships

Goethe Institute Scholarships

5. Summer Courses in Canada
Several Canadian institutions offer intensive summer courses in German, among them the Université de Montréal, l'Université Laval together with the Goethe Institute Montreal, and the Language Institute at the University of Regina.

6. Private Language Schools in Austria and Germany
There is a wide range of language-training schools and institutes available in Europe. They are all quite expensive and not really geared for providing any kind of credit for university purposes. Of course, if you have the money or the need, they can be very valuable in giving you the skills you need. Brochures and announcements should be available from your German department.

If you wish further information (please note that no endorsement of any of these programs is hereby made!), you could get in touch directly with the following:

PROLINGUA, Postfach 855, A-6023 Innsbruck, Austria

ISI, Internationales Privates Spracheninstitut GmbH, Schleissheimer Strasse 141/V, D-80797 München, Germany

IHD-Innsbrucker Hochschulkurse Deutsch, Universität Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Sprachzentrum Eine Welt e.V., Postfach 3309, D-37023 Göttingen, Germany

This information was provided by Dr. Arnd Bohm (Department of German, Carleton University). Any print-outs of this page must contain an acknowledgement.