The old and prestigious  Universität Tübingen, where  Kepler studied and Hegel,  Hölderlin and Schelling  rubbed shoulders at the end  of the 18th century, has a  well developed program for  foreign students. The  Universität is situated in a  beautiful part of the country  in a town in the northern  part of the Black Forest. It  is old, venerable and full of  traditions - everything one  would expect from a  university founded in 1477.

Count Eberhard im Bart of Württemberg, who was its founder, Duke Ulrich I of Württemberg, who brought the Reformation to Tübingen in 1536 and established its Protestant Theological seminary, the Tübingen Stift, and Duke Karl Eugene who reformed the university in the middle of the eighteenth century, moulded Tübingen into an institution of higher learning which today counts among the finest in the German and European traditions. 

This university presently has an enrolment of about 24,000 students, and 1,600 faculty and researchers are employed within the institution's sixteen Fakultäten. The Universität Tübingen cooperates in various projects outside the regular curriculum. Among others, it houses a branch of Germany's Max-Planck- Institut for biology, biological cybernetics and viral research. 

More than a thousand foreign students are enrolled at the University and are looked after by the Dezernat für Internationale Beziehungen (Akademischer Austausch, Wilhelmstrasse 9, D-72074 Tübingen). Requirements are second-year German or equivalent. Crash courses offered by the Dezernat are also available. Students will be admitted for one specific field of study, but courses may be taken in other departments as well. In the first semester, students usually take the majority of courses from the offerings of the Dezernat. In the second semester, with improved language facility, they may choose courses in other areas of interest. Accommodation for exchange students is provided by the Universität Tübingen (Studentenwerk Tübingen, Fichtenweg 5, D-72076 Tübingen) in one of its dormitories - a real privilege considering there are only 3,500 dorm rooms. 

Mount Allison University grants credit for courses taken at the Universität Tübingen. If Mount-Allison-University students plan to take courses outside the German Section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, they must obtain permission in principle from the appropriate advisor prior to leaving to ensure that courses taken in Tübingen are acceptable as credits. Although a "list" of courses is available on the Web, many students wait until they arrive in Tübingen to choose courses from a list that can change up until the last minute. It is imperative that students have their choices approved in writing by the appropriate department or programme advisor before registering for the courses. Those contemplating a Major in Modern Languages at Mount Allison University must see the Advisor for the Modern Languages Major before their application for the Tübingen exchange can be approved.  In the selection of their courses, students must take care that they can obtain a benoteter Schein, which means that a mark is given for work done in the course. Without a benoteter Schein no credit can be given by Mount Allison University. There are Vorlesungskurse (lecture courses) which students attend for information only. No credit is given for those because there is no way of verifying whether or not a student has actually attended the lectures. The staff, students and professors in Tübingen will advise you.

The monthly living expenses in Tübingen amount to about 540 Euro ($750.00). It depends on the student's spending habits, but this amount includes local transportation, board and room, health insurance, personal hygiene etc.. Students should take out Canadian health insurance for the trip until the German insurance kicks in in October. We do not recommend Canadian insurance for the whole year abroad because it is more expensive and troublesome. Student visas may be obtained in Tübingen after arrival. 

Since accommodation in residence is a real privilege, early application for housing is recommended by the end of February. The application to the university itself can be submitted later, even until May 31, for the fall semester and December 31, for the spring semester. Tuition fees are payable to Mount Allison University, not the Universität Tübingen. 

Anyone wishing more details should contact the German Department at their home university or 

Dr. Rob Summerby-Murray
Dean of Social Sciences
Mount Allison University 
Sackville, N.B., E4L 1E4
Centennial Hall - 2nd floor 
(506) 364-2302
e-mail: rsummerbmta.ca
FAX: (506) 364-2301