Students
Students are at the center of our LAS Program. Below, we provide information for prospective, new, and international students as well as impressions of student life in Freiburg.
You value in-depth study, intellectual creativity, and would like to develop your own study trajectory in an interdisciplinary context? You appreciate an inspiring, international environment? Then LAS is probably for you! We invite you to learn more about the LAS Bachelor Program at University College Freiburg.
Are you curious the BA/BSc Program in Liberal Arts and Sciences? Use our Online Study-Choice Assistant (OSA) to learn more about the requirements, contents, and people of LAS.
“The OSA helped me to imagine myself in the program, to make it more real.”
Have you learned all you need to know about the LAS Program? Are you ready to prepare your application?
We warmly welcome all new LAS students – to Freiburg, to the University, and to UCF!
Here, we provide information on the many offers for new students in Freiburg. All offers are listed in the “myUFR – Universität Freiburg” app.
Highlights beyond UCF include:
- Social and cultural events hosted by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg
- Welcome Day for new international students on Thursday, 9 October at 17:00
- Uni Freiburg “Erstsemestertag” on Friday, 10 October at 13:00
Most important is the LAS Welcome Week. Details and materials are available to enrolled LAS students on ILIAS, the University learning management system.
LAS Welcome Week
Early October, we host the LAS Welcome Week for all new students. It covers administrative and academic matters at UCF and the University of Freiburg. And it includes many opportunities for you to get to know each other, staff, and students. Finally, the Student Council hosts city and hiking tours, pub crawls, jam sessions, and the Opening Celebration. You can download the Welcome Week schedule here.
Welcome Week Materials
Welcome and Introduction to University College Freiburg
- Mandatory for all new LAS students
- Monday 6 October, 11:00-13:00
- Max-Kade 1, Alte Universität AND via livestream
Organization of the LAS Program + Foundational Year
- Mandatory for all new LAS students
- Tuesday 9 October, 10:00-12:00
- Max-Kade 1, Alte Universität AND via livestream
Mastering German Bureaucracy and Public Life
- Mandatory for international and exchange/DD students
- Wednesday 8 October, 11:00-12:30
- Max-Kade 1, Alte Universität AND via livestream
An Intellectual Welcome to Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Part 1 of the lecture “Liberal Arts and Sciences: History and Philosophy”
- Thursday 9 October, 9:00-12:00
- Max-Kade 1, Alte Universität
Past Welcome Week Impressions
Administrative Matters
The University of Freiburg Service Center Studium provides an overview of information and events for new students in Freiburg, including the “myUFR – Universität Freiburg” app. Important administrative matters for a smooth start to your studies are:
Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Freiburg is challenging. LAS is a non-residential program, UCF does not offer housing. Students in Freiburg typically live in shared apartments, rooms in private houses, or in student dorms. We recommend you start looking for accommodation as early as possible. The University Service Center Studium and the Studierendenwerk Freiburg provide information on housing.
Finances and Scholarships
Student living costs in Freiburg vary between €800–1400 per month. The DAAD has a detailed breakdown of average costs. The following institutions provide information on finances and scholarships:
- Information on funding your studies from the Studierendenwerk Freiburg and the Ministry of Education and Research
- Scholarship advising by the University Service Center Studium and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Admission and Enrollment
Please see the information on our Application & Admissions page.
The information below is for international students – degree-seeking students and incoming exchange students from UCF partner institutions. For further questions, please contact Anne Klemperer: anne.klemperer@ucf.uni-freiburg.de.
Studying in Germany
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Ministry of Education and Research provide information on visa and administrative matters, and getting started in Germany. Please note: For your visa application, you must provide “proof of financing” of €11,208 for one year.
Studying at the University of Freiburg
- The University of Freiburg covers questions on financing your studies, housing, administrative matters, as well as student life in Freiburg. Further information is on offer at the Studierendenwerk Freiburg.
- You can take courses at other departments that are usually taught in German. You need B1 or B2 German proficiency and permission to participate; participation is not always possible. Registration varies from department to department. The University Course Catalog is available here.
Studying at UCF
- Most LAS courses carry a 6 ECTS credit workload, a full semester consists of 30 ECTS credits. UCF applies a German 5-point grading scale, ranging from 1 (excellent) to 5 (not adequate).
- Current students can provide very good advice, e.g., the LAS student mediators. In addition, the LAS peer advisors can provide support at the start of your studies. If you’re interested, please contact Anne Klemperer. In the meantime, check out the online Campus Tours for first impressions of Freiburg and its University.
I loved doing my exchange in Freiburg! Hiking on the weekends, meeting friends at the park, Mensa, or the library throughout the week – Freiburg truly offers a perfect combination of academics and social life.
Jesler van Houdt (exchange 2018/19)
- Housing: The International Office aims to provide dorm rooms to international students for their 1st semester (with extension option); to this end, you must provide your visa by the end of August. Further information on housing possibilities is available here.
- Finances & Scholarships – please see our links here.
- Semester fees: All students pay a semester administrative fee. In addition, non-EU international degree-seeking students pay a tuition fee.
- Health insurance: You must apply for coverage from a public German provider or apply for a waiver at a German public provider before enrollment at IAS. Please see the detailed information under Enrolment for International Students.
- German language courses: You will receive information on taking (German) language courses during the Welcome Week.
- The University of Freiburg’s International Office (IO) has information for Erasmus students. After your home university nominates you for an Erasmus study visit in Freiburg, you will receive further information from the IO.
- Enrollment at the University of Freiburg: Register at the Department of International Admissions and Services (IAS) by email early in the registration period, before coming to Freiburg. For registration, you must include:
- Proof that you have paid the semester administrative fee
- A copy of your letter of acceptance
- Proof that you have health insurance – if you are using health insurance from your home country, you need to apply for a waiver from a German public health insurance provider.
Please also see the checklist sent to you sent by email from the central International Office (IO).
- Housing: You can apply for a dorm room in Mobility Online (platform for Erasmus).
- Semester fees: No tuition fee! Pay the semester administrative fee, at a reduced Erasmus rate. See the checklist sent by the central IO.
- Health insurance: Please see the detailed information under Enrolment for International Students. If using European insurance (EHIC), please apply for a waiver from a German public health insurance provider before enrollment at IAS; see the checklist sent by the IO.
- German language courses: You can take German language courses at the University’s language teaching center, the SLI. For free courses, please apply at SLI during their registration period. As these classes fill up very quickly (sometimes within 15 minutes), make sure to register as early as possible.
- Enrollment at the University of Freiburg: Please follow the instructions given in the Letter of Acceptance (Zulassungsbescheid) sent to you by email from the Department International Admissions and Services (IAS). Enroll as early as possible within the registration period.
- Housing: No guarantee of housing. Information on possibilities is available here. Also, please contact Anne Klemperer, International Coordinator at UCF, for assistance: anne.klemperer@ucf.uni-freiburg.de.
- Semester fees: No tuition fee! Pay the semester administrative fee. Please see the instructions in the university registration portal (link to this in Letter of Admission).
- Health insurance: You must apply for coverage from a public German provider or apply for a waiver at a German public provider before enrollment at IAS. Please see the detailed information under Enrolment for International Students.
- German language courses: You can take German language courses at the University’s language teaching center, the SLI. For free courses, please apply at SLI during their registration period. As these classes fill up very quickly (sometimes within 15 minutes), make sure to register as early as possible.
- Enrollment at the University of Freiburg: Please see the instructions sent by email from the University of Freiburg International Office (IO). Enroll as early as possible within the registration period.
- Housing: Please see the instructions sent by email from the University of Freiburg International Office (IO).
- Semester fees: No tuition fee! Pay the semester administrative fee. Please see the instructions sent by email from the IO.
- Health insurance: Please see the instructions sent by email from the IO.
- German language courses: You can take German language courses at the University’s language teaching center, the SLI. For free courses, please apply at SLI during their registration period. As these classes fill up very quickly (sometimes within 15 minutes), make sure to register as early as possible.
- Enrollment at the University of Freiburg: Please follow the instructions given in the Letter of Acceptance (Zulassungsbescheid) sent to you by email from the Department International Admissions and Services (IAS). Enroll as early as possible within the registration period.
- Housing: No guarantee of housing. Information on possibilities is available here. Also, please contact Anne Klemperer, International Coordinator at UCF, for assistance: anne.klemperer@ucf.uni-freiburg.de.
- Semester fees: No tuition fee! Pay the semester administrative fee. Please see the instructions in the university registration portal (link to this in Letter of Admission).
- Health insurance: Please see the detailed information under Enrolment for International Students. If using European insurance (EHIC), please apply for a waiver from a German public health insurance provider before enrollment at IAS.
- German language courses: Dual Degree students are not eligible for free courses at the University’s language teaching center, the SLI, but can register for regular courses with a fee during SLI’s registration period.
With 300 students from almost 50 countries and a focus on activating and small-group learning, UCF offers a close-knit community. Student facilities and activities contribute to the familiar atmosphere at UCF. And LAS students are engaged in intellectual, cultural, as well as social projects and initiatives also beyond the classroom.
Student Life at UCF
The Student Council, the LAS student association, represents the student body at UCF and the University of Freiburg and (co-)organizes parties, camping trips, and the LAS Welcome Week. And the Student Council is a platform for many co- and extracurricular activities at UCF, for the LAS Major interest groups and many student committees and projects.
For details and contacts for the LAS committees and interest groups, please see the Student Council website.
Student Life at the University of Freiburg
As an LAS student, you are a student of the University of Freiburg, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Germany. Altogether, about 25,000 students are enrolled here, 18% international. The University has much more to offer than academia: from sports to arts, you can find all sorts of student activities, such as:
- Studium generale program
- University recreational sports program
- Events, clubs, and tours offered by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg
Freiburg – Sunshine Capital Between the Black Forest, France, and Switzerland
The “Green City” Freiburg is situated in the Southwest of Germany on the edge of the Black Forest. It has excellent recreational offerings, high environmental standards, vineyards, and its University. Freiburg has 230,000 inhabitants and all the benefits of a student city, with a strong academic setting in a beautiful part of Germany.
Accordingly, Freiburg was characterized as Germany’s Futuristic City by the BBC and included among the Best of the World by the National Geographic.
Join us on an online Campus Tour of the University (and city) of Freiburg!
Impressions from Freiburg, the University Campus, and UCF
LAS Students share their favorite spots – in and around University College Freiburg, the University of Freiburg Campus and the city of Freiburg.
If you – as a prospective, a new, an international… student – have questions, please get in touch with us at University College Freiburg!