Germany: Leipzig University Exchange

Overview 

Participate in an academic exchange at Leipzig University  and experience one of the best university cities in Germany! Leipzig offers cafes, arts, a great student atmosphere, as well as easy access to Berlin, Prague and other European destinations.  

Abundant in culture and history, Leipzig is a bustling city of 560,000 people, aggressively reclaiming its traditional status as a trade center between East and West. Founded in 1409, Leipzig University is housed in historical and contemporary buildings scattered throughout the center of the city. 

Living Arrangements 

Students may select from several options including university sponsored dormitories with single rooms, dorms with German roommates or student houses. Students cook their own food and/or eat in inexpensive university cafeterias and restaurants.  

Program Dates 

Actual dates will vary based on host institutions academic calendar, but below are estimated timeframes.

• Winter Semester: October through February  
• Summer Semester: April through July  
• Academic Year: October through July 

Leipzig offers a pre-semester language and orientation course at minimal additional cost. Early arrival is recommended. 

Academics  

Most exchange participants will enroll full-time in courses alongside German students. A full  curriculum of courses  conducted in German language is available to students.

Students without formal German language skills may consider courses in English at the undergraduate level offered in the English and American Studies Departments. 

Cost  

The students are responsible for health insurance, administrative fee, and out-of- pocket costs. There is no tuition charge for this exchange. Below are the student budget worksheets for this program, which outline these costs.  

Student Budget Worksheet Spring/Summer Term 2025

Items that are not related to the program (i.e., additional entertainment, souvenirs, extra travel, contingency funds) are not included in the cost estimates provided and should be budgeted for separately.  

*Note: 

• Non-resident surcharge waived for the credit hours associated with this program. 
• If you are nominated to this program, you will be required to pay a deposit to confirm your participation. The deposit is a down payment on the total costs to be billed by OHIO and is determined by the total cost of the program.  

Looking for Funding Opportunities? 

More information on financial aid and scholarships can be found on our funding pages.

Eligibility and Requirements 

The Leipzig exchange program is open to undergraduate and graduate students of all majors. At the undergraduate level, an overall GPA of 3.0 is required.

To participate in courses with German-language instruction, students must have three years of college-level German or sufficient language proficiency. Introductory German is recommended for students participating in English-language courses only.

Students who will be on probation at any point during the program for a conduct offense that took place less than a calendar year from the program start date may not study abroad. Read the entire conduct policy.  

This program does not accept NON-OHIO students. 

To be considered for this program, participants must have a at least a high school diploma or the equivalent (e.g. GED) by the start date of the program. Additionally, students should have completed one year of college by the time of travel. Students enrolled in College Credit Plus (CC+) are not eligible for study away programs.

Entry and Exit Requirements 

U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when traveling outside of the United States. If you plan to study or travel abroad in the next year,  apply for your passport  now. Some countries also require a visa to legally enter or reside in the country. 

Students on the Leipzig Exchange program who are US citizens are required to apply for a residence permit in order to reside in German for over 90 days. Students usually apply for this permit upon arrival Germany. Assistance will be provided by our Leipzig University partners.

For more specific visa related information, please visit OGO’s  Visa Information Page 

Information for  non-U.S. citizens  

Resources 

• Health and Safety
• Accessibility Requests and Accommodations