University of Bonn
- Spend a semester, academic year or summer in Bonn - the former capital of West Germany
- 5-week introductory course to prepare students for regular course work and life in Germany
- Most classes are taught in German however some coursework in English is available
- Live in university residence halls with private bedrooms
- Collins Scholarship available. See Further Reading below for more information
The "Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn" was founded in 1818 under Friedrich Wilhelm III, King of Prussia. Today the University of Bonn has more than 38,000 full-time students, including almost 5,000 foreign students from more than 130 countries. The University of Bonn is one of the largest in Germany, possessing extensive educational facilities and offering a wide range of courses in all departments. Its outstanding reputation in teaching and research rank the University of Bonn among the top universities in Germany.
Universität Bonn International Office (Program Handbook: Accepted Students see "Pre-Departure Information" for information needed)
Bonn is a vibrant university city, a cultural center that hosts prestigious concerts and exhibitions, as well as a center for technologies of the future and the headquarters for several United Nations organizations. Located about 20 kilometers south of Cologne on the Rhine river, Bonn is a medium-sized city with a population of 300,000 that combines a cultural past with a strong involvement in the present. It was the capital of West Germany until unification in the 1990's. Bonn remains a center of politics and administration and is still called a Federal City ("Bundesstadt"). Since unification, Bonn has endeavored to redefine itself as a leader in national and international affairs. It has developed into a hub of international cooperation in the area of environmental and sustainable development, and the number of UN agencies in Bonn, most of which are based at the newly established United Nations Campus in the city's former parliamentary quarter on the banks of the Rhine, continues to grow.
Academic Program
Students with German proficiency will enroll in regular courses offered by the University of Bonn and select classes for which they are qualified from all departments of the University. Courses are available in the full range of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and business and economics:
English Literature & Comparative Literature, Linguistics, Archeology, African/American Studies, East Asian Language & Culture, European Studies, History, Art History, Philosophy, Communications, Religious Studies, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Physics and Astronomy.
Most courses at Bonn are taught in German however some coursework in English is also available in: English Literature, Astronomy, Biology, Geography, Economics, History, Literature, Physics, and Political Science.
The Intensive Language Program (ILP) semester program is designed for students who have less than 5 semesters of college-level German language study. Students will be offered a minimum of 12 hours of intensive language per week during the semester. Tutorials are also available. They may also participate in two or three classes taught in English. Students attending Bonn for an academic year may take the ILP in the fall semester and, if qualified, take regular University courses the second semester.
Guide to selecting courses at Bonn
Bonn Course Equivalencies (for German language courses)
Bonn Course Equivalencies (all but German)
Students live in student residence halls with private bedrooms and shared kitchen and bath facilities. A stipend for meals and a regional transportation pass are provided.
In addition to cultural activities during the semester, a one-week trip to Berlin or other major city in Germany is included in the program fee.
The program includes a five-week introductory course after arrival in Bonn. This course, worth three hours of language credit, is obligatory for every student participating in the program. The purpose is to prepare students for regular course work as well as academic life in Germany. The International Office arranges lectures and seminars, visits to places of interest, concerts, theater and a minimum of three hours of language instruction per day at all levels.
Spring and Academic Year programs are open to KU students with sophomore status or higher and a 2.8 cumulative GPA who have completed 4 semesters of college-level German or the equivalent by the beginning of the program. Students may be accepted with less language on a case by case basis.
Drs. Dean T. and Elisabeth Collins Scholarship
Fund created by estate gift from the late Dean and Elisabeth Collins. Awards up to $10,000 for students on semester or $20,000 for year long programs to Germany. Open to all majors but preference for students studying music and particularly opera. Minimum 2.5 GPA requirement. Apply online: https://ku.studioabroad.com/?go=CollinsScholarship
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
A wide range of scholarships are also available through the German Academic Exchange Service (www.daad.org). Please contact the KU Office of Study Abroad for more information.
