Experience Hessen!
When you arrive in Hessen, you soon realize that this is a place where traditional culture and modern economics are working together with future-oriented education. In short, a state with “Goethe, High-tech, and Higher Education”!
Our Offer
From June to August, Hessen International Summer Universities (ISUs) take place at various universities and universities of applied sciences in Hessen. Each ISU offers a four-week course comprised of an interesting study program with exciting topics from a wide range of subject areas. ISU also offers German language courses as well as various excursions and cultural programs to people from all over the world.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive credit points, which can be transferred to your universities in your home countries.
Hessen? Hessen!
With six million inhabitants and about 21,000 square kilometers, Hessen is the fifth largest of the German federal states, situated right in the middle of Germany. Scenic landscapes, castles, churches from the middle ages, picturesque half-timbered houses, impressive parks, as well as many sites of the German fairy tale road shape the image of this state.
For quite some time, the amount of people from abroad who have settled here has been higher than average. Thus, a highly international atmosphere with a multicultural society is emerging..
Hessen has developed into Germany’s economic center and into one of the most dynamic regions of Europe. Hessen is an international financial and trading center with over 400 banks, the stock market, the German Federal Bank, and the European Central Bank. It is the location of important industrial and technological sectors, a setting for many international fairs and art exhibitions (such as the Documenta in Kassel) and home of Frankfurt International Airport, the biggest in mainland Europe.
Who can participate in ISUs?
The ISU-program is designed for students, researchers and teachers, as well as people working in the fields of politics, economics, law, culture, technology, and media who want to learn more about the German and European dimension of their respective subject and learn the German language or refresh their German by participating in an intensive language course. Depending on their language abilities, they can choose from different offers.
Study Program
Although all ISUs have a common structure (study program, language courses, cultural program, credits), the content of the study program varies according to the profile of each university. Since each location offers its ISU at a different time, it is possible to participate in more than one ISU, and thus to focus on more than one subject while spending the summer in Hessen.
Faculty
ISU faculty consists of experts from the participating Hessen universities and their international partners accredited for their expertise in the fields that they represent. Therefore, we can guarantee the high quality of our study program in German as well as in English.
The German language courses will be taught by experienced teachers who are specially qualified in teaching German as a foreign language.
Languages
ISU classes will be taught in English and/or German.
Furthermore, ISUs provide the opportunity of gaining German language skills in addition to the study program. Studying German in Germany and practicing these skills in everyday life is a very effective way to improve ones German. ISUs offer German language classes at different levels.
Participantas ...
... with no or only basic German language skills can complete a study program with seminars in English and take part in a German language class for beginners.
... with good German language skills can pick subject-specific seminars in German and an advanced language course.
You will be assigned to the level that best fits your competence.
ISU participants are usually very appreciative of the friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the language courses. Studying in small groups contributes to a very intensive setting for learning the foreign language.
Cultural Program and Leisure Time
Aside from the study program and language courses, there will be enough room for personal experiences, to get to know our state, and, of course, to relax. All ISUs offer exciting excursions so that you will have the opportunity to see more of Hessen and Germany and to get to know the people, the cultural heritage, and the beautiful landscape of this state.
In addition, going out in the evening to bars and cafés or going to the movies offers a good opportunity for practicing the language in an authentic setting! It is essential for the program that the participants come from various regions of the world. Through intercultural communication, all participants can learn a great deal about various cultures while improving their German language skills.
Credits
The international nature of ISUs is accentuated by awarding credits upon successful completion of the courses. The credits are based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which is applied by European institutions of higher education in order to facilitate the transfer of credits gained in certain study periods from one institution to another.
For each seminar as well as for the German language course, the participants receive 3 credits. Thus, after studying in Germany for four weeks, you have not only spent an exciting time in Germany, but have also earned credits that will transfer home and can contribute to your academic career at your home university.
Costs
You will find current information about the program fee and costs on the websites of the different programs. The program fee includes the basic offer of seminars in the study program, workshops, the German language course, excursions, accommodation (in some cases also meals), health insurance, and study materials. Additional costs may arise through tickets for public transportation or a security deposit for keys. The local program coordinators will be happy to provide you with further information..
Personal aspect
At the ISU, you are more than just a number. A highly motivated team will take good care of you. Naturally you will be assisted with organizational questions as well as social matters. Reliable academic counseling during the ISU and advice about possible study opportunities in Hessen will also be available.
The intensive guidance ensures that your expectations will be met and that individual requests can be taken into consideration.. The ISU team is accessible on a daily basis so that nobody will feel alone if there is a problem.
Depending on the individual program, you will be accommodated in dormitories or host families that have been carefully selected by the ISU team.
How it all began and where we are now
The reason that the Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts established ISUs was the continuously increasing number of Hessen students that wanted to study abroad. On the other hand, there were very few international students interested in studying in Hessen. After conducting research in order to find the reasons for this situation, it became obvious that attractive programs - namely short-term, intensive programs with academic relevance and the option of receiving credits - were missing. There had, of course, been traditional summer courses that concentrated on learning the German language and German studies. These programs still exist and are important - ISUs, however, go far beyond this offer.
In 1999, the University of Marburg was chosen to host the first ISU, as this university had a long tradition in successfully conducting summer courses.
Thanks to the great success of this project in Marburg, ISUs now take place at the Universities of Kassel, Frankfurt, Fulda, and Giessen as well. And, even though the setup of ISUs is similar at all of these places, each has a special focus in its academic program (depending on the particular orientation of the respective university).
The ISU - Network
Hessen ISUs see themselves as academic and social networks. Aside from students, post-graduates, teachers, and researchers use ISUs for exchanging ideas. In some cases, German and international faculty members even offer seminars together so that you can become acquainted with different viewpoints on certain issues.
Furthermore, the networking of the participating universities in Hessen plays a vital role, as only good cooperation can guarantee the success of this program.
Our program aims to motivate you to spend a longer period of time in Hessen and to perhaps continue your studies here or return to Hessen for your post-graduate studies. You can also decide to do an internship in one of the universities, various institutions, or in private enterprises after the end of the ISU. In ideal cases, the ISU program can even become an international internship or job market.
The Hessen International Summer University Program has been initiated and is still supported by the Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts.
See you at ISU
In a globalizing world, it is important to meet people and create networks. The Hessen International Summer Universities can play a vital part in this process, as it will give you the opportunity to meet new people in different countries and establish friendships, which will last well beyond the duration of this program. Furthermore, you will acquire subject knowledge, which may be relevant for your further studies and even beyond.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions concerning the general ISU program or specific questions about certain components.
Hessen is a cosmopolitan and hospitable state. Please let us prove this through our Hessen International Summer Universities. We look forward to meeting you here!
