Exchange at the University of Freiburg
The Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg
Founded in 1457, the University of Freiburg has a long tradition of teaching and research in a wide range of academic fields, from the humanities, natural sciences and engineering, to medicine, law, and theology, making it a comprehensive university. Roughly 25,000 students are enrolled, of which 18% are international students. Many of the university’s buildings are located in the heart of the city, deeply connecting the university to the local community.
The city of Freiburg
Situated in in the southern half of the state of Baden-Württemberg in Southwestern Germany between the fabled Rhine River and the mighty Black Forest, Freiburg – which turned 900 years old in 2020 – is widely known for many reasons: its vibrant cultural scene, its popularity among travelers, its sunny weather (the sun shines more than almost anywhere else in Germany), its primary mode of transportation (bicycles), and for being an old city but a young student town at the same time. Internationally, Freiburg is known as the “Green City“, one of the birthplaces of the German environmental movement. The city’s economy, politics, and daily life are driven by sustainability and climate protection.
Freiburg’s location in the border triangle between France and Switzerland not only shapes the city’s and the region‘s culture, but also creates a unique opportunity for academic and scientific life: the University of Freiburg is part of Eucor – The European Campus, a trinational alliance that allows students to take classes at all five member universities across the three countries.
Find out more about the city of Freiburg.
Application requirements
An application for the University of Freiburg Global Exchange program is only possible if a valid, university-wide agreement between the University of Freiburg and the home university exists. Interested students should contact the Study Abroad Office at their home university for information on current partnerships.
Students have to apply for a place in the exchange at their home university. They have to be full-time students at their home university in order to participate in an exchange. Other prerequisites may exist. If accepted into the programme, the home university has to officially nominate the student for an exchange at the University of Freiburg. Only then can a student complete the online application to study in Freiburg as an incoming exchange student.
Please contact your home university's Study Abroad Office for details.
Semester dates and teaching periods
The structure of the academic year at the University of Freiburg is as follows:
Winter semester: 1 Ocober - 31 March
- The teaching period begins two to three weeks after the 1st of October.
- There is a two-week break between the end of December and early January.
- The teaching period ends in late February.
- Exams take place in the last weeks of the teaching period, for some classes exams may be scheduled up to three weeks after the end of the teaching period.
Summer semester: 1 April - 30 November
- The teaching period begins two to three weeks after the 1st of April.
- There is a one-week Pentecost break and numerous one-day holidays.
- The teaching period ends in late July.
- Exams take place in the last weeks of the teaching period, for some classes exams may be scheduled up to three weeks after the end of the teaching period.