- Location: Germany - Cologne
- GPA Requirements: 2.75 GPA
- Other Requirements: Nomination by German department, completion of at least German 225 or equivalent
- Program Structure: Direct enrollment
- Application Deadline: Academic Year: February 20 | Spring: September 20
- Program Term(s): Spring, Academic Year
- Official Website: University of Cologne (Exchange)
| Term | Start Date | End Date |
| Academic Year 2024-2025 | October 1st, 2024 | Mid-July, 2025 |
| Spring 2025 (called Summer Term in Germany) | April 1st, 2025 | September 30th, 2025 |
These dates are tentative. Confirm program dates before booking travel.
Allegheny students may opt to participate in the entire academic year, or the Spring (called Summer Term in Germany) semester to coincide with the Allegheny semester.
Important: Winter semester has an on-line pre-semester language course starting early-September)/ Summer Semester has an on-line pre-semester language course starting mid-March)
Where: Cologne, Germany
Located on the Rhine River, Cologne is an ideal site for study in Germany. It is rich in art and culture, and although its history dates back to Roman times, it is a modern and vibrant center. Known as the broadcast center of Germany, Cologne is also one of the country’s most cosmopolitan cities, with large ethnic neighborhoods and international arts festivals. Cologne is considered a university city, with more than 100,00 students studying at more than 20 institutes of higher education.
Academics
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest and largest universities in Germany with around 50,000 students. The University offers the following faculties: Management, Economics & Social Sciences, Law, Medicine, Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Arts & Humanities and Human Sciences. Students may enroll in courses for international students in a maximum of two of the faculties. Courses take place mostly in German, with some opportunities in English. Students are required to enroll in the German language pre-session that takes place prior to to the beginning of the semester.
Winter semester:
October 1 to March 31
In the pre-semester (September), our Pre-semester German Language Courses take place.
During the semester, the lectures take place in the lecture period.
Summer semester:
April 1 to September 30
In the pre-semester (March), our Pre-semester German Language Courses take place.
During the semester, the lectures take place in the lecture period.
You can start your exchange studies in the winter or summer semester.
Academic Structure
Courses taken with local students.
Course Credit
The University of Cologne has six faculties and offers courses in the most comprehensive study fields:
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (for exchange students with limitations)
Faculty of Medicine (for exchange students with limitations)
Courses
For a full list of course offerings, visit the University of Cologne’s website here. Please note that the course catalog for the upcoming semester is published about 2-3 months before the start of the semester.
Eligibility
Preference will be given to those applicants who have completed at least intermediate (225) German and one 300-level German class prior to their studies at Cologne. Students must meet with the Allegheny German Department before applying for the program.
Housing & Student Life
Allegheny students are guaranteed housing and are expected to live in one of the 84 dormitories managed by the Koelner Studentenwerk. All housing is located off-campus and is managed by the Koelner Studentenwerk and not the University.
With over 50 different student organizations to choose from and a variety of extracurricular activities to participate in, students will always find something to do in the vibrant city of Cologne.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will apply for a residency permit upon arrival. Please coordinate with the university regarding your permit. Non- U.S. citizens should consult with the Global Education office regarding the visa application process.
Application Process
Allegheny students must apply for approval to study off-campus from the Global Education office AND apply directly to their chosen program. For this program, the program requires a nomination from Allegheny’s Global Education Office before students can apply directly to the program. So, students must complete the Allegheny approval application and then wait for further instructions to apply to their program. The Allegheny approval application deadline is February 20 for fall programs and September 20 for spring programs. Study away approval applications will be reviewed immediately following the appropriate semester deadline. After a student has been approved by Allegheny, the Global Education office will send the student’s nomination and/or application documents to the program abroad. Students will receive instructions directly from the host program’s visiting student office with their next steps. For more information about the study away application process, please visit the application steps page.
Fees & Costs
Below find information on estimated costs for a semester abroad. You will receive a bill from Allegheny College, as you normally would, for the amount shown under “Costs Paid to Allegheny College.” All other study away program costs will be paid directly to a non-Allegheny entity and are listed in part two below. These amounts are estimates and will vary depending on individual choices. A total estimated cost of attendance for this program is shown at the bottom.
All financial aid awards can be applied to study abroad costs with the exception of federal work-study awards and certain tuition exchange scholarships. For more information, visit our page about Financing Study Away.
Part One: Costs Paid to Allegheny College
| Tuition (12 to 20 credits) Students do not pay tuition directly to the University of Cologne. Instead, students continue to pay tuition to Allegheny College. This covers tuition at the University of Cologne. |
$27,930 |
| Study Away Fee | $800 |
| SUBTOTAL Paid to Allegheny College | $28,730 |
Part Two: Costs Paid to non-Allegheny Entity
| Housing – Paid directly to housing provider in Cologne; Cologne has a variety of housing options and costs at each facility vary. The cost quoted here is approximately $750/month. |
$3,000 |
| Estimated Costs for Meals – Students typically live in non-catered housing without a meal plan. Students grocery shop and cook on their own. Quoted here is approximately $20/day for independent meals. |
$2,000 |
| Estimated Airfare | $1,200 |
| Estimated Visa and Immigration Expenses | $70 |
| Estimated University of Cologne Semester Fee | $325 |
| Estimated Local Transportation | $300 |
| Estimated Personal Expenses Personal expenses include: the basic expenses for laundry, toiletries and other incidental expenses. It does not include an estimate for personal travel, entertainment or social outings. |
$250 |
| SUBTOTAL Paid to NON-Allegheny entity | $7,145 |
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE
| Subtotal Part One: Fees paid to Allegheny College (in section 1. above) PLUS | $28,730 |
| Subtotal Part Two: Fees paid to non-Allegheny entity (in section 2. above) | $7,145 |
| TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE | $35,875 *** |
| ***Compare this to the cost of a semester at Allegheny in Meadville. |
NOTES:
Study Away Fee includes: administrative support, transcript translation and processing, pre-departure orientation, and emergency travel insurance.