Summary

The Academic Year in Freiburg (AYF) program is offered by a consortium of institutions, including Michigan State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, and UW-Madison. The program offers students the opportunity to improve their German language skills while taking program classes and regular university courses at Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat. Participants can take virtually all university courses offered in the humanities, social sciences, and most other disciplines. Founded in 1457, the university is located in the heart of Freiburg and currently has an enrollment of about 21,000 students.

Freiburg - a town of approximately 220,000 - is located in the Upper Rhine Valley at the foot of the Black Forest in southern Germany. In Freiburg, students can enjoy a variety of cultural activities, including concerts, exhibitions, and theater productions. Freiburg is also a good starting point for exploring the rest of Europe as it is only forty miles from the Swiss border, fourteen miles from the French border, and offers convenient access to Basel and Strasbourg.

For several years, the program has been able to offer scholarships of varying amounts to qualified participants as a result of a grant from the Max Kade Foundation. Pending funding renewal, all consortium students accepted into the program are automatically considered for these scholarships based on need and academic excellence.

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Academics

The program begins with a one-month orientation period consisting of an intensive German language course and sessions designed to acclimate students to life in Germany. After the orientation period, students can take courses specifically designed for program participants as well as regular courses at the university. AYF program classes include courses on German language, literature, and linguistics, as well as courses dealing with German and European history and society. The AYF program classes are taught by the Resident Director and local faculty. The program runs from early September to late July, and includes a two-month break from mid-February to mid-April between terms when students are free to travel.

The AYF Program Office is located in a building near the university. A faculty member from one of the participating U.S. universities serves as the Resident Director. The Resident Director and the local Associate Director help students with academic concerns and other aspects of daily life in Germany.

AYF students have the opportunity to participate in an internship program during the spring semester. Internships can be arranged for students with an interest in business, technology, and the arts. Students will be placed in a 12-week part-time internships (10-12 hours per week) with a host company or organization to begin in early to mid-April and end in late June. Students will be placed in internships corresponding to their educational backgrounds and career interests. The academic side of this internship, which will count as a 3-credit graded course, will be overseen by the Resident Director. There is an additional fee and application process for the internship. Additional information and application materials will be provided upon arrival in Freiburg.

Cost

Program cost information includes not only program fees, but out-of-pocket expenses with notes to help explain costs. Program fees are estimated and can be adjusted at any time. Accepted students receive cost sheets with confirmed program fees in their acceptance packets.

Year 2009-10 Cost Estimate Sheet Year 2010-11 Cost Estimate Sheet

Location

Freiburg im Breisgau is located in the Upper Rhine valley at the edge of the Black Forest in southern Germany. With over 220,000 inhabitants, Freiburg provides a variety of cultural activities including many concerts. Only forty miles from the Swiss and fourteen miles from the French borders, it offers convenient access to Basel and Strasbourg.

Student Life

Orientation:  Required orientation sessions conducted before departure at UW-Madison help students prepare for studying abroad. Topics covered include academic, financial, administrative, cultural, and site-specific issues. The focus of the on-site pre-session orientation course is intensive language acquisition and cultural information to help students' transition in their host country. Students will receive 3 credits for this course.

Housing:  Students have the opportunity to speak German and develop new friendships living in a single room in the university dormitories along with German, American, and other international students. The dormitories - a short street car, bus, or bike ride from campus - include shared kitchen facilities on each floor, allowing students to prepare their own meals. Students may also choose to dine in any of the university cafeterias, which provide meals at reasonable prices.

Excursions and Activities:  Outside of Freiburg, the Black Forest is one of Germany's most famous and picturesque regions. The combination of valleys, pastures, forests, and mountains have made the area a prime vacation spot for centuries. Students can take advantage of numerous bicycling, hiking, and ski trails in the area. The AYF Program Office and the university organize group events and field trips throughout the year. Past participants have made friends through extracurricular activities such as music groups and athletic teams.