Austria-Illinois
Exchange Program
For the most comprehensive information
concerning this program, visit the homepage
of the Austria-Illinois Exchange Program.
Since 1971 the Department of Germanic
Languages and Literatures has sponsored the Austria-Illinois
Exchange Program, which is open to all U of I students
as well as students from other universities. Among the
most frequent Illinois students are those from the Colleges
of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Commerce and Business Administration,
and Engineering. Recent participants have also included
students from such institutions as Cornell, Georgetown,
Vassar, and Yale.
Program Costs and Benefits: The
program offers a combination of some of the best elements
of exchange programs and of group programs. The exchange
elements are: fees based on regular Illinois tuition
and fees, applicability of financial aid, direct
enrollment with Austrian students in Viennese universities,
and U of I residency credit. Since there is a full-time
resident director, participants also enjoy the typical
benefits of a group program: discounted international
airfare, transfer and assistance on arrival, in-country
orientation and advising, help with registration for
classes, housing arrangements (with Austrian students),
excursions, arrangements for academic credit, etc.
Program Content: The Austria-Illinois
Program offers a full curriculum -all fields from accounting
to zoology. These classes are at the University of Vienna,
the Vienna School of Economics and Business Administration,
The Technical University, or other appropriate institutions
of higher education. Participants also take one or two
core classes each semester with the resident director
or graduate assistant. Topics of those classes change
from semester to semester, but typically involve German-Austrian
literature and culture. They are taught in German. A German
conversation and writing class is also available.
Academic Credit: Earn a maximum
of 18 hours in one semester or 34 for the academic year.
All credit earned is U of I residency credit. Credits
in German may be applied toward a minor, major or double
major in German or may count as supporting coursework
in other fields.
Excursions and Travel: The program
offers excursions to the historical, scenic, and cultural
sites in Vienna and nearby. Vienna offers many opportunities
for leisure activities and is centrally located in Europe
as a starting point for travel to other countries.
Sports: Students may register for
sports at the university. Participants have also joined
soccer or volleyball clubs and participated in 10K runs.
The program includes a week of skiing in the Alps (1 credit).
Internships: Participants recently
interned with firms in fields such as banking, publishing,
journalism, insurance, hotel, the oil industry, environmental
advocacy, and the United Nations.
Prerequisites: At least sophomore
standing at the time of participation, i.e., freshmen
may apply this year to go to Vienna their sophomore year.
At least GER 104 or the equivalent; 2.75 overall GPA;
3.0 in German courses (on a 4-point scale).
Deadlines: Applications are due
February 1 for the academic year or for the fall semester
only; October 1 for spring semester.
Summer
I German 103 in Austria
Since 1995, the department has scheduled
one section of GER 103, the third-semester course, during
Summer Term 1 in Vienna. Thus, a student taking German
is able to fulfill the foreign language requirement in
one year. Students enroll in GER 101 and 102 in the
fall and spring semesters on the Illinois campus, take
GER 103 in Vienna, and then return to Illinois to enroll
in GER 104 during Summer Term 2. Click here
to visit the summer program's homepage.
Programs with the Study Abroad Office
Illinois also has exchange agreements
with the German Universities of Marburg, Kiel, Paderborn,
Regensburg, and Heidelberg. For further information consult
the University's Study Abroad Office.
Through the Study Abroad Office, further
opportunities may be explored for studying independently
(or with group programs sponsored by other institutions)
in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian
countries. For information and advice, consult the department's
undergraduate advisor.
