FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

When is the deadline to apply for the course ?
There is no fixed deadline to apply for the course. The registration periods ends, when the maximum number of particpant has been accepted.

Early registration is recommended since the number of participants is limited and most applications will arrive before April 2010. It might be possible to apply later. Please contact the ISU-Office and find out, if there are still places available.

When is the deadline to apply for financial subsidies?
The main deadline to apply for financial subsidies will be March 31, 2010. Partial funds might still be available after that date. Please contact the ISU office for current informations.

How can I apply?
Please filled-in and sign the application form. You can your application by mail / e-mail / or fax. If you send your application by e-mail, please make sure that your scanned signature is on the application form.

How can I receive mail?
You can receive mail via the ISU office. Example:
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Hessen International Summer University (ISU)
c/o Your Name
Licher Strasse 76
D-35394 Giessen
Germany

How can I make phone calls?
There are several public telephone booths on campus and near / in the dormitories, where you can use an international telephone card. In the city center, several Call Centers offer cheap international calls.

Where can I access the Internet?
During the ISU, you will have free internet access in all computer rooms of the Justus Liebig University Giessen. Computer rooms are located in different parts of the university, e.g. on the campus of the faculties of law and economics, and in the main library (located between said campus and the students' restaurant). WLan is also available in some parts of the campus.

When is the best time to apply?
Application starts on December 1, 2010. You should apply as soon as possible. Different deadlines apply for applicatios for financial subsidies.

How many modules can / should I attend?
All participants are required to take part in the General Modules (Week 1 & 4). In weeks 2 & 3, participants are required to attend one out of the two Specialized Modules.

Am I obliged to take part in the entire program?
No - however, if you do not attend all the seminars & courses you registered for on a regular basis, you will not be awarded a certificate at the end of the course and you will receive no credits. Subsidies potentially received will have to be re-paid and the fund provider will be informed accordingly.
In case of illness, you will have to bring a certificate from a doctor to uphold your chance to receive the certificate and the credits.
Generally, there is no discount towards them program fee if you only register for part of the course.
Please note that classes will run from 9:15 until approx. 16:15 from Monday until Friday. Please keep this in mind when you are arranging visits to family, friends, companies, cities, etc. in Germany during the time of the ISU. The weekend excursions offered are non-compulsory. However, please note that most people do not work at the weekend and companies / university institutes you might want to visit will be closed. We recommend to undertake such activities before or after participating in ISU Giessen.

Do I need a visa to participate?
Whether you need a short-term study / tourist visa to enter the so-called Schengen Area of the European Union depends on your personal circumstances. Please consult the homepage of the German Foreign Ministry.
Please note: most visa applications will take at least six weeks; for the visa process, you will probably need prove of health insurance plus a true copy (no e-mail / fax) of an invitation letter from the University of Giessen. Please plan the start of your visa application process accordingly. Please note that ISU Giessen is only able to furnish you with visa invitation letters for the duration of the course. If you want to stay a few days longer in the Schengen Area, please consult with your local German Embassy or Consulate for possibilities to extend your visa for a few extra days. Please note that participants in ISU Giessen are not enrolled as regular students at the University of Giessen. Participation in ISU Giessen therefore does not provide sufficient reason to apply for a regular student visa for Germany.