Inhaltspezifische Aktionen

Erasmus Biology

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The ERASMUS programme of the European Union has been a great success in promoting understanding between national cultures and continues to expand 25 years after its inception, having already allowed more than a million students to visit universities in other EU countries. Electing to study abroad not only broadens your individual horizon, it shows that you have the strength of character to make a decision which will lead to the many additional problems and stressful situations inevitably associated with not just visiting a foreign country but successfully integrating into an unknown intellectual environment with its own traditions and eccentricities. An ERASMUS semester or equivalent seldom goes unnoticed in a curriculum vitae and is often an important factor for an employer in selecting a job candidate. Perhaps even more importantly, it lets you know that you can cope with a real-life situation that most people wouldn't risk. Strangely though, exchange students almost never regret taking this decision, and the experience they make accompanies them for the rest of their lives. The ERASMUS programme is open to all university students of the EU and associated countries: for more information on ERASMUS in and outside Giessen, visit the international homepages of the JLU. Here is a brief ERASMUS overview from "Die Zeit" 03.03.2011 and here is a rather frivolous view of how much fun it can be from "Die Zeit" 01.03.2012, both in German.

The Justus Liebig University has ERASMUS student exchange agreements for Biology with:

Denmark University of Roskilde
France Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg
Hungary Szent István University, Gödöllõ
Ireland University College Dublin
Poland University of Lódz
Spain University of Barcelona
Spain University of Granada
Spain University of León
Spain Complutense University of Madrid
Sweden University of Lund
Switzerland University of Genéve
Turkey University of Istanbul
Czech Republic University of South Bohemia

(additional possibilities sometimes exist for Biology students to make use of unused places associated with the partnership agreements of other faculties)

Thereby a small number of BSc and MSc Biology students per year are able to visit a partner university for one (or sometimes two) semesters.

An ERASMUS semester is organised initially from the student's home university with the help of the Departmental coordinator (in the case of Biology in Giessen, Peter Friedhoff). The coordinator's job is to discuss wishes and possibilities with potential "outgoing" students and to formulate a Learning Agreement with the relevant coordinator at the host university. Thereby the student can as far as possible be certain that she/he will find accommodation, perhaps improve her/his language proficiency, study appropriate courses within a realistic timetable, and finally be credited with the grades obtained on her/his return home.

Outgoing ERASMUS students from Giessen can obtain special funding (AuslandsBAföG and from the JLU Auslandsamt) for the additional expense of their visit abroad. All tuition fees are paid automatically. The ERASMUS system itself now officially allows host universities to require a particular language proficiency. In any case, no one should ever embark on an ERASMUS semester without at least basic knowledge of English and of the language of the host university. More information is available in StudIP under "ERASMUS-Biology for outgoing students".

Similarly, as our guests, incoming ERASMUS students are guaranteed accommodation in Giessen, can attend German language courses at various levels and are encouraged to take part in the International University Summer Course organised annually in September. Importantly, as nearly all Biology modules in Giessen are taught exclusively in German, it is essential that incoming ERASMUS students arrive with a  good fluency level (B1.2 or higher from a Goethe InstituteTestDaF or TELC). Information regarding the modules offered in BSc and MSc Biology in Giessen and the associated timetables are available from the homepage. Note that, unusually, nearly all Biology modules in Giessen are taught as blocks (2, 4 or 6 week "all day, every day"  intensive courses) rather than weekly throughout the semester.

In general, formalities must be completed by mid-February for an ERASMUS semester in the following year. For more information on ERASMUS for Biology in Giessen, contact