Visiting students Short Term Studies and Transitional Research Stay
International undergraduate and Master's students, who have started their course of studies abroad and who wish to temporarily participate in a comparable course of studies at Heidelberg University, may be admitted for short-term studies for a maximum period of two semesters. If during the short-term studies at Heidelberg University no credits are to be earned, as an alternative, it is possible to enrol in the scope of a transitional research stay.
Short term studies
A prerequisite for applying for short term studies is a written consent / confirmation of supervision from the department of Heidelberg University where you want to attend short-term studies. Usually, the academic advisors for the fields of study are your first contacts for approaching the respective department.
In order to participate in the application procedure, applicants must apply via the online application portal heiCO - including the upload of the required application documents - between 1 December and 31 March for the following summer semester and between 1 June and 30 September for the following winter semester.
For short-term studies in a German-taught degree programme, prospective students will be required to present a certificate proving that they have obtained German-language skills at the second level of the “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang” (DSH-2). If German knowledge is not required for the short-term studies, this must be stated in the confirmation of supervision. The proof of German proficiency is not required for study courses taught in English.
Students who have been admitted to short-term studies at Heidelberg University are enrolled as regular full-time students. Short-term students can earn credits (excluding final degree examinations) and can benefit from all services available to those students who intend to earn a degree in Heidelberg. At the same time, they are obliged to pay the fees that apply: semester fees and, when applicable, the general tuition fees for international students from outside the EU/ EEA.
Transitional research stay
If during the short-term studies at Heidelberg University no ECTS (no credits for achivements such as exams or papers) are to be earned, undergraduate and Master's students from universities abroad have the oportunity to enrol in the scope of a transitional research stay. In this case only the semester fees, but not the tuition fees for international students from outside the EU/EEA, must be paid.
A prerequisite for applying for a transitional research stay is a written consent / confirmation of supervision from the department of Heidelberg University where you want to attend a stay of at least a month. Usually, the academic advisors for the fields of study are your first contacts for approaching the respective department.
Admission to a temporary research stay also needs to be requested in time via the heiCO online application portal, including an upload of the required documents in support of your application, between 1 December and 31 March for the following summer semester and between 1 June and 30 September for the following winter semester.
For a research stay in a German-taught course of study, prospective students will be required to present a certificate proving that they have obtained German-language skills at the second level of the “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang” (DSH-2). If German knowledge is not required for the research stay, this must be stated in the confirmation of supervision. The proof of German proficiency is not required for study courses taught in English.
Please note: The duration of enrolment is based on the length of the winter or summer semester for which enrolment was requested, not on the actual duration of your stay. Whether enrolment for a planned research stay is necessary or advisable depends on the individual case. You may wish to seek advice on this matter.
