The International Winter University [IWU] Kassel offers three to four-week academic programs, which feature the strengths of the University of Kassel in environmental sciences and German language and culture. Roughly 60 students, who are placed with German host families for the duration of their stay in Kassel, attend the program. This unique opportunity provides you with the chance to gain insight into German culture and family life. During your time in Kassel, you will be engaged not only in inspiring academic seminars, but also in diverse cultural and social activities.

The University of Kassel plays a leading role in environmental engineering in Germany, and has contributed significantly to the advancement of renewable energy technologies worldwide through its academic research and innovative technology transfer. Taught by internationally renowned faculty members, IWU offers you the best opportunities to study today’s global environmental challenges from a German perspective.

Kassel’s unique homestay program offers you the exciting chance to experience authentic daily life in Germany first-hand. Staying with a friendly and welcoming family will provide you with one of the quickest and most enjoyable ways to learn German through daily interaction and conversation. Your host family will be there to support you throughout your journey of exploring Germany and discovering its customs and people. They will be your home away from home

Application Requirements:

UMD MyEA Application - See Apply Now button above!
Kassel IWU Application

**Please note: If you want to secure the early bird rate (1,990€, a 200€ discount), you must submit your Kassel application and your MyEA application by October 1. This program sometimes fills by the early bird deadline.

Academics

Visit the Academics & Study Abroad page which outlines key considerations for your academic planning as you navigate different phases of study abroad:

Coursework

1. German Language classes
All participants attend a German language course offered at three different levels based on the Common European Framework for Foreign Languages [Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced]. Studying in small groups, IWU students enjoy a friendly and relaxed atmosphere that is conducive to interactive language learning. IWU students are also invited to be paired up with German students to practice their language skills – while helping their German counterparts to practice theirs.

2. In addition to a German language course, students take either Environmental Engineering or German Cultural Studies. We encourage engineering students to take the Environmental Engineering module.

A. Environmental Engineering: Renewable Energy Sources

This seminar is designed for students in engineering or urban and planning and offers an in-depth introduction to cutting-edge renewable energy sources. It provides the opportunity to learn more about German and European perspectives on energy while covering topics such as wind turbines, photovoltaics, geothermal technologies and biomass. The University of Kassel is a leader in the field of environmental engineering in Germany and around the world. This seminar is taught by renowned faculty members and includes field trips to further demonstrate the real-life environmental and economic impact of these new and promising technologies.

This course has been approved for the following majors:

ENME- ENME4XX equivalent
ENAE - Counts as out of major elective
BIOE- Counts as Breadth Elective
ENCE- Count as out of major elective
ENEE- General Technical Elective (GTE) for EE majors and Category F Elective for CE majors
ENFP- Technical Elective
ENMA- Consult departmental advisor, may possibly count as specialization or technical elective

B. German Cultural Studies: Reflections on German History, Literature and Art

This seminar is designed for students interested in learning more about 19th and 20th century German culture and some of the more influential authors, thinkers and movements of that period: e.g. Goethe, Nietzsche, Expressionism and the Bauhaus movement. The course will include museum visits and excursions to sites in and around Kassel. These trips are intended to help students to interact with the subject matter firsthand and also to see how contemporary German culture has been influenced these cultural developments.

Costs

Costs for Other Approved Programs are outlined on the Costs of Study Abroad page.

Program Costs

€2,190 [early-bird fee for applications received by Kassel by October 1: € 1,990] paid directly to host University
$500 Education Abroad fee billed by UMD
$40 (approximate) International Health Insurance Fee

The program fee includes:

Academic seminar [including course material and field trips]
German language course [including course materials]
Certificate and academic transcript
Housing with a German host family [including two meals a day]
Health, accident, and liability insurance package
Public transportation ticket for Kassel
Internet access on campus [wireless internet/computer labs]
Extensive culture and excursion program
Student support and 24-hour emergency contact number

To apply to this program, you must complete two main steps:

Submit a UMD approval application - start by clicking “apply now” at the top of this page. This application allows UMD Education Abroad to approve your study abroad program selection so you may earn credit in a program outside of UMD.
This application will require you to meet with your EA advisor, who will communicate important details related to participating in this program. If you do not complete this application by the stated deadline, you may not receive credit for your study abroad program and will lose your student status for the time you are not studying at UMD.
Apply directly to the program provider. After receiving UMD approval, you should submit the program application directly to the program sponsor by their deadline. Your program sponsor will determine your official acceptance to a program. You must adhere to the provider's timeline, eligibility standards, and application requirements.

After being accepted to your program, your EA advisor will guide you through the course pre-approval process where you will determine which credits you will fulfill abroad.

Program Dates

Term	Year	Application Deadline	Admission Notification	Program Start	Program End
Winterterm	2023	10/15/2022	09/01/2022	12/29/2022	01/18/2023