All exchange students from partner universities will be nominated directly by their universities. The further application process will be organised through our online platform Mobility Online and mail. 

Our Fact Sheet with all useful information can be downloaded here.

Note: The Design Faculty has different deadlines for nomination & application. You will find more information here.

Step 1: Nomination 

Exchange students have to be nominated by the responsible coordinator of their university. 

Nomination deadline spring:                   October 1st

Nomination deadline fall:                        May 1st

After the nomination deadline the nominated students and the coordinator will be informed about the application procedure and requirements. 

Step 2: Application 

After the nomination you will receive an email with the request to create an account. After creating the account, you can upload the requested documents in Mobilty Online and complete your application. You will be notified about the application process and missing documents. Please provide an email address that you check regularly. The contact will only occur via email. 

A complete application comprises:

•  Completed application form in Mobility Online (our exchange platform)
•  Short CV
•  1 passport photo in jpg format or pdf
•  1 photo of yourself for the student ID
•  transcript of records (grade sheet)
•  English certificate proving a B2-Level such as TOEFL, TOEIC etc. (German B2 certificate needed if courses are taken in German)
•  Learning Agreement: 
   Most probably you have already filled a learning agreement from your home university. We will continue the approval process with this learning agreement. You do not have to submit an additional one.
  
  In case you have not filled out and submitted a learning agreement so far:
  > All ERASMUS students please use the ERASMUS+ learning agreement either the .doc-file , the pdf or send it via the OLA-Platform.
  > Overseas/non-Erasmus students: please use this learning agreement form

Application deadline spring:                    October 15th

Application deadline fall:                         May 15th

Course selection

• The Bachelor Exchange Program ISP can be found here (exchange students of the Business School and of Engineering and Management)
• The Master Exchange Program IMEP can be found here
• Information about German courses can be found here (all exchange students)
• For the course of in the School of Design, please contact Barbara Dofek

Step 3:  Acceptance

After the International Programs Office has assessed your application, the Letter of Acceptance will be issued and sent to you after the application deadline.

Following, you will be informed via email about the further steps you will need to take.

Step 4: Preparation to arrival phase: 3 - 1 month(s) before arrival

Before your arrival you will need to take further preparations:

Accomodation:

Please note that you have to look for apartments, student residences, shared flats etc. on your own, but we are, of course, always willing to assist you, if needed. If you are interested in a place in one of the student residences, you are supposed to apply very early (3-4 months in advance). 

A list of student dorms you will find here.

Health insurance: 

All international students have to provide evidence of adequate health insurance for the study period in Germany. Therefore, a health insurance policy should cover all costs for medical treatment in Germany. The costs for the health insurance may differ by age, gender and home country.

You can find further information here. 

Visa:

Depending on their country of origin, people wishing to enter the Federal Republic of Germany are subject to different entry requirements. Exchange students are responsible for their own visa application. More detailed information on the visa process can be found here.

Try the visa navigator by the German Foreign Ministry for a quick answer to the visa question.

• Students from countries requiring visa have to apply for a student visa in their country of origin, or the country of their home institution, before entering Germany. For enrollment a study visa is required (a tourist visa cannot be converted into a study visa)!
• EU citizens and EFTA citizens (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) do not need a student visa. After enrollment, they just need to register at the residents' registration office.
• Citizens from a handful of other countries do not need a student visa either, but they need to apply for a German residence permit at the respective Foreigners’ Registration Office in Germany. More detailed information on the visa process can be found here.

Important notice: Whether you need a visa or not is determined by your nationality. It does not matter in which country you study, i.e. where your home institution is located. If you study in a different country than your country of origin and have a residence permit for this country, you still need to apply for a student visa for Germany. Please inquire about visa regulations concerning your country of origin as soon as possible.

Step 5: Enrollment

To complete the process of enrollment at our university (immatriculation), we will request the following documents:

• copy of your visa for the study abroad period (in case it is required)

• a transfer for "Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe" (student service fee) and for the student ID

• proof of adequate health insurance 

Step 6: Arrival

Students are required to arrive at Pforzheim University on time for the orientation session some days before the courses start. Pforzheim University organizes an introduction period for new (international) students at the beginning of each semester. During these days you will meet your fellow students, the university and get to know the city of Pforzheim.