Would you like to further your academic career and get to know German culture? An exchange programme at our university lets you not only expand your subject knowledge but also make new friends. This page contains information on application, language courses and language requirements as well as on all questions regarding travel, accommodation, visas and more.
Requirements for becoming an exchange student
In order to enrol as an exchange student, you need to have been nominated by your home university and also demonstrate sufficient language skills.
First apply at your home university for an exchange place in your subject area at our university. Once nominated by your home university to study at Leipzig University, you will receive further information on how to apply for admission to our university.
Please note that you can only apply to us if there is a partnership between your home university and our university. Browse exchange places at Leipzig University or check with your home university to find out whether you can come here as an exchange student.
Study at our university usually takes place in German. This is why you need sufficient knowledge of German. We require a language level of at least B1/B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Some international degree programmes also include courses taught in English, for which the language level B2 (CEFR) in English is a prerequisite. Please browse our courses for details of each programme.
Erasmus+ students from European universities can participate in Online Language Support. There you have the opportunity to test your language skills. If you have a licence, you can also take part in the online language courses. Please speak to your home university about obtaining a licence.
Application procedure
The application procedure depends on the respective exchange programme with your home university. Here we explain step by step how to apply for each programme.
1. Online application at our university
Applications to our university must be submitted online. As part of your online application, you can also register for the German language and orientation course.
Please upload the following documents as PDF files:
- Language certificate for the required language of instruction (German and/or English; please contact your home university’s international office for details about the required language level)
Don’t miss our application deadlines!
Deadline for applications for the winter semester: 30 June
Deadline for applications for the summer semester: 15 January
2. Admission
You will receive your letter of admission in our AlmaWeb study portal by the beginning of July (for the winter semester) or the beginning of February (for the summer semester).
3. Semester fee
For the summer semester 2024, the semester fee for newly enrolled students is €276.90.
The fee comprises the following:
- Student body: €8.50
- Studentenwerk Leipzig: €80
- “Deutschland-Semesterticket” (public transport pass equivalent to the Deutschlandticket, accepted nationwide): €176.40
- One-off fee for the UniCard for new students: €10
- Mobility fonds: €2
Why is there a semester fee?
The semester fee is the social contribution paid by all students for the Student Council as well as for the services of the Studentenwerk Leipzig. If you would like to know what these funds are used for, please contact these two institutions directly.
Payment by SEPA direct debit
- On the AlmaWeb Portal, click on “Studies” and then “Re-enrolment”. You will first be shown your current balance.
- To issue a direct debit order, please enter your IBAN (International Bank Account Number) and BIC (Business Identifier Code). After entering your data, a one-off direct debit authorisation will be generated. The mandate reference is then displayed. Then confirm your data using an iTAN.
Please note that not all banks in the SEPA area participate in the direct debit scheme and that problems may occur under certain circumstances. It is not possible to issue a direct debit order via someone else’s account, such as that of your parents.
Payment by bank transfer
- If you are unable to pay by direct debit on the AlmaWeb portal, please pay the semester fee by bank transfer. Please use the following bank details:
Recipient: Universität Leipzig
IBAN: DE91860555921100156760
BIC: WELADE8LXXX
Enter your enrolment number, your full name and the semester for which you are re-enrolling (for example SoSe2022) as the payment reference.
4. Enrolment
- Once you have been admitted, our IDM system will send you an email containing login details (personal login and password) for our AlmaWeb student portal.
- Log in to AlmaWeb. Go to “Account” and click on “Documents” to open your letter of admission with your enrolment number and all information about enrolment, the start of the semester and paying the semester fee.
- Upload a photo for your UniCard (student card) on the IDM portal.
- Transfer the semester fee before you arrive in Leipzig, so that you can start your life as a student right away and have access to the refectories, libraries and free public transport from the very beginning.
Since a lot of questions can arise when preparing for your time as an exchange student, we have compiled the most important answers in our FAQs for exchange students.
1. Online application at our university
Applications to our university must be submitted online. As part of your online application, you can also register for the German language and orientation course.
Please upload the following documents as PDF files:
- Letter of nomination from your home university
- Transcript of Records (overview of academic achievements so far)
- Study Plan for your time as an exchange student in Leipzig. Please note at which faculty you would like to take which courses. To help prepare your provisional study plan, please find out about which courses are available.
- Language certificate for the required language of instruction (B2 CEFR)
Don’t miss our application deadlines!
Deadline for applications for the winter semester: 15 June
Deadline for applications for the summer semester: 1 December
2. Admission
You will receive your letter of admission in our AlmaWeb study portal by the end of June (for the winter semester) or the beginning of January (for the summer semester).
3. Semester fee
For the summer semester 2024, the semester fee for newly enrolled students is 276.90 euros.
- The fee comprises the following:
- Student body: €8.50
- Studentenwerk Leipzig: €80
- “Deutschland-Semesterticket” (public transport pass equivalent to the Deutschlandticket, accepted nationwide): €176.40
- One-off fee for the UniCard for new students: €10
- Mobility fonds: €2
4. Enrolment
- Once you have been admitted, our IDM system will send you an email containing login details (personal login and password) for our AlmaWeb student portal.
- Log in to AlmaWeb. Go to “Account” and click on “Documents” to open your letter of admission with your enrolment number and all information about enrolment, the start of the semester and paying the semester fee.
- Upload a photo for your UniCard (student card) on the IDM portal.
- Transfer the semester fee before you arrive in Leipzig, so that you can start your life as a student right away and have access to the refectories, libraries and free public transport from the very beginning.
Since a lot of questions can arise when preparing for your time as an exchange student, we have compiled the most important answers in our FAQs for exchange students.
Learning German
From tandem partners to conventional language classes, there are plenty of ways to improve your German language skills before and during your studies at our university.
We offer our exchange students a language and orientation course lasting approximately three weeks. The course takes place immediately before the beginning of your semester in Leipzig and is the perfect way to prepare for your stay abroad. The language course also includes a cultural and social programme. Please refer to the Language and Orientation Course overview for more information (in German).
Requirements
All classes on the programme take place in German. In order for you to be able to follow the course, you must demonstrate that your knowledge of German is already at B1/B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Unfortunately, the way the course is designed means that students with a level of C1 or higher cannot participate. For the language and orientation course 3 ECTS credits can be obtained at complete and successful participation.
Applying for the language and orientation course
Your registration for the language and orientation course is part of the online application for students on exchange programmes. As long as there are places available and we have received all your application documents, we can consider your application. Participation will be awarded through a lottery process. Unfortunately, you do not automatically have a right to participate.
You will receive an invitation for the language and orientation course together with your letter of admission. In this case, you will already be enrolled in September for the winter semester or in March for the summer semester. You can only participate in the language and orientation course if you have been invited.
Our Language Centre offers modules for autonomous foreign language learning as well as language learning in tandem. You can complete these modules independently of your field of study.
Besides other languages, you can choose German as a Foreign Language. These modules require you to use your own initiative: you are not taught the language, but instead improve your skills independently under the guidance of the Language Centre. You will be awarded credit points (ECTS) for successfully completing the module.
You can use this service free of charge.
Getting to Leipzig
Which visa do I need? What is the best way to get to Leipzig? Here we have compiled the most important information you need for a successful start to your studies.
- Students from the European Union, the European Economic Area and some other countries can enter Germany without a visa.
- As a rule, all other international students require a student visa – especially if they want to stay in Germany for more than three months.
Make sure you check the entry requirements for your country in advance. This information is available from the Federal Foreign Office. Information is also available from the German missions in your home country.
Brexit
As a result of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s withdrawal from the European Union, there are new rules for exchange students coming from a university in the United Kingdom who wish to stay in Germany. For any stay exceeding 90 days, British citizens may apply to the local immigration office for their residence permit after arrival in Germany and without having obtained a visa prior to travelling to Germany. Please check with your home university as well as on the website of the UK Government for the current residence regulations.
The right visa
A visa for Germany is always issued for a specific purpose. As an exchange student, you apply for a student visa. Please contact the German embassy or consulate general in your home country if you require a visa. Under no circumstances should you enter the country on a tourist visa only. You will not be able to convert it into the necessary student residence permit once you are in Germany.
As soon as you have arrived in Germany, please present your visa, which is valid for three months, to the Foreigners’ Authority in Leipzig and apply for a residence permit for study purposes.
More information about residence permits for study purposes is available in this information sheet.
Apply for a visa
To apply for your visa you need:
- a valid passport
- your letter of admission from our university
- proof that you can finance your studies (e.g. scholarship confirmation)
For more information, please contact the German embassy or consulate general in your home country. You can use the database of the German Federal Foreign Office to find your contact person for matters pertaining to visas and entering the country.
Financial proof
You have to be able to support yourself financially during your studies. You must prove beforehand that you will either be paying for yourself or covered by what’s known as a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung).
- Paying for yourself: you will be required to transfer at least 10.332 euros for one academic year (two semesters) into a German bank account (blocked account), with the restriction that you may not withdraw more than 861 euros per month from the account.
A bank account can also be set up in your home country by a German bank. - Declaration of commitment: you will need to request a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from the German missions in your home country before you enter Germany. By making this declaration, another person agrees to be liable for you as the person entering the country. The applicant undertakes to pay the cost of living, including all basic needs such as food, clothing and housing, as well as care in the event of sickness and disability. This commitment is in principle irrevocable and applies for the entire duration of the student’s stay.
Visa requirements for non-EU citizens enrolled at a university in the EU
Non-EU citizens who are enrolled at a university in an EU country (except the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark) no longer necessarily require a German residence permit if they plan to stay in Germany for study purposes for less than 360 days. This is covered by EU Directive 2016/801, the so-called REST Directive for researchers and students.
We will contact you when sending your letter of admission. As a host university, we have to submit an application for mobility to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), which must be approved before you arrive.
For this purpose, we kindly ask you to have the following documents available in German if possible:
- Mobility notification form completed electronically
- Residence permit for study purposes from the first EU Member State
- Erasmus+ confirmation from your home university
- Letter of admission from Leipzig University
- Recognised, valid passport
- Proof that you can finance your studies
- Proof of health insurance
If you are planning a stay for study purposes of more than 360 days, then you will be required to apply for a visa.
There are various options for arriving in Leipzig.
By aeroplane
- Airlines offer daily worldwide connections from/to Leipzig/Halle. There are direct flights to Leipzig/Halle from airports such as Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Zurich, Vienna and Istanbul.
- Leipzig/Halle Airport is a 30-minute drive from the city centre.
- Deutsche Bahn trains run regularly between the airport and Leipzig’s Central Station.
- The airports in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt am Main and Hanover are also easily accessible from Leipzig. There are rail and coach services between these cities and Leipzig.
By train
- Intercity and Intercity-Express (IC/ICE) services run by Deutsche Bahn connect Leipzig with most major European cities.
- Located in the heart of the city, Leipzig’s Central Station is among the largest and most awe-inspiring train stations in Germany. There are many regional and suburban railway connections linking Leipzig with the surrounding area.
By coach
- The coach terminal is right next to the Central Station in the middle of Leipzig.
- From here you can use coach links to other German and European cities, for example on services offered by FlixBus.
By car
- You can reach Leipzig via the A9 (Berlin–Nuremberg) and A14 (Halle–Dresden) autobahns.
Further travel information can be found on the following websites:
"Green Mobility": Find out about the possibilities of financial support for environmentally friendly travel by bus, train or carpooling at your home university. Minimize your ecological footprint and make an important contribution to the environment!
Health insurance, liability insurance, accident insurance
What German health insurance do I need? Is liability insurance necessary? Do I have to take out accident insurance? We’ve compiled the most important information for your time at Leipzig University.
Health insurance
Students are legally obliged to provide proof of sufficient health insurance and to maintain it throughout the duration of their studies. Without student health insurance, you cannot enrol.
What types of insurance are available? Who is excluded from the obligation? How do I insure myself as a doctoral researcher? Is my travel insurance sufficient? These and many other questions are answered in our health insurance guide.
Liability insurance
Although liability insurance is not compulsory by law in Germany. However, we recommend that you obtain information on this and then decide for yourself.
If you already have private liability insurance in your home country, you can check with your insurance provider whether or not your insurance is also valid in Germany. If you do not have liability insurance, you can ask insurance providers if they can insure you for Germany or find insurance providers in Germany online or when you are here.
Accident insurance
Students are protected by statutory accident insurance throughout their education and training at higher education establishments. At Leipzig University, this is provided by Unfallkasse Sachsen (“Saxony Accident Insurance Fund”, website in German).
This insurance covers activities of which the content and organisation fall within the university’s responsibility. These include, for example:
- Attending, or journeying directly from or to, university lectures, seminars and courses
- Study-related practical laboratory work
- Study-related research
- Revision courses, field trips and study trips, including abroad
- Study-related activities, for example interviews or practical activities related to dissertations and theses, if these are done in places for which the university is responsible or which fall within the university’s organisational responsibility.
- Students’ autonomous study activities
- Taking part in university sports, visiting university and state libraries
- Even the route to enrolment is also covered by this insurance.
If you have an accident, please notify the study office of your faculty at Leipzig University immediately. They will notify the accident insurance fund of the accident. Please also tell the doctor treating you – this also includes dentists – that it is an accident to do with your attendance of the university.
For accidents in the private sphere, please contact your private insurance provider directly.
Life in Leipzig
What is the best way to live in Leipzig and what costs can I expect as an exchange student? Here you can find the most important information on living in Leipzig and expenses.
Halls of Residence
If you would like to live together with other German and foreign students in a hall of residence run by the Studentenwerk Leipzig, you can apply for a room using the online form.
Rental agreements for the halls of residence are usually concluded for at least one year. Please contact the Studentenwerk Leipzig directly with any questions concerning halls of residence.
As soon as you have been offered a place at our university, you can apply to the Studentenwerk Leipzig for a room in a hall of residence.
Alternatively, students can move to the private dorm BaseCamp Leipzig. It offers fully-equipped rooms and many common areas for learning and having fun.
Shared Apartments
Known in German as Wohngemeinschaften or WGs, flat-shares are particularly popular among students in Leipzig. The following are some of the best-known services for finding a room in a Wohngemeinschaft:
- WG-Gesucht: students who are going abroad, for example, advertise their vacant WG rooms. These rooms are often offered completely furnished and on a temporary basis.
- Schwarze Bretter: noticeboards where students advertise various things, including their furnished and unfurnished rooms. These boards can be found in various university buildings and on the online portal.
Be sure to allow enough time to search for an apartment.
A deposit is often required when renting an apartment. This is usually the equivalent of one to two months’ rent, excluding ancillary costs, which is paid into a savings account. When the rental agreement ends, your deposit will be refunded – as long as you return the apartment undamaged.
If you do not already have a room in the first few days after arriving, there is plenty of temporary accommodation in Leipzig.
Semester Fee
You must pay the semester fee on time before the start of each semester. It applies to all students at our university, including doctoral researchers and attendees of the Studienkolleg Sachsen.
Tuition Fees
Leipzig University does not currently charge tuition fees for a student’s first degree. Please note, however, that in certain cases students may be required to pay fees for a second degree or for exceeding the standard period of study by too long. Fees are also charged for some special courses and the DSH course.
Monthly Costs
You will need around €950 per month to cover the cost of living in Leipzig. This amount is of course a guideline; your actual outgoings will depend on your spending habits. Average monthly costs in Leipzig consist of the following:
- Rent for apartment/room: €250–€425
(Please note: If you do not get a room in a dormitory or in a shared apartment, please keep in mind that the costs may be significantly higher as a result of the current housing situation in Leipzig. In some cases, landlords may require 2–3 months rent in advance as a deposit.) - Statutory health insurance or Voluntary statutory health insurance: €110/€180
- Study material: €70
- Food, clothing, miscellaneous: €300
If you require a visa, then you will already need to provide proof that you have enough money to live here when applying for the visa in your home country.
One-Off Costs
In addition to the monthly costs, you should expect additional one-off costs at the start of your studies such as a deposit for your accommodation (see note above under “Monthly Costs”) and the fee for setting up a blocked account.
Erasmus+ Grant
If you have been nominated for a place and admitted to an exchange programme under Erasmus+, you will receive financial support during your stay.
Financial support
Monthly instalments and a lump-sum travel allowance are available as financial support during your study visit. To be eligible, your study period must be at least three months long. The amount of the flat-rate travel allowance is staggered according to the real, simple distance between the place of departure and the destination. Together with your letter of admission you will receive a grant notification detailing how much money you will receive.
Deal with the formalities
Have you been nominated for an Erasmus+ worldwide grant? Please submit the required documents:
- Learning Agreement
The Learning Agreement (before the mobility) forms the basis for your Erasmus+ study visit. Please enter the courses you are planning to attend at Leipzig University and have it signed by your home university. Before you start studying here, you will receive the contact details of your departmental coordinator at our university, so that you can complete the first part of the Learning Agreement. Please send us the Learning Agreement with the three signatures by email.
- Signed Grant Agreement
We will prepare your Erasmus+ Grant Agreement and give it to your during enrolment. The Grant Agreement contains all conditions and requirements of the programme. We will make an appointment with you to sign the document. Two copies of the Grant Agreement are signed by you and the by the head of the International Centre.
Your grant will be paid in instalments after you arrive. If you do not have one already, you will first have to open a German or European bank account (SEPA area). Please allow sufficient time for this.
FAQ
You can take all subjects from our range of courses for which bilateral or Erasmus+ partnerships exist.
We recommend that you choose courses worth approximately 30 credits (ECTS – European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).
You may, for example, learn another foreign language or, with the agreement of the respective lecturer, choose to attend courses at various institutes and faculties.
Please consult the Erasmus+ subject coordinators for more information.
Learn more
Various faculties and institutes offer some degree programmes and individual courses in English. You should be able to find these in your institute’s course catalogue: courses taught in English are often listed with an English description or a note on the language of instruction. Advice is also available from the (Erasmus+) subject coordinators.
Yes, our university uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) on all study programmes to document student workload.
Thematically related courses are grouped into modules, which usually comprise ten credits each and end with an examination. One credit documents approximately 30 hours of work. For information about how the credits are distributed among the individual courses of a module, please contact the relevant course lecturers.
If you would like to study with us for one semester or one academic year (two semesters), you must prove your knowledge of German or of the applicable language of instruction.
My language of instruction is German:
To follow lectures and participate actively in discussions, we recommend a language level of B1/B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. As a rule, you can prove your language skills with a language certificate from your home university. The language certificate must only be signed by the language teacher(s) responsible for the language proficiency test. Other language certificates are of course also recognised.
My language of instruction is English:
If you would like to take part in English-language courses, for example at the Faculty of Economics and Management Science, you will have to prove that you have the necessary English language skills as follows:
a) you have studied English for at least five years at school or university; or
b) you submit a language certificate issued by authorised language teachers at your home university (certified language level: B1/B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages); or
c) you submit one of the following language certificates for English:
- CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), level: B2
- TOEFL iBT - 57, recommended 87 TOEIC - Listening/Reading 550, Speaking 120, Writing 12
- Cambridge General English Exam - Preliminary English Test
- First Certificate in English Cambridge
- BEC Exam (Business English Certificate) - BEC Vantage
- IELTS - Modest User score of 5.0/5.5/6.0; recommended: Competent User score of 6.5/7.0.