On this page, we provide you with information on all the steps you will need to take to have a successful start to your study stay abroad in Leipzig – from admission requirements to the application process and enrolling.
There are two ways to apply for a study stay abroad (one or two semesters abroad) at Leipzig University:
- You can be nominated from your home university because there is an exchange agreement between your home university and Leipzig University. You can find out whether that is the case in our Database for Exchange Programmes at Leipzig University or by asking your home university.
- You can apply as a free mover if there is no exchange agreement between your home university and our university. As a free mover, you are responsible for organising and funding your stay abroad. You can find more information about this in the Free Mover section.
There are different requirements and application processes depending on whether you apply as a free mover or within the framework of an exchange agreement.
Exchange students (with or without an exchange agreement) do not need to pay tuition fees at our university. We only charge the semester fee.
With an exchange agreement
Nomination
At your home university and in your department, apply for an exchange spot at our university. After you have been successfully nominated, you will receive all information you need to apply for admission at Leipzig University.
Language skills
Courses in Leipzig are typically held in German, and you therefore need to have sufficient German proficiency. For most subjects, your German should be at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). For some subjects, a B1 level is sufficient. Some degree programmes also have courses held in English, for which your English level must be at least B2 (CEFR). You can find the specific language requirements in our database for exchange programmes.
Erasmus+ students can use the Online Language Support resources. There you can test your language skills. If you have a licence, you can also take part in online language courses. You can get a licence from your home university or from Leipzig University as part of Erasmus+ KA 171.
The application process depends on which exchange programme you are taking part in to come to Leipzig University.
Application deadlines
Erasmus+ studies in Europe, Arqus European University Alliance, Utrecht Network
- to start in the winter semester: 30 June
- to start in the summer semester: 15 January
Partner universities worldwide, Erasmus+ studies outside of Europe
- to start in the winter semester: 15 June
- to start in the summer semester: 1 December
How to apply
Erasmus+ studies in Europe, Arqus European University Alliance, Utrecht Network
To apply to our university, you must submit an application online using our portal for stays abroad. Please upload the following document as a PDF file:
- Proof of required language proficiency
Partner universities worldwide, Erasmus+ studies outside of Europe
To apply to our university, you must submit an application online using our portal for stays abroad. Please upload the following documents as PDF files:
- Letter of nomination from your home university
- Proof of your previous coursework / transcript of records
- Course plan for your study stay abroad at our university with information about the faculty at which you want to take courses. Please gather information about our range of courses and use our Learning Agreement template to create a provisional course plan if your home university does not provide another template.
- Proof of required language proficiency
As part of your online application, you can also register for the language and orientation course. There are a limited number of spots available, and they are allocated in a lottery system. You can find more information at the Studienkolleg Sachsen.
After successfully applying, in our AlmaWeb portal you will receive a letter of admission and, if applicable, your information for the language and orientation course. We will send you more information after reviewing your application. You can look for a letter of admission at the following times:
- To start in the winter semester
- Erasmus+ studies in Europe, Arqus European University Alliance, Utrecht Network: by the beginning of July
- Partner universities worldwide, Erasmus+ studies outside of Europe: by the end of June
- To start in the summer semester
- Erasmus+ studies in Europe, Arqus European University Alliance, Utrecht Network: by the beginning of February
- Partner universities worldwide, Erasmus+ studies outside of Europe: by the beginning of January
Without an exchange agreement (free mover)
You can apply to our university as a free mover if:
- You are enrolled at a foreign university in a degree programme that is comparable to the degree programme at our university on which you wish to study (admission only if there is sufficient capacity in the desired degree programme);
- You fulfil the academic admission requirements for studying at German universities;
- You have the required language skills. You must submit proof of language proficiency at the latest when you enrol:
- For programmes with German as the language of instruction: German at a B2 level (CEFR)
- For programmes with English as the language of instruction: English at a B2 level (CEFR)
Application deadlines
- to start in the winter semester
- bachelor’s programmes: 15 July
- master’s programmes: 31 May
- to start in the summer semester
- bachelor’s programmes: 15 January
- master’s programmes: 31 December
How to apply
Contact the Leipzig University faculty at which you wish to study. On the Courses of Study website you can find the contact details for the subject advisers.
Check with the subject advisers whether the faculty at which you wish to study can accept you as a free mover and then have the confirmation of consent filled out.
The application can only be submitted online in the “My assist” portal (Instructions for the uni-assist application). Please note that uni-assist charges a processing fee.
The following documents are usually needed for a complete application:
- Application for admission as a free mover (including the checklist for application documents)
- Certificate including marks for the individual subjects for your secondary school education
- Certificate from the university entrance examination (if applicable)
- Proof of degrees already completed (if applicable)
- Proof of your previous coursework / transcript of records
- Confirmation from your home university that your stay at our university is relevant to your studies (in English or German)
- Certificate of enrolment at your home university
- Confirmation of consent from the faculty that will host you at our university
- Proof of required language skills (for programmes with German as the language of instruction: German at the B2 level (CEFR); for programmes with English as the language of instruction: English at the B2 level (CEFR))