How to apply
Contact
Study abroad advisor for Latin and North America
How to apply
Studies
The North America programme is generally open to Bachelor’s and Master’s students from all degree programmes.
Restrictions may however apply on account of individual cooperation agreements. In the mobility portal of the University of Oldenburg, Mobility Online, you can find out about any relevant restrictions by clicking on the info button on the details page of your destination university.
Undergraduate studies (Bachelor’s) in North America take at least three and usually four years, graduate studies (Master’s), two years or more, depending on the target qualification. Oldenburg exchange students normally attend courses at Bachelor’s level. Not all partner universities offer Master’s courses (for exchange students), because the academic focus is on undergraduate studies.
One US credit corresponds to approximately 2 ECTS/CP. In Canada, courses are usually offered with 3 credits each. For full-time study, exchange students take 3 to 4 courses per semester (= 12 to 15 US credits), or possibly fewer on Master’s degrees. The workload per course is a lot higher in North America than in Germany: there is a lot of homework, sometimes weekly tests, presentations, etc.
Will you be taking a Master’s degree while you are on your semester abroad?
Consult your departmental representative to find out if higher courses at Bachelor’s level can also be credited for your Master’s degree in Oldenburg. You should also check in advance on the websites of our partner universities to see if they offer courses that are potentially interesting to you and your subject.
Ideally, you should discuss and document any issues concerning recognition with your departmental representative before taking up your semester abroad, in order to simplify the process of recognition of study credits earned abroad on your return. Your contact in the Academic Examinations Office can also help with questions about this.
Semester times
The semester times in Oldenburg are not the same as those in Canada and the USA. The table below should give you an idea. Universities in Canada and the USA can however be flexible regarding their exact semester times, therefore they may vary slightly individually. The semester in North America starts with the official start of lectures and ends with the examination period. Host universities offer mandatory orientation events for exchange students and also sometimes set a fixed date for moving in to the halls of residence.
From experience, the Fall term is best suited to many students for a semester abroad in North America.
| Canada | USA |
|---|---|
| Fall term: September to December | Fall term: August – December |
| Winter term: January to April | Spring term: January – May |
Prerequisites & language certificate
Participation requirements
In order to participate in the North American exchange programme, you must meet the following requirements:
- Higher study semester (at least 3rd study semester on a Bachelor’s or higher at the time of the stay abroad)
- Good academic performance
- Good language skills (at least English B2 CEFR)
Language certificate
Many of our North American partner universities accept the DAAD language test (at least B2 level) as evidence of sufficient English skills. However, some partner universities also require internationally recognized language certificates, which are far more expensive (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS). Duolingo is increasingly accepted.
You can take the DAAD English language test at the University of Oldenburg Language Centre. Examination dates are offered there regularly. However, the available examination dates are quickly filled, especially during periods when exchange places abroad are advertised. Therefore, you should book in good time. Students only pay 20 euros for the DAAD language test at the Language Centre, which is much less than other internationally accepted language tests, such as TOEFL or IELTS (approx. 250-300 euros).
Your language certificate must be up-to-date, i.e. it must not be more than two years old when you submit your application!
Application and selection procedure
Exchange places in North America are advertised once a year via a range of channels. The application period is in October/November and lasts roughly six weeks. The earliest start of the stay abroad is in August/September of the following year.
For the 2026/27 academic year you can apply for exchange places in North America from 15 October to 30 November 2025 on the mobility portal of the University of Oldenburg (Mobility Online). You can find a detailed guide to the application process on our North America programme page.
You will need the following documents for your application:
- Letter of motivation
- Curriculum vitae
- Language certificate
- Transcript of Records
- Certificate of enrolment
Students will receive confirmation of receipt of their application by email and can view the status of their application at any time in their personal user portal in Mobility Online. You can upload your application and documents up until the end of the application period. IMPORTANT: Please note that documents supporting your application (e.g. language certificate or updated transcript of records) that are submitted after the deadline for applications will only be considered in exceptional cases.
After the application deadline, the International Office reviews all applications received and allocates the applicants to the available exchange and self-pay places at the North American partner universities. The selection is made in consultation with the partnership officer. Allocation of direct exchange and self-pay places is carried out by the International Office. This means that you only need to submit one application for up to three host universities in North America. You may request different host countries (Canada or USA) and periods of stay (Fall or Spring).
The International Office will notify you by email approximately six weeks after the end of the application period whether you have been allocated to a partner university and if so which, and whether you can go as a direct or self-pay exchange to the host university. Please do not make inquiries about the status of your application during this period!
Once you have been nominated to the partner university by the International Office, you will receive all necessary information about subsequent steps and the documents required for your application from the host university.
Costs
Even if you are exempted tuition fees at the partner university via the University of Oldenburg’s exchange programme or can finance them using the Auslands-BAföG grant, you will face certain costs which you must prepare for in advance.
You should plan for the following costs:
- Language certificate
(DAAD English language test: 20 euros, Duolingo: approx. 70 euros, TOEFL and IELTS: approx. 250-300 euros) - Possibly an application fee to the host university
- Fees for an entry permit or visa
Canada: 7 CAD (Canadian Dollars)
USA: approx. $400 USD - $535 - Travel expenses
- Accommodation (halls of residence or off-campus)
- Higher cost of living (compared to Oldenburg)
- Semester fee at the host university
- Health insurance at the host university
- Other insurance (e.g. travel health insurance)
- Teaching materials
- Field trips and travel in destination country
- Special purchases at the beginning of the stay (bike, kitchen utensils, bed linen, etc.)
You can get a first impression of the cost of living in North America at Numbeo. Please also note that the cost of living can vary greatly depending on the region and city.
Financial support
Please plan well in advance for financial support for your stay abroad!
Auslands-BAföG | BAföG abroad
The high additional costs abroad mean that students who are not entitled to BAföG in Germany because their parents’ income is too high, may nevertheless receive Auslands-BAföG.
What does Auslands-BAföG cover?
- Monthly stipend + country-specific grant
- Travel allowance (1,000 euros)
- Grant of max. 5,600 euros for tuition fees at the host university (does not have to be repaid)
- Health insurance grant
You should apply for BAföG directly to the relevant Studierendenwerk (student union) roughly six months before the start of your stay abroad.
Scholarship programme
Do you already have a scholarship? Ask your scholarship provider whether they can provide financial support for your stay abroad. Some foundations offer similar conditions to the Auslands-BAföG.
Entry & Visa
Canada
German citizens are exempt from the visa requirement for temporary stays in Canada. This also includes study-related stays abroad of up to six months.
In order to enter Canada, you must apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). You can easily apply for your eTA online. The cost is 7 CAD (Canadian Dollars). You will normally receive your eTA within a few minutes; however, processing can in some cases take a few days.
USA
You need a visa to study in the USA. The host university will send you the necessary documents to apply for your visa along with the letter of acceptance. You will have to attend a personal appointment for a visa interview at the US Consulate in Berlin or the Embassies in Frankfurt or Munich.
F-1 or J-1 visa?
To obtain a student visa in the USA, you must be enrolled as a full-time student. A full-time study programme corresponds to 3 to 4 courses (= 12 to 15 US credits).
The type of visa you need to apply for is stated on the immigration paper (“I-20” or “DS-2019” form), which you will receive from your host university together with your admission documents.
A validity period is given on the form: usually from the first to the last day of the semester. However, you can enter the USA earlier and stay longer: for J-1 visas, the grace period is 30 days before and 30 days after the stated period; for F-1 visas, 30 days before and 60 days after the stated period.
Semester abroad with subsequent internship in the USA
If you are planning to complete an internship in the USA after your semester abroad, you need to be aware of special requirements when applying for a visa: Fact sheet on “Combining a visa for studies and an internship in the USA”.
Insurance notes
You must have health insurance for the entire period you are studying on a semester abroad in North America. Many Canadian and USA universities even require international students to have health insurance with their own insurers.
Some universities offer exchange students a waiver from the university’s own health insurance if they can prove they have suitable health cover from their home country. In this case, the insurance policy must be available in English. Please inquire in good time at your host university as to the cover their health insurance offers exchange students and whether you can receive a waiver. In practice, a waiver of the university health insurance is often difficult and costly.
German travel health insurance often covers more services and therefore offers greater protection against high costs; therefore it is advisable to take out German travel health insurance in addition to the mandatory health insurance of the host university.
If you wish to travel before the start of semester or following your study abroad, you should also have travel health insurance for this period. In addition, make sure you have sufficient accident and liability insurance cover for your time abroad and consider taking out travel cancellation insurance.