Study Abroad - MARBURG, GERMANY: REGULAR EXCHANGE , SPRING 2018 - UW-Eau Claire
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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Study Abroad
MARBURG, GERMANY:
REGULAR EXCHANGE , SPRING 2018
Program GuideServices for Students with Disabilities ................9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Safety in Germany ................................................9 General Information ................................................ 2 Emergency Contacts ............................................9 The Program......................................................... 2 Required Documents ...............................................9 Program Options ................................................. 2 Passport ................................................................9 Program Application............................................ 2 Visa .......................................................................9 Academic Calendar .............................................. 2 Packing Tips .......................................................... 10 Academics ................................................................ 2 Documents ........................................................ 10 Exchange Pre-Semester German Class ............... 2 Clothing & Weather........................................... 10 Course Offerings .................................................. 3 What to Pack ..................................................... 10 Credits and Course Load...................................... 3 Appliances ......................................................... 10 Course Selection .................................................. 3 Arriving in Germany .............................................. 10 Exchange Placement Exam ................................. 3 Travel Arrangements ........................................ 10 Course Registration ............................................. 4 Getting to Marburg ........................................... 10 Credits and Course Load...................................... 4 If Your Luggage Does Not Arrive ...................... 10 Course Equivalencies ........................................... 5 Settling In .............................................................. 11 Registration for Exams ......................................... 5 Checking In........................................................ 11 Grades .................................................................. 5 Orientation ........................................................ 11 Transcripts ............................................................ 5 Housing ................................................................. 11 Transcripts & Delayed Graduation ...................... 6 Room Types ....................................................... 11 Service Learning................................................... 6 t to Bring or Buy ............ 11 German Academic System .................................. 6 Laundry ............................................................. 12 Differences in Terminology ................................. 7 Food....................................................................... 12 Money Matters ......................................................... 8 Where to Buy Food ........................................... 12 Cost Estimate ....................................................... 8 Restaurants ........................................................ 13 Exchange Explanation ......................................... 8 Getting Involved ................................................... 13 Stipendium........................................................... 8 Tandem Language Partners ............................. 13 Marburg Refund Policy ........................................ 8 Posted Announcements ................................... 13 Currency Exchange .............................................. 8 Church Services ................................................. 14 Health & Safety......................................................... 9 University & Community Organizations ........... 14 Before You Go ...................................................... 9 Going Out .......................................................... 14 Medical Facilities in Marburg............................... 9 Communication .................................................... 14 Counseling Services ............................................. 9 Internet .............................................................. 14
E-mail.................................................................. 14 Snail-mail............................................................ 14 Calling/Cell Phones ............................................ 14 Cultural Notes ........................................................ 15 Greetings & Good-byes...................................... 15 Punctuality ......................................................... 15 Tell It Like It Is ..................................................... 15 Crossing the Street............................................. 15 Store Hours ........................................................ 15 Travel While Abroad .............................................. 15 International Office Trips ................................... 15 Train Travel in Germany..................................... 15 Bus Travel in Germany ....................................... 16 WEB RESOURCES: HESSEN .................................... 17 Marburg ................................................................. 17 Germany ................................................................ 17 Travel ..................................................................... 17 Contact Information .......................................... 18
Congratulations on being accepted to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire exchange program
with Philipps Universität-Marburg. Living and studying in a foreign culture is both an exciting and
a challenging experience. Past participants of study abroad report that the many advantages of
international study include:
Gaining new perspectives on a chosen academic field
Increasing understanding of different cultures
Enhancing personal growth
Developing different perspectives on U.S. culture
Gaining self-confidence and independence
Learning skills for the future international job market
It is up to you to determine how you can best benefit from these possible advantages. This is your
adventure!
This program guide is to be used in conjunction with the general Study Abroad Handbook. The
handbook has information that is valid for all UW-Eau Claire study abroad programs. This guide will
provide you with information to assist in your preparation for participating in the exchange. It is
designed to complement the handbook, the study abroad orientation, additional information from
your peer adviser, and your individual pre-departure preparations.
Please realize that although this guide was written to help you better prepare for your time abroad,
and that all of the information available at the time of publishing has been used, it is impossible for
any single resource to answer all of your questions. Your peer adviser will email additional
information throughout the semester. We also strongly encourage you to contact your peer adviser,
the Center for International Education (CIE) study abroad staff, and past program participants with
your specific questions. You should also make use of the additional written and web resources listed
towards the end of this guide.
Basic questions only you can answer include:
1) What are YOUR goals for this experience? Common goals of student travelers include
advancement in a future profession, desire to expand personal and academic horizons, need for
change, and wish to challenge oneself with immersion in a new culture.
2) Given the way the program is set up, how can you best prepare to meet your goals? For example,
if one of your goals is to truly be immersed in German language and culture, yet you have the option
of taking classes with all international students, how can you ensure that you get out and interact
with the local population?
The information in this guide was current at the time of printing, though changes may occur at any
time.
1Academic Calendar
GENERAL INFORMATION A note on terminology: German universities
have a Wintersemester and a
The Program Sommersemester, rather than fall and spring.
This new bilateral exchange between UW-Eau You are going to Marburg during the German
Claire and Uni Marburg began in Fall 2017. It
grew out of the Hessen-Wisconsin exchange
between the University of Wisconsin System Exchange
and institutions of higher education in the Pre-Semester Intensive German &
German state of Hessen. Orientation Course: TBD, early March-Early
April
Program Options
Sommersemester: Apr 9, 2018 Jul 13, 2018.
Philipps-Universität Marburg/Exchange Not
Erasmus: In this program, you become
More details are added closer to the semester
exchange students at the university and take
on this site: http://www.uni-
regular university courses in German or
marburg.de/international/aus/stud/info/kalen
English (if available) with German students.
der
Program Application
You will get specific arrival and orientation
The exchange coordinator at Uni Marburg will
dates, etc., directly from Uni Marburg. Please
e-mail you with the link to the online
note that arrival dates have been known to
s
change without notice from the date
additional information to help prepare for the
specified in your acceptance letter. It is a
exchange. This usually happens in September
good idea to confirm the arrival date directly
or early October.
with the International Office at Uni Marburg
You will need to register in this portal by filling prior to purchasing a plane ticket.
in an online form. Once you have completed
the necessary data in Mobility Online, the
system will automatically provide you with a
ACADEMICS
PDF file summarizing the data you have There is additional information on program
entered. eligibility, as well as academic topics such as
registration, class attendance, credits and course
You will need to print out this file, sign it and load, grades, transcripts, and accessing the UW-
have it signed and stamped by Cheryl Eau Claire library while abroad in your Study
Lochner-Wright in the CIE. Then, you will have Abroad Handbook.
to upload a scanned copy of it to Mobility
Online. Exchange Pre-Semester German Class
Uni Marburg offers a four-week, six ECTS (three
The absolute deadline for uploading this
-
document is January 15, 2018. Earlier
semester preparation course for students in
submission is strongly encouraged, since you
the regular exchange. You will receive
cannot apply for housing until Uni Marburg
registration information via email directly from
has officially accepted you.
2Uni Marburg once you have been accepted. least 24 ECTS credits. If you take the pre-
We strongly recommend that you take this semester German class, you need to take at
course. In addition to getting you least 18 additional ECTS credits during the
comfortable with academic German prior to semester. Classes may carry anywhere from
beginning regular classes, the course functions two to 12 ECTS credits, so the actual number
as an extended orientation program. This can of classes you will take can vary a great deal.
be of great help in working through the course
registration system. Taking more than the equivalent of 18 UW-Eau
Claire credits will result in additional per-credit
The estimated course fee is 300 Euro and is charges at UW-Eau Claire.
NOT included in the fees you pay to UW-Eau
Claire. Course Selection
As in the U.S., you may only choose courses for
Course Offerings which you meet the course pre-requisites.
The following links take you to Uni Marburg When reviewing course lists, pay special
course information. Note that the schedule for attention to any pre-requisites based on prior
Sommersemester18 (Vorlesungsverzeichnis) learning requirements or on the number of
will not be published until shortly before the completed years of university.
beginning of the term; use the previous
You may be asked to list courses you are
offering as a guide. The complete listing may
interested in taking on your Uni Marburg
not be available until you arrive in Germany.
application. Note that this is not a form of
Regular university courses offered in
pre-registration. It is simply an indicator of
English
what types of courses you are interested in
On Line catalog of regular university
taking.
courses offered in German or English
A few weeks prior to leaving for Germany,
Most departments at Uni Marburg present
begin checking online for the
their course information in the same format.
Vorlesungsverzeichnis. If it is available,
begin researching course options. You can
request course equivalencies at this time for
then find course titles. Descriptions may or
courses you are relatively sure you would like
may not be there.
to take. Just send the course department,
number, title, number of credits, and course
Credits and Course Load
description, to Cheryl Lochner-Wright, the
You are required to carry a full load (12-18
Marburg study abroad coordinator, and she
credits/semester). Uni Marburg uses the
will work with the Admissions Office to have
European Credit Transfer System, or ECTS. The
equivalencies established. This process can
conversion of ECTS credits to UW-Eau Claire
take several weeks.
credits is simple: Two ECTS credits equal one
UW-Eau Claire credit. Exchange Placement Exam
All regular exchange students are required to
To make sense of this: to earn 12 UW-Eau take a German proficiency exam. In the past,
Claire credits, you will need to register for at
the exam has consisted of a very short section
3on basic German grammar and usage; a decide in those first two weeks that the class is
dictation, where you listen to and write word- not what you expected. See more details here.
for-word a text that is read to you; and a
Textwiedergabe, where a text is read to you, Through Mobility Online, you will be able to
and you write a summary in your own words. generate your course registration, known as a
This exam determines whether you need to Belegliste. Classes can only be included on
take German for Foreigners courses, or can your transcript if they are in your Belegliste
take all regular university courses. in Mobility Online site. There is a step-by-
step explanation here.
Course Registration
Germany has very strict laws related to You will take your Belegliste to the professor in
students and the sharing of data, which leads each of the classes you have decided to take,
to significant differences in the administration identify yourself as an exchange student so
of education from the U.S. system. Therefore, that the professor knows you will need a grade
registering for courses and receiving a at the end of the semester, and have the
transcript is very different in Germany. This professor sign your list. Keep this safe you
process will call for a bit of flexibility on your will need to take the list back to each of your
part as you simultaneously manage both professors at the end of term!
course enrollment and course transfer
between two very different systems. At the end of the semester, you must take the
list back to each of your professors, have them
As long as you have completed the necessary fill in your grade and sign the list again. Then
forms in the Uni Marburg Mobility Online you must sign it and give it to your exchange
Portal, you can begin to register for classes as coordinator in Marburg. If you are not sure to
soon the course schedule is available. whom you should give it, ask the Uni Marburg
However, with the exceptions noted below, it International Office.
is not necessary to do so right away. At the
beginning of the semester, you are
Credits and Course Load
Uni Marburg uses the European Credit Transfer
encouraged to sit in on many more classes
System (ECTS). The conversion of ECTS credits
than you actually plan to take. This is an
to UW-Eau Claire credits is simple: Two ECTS
opportunity to work out your course schedule
credits equal one UW-Eau Claire credit. To
and figure out which courses really interest
make sense of this: to earn 12 UW-Eau Claire
you. Then, by the end of the 2nd week, you
credits, you will need to register for 24 ECTS
register through Mobility Online for the classes
credits. Classes may carry anywhere from two
you will take.
to 12 ECTS credits, so the actual number of
The exception to waiting to register is if there classes you will take can vary a great deal.
are Seminare, Pro-Seminare or Uebungen that
you wish to take. As these classes have limited Dropping below full-time status may result in
seats, Uni Marburg recommends that you loss of financial aid and/or insurance coverage
register for them as soon as they are available. and must be approved by the UW-Eau Claire
You can then cancel your registration if you Center for International Education.
4assign course equivalencies until they see
Course Equivalencies examples of work you have done in the class.
As soon as you are registered for classes in
Marburg, log in to your UW-Eau Claire online Registration for Exams
study abroad account and complete the In addition to registering for the class itself,
Course Descriptions questionnaire. You will you must also register separately for the
find it at final exam for each class. If you do not, you
https://studyabroad.apps.uwec.edu/index.cfm will not be able to take the exam, and you will
?FuseAction=Abroad.Home. Choose LOGIN not get credit for the class.
from the top toolbar and login with your UW-
Eau Claire username and password. You will Exams given in Germany may be written or
need to provide the following information for may be oral exams. If you are concerned
each of the classes you are taking: about having to produce immediate,
course title grammatically correct, and in-depth verbal
course number answers in the German language, many
course description professors are open to an alternative. Some
number of ECTS credits examples include an oral presentation that
name of the department you would you prepare in advance, or a written exam.
like credit in However, it is up to you to make the request,
and ultimately, it is up to the professor to
This information will be forwarded to the decide how to give the exam.
Admissions Office, which will communicate
with the relevant department chairs. Once Grades
equivalencies have been established, the Grades will be converted from the Uni
courses will be posted to the Transfer Credit Marburg scale as follows:
Wizard, and you will be able to see them there.
Point Percentage Grade
Equivalency timeline: The process of 15 98-100 A
determining an equivalency can take four to 14 95-97.9 A
six weeks or more. In other words, you will not 13 90-94.9 A-
be able to ask to have equivalencies 12 88-89.9 B+
established for three or four courses so that 11 83-87.9 B
you can choose which one you wish to take. 10 80-82.9 B-
9 78-79.9 C+
Keep all syllabi and academic work. Because 8 74-77.9 C
you will register for your classes after arrival in 7 65-73.9 C-
Germany, remember to keep your German 6 58-64.9 D-
syllabi and the work that you have done 5 to 0 57.9 and below F
while abroad for review by relevant UW -
Eau Claire department chairs in case you Transcripts
want to petition to have a course Because it is the individual student's
substituted for a specific requirement. The responsibility to keep record of their academic
German faculty, in particular, are reluctant to progress, transcripts are not automatically
5generated in the German university system. their UW-Eau Claire service-learning
Again, you will need to bring your completed
Belegliste to the International Office at Uni section of this guide for details.
Marburg before leaving Germany. If you do
If you want to fulfill service-learning in
not do this, it will be impossible for you to
Marburg, you will complete the service-
receive a transcript.
learning forms online once you have your
volunteer assignment. To do so, go to the
Plan for the future: If the university allows
following website:
you to request two original transcripts,
http://www.uwec.edu/SL/students/index.htm
request that a second copy be sent to you.
This can be very important if you decide to go
to graduate school, because graduate schools Cheryl Lochner-Wright, the UWEC Marburg
often require original copies of transcripts coordinator, is happy to act as your UWEC
from each university you have attended. Since mentor for service-learning. If you volunteer
there is no centralized transcribing system in through Freiwilligenagentur, someone there
German universities, it will be virtually will act as the community partner.
impossible to get another original copy of
your transcript later.
German Academic System
Transcripts & Delayed Graduation Traditional higher education in Germany is
Transcripts from Uni Marburg are not available very different from that in the U.S. Students
until two to three months after the end of are expected to learn independently and often
the German semester. work together outside of class to understand
or expand upon the materials presented. Short
If you are a senior and are studying abroad for quizzes and daily or weekly assignments are
your last semester, please note that the very uncommon. Grades are largely based on
different timelines in grade reporting will class participation, along with one major
require you to delay your graduation. The exam, paper, or oral report (Referat).
Blugold Central/Registrar's Office must receive
grades within 42 days of the last day of the The type of classes you take generally
UW-Eau Claire semester in order to confirm determines the type of assessment that will be
your graduation that semester. For example, used.
for May graduation in a UW-Eau Claire A Vorlesung (lecture) will usually have an
semester that ends on May 17, grades must be oral or written exam.
received by June 28. This is a UW-Eau Claire An Uebung (lab) grade will be based on in-
requirement, and our partners abroad are not class performance.
expected to change their usual timelines to For a Proseminar (introductory seminar), a
accommodate it. Referat or a written term paper is usually
expected.
Service Learning A Seminar (advanced seminar) may require
Past students have used both the Tandem both a Referat and a paper.
Language program and community
volunteering in Marburg to fulfill part or all of
6You may also notice that the Germans have a Module: word for
different reinforcement method than we use
in the U.S. Instead of pointing out and
reinforcing your correct answers and good Titles for Professor: Address your professor
ideas, your teacher will often point out your
mistakes. Do not be surprised or feel offended titles together to err on the side of politeness!
if your teacher points a finger at you and says
Advising vs. Counseling: What we would call
used to this method from grade school on, but in
it often intimidates American students at first. Germany.
Campus: In the U.S., a university campus
typically has buildings, facilities and outdoor
The university is there to provide access to areas all centralized in one place. While some
academic resources. Unlike most U.S. campuses are large and others quite small,
institutions, German universities do not have there usually
the mission university structure
University students are considered adults who
will work their way through the system, asking
German universities are not typically
questions when necessary. As a newcomer to
centralized on a campus. Classrooms, libraries,
the system and the culture, you will find it
cafeterias, administrative buildings, offices,
necessary to ask questions often!
and student accommodation may be found in
various locations throughout the city. You can
Differences in Terminology
expect to walk longer distances between
There are differences in English terminology
campus facilities or between student
between the U.S. and Germany. Sometimes
accommodation and campus facilities; in
the same English word is used to describe two
many cases you may need to rely on public
different things and other times different
transportation as well.
English words are used to describe the same
thing. Below is a list of terms that have
Students are therefore members of a much
historically caused confusion for U.S. students
larger community than you may be
studying in Germany, even those studying in
accustomed to on a U.S. campus.
English.
Extracurricular activities, intramural sports,
gym memberships, and even student
Faculty vs. Department: In Germany, what
accommodation are through city or student
organizations, which are not part of the
university.
Freemover: udent who
applies directly to an institution for a semester
or year, but does not apply through a formal
to the people teaching your courses.
exchange. You are NOT a freemover.
7receive the same benefits a typical German
Erasmus & Socrates: student receives, and the German student
receives the benefits a typical Eau Claire
associated program. You are NOT an Erasmus student receives.
or a Socrates student. However, because you This type of arrangement allows students to
are an exchange student, some information on participate in programs abroad at the same
the Uni Marburg website may apply to both basic tuition cost they would pay to attend
you and Erasmus/Socrates students. their home university.
Stipendium
MONEY MATTERS Please note that when you are in Germany,
Information about how payments are made, you may be notified that you have a
when they are due, withdrawal/refund "Stipendium" for the program. Some students
deadlines, financial aid, scholarships, budgeting, get very excited as they think this means they
and how to bring money abroad is in your Study are receiving a monetary award, scholarship,
Abroad Handbook. or stipend. What this means is that you do
not pay the program fee there, because you
Cost Estimate have already paid the exchange fee here. If
You can find the most current cost estimate you are confused by any correspondence from
for your program, in easily printable format, on your site about payment, please contact your
the CIE Hessen webpage. Be sure you are UW-Eau Claire study abroad coordinator.
looking at the correct term. Remember that Marburg Refund Policy
the cost estimate includes what you pay to
UW-Eau Claire, what you pay to Uni Marburg, Exchange
and what you pay directly to other vendors. Uni Marburg may have fees that are non-
refundable immediately after acceptance to
Exchange Explanation the program. Please read all acceptance
On an exchange program, each participant materials carefully.
pays the costs they would normally pay at
their home school. UW-Eau Claire students pay All withdrawals must be in writing.
UW-Eau Claire tuition costs, and Uni Marburg
students pay Marburg costs, and they switch Currency Exchange
places. The money paid by the German The currency of Germany is the Euro. One
students is then used to pay the tuition and Euro has 100 cents. There are 8 euro coins,
fees for the UW-Eau Claire students, and vice ranging in amount from 1 cent to 2 euros.
versa. Coins have different designs in the various
countries that use the Euro. Bills range from
No money is exchanged between the
universities, and there is no direct countries.
monetary correlation between what you
pay in Eau Claire and what you receive in The exchange rate as of June 8, 2017 was 1
Germany. What is exchanged is not actual euro = $1.09201 US. You can find current
payment, but rather benefits: you should
8exchange rates at Department Country Specific Information
http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/. page.
If you have questions or concerns about this,
please contact your UWEC study abroad
coordinator.
HEALTH & SAFETY Safety in Germany
Information on crime, road safety, drug
Additional information on these issues, as well as
penalties, and terrorist activity in Germany is
on CISI insurance, is included in the Health Issues
available online at
and Safety Abroad sections of your Study Abroad
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/engli
Handbook.
sh/country/germany.html.
Before You Go
In addition to the general health precautions
Emergency Contacts
General emergency procedures are described
listed in your Study Abroad Handbook, you
in the Study Abroad Handbook and Uni
should consult your physician to see if you
Marburg international office staff are available
should receive any other vaccinations,
if difficulties arise. You will receive an
depending upon the type of travel you plan to
emergency contact card from your peer
do.
advisor. The information is also on the Contact
Names & Addresses section of this guide and
Medical Facilities in Marburg
will also be posted to the Learning Content of
If you need medical attention in Marburg, the
your UWEC online study abroad account closer
International Office at Uni Marburg can help
to departure.
you make arrangements.
Counseling Services REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
There are English-speaking psychologists in
Marburg, and students can contact them
Passport
directly or ask for assistance at the
General passport information is found in your
International Office.
Study Abroad Handbook.
http://www.studentenwerk-
marburg.de/en/counselling/pa.html Visa
A visa is official permission to temporarily
Services for Students with Disabilities
reside in another country and is granted by
Servicestelle für behinderte
the government of that country. At the time
Studierende (SBS) can provide assistance and
of this writing, U.S. citizens do not need a visa
accommodations to exchange students.
to enter Germany for the purpose of study,
It is also important to look at the level of although there are several documents you
accessibility in Germany. To find more need to bring with in order to apply for a
information on this topic, please see the State residence permit shortly after arrival. Basic
information about the visa/residence permit
process for U.S. citizens studying in Germany
9will be posted to the Learning Content section Appliances
of your UWEC online study abroad account The standard electric current in Europe is 220
during the semester prior to departure. volts. U.S. appliances such as hair dryers and
razors run on 110 volts. If you plan to bring
these appliances, you will need to buy both a
converter and plug adapters for the various
countries. Travel hair dryers and razors, which
are relatively inexpensive, usually are
PACKING TIPS convertible and need only a plug adapter.
In addition to the general packing information in
your Study Abroad Handbook, you should know ARRIVING IN GERMANY
the following about Germany:
Travel Arrangements
It is your responsibility to make travel
Documents arrangements to Uni Marburg. Again, you will
Please see the Visa Information: Germany receive specific dates in your acceptance
document in the Learning Content of your letter; you should not make your travel
online study abroad account for a list of arrangements prior to that. A list of student-
documents should you pack on your person/in oriented travel agencies and instructions for
your carry-on for travel to Germany! booking a flight are included in your Study
Abroad Handbook.
Clothing & Weather
The climate in Germany is somewhat milder You will most likely fly into the Frankfurt am
than the climate in Wisconsin, but you will still Main (FRA) international airport. (Note that
want clothing for all weather. Attire at the there is another, much smaller, Frankfurt
university will be casual, with jeans and airport, Frankfurt-Hahn, which is actually three
sweaters the primary clothing of choice. hours from Frankfurt am Main. Be sure you
arrive at Frankfurt am Main!)
General packing suggestions include taking
clothing that is washable and does not wrinkle
Getting to Marburg
easily. Past students suggest choosing a color
You are responsible for traveling from the
scheme and bringing mix-and-match clothing.
airport to your Marburg on your own. Uni
Bring garments that can be worn
Marburg has information on getting to
interchangeably and that you can layer. Dark
Marburg from Frankfurt on their website.
colors show less dirt when you travel.
From the airport, you can take a train to
What to Pack Marburg. Check rail connections at:
You will receive a suggested packing list from http://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/index.shtml
your peer adviser during the semester prior to
departure.
If Your Luggage Does Not Arrive
Request that it be delivered to the
International Office at Uni Marburg: Philipps-
10Universität Marburg, International Office, Your acceptance email from Uni Marburg will
Deutschhausstr. 11+13, 35037 Marburg. include details on how to request student
housing via their online form.
SETTLING IN A few past students have asked to be allowed
Checking In to find their own apartments in shared living
When you arrive, you will need to bring several spaces
forms and materials to the International Office (Wohngemeinschaften, or WGs); however, you
at Uni Marburg. should be aware that housing in German
Passport university towns is at a premium. If you
Official Letter of Acceptance from Uni choose not to live in the dormitories, you are
Marburg (Zulassungsbescheid) completely responsible for making all your
Official Letter of Acceptance from UW-Eau housing arrangements.
Claire (you will receive this at your 2nd Location
program meeting) Most dorms are a 15+ minute bus ride to the
Proof of UW System insurance (your card, city and various academic buildings. Be aware
printed from the CISI portal, and a copy of that you will be riding the bus a lot!
the full policy)
Receipts for any fees you pre-paid to Uni Room Types
Marburg or for your housing German dormitories are not like their U.S.
An official passport-size photo counterparts. Most have single rooms. Some
have private showers in the rooms while
Once you register, you will receive your others have sinks, with a shared bathroom
student ID card (Studienausweis) and coupons down the hall. Most have a shared kitchen. If
that prove your student status at Uni Marburg they are apartment-style facilities, there may
(Studienbescheinigungen). The be as many as eight bedrooms sharing the
Studienausweis and your passport will be your bathroom and kitchen facilities.
transportation and discounts at many stores, Take note: each floor has common
restaurants, and bars. bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen, all shared
with both sexes. But don't worry, the shower
Orientation is a separate room with a locking door, and the
Uni Marburg offers a multi-day orientation toilets are individual private stalls.
program, either before the beginning of the
pre-semester course, or shortly before the
beginning of the actual semester. You must Sheets, blankets, and a pillow are provided,
attend one of these orientations. Find details but you should bring your own towels and
here. alarm clock. You will turn in your bedding
every few weeks and receive a clean set in
HOUSING return.
When you check in with the dorm secretary,
you will receive a key to your room, a mailbox
11key, and a key for one of the cupboards in the It is not uncommon for people sharing a
kitchen. Once you have moved in, ask kitchen to do some grocery shopping and
someone which refrigerator compartment cooking together. Cooking your own meals is
(Fach) you should use. a great way to save money and also a great
opportunity to meet and make friends with
Laundry the students that live on your floor. You may
Most dormitories have their own (limited) want to bring a few American recipes (with
coin-operated laundry facilities. A past student metric conversions!) to make for new friends.
suggests, "Make sure to hang on to those
annoying little 10 and 20 cent coins for laundry!" Where to Buy Food
The major supermarkets in Marburg are:
Most German students do not use their tokens
on the dryers; instead, they hang their clothes Rewe - this is a big and reasonably priced
on the drying racks in the dorm bathrooms. supermarket not far from the university.
You may want to buy your own rack after you
arrive. Lidl - this one's located near Rudolphsplatz,
and it's the dollar store of grocery stores, if
eating cheap is your thing.
FOOD
Pennymarkt - also a very cheap food store.
University Cafeterias This one is conveniently near the train station,
There are no meal plans at Uni Marburg. There but on the street heading away from the city
are two university cafeterias (Mensen). Mensa center.
meals are fairly inexpensive (2 4
Edeka - just off Bahnhofstraße (the street that
need a U-key to pay for meals at the Mensen.
leads from the train station). It's kind of
The red key is available at the cafeteria, where
hidden, but look down side streets to the
right as you're walking away from the station
The key is electronically loaded with money
and you'll find it. Edeka is one of the better
which is deducted by computer-based cash
stores to find Bio (organic) products.
registers every time you buy a meal.
Don't forget your REUSABLE BAGS! You can
Student Residence Kitchens purchase a reusable bag from the store,
The Mensen are open very limited hours, so
otherwise they will charge you for a paper bag.
you may also do quite a bit of cooking in your
dorm. You will be assigned a locking cupboard
In addition, most drink receptacles have
where you may store your food and dishes.
Some kitchens are equipped with everything
bottles and cans can be returned for cash. If
(pots, pans, utensils, mugs, etc), and you pay a
the t recycle
small fee to share them with your floormates.
them. Bring them back to the grocery store,
Others have little to nothing, in which case
put them in the Pfand machine, and cash in
your receipt at the register!
12Restaurants
means you don't want change.
occasionally.
Things to keep in mind:
Water: Germans love their sparkling water.
When you go to a restaurant and ask for water, bit
that's what you'll get, and it is not free. If you
want tap water, ask for "Leitungswasser."
Silverware: Fork in the left hand, knife in the
right, and try to not put them down between
GETTING INVOLVED
bites! You'll get used to it. There are many opportunities to get involved
in Marburg. Advance planning is key! Here
Special Diets: If you're vegetarian, or have are some suggestions from Uni Marburg.
diet restrictions, German restaurants have
vegetarian and sometimes gluten free dishes Tandem Language Partners
and will often accommodate you by making a
dish without meat or with a wheat alternative. is looking for a German/English language
exchange. Because German students will be
When you're done: put your fork and knife on semester break during your first few
parallel across your plate to signal the months in Marburg, it is strongly
waiter/waitress that you're done eating. recommended that you try to connect with
someone in advance. To do so, visit this
Etiquette: Europeans enjoy sitting for long website:
periods of time to enjoy a meal or drink, and http://www.uni-
the staff in their restaurants typically won't be marburg.de/sprachenzentrum/sprachen-
in a rush to get you out (unless they're closing tandem/index_html-en?set_language=en
for the night).
Volunteer
Getting the bill:
Uni Marburg has begun to work with a
community volunteer organization,
the waiter directly at your table. People often
Freiwilligen Agentur-Marburg. This is a
split the bill, so be able to tell the waiter what
relatively new opportunity, and you need to
you ordered.
do the legwork if you are interested in getting
involved. One UWEC student volunteered
Tips: in Austria and Germany, waiters and
through the organization in 2017. You can
waitresses don't depend on tips to complete
find more information here:
their salary, but it's still important! It should
http://www.freiwilligenagentur-marburg.de/
reflect the quality of the service. A good
general rule is to round up to the nearest Euro
or two with good service, and maybe a few Posted Announcements
more if the service was excellent. For If you look around while in Marburg, German
example: - just give students who are looking for someone they
13can practice their English with often post
advertisements in the university buildings. The Internet
English speaker in turn can practice their Only about half of the Uni Marburg dorms
German. Partners can arrange meetings provide Internet access. Plan on NOT having
around their own schedule as they please. it and be pleasantly surprised if you do. If
your dorm is connected, you will have to pay a
Church Services fee for service. If it is not, it is very common
For those who are interested, past students that students on your floor will have a Wi-Fi
have also attended church services and had a router. Past students recommend that you ask
lot of success getting involved with activities around your floor or post a sign in the lobby,
through people they met there. asking if anyone has Internet. If you find
someone, you just pay them 5-
University & Community share their internet with you. Otherwise, the
Organizations academic buildings all have free Wi-Fi.
A few other examples of activities that past
students have been involved with include the E-mail
university band, intramural lacrosse, and There are computer labs in the library and in
dance lessons at a local dance school. various other departments. You must use your
University students are constantly standing Uni Marburg account to log in.
outside of the Mensa handing out flyers for
upcoming events. You just have to keep your Snail-mail
eyes open and not be afraid to try new things. International airmail takes seven to ten days to
cross the Atlantic in either direction.
Going Out
Note that the culture surrounding going to a Calling/Cell Phones
bar is very different in Germany than it is in the Past students recommend buying an
U.S. The primary purpose is to talk with friends inexpensive, pay-as-you-go cell phone once in
and meet new people. You may have a drink Marburg to use to text friends in country.
while you are there, non-alcoholic is always an There are plans that receive free incoming
option, but the focus is not on the drinking. It texts/calls, and within Germany rates are
is rare for a German student to be drunk in a cheap, but calling or texting internationally is
public venue. expensive. The recommendation is to use an
app like TextPlus or WhatsApp. See details in
the Study Abroad Handbook. Another
COMMUNICATION alternative is to buy prepaid SIM cards for your
smart phone.
Information on accessing/forwarding your UW-
Eau Claire email address and on using your
From the U.S. to Germany: If you want to call
computer for international phone calls (SKYPE) is
someone in Germany before you arrive, you
in your Study Abroad Handbook.
must first dial 011, which is the international
dialing code. Next, you dial 49, the country
code for Germany, then the city code, and the
rest of the number.
14homework.
CULTURAL NOTES
Crossing the Street
Learn to wait at the sidewalk until the green
Greetings & Good-byes
person on the traffic light appears before you
Germans are used to greeting and taking leave
cross the road, regardless of traffic. Otherwise,
of one another. When you meet someone on
you may find yourself in a situation where you
the street or at a meeting, first you shake
have to test your German with the police.
hands, greet the person and make polite
inquiry
Store Hours
Unlike in the U.S., retail employees in Germany
good trip to school? Did your test go well
are entitled to working hours similar to
yesterday?) Then you can get on to business.
everyone else. Some stores and banks are
closed from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. for lunch.
When you take leave, you again shake hands
They may also close as early as 4:00 or 6:00
and say a few words of departure. (Have a
p.m. Some offices close at noon every day
good evening. Have a good trip home. My
except one or two days a week. Stores and
regards to your parents.)
offices are usually closed Saturday afternoons
and Sundays. This requires you to plan ahead
Punctuality
for your shopping.
This is a stereotype, but Germans, in general,
are punctual. One can usually count on a TRAVEL WHILE ABROAD
German to arrive on time or a little early to an See additional travel information in your Study
appointment or date. If you have an Abroad Handbook.
appointment for a certain time, be there a few
minutes early. If you are late, even by a few International Office Trips
minutes, apologize and give the reason for
The Uni Marburg International Office offers a
your tardiness. Being late shows a lack of
cultural program each semester with several day
respect for the other person.
trips in and around the state of Hessen. They are
free, but space is limited, and you must reserve
Tell It Like It Is space via email. Details will be provided at
Some German customs may take you some orientation in Marburg.
time to get used to. One common trait is the
tendency to be quite direct at times. (This Train Travel in Germany
tendency also exists in parts of the U.S., Check out the Deutsche Bahn web site at;
although not in the Midwest.) Try not to feel https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
insulted or that you are not liked if someone for the best train deals within Germany.
mentioned to them. To many Germans, it is If you plan to travel within Germany, you can
just an observation to say that you look like buy a "Junior Bahncard." It gives you 50% off
the ticket price in Germany and is valid for a
year from date of purchase. The "Schoenes
15Wochenende" ticket is another money-saving
option. Details are on the web site!
Bus Travel in Germany
Long distance, or coach, buses, are not as
quick and accessible as the train but do tend
to be less expensive. Details here:
https://www.flixbus.com/
16WEB RESOURCES: HESSEN
Marburg Germany Travel
University of Marburg Map of Germany Deutsche Bahn AG
Homepage http://www.lib.utexas.edu/m http://www.bahn.de/home/inde
http://www.uni- aps/germany.html x.shtml
marburg.de/
University of Marburg German Culture Bus schedule for Frankfurt-
E-mail Access http://www.medknowledge.d Hahn Airport Bus
https://home.students. e/germany/general/german_ http://omnibusse.bohr.de/routes
uni- culture.htm /wtc/routes.php?action=detail&r
marburg.de/imp/login. oute_id=16&language=de
php
Studentenwerk German Language Travel by Train
Marburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ http://www.bahn.com/i/view/GB
http://www.studenten German_language R/en/prices/germany/germanrail
werk-marburg.de/ pass.shtml
Der Spiegel (national) Dict.cc (www.dict.cc): Jugendherberge Deutschland:
(http://www.spiegel.de A German-English dictionary, Hostels
/international/): including phrases. Also http://www.jugendherberge.de/
available in an app that does
not require wifi.
Oberhessiche Zeitung Political Resources:
(Marburg area) Germany
(http://www.oberhessis http://www.politicalresources
che- .net/germany.htm
zeitung.de/index.htm)Contact Information
MARBURG IUSP MARBURG EXCHANGE UW-EAU CLAIRE
IUSP Marburg Philipps Universität Marburg Center for International
Miriam Wiley Veerle Waterplas Education
Program Coordinator Inbound Exchange Student Cheryl Lochner-Wright
Anne Poser Adviser Study Abroad Coordinator
Academic Coordinator Philipps-Universität Marburg 3 Schofield Hall
Philipps-Universität Marburg International Office University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
International Office Deutschhausstr. 11+13 Eau Claire, WI 54702
International Undergraduate D-35037 Marburg Phone: (715) 836-4411
Study Program (IUSP) Phone: +49 (0) 6421 28-20, Fax: (715) 836-4948
Deutschhausstr. 11+13 Studifon +49 (0) 6421 28- Email: lochnecb@uwec.edu
35032 Marburg, Germany 22222*
Phone: +49 (0)6421 / 28-26191* Email:
Email: iusp@uni-marburg.de veerle.waterplas@verwaltung.uni- After Hours Emergency
marburg.de (715)577-9045
international@uni-marburg.de
* If calling from inside Germany, If you have an after-hours
drop the "011-49", add a "0", and emergency, please call
dial the rest of the number. University Police at the number
above. Calls can be made to
this number 24 hours a day.
You may get an answering
machine; however, an officer is
alerted as soon as you have left
your message. Be sure to give
the officer the phone number
you can be reached at, as well
as what type of assistance you
require.6/8/17, clw
Revised 12/14/16, clwYou can also read
