Your Study Abroad Semester at ISM

• April 15^th for the upcoming fall term
• November 15^th for the upcoming spring term

*For home institutions: there is no fixed nomination deadline but all students have to apply latest until application deadline.

ISM offers two semester starts per academic year:

• fall term: September - December
• spring term: March - June

Please visit /exchange-students/application for further details

Yes, you can join us as fee-paying student (free-mover) which implies a tuition fee paid to ISM. For further details, please contact the Coordinator of Incoming Students.

Please find the academic calendar and the exact semester dates here: /exchange-students/study-abroad-semester

You can choose one of the six campuses which are open for exchange students. Keep in mind that some ISM campuses are only open in a specific semester. The following campuses are open in the respective semester:

• fall term: Dortmund, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich
• spring term: Dortmund, Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne

Campus Stuttgart is not open for exchange students.

You should consider the following aspects for your campus selection:

• Course offer?
• Individual interests/preferences
• Living costs (accommodation price)

You can find an overview of all campuses here.

1. Picture of the face like a passport picture (this is used for the ISM student ID card) (as jpeg)
2. Scanned copy of the passport/ID card (as pdf)
3. Academic record/transcript (as pdf)
4. If you already have proof of your international health insurance (for example the European Health Insurance Card), you can already upload a copy here (as pdf)
5. Proof of the language level (English B2 or German B2 according to the language in which your courses are taught) (as pdf)

Regarding English language proficiency requirements, we accept:

• TOEFL internet-based: 80+
• TOEFL paper version: 550+
• TOEIC (out of 990): 400+ (listening), 385+ (reading)
• IELTS 6,0
• Cambridge B2
• Written confirmation of home-university certifying very good oral and written English skills of minimum B2

6. Double Degree students also need to hand in a copy of their Bachelor transcript/degree + CV.

Semester ticket

Every student studying face-to-face (except students studying fully online) at ISM is required to buy the semester ticket of the local public transportation provider which costs approx. 200€ per semester (subject to change each semester).

All students at Campus Dortmund, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne & Berlin have to buy this semester ticket (this is a rule of the federal state). An exception is Campus Munich:

Students studying at Campus Munich only have to pay the student union contribution fee of approx. 85€ (per semester, subject to change each semester) and can decide if they want to purchase the semesterticket in addition, here it is not obligatory.

German Intensive Course

For your participation in the intensive German language course prior to semester start, a fee of 480 € will be charged (plus an additional fee for books/study material which has to be covered by the student)

Tuition fee

For exchange students of partner universities, no tuition fee will incur.

For free-mover /fee-paying students: please consult the Coordinator Incoming Students of ISM for further details.

ISM does not have its own student boarding houses; thus, we do not offer any on-campus accommodation. However, at Campus Dortmund we offer off-campus accommodation for our exchange students in the student residence Dortmund. Details will be included in the Accommodation Guide which will be sent to you after successful application.

In general, the ¼´Ê±±È·Ö Office assists you in finding accommodation by providing an Accommodation Guide after successful admission. The Accommodation Guides are designed for each campus with helpful advice and links for residences as well as for the individual apartment or room-hunt.

As we do not have our own housing facilities, we cannot guarantee you a room in the residences listed in the Accommodation Guides. We recommend searching for accommodation on the private market through the weblinks provided in the guides or with the help of agencies specialized in short term accommodation.

This implies that you should arrive at least a few days prior to semester start.

In general, prices for accommodation vary throughout the different campuses.

In very big cities such as Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin cheap housing is very sought after ¨C here one should start looking early. These cities also tend to have higher rent prices due to the high demand.

In Dortmund the situation on the market is ¡°better¡± in comparison to the other cities but also in Dortmund one should start early to make sure to get something reasonably priced as well. Prices for accommodation can be from €350 per month up to €900 per month (especially in Munich). However, the cost of living will also strongly depend on the individual situation. According to the German authorities, you should have a budget of approx. 1000€ per month available.

Please be aware that in Munich the ¡°Oktoberfest¡± starts in mid-September and lasts until the beginning of October each year. This means students arrive only a short time prior to the biggest event in Munich. Hotel or hostel prices might be more expensive than usual and hotel accommodation options very limited, if you do not book well in advance.

As undergraduate students you can choose between two options:

1. IBC Program (¼´Ê±±È·Ö Business Certificate)

Most Bachelor (undergraduate) students choose this program which

• is exclusively taught in English
• allows you to gain up to 30 ECTS or even more if needed/wanted
• consists of distinct core modules + specialization modules, each course counts with 5 ECTS, you have to take a minimum of 3 courses = 15 ECTS
• enables you to qualify for the additional certificate ¡°Business Certificate¡± (if you have successfully completed 30 ECTS = 6 courses)
• includes an option to study fully online: core module 2 + specialization module ¡°¼´Ê±±È·Ö Management Track¡± at Campus Dortmund

?

2. Regular German-taught Bachelor Program

If you opt for joining a regular German Bachelor program, please note that:

• German language proficiency of B2 level is required
• you can only choose courses of semesters 5/6
• the semester dates vary from those of the IBC program
• only very few exchange students join a regular Bachelor program.

Please also note that we may need to ask you to choose a different campus in case your study program will not be offered at your chosen campus due to missing applications.

Find more information here: /full-degree-students/bachelor-programs

It is not possible to join the regular English-taught Bachelor Programs.

As Master (postgraduate) student, you have two possibilities:

1. IBC Program (¼´Ê±±È·Ö Business Certificate)

Most Master (postgraduate) students choose this program which:

• is exclusively taught in English
• allows you to gain up to 30 ECTS or even more if needed/wanted
• consists of distinct core modules + specialization modules, each course counts with 5 ECTS, you have to take a minimum of 3 courses = 15 ECTS
• enables you to qualify for the additional certificate ¡°Business Certificate¡± (if you have successfully completed 30 ECTS = 6 courses)
• includes an option to study fully online:
  core module 2 + specialization module ¡°¼´Ê±±È·Ö Management Track¡± at Campus Dortmund

Find more information on the IBC here.

2. Regular English-taught Master Program

Here you can choose between four options:

1. M.Sc. ¼´Ê±±È·Ö Management
2. M.Sc. ¼´Ê±±È·Ö Logistics & Supply Chain Management
3. M.Sc. Finance
4. M.A. Luxury, Fashion & Sales Management

If you opt for joining a regular Master program, please note that:

• ISM and your home-university need a valid exchange agreement for the regular Master programs
• you can only choose courses of semester 1 (fall term) or semester 2 (spring term)
• you have to choose all courses of the respective semester (24/30 ECTS, depending on the program + semester)
• the application has to be reviewed by the study program director
• the semester dates vary to those of the IBC program
• the semester is longer as the submission of written papers is in March (fall term) /August (spring term)
• only very few exchange students join a regular Master program.

Please note that we may need to ask you to choose a different campus in case your study program will not be offered at your chosen campus due to missing applications.

Find more information on our Master's programs here.

Depending on the Double Degree exchange agreement between your home-university and us, you have the option to select between different study programs for your Double Degree exchange.

Please consult the Coordinator for Incoming Students of ISM for further details.

IBC program

Information can be found here: /exchange-students/international-business-certificate

Regular German Bachelor programs

Information can be found here: /full-degree-students/bachelor-programs

Please contact the ISM Coordinator of Incoming Students for more information.

Regular English Master programs

More information can be found here, under Study contents of each program: /full-degree-students/master-programs

Please contact the ISM Coordinator of Incoming Students for more information.

The IBC courses do not have component/subject codes. You can leave such fields blank in your learning agreement.

IBC program

• Each course amounts to 5 ECTS
• you have to enroll into a minimum of 3 courses (15 ECTS)
• 1 ECTS corresponds to 30 hours of workload
• 5 ECTS correspond to 12 classroom sessions ¨¤ 1.5hrs = 18 classroom hours in total.
• you can not mix courses of different campuses
• courses @Campus Dortmund: mixing core module courses can result in course overlapping in your schedule (we recommend to stay within one core module). Among the specialization module courses you can mix.

Regular Master program

• Each course amounts to 6 ECTS
• you have to take all courses of the respective semester (24/30 ECTS - depending on the study program + respective semester), it is not possible to take less courses
• 1 ECTS corresponds to 30 hours of workload.

Yes, we offer online courses which you can study fully from home.

In this case, please select Campus Dortmund and choose core module 2 + the specialization module ¡°¼´Ê±±È·Ö Management Track¡±.

Don¡¯t forget, these are live sessions so it can be a different time zone.

We will ask you to make your final course selection after successful application. In the meantime, please make up your mind about your course selection. You can add and drop courses until two weeks after lecture start.

Yes, you have different options to learn/improve your German:

1. Online German Internsive Language course prior to semester start

You can take part in the online German Intensive Language course which¡­
- takes place before semester start and runs for three weeks from Monday ¨C Friday
- comprises 90 hours of language training counting with 6 ECTS
- is designed for German beginners (with none or very little knowledge in German)
- has an additional participation fee of 480€ (+ price of books you have to buy by yourself)

If we have enough registrations, we can also offer a German intensive language course for German advanced level students (with basic knowledge of German). Please indicate during your online application if you would like to participate in the German intensive course.

2. German language classes during the semester

Instead/in addition you can take a German language course during the semester counting with 3 ECTS. The German courses during the semester are free of charge, held online for participants of all campuses and have 10 sessions ¨¢ 90 minutes. The levels are:

• Beginners+ (A1.2) - (ideal for participants of the German Intensive Course) ¨C you have to have at least basic knowledge of German (A1.1) to participate!
• Intermediate (A2)
• Advanced (B1+)

The entrance and study regulations for Germany vary according to the applicants¡¯ nationality:

1. Citizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
   only need a valid ID card or comparable document to enter the country and usually do not need a visa for studying abroad in Germany.
2. Citizens from so-called ?positiven Drittstaaten¡°
   such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States of America can enter Germany without a study visa but have to apply for the residence permit after their arrival to Germany.?It also includes the following countries, provided that you do not intend to work (internships might be included) in Germany before or after completing your studies: Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino.
3. Non-EU students, from other countries outside?the European Union
   must apply for a study visa that entitles them to participate in a study program in Germany. You can not apply for a Schengen Visa as it does not entitle you to study in Germany. For the visa, you need a proof on how you will finance your time abroad. At the moment (2025) international students have to prove an available income of at least 992€ per month.

Please always double check by yourself if you need a study visa for your study abroad semester in Germany as it strongly depends on your nationality/type of residence permit.

Please get in touch with the German embassy or consulate in your home-country for detailed information and scheduling an appointment as the documents requested for the visa application differ by country and each visa application is reviewed individually.
The submission of the below-listed documents does not guarantee the issuance of a visa (in time). Submission of incomplete documentation will lead to a refusal of your visa. Once a visa has been issued, the purpose of the trip may not be altered. Urgent/express visa do not exist. There are long queues of students applying for visas, so you need to schedule the appointment well in advance. The university cannot do anything to schedule your appointment earlier. It can take up to three months to receive your study visa.

In general, you¡¯ll need the following documents:

• valid passport
• visa application forms
• letter of admission issued by ISM
• health insurance coverage
• proof of adequate funds for living (proof of financial resources ¨C the German embassy in your home country will provide more information on the proof that needs to be provided).
• In general, the following types of proof are possible:
  1) a security sum on a blocked account
  2) declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserkl?rung) of a third party
  3) scholarship

You can read more information here.

Yes, students are required to bring proof of a valid health insurance. All students in Germany are obliged by law to hold such an insurance policy.

The German social security system generally treats German and foreign students alike, meaning that foreign students may apply for health insurance coverage by the public health insurance in Germany.

• EU students need to present a proof of their health insurance coverage from their home country (i.e. EHIC - European Health Insurance Card).
  
  
• NON-EU students (coming from a country outside the European Union), need a travel insurance for the first 4 to 6 weeks of their stay in Germany. This travel insurance must have a coverage of minimum 30.000,00€.? After arriving to Germany, you have to register with a German health insurance for students (the travel insurance cannot be accepted for the whole period of study). The insurance fee currently amounts to approx. 120,00 € per month.

IBC program

Exams take place during the last two weeks of the semester. In the spring term at mid-end of June, in the fall term at beginning-mid of December.

Regular Degree Programs

This depends on your chosen study program. You will be informed when applying.

IBC program

You have the possibility to retake an exam once during the re-examination period in March/September. Please note:

• re-take exams can only be taken by students who failed an examination (less than 50 points) or who missed the first attempt
• the re-take exams are campus-bound and have to be taken at Campus. We do not send exams abroad neither is it possible to do the exam online from home
• the examination mode is always the same in the first and second attempt.
  
  

Regular Degree Programs

Exchange Students participating in our regular German or English-taught Degree Programs do have one chance for reexamination. Please note:

• re-take exams can only be taken by students who failed an examination (less than 50 points) or who missed the first attempt
• the re-take exams are campus-bound and have to be taken at Campus. We do not send exams abroad neither is it possible to do the exam online from home
• the examination mode is always the same in the first and second attempt.

We can¡¯t tell you any details yet about your schedule before Orientation Day but it will be irregular and may differ every week ¨C so free days during the week and start/end time will vary.

You will get access to your schedule as soon as you have received your login data for our student portal MyISM which will be until end of February (spring term) and end of August (fall term). You can access your schedule via MyISM > My studies > My schedule.

Each semester we create a Whatsapp group for each campus and invite you to enter the group so that you can see who will also join the next semester and can already get in touch with your future fellow students.

We offer a pick-up service for our exchange students at all campuses:

• Dortmund: Duesseldorf ¼´Ê±±È·Ö (NOT Duesseldorf-Weeze), airport Dortmund and main train station
• Frankfurt: Frankfurt international airport and main train station
• Munich: Munich international airport and main train station
• Hamburg: Hamburg international airport and main train station
• Cologne: Cologne/Bonn international airport and main train station
• Berlin: Berlin airport and main train station

The service costs 10/15 € per trip and per person (in Munich: 20 € from the airport per trip and per person). You can pay in cash when you meet the driver.

You have to book this service not later than two weeks prior to arrival. Please contact your ¼´Ê±±È·Ö Office Study Advisor at your respected campus. We cannot promise to find a pick-up for you, but we do our best to find a pick-up buddy.

The Buddy Program is designed to support you, our incoming exchange students. Designated ISM students, called Buddies, will help you to settle into your ¡°German life¡±. This means they will start getting in contact with you before your arrival. But that¡¯s not all! As a group, we will go on trips and spend evenings together so we can use a fun and interesting surrounding to get to know each other in a better way.

Every ISM student receives the semester ticket (public transportation ticket) which is valid for the whole semester (fall term: September - February / spring term: March - August) for all regional means of public transportation in Germany. It's obligatory to pay for it after semester start, you will receive the invoice via MyISM. The price amounts to approx. 220€ (subject to change each semester).

An exception is Campus Munich:? Students studying at Campus Munich only have to pay the student union contribution fee (subject to change each semester)?and can decide if they want to purchase the semesterticket in addition, here it is not obligatory.

In case you are studying fully online within the IBC program, you won¡¯t receive a semesterticket and don¡¯t have to pay for it. The ticket can be used directly upon your arrival (after March & September 1^st). You will receive the invoice for the semesterticket after semester start via MyISM (MyISM > My invoices).

Please note that late arrivals are only allowed in case of visa delay and the latest date you can join your exchange semester is Monday two weeks after Orientation Day.