Exchange program with Fudan University in Shanghai and NTNU in Taipei
Chinese classes free of charge are offered by both universities. English- or Chinese-taught classes are available depending on language proficiency.
When to apply?
Thursday, 1 February 2024 (for a stay abroad during the acadamic year 2024/25)
Fudan University
Fudan University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education with 28 schools and departments, over 25,000 students and about 2,500 teachers and researchers.
Goethe University
students may apply for one of the following programs:
- “language student": Participation in a set of
intensive Chinese language courses according to level of language in fields of
listening, speaking, writing and reading (from beginner to advanced)
- “general advanced student" / “senior (advanced) student": for undergraduate / graduate students who may take courses in their subject in Chinese or English and a maximum of 4 hours of language classes – most courses at Fudan are taught in Chinese, please see English-taught courses
National Taiwan Normal University
from the NTNU website:
"Characterized by both tradition and innovation, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) has long been recognized as one of Taiwan's elite institutions of higher education. Founded in 1922, NTNU was formerly an institution dedicated to teacher education. The university later evolved into a comprehensive university that provides students and scholars with opportunities to study and conduct research in a wide range of fields. Throughout its long history, NTNU has always been committed to academic excellence and this is reflected in the many influential educators and researchers that have studied at NTNU over the years.
NTNU's mission to nurture individuals who are critical thinkers and who are prepared to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world has attracted thousands of talented students and scholars from Taiwan and abroad. With three campuses in Taipei City and New Taipei City, NTNU offers 63 academic subjects in nine degree-granting colleges. These include the College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, College of Technology and Engineering, College of International Studies and Social Sciences, College of Sports and Recreation, College of Arts, College of Music, and College of Management. The internationally renowned Mandarin Training Center is also located at NTNU. Each year approximately 1,800 students from over 70 countries take part in language courses offered by the Mandarin Training Center."
Students who spend a semester at NTNU within the "direct exchange" may:
- may register for classes at any of NTNU's departments (prerequisites may be have to be met)
- take up to six hours / week of Chinese classes at the Mandarin Training Center (MTC)
general application requirements (for all our Direktaustauschprogramme):
- applicants must be enrolled at Goethe University
- applicants must be at least in their 2nd semester (BA), MA students may apply
during their 1st semester
- All majors may apply, there may be some restrictions regarding the available courses: students of medicine and law may apply but will not be able to take classes from their major at the host institution; restrictions regarding courses see first tab "host institution(s)"
- Good academic standing
- Good language proficiency (at least B1, if not stated otherwise) - language certificates are valid for 2 years only!
- good knowledge of current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country and Germany
- good knowledge of the host institution, available classes and a detailed study plan specific to the respective host institution(s)
- It is expected of exchange students to return to
Goethe-University after their study abroad period and continue and finish their
studies here.
- Students who do not have a German Abitur or other German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung and who are enrolled in an English degree have to submit proof of German proficiency (preferably at least B1)
- Applicants are expected to be able to take on an ambassador role for Goethe University and Frankfurt
additional application requirements for this exchange:
- BA students whose curriculum requires a semester abroad during the 3rd semester may exceptionally apply during their 1st semester; BA students of Sinology in their 1st semester, please see your coordinator at the Institute.
- Good academic standing (average grade min. 2,0)
- *Language
requirements for Fudan University:
- Language students: good knowledge of English and/or at least basic knowledge of Chinese (language proficiency certificate OR Duolingo English Test, at least 105)
- General Advanced Student/Senior (Advanced) Student: Chinese (new HSK level 6 (score of at least 220)) or English ((Toefl iBT 80 / IELTS 6.0) or enrolled in all-English taught programs at home university))
- Summer Session: good knowledge of English (language proficiency certificate OR Duolingo English Test (at least 105) or enrolled in all-English taught programs at home university)
- *Language requirements for NTNU:
- Chinese (new HSK level 6 (min. 220)) and/or English (Toefl iTB 80 or IELTS 6.0) or enrollment in an English-taught degree
*For the application at Goethe-Universität, language certificates are sufficient. For the application at the host institution, official language certificates (such as Toefl, HSK, TOEIC) may be required which would then have to be submitted if requested by the host institution.
additional application requirements for students of FB 09 who are applying to both the university-wide exchange as well as to the one of the department:
- you have to apply to the exchanges seperately; university-wide exchange see link in tab "application" / departmental exchange
- You may use the same letter of motivation for both applications. If you use different ones, please indicate this on top of the letter.
- Please upload a list of your preferences regarding the universities and the exchange, e.g. 1. NTNU (departmental exchange), 2. NTNU (direct exchange), 3. Fudan
- Tuition fee waiver (other fees may apply)
- Administrative support with application at host institution
- on-campus housing is available to exchange students (not guaranteed)
Tuition fees get waived for exchange students. However, costs of studying abroad should not be underestimated. All other costs will have to be paid by the exchange students themselves:
- room and board
- travel costs
- insurances
- other fees at the host institution may apply, e.g. administrative fees
Costs per semester as estimated by the host institutions:
Fudan: approx. €5.000 / semester (not including flight)
NTNU: approx. €350-650 / month
(costs vary depending on individual living style)
Both universities offer student housing. However, this cannot be guaranteed.
- Application form - will be generated from online application (will open approx. 4 weeks prior to application deadline)
- additional application documents
please see application manual - You will need a letter of reference and a language proficiency certificate. Please see about these well in advance (the sooner the better): talk to a professor/lecturer about the letter of reference and make an appointment for the language test. No late submissions!
- end of Feb./beg. of March
- there might be a preselection based on written applications so that not all applicants will be invited
- Depending on the number of applicants there may be a preselection based on the application documents.
- all applicants will receive an email:
- invitation to an interview OR
- rejection on the basis of submitted application
- interview will:
- be in Englisch (and, if different, language of host country; only expected of applicants who stated in their application that they have knowledge of that language)
- be about personal and academic motivation of applicant
- include possible other subjects such current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country as well as Germany
- final selection of exchange students by Goethe University's selection committee
- final approval of the participation in the program is given by host institutions after applications have been submitted to them
How to finance your stay abroad:
Students participating in our exchange programs may apply for financial aid and/or scholarships at other institutions:
- DAAD-PROMOS (in April/Mai for fall; in November/December for spring)
- DAAD-Jahresstipendium (for studying abroad for two semesters; please check the deadlines which are different for different countries and may be several months before the stay abroad)
- Auslands-BAföG (apply 6 months before studying abroad)
- Bildungskredit
- other scholarships
More information on our website: Finanzierung und Stipendien.
Please check
carefully whether you are eligible to apply: Some financial aid programs and scholarships might only be for German citizens or students who have graduated from German high school and/or have their permant residency in Germany.
You will find a data base of testimonials of former exchange students here (in German).
Fudan University
Fudan University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education with 28 schools and departments, over 25,000 students and about 2,500 teachers and researchers.
Goethe University
students may apply for one of the following programs:
- “language student": Participation in a set of
intensive Chinese language courses according to level of language in fields of
listening, speaking, writing and reading (from beginner to advanced)
- “general advanced student" / “senior (advanced) student": for undergraduate / graduate students who may take courses in their subject in Chinese or English and a maximum of 4 hours of language classes – most courses at Fudan are taught in Chinese, please see English-taught courses
National Taiwan Normal University
from the NTNU website:
"Characterized by both tradition and innovation, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) has long been recognized as one of Taiwan's elite institutions of higher education. Founded in 1922, NTNU was formerly an institution dedicated to teacher education. The university later evolved into a comprehensive university that provides students and scholars with opportunities to study and conduct research in a wide range of fields. Throughout its long history, NTNU has always been committed to academic excellence and this is reflected in the many influential educators and researchers that have studied at NTNU over the years.
NTNU's mission to nurture individuals who are critical thinkers and who are prepared to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world has attracted thousands of talented students and scholars from Taiwan and abroad. With three campuses in Taipei City and New Taipei City, NTNU offers 63 academic subjects in nine degree-granting colleges. These include the College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, College of Technology and Engineering, College of International Studies and Social Sciences, College of Sports and Recreation, College of Arts, College of Music, and College of Management. The internationally renowned Mandarin Training Center is also located at NTNU. Each year approximately 1,800 students from over 70 countries take part in language courses offered by the Mandarin Training Center."
Students who spend a semester at NTNU within the "direct exchange" may:
- may register for classes at any of NTNU's departments (prerequisites may be have to be met)
- take up to six hours / week of Chinese classes at the Mandarin Training Center (MTC)
general application requirements (for all our Direktaustauschprogramme):
- applicants must be enrolled at Goethe University
- applicants must be at least in their 2nd semester (BA), MA students may apply
during their 1st semester
- All majors may apply, there may be some restrictions regarding the available courses: students of medicine and law may apply but will not be able to take classes from their major at the host institution; restrictions regarding courses see first tab "host institution(s)"
- Good academic standing
- Good language proficiency (at least B1, if not stated otherwise) - language certificates are valid for 2 years only!
- good knowledge of current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country and Germany
- good knowledge of the host institution, available classes and a detailed study plan specific to the respective host institution(s)
- It is expected of exchange students to return to
Goethe-University after their study abroad period and continue and finish their
studies here.
- Students who do not have a German Abitur or other German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung and who are enrolled in an English degree have to submit proof of German proficiency (preferably at least B1)
- Applicants are expected to be able to take on an ambassador role for Goethe University and Frankfurt
additional application requirements for this exchange:
- BA students whose curriculum requires a semester abroad during the 3rd semester may exceptionally apply during their 1st semester; BA students of Sinology in their 1st semester, please see your coordinator at the Institute.
- Good academic standing (average grade min. 2,0)
- *Language
requirements for Fudan University:
- Language students: good knowledge of English and/or at least basic knowledge of Chinese (language proficiency certificate OR Duolingo English Test, at least 105)
- General Advanced Student/Senior (Advanced) Student: Chinese (new HSK level 6 (score of at least 220)) or English ((Toefl iBT 80 / IELTS 6.0) or enrolled in all-English taught programs at home university))
- Summer Session: good knowledge of English (language proficiency certificate OR Duolingo English Test (at least 105) or enrolled in all-English taught programs at home university)
- *Language requirements for NTNU:
- Chinese (new HSK level 6 (min. 220)) and/or English (Toefl iTB 80 or IELTS 6.0) or enrollment in an English-taught degree
*For the application at Goethe-Universität, language certificates are sufficient. For the application at the host institution, official language certificates (such as Toefl, HSK, TOEIC) may be required which would then have to be submitted if requested by the host institution.
additional application requirements for students of FB 09 who are applying to both the university-wide exchange as well as to the one of the department:
- you have to apply to the exchanges seperately; university-wide exchange see link in tab "application" / departmental exchange
- You may use the same letter of motivation for both applications. If you use different ones, please indicate this on top of the letter.
- Please upload a list of your preferences regarding the universities and the exchange, e.g. 1. NTNU (departmental exchange), 2. NTNU (direct exchange), 3. Fudan
- Tuition fee waiver (other fees may apply)
- Administrative support with application at host institution
- on-campus housing is available to exchange students (not guaranteed)
Tuition fees get waived for exchange students. However, costs of studying abroad should not be underestimated. All other costs will have to be paid by the exchange students themselves:
- room and board
- travel costs
- insurances
- other fees at the host institution may apply, e.g. administrative fees
Costs per semester as estimated by the host institutions:
Fudan: approx. €5.000 / semester (not including flight)
NTNU: approx. €350-650 / month
(costs vary depending on individual living style)
Both universities offer student housing. However, this cannot be guaranteed.
- Application form - will be generated from online application (will open approx. 4 weeks prior to application deadline)
- additional application documents
please see application manual - You will need a letter of reference and a language proficiency certificate. Please see about these well in advance (the sooner the better): talk to a professor/lecturer about the letter of reference and make an appointment for the language test. No late submissions!
- end of Feb./beg. of March
- there might be a preselection based on written applications so that not all applicants will be invited
- Depending on the number of applicants there may be a preselection based on the application documents.
- all applicants will receive an email:
- invitation to an interview OR
- rejection on the basis of submitted application
- interview will:
- be in Englisch (and, if different, language of host country; only expected of applicants who stated in their application that they have knowledge of that language)
- be about personal and academic motivation of applicant
- include possible other subjects such current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country as well as Germany
- final selection of exchange students by Goethe University's selection committee
- final approval of the participation in the program is given by host institutions after applications have been submitted to them
How to finance your stay abroad:
Students participating in our exchange programs may apply for financial aid and/or scholarships at other institutions:
- DAAD-PROMOS (in April/Mai for fall; in November/December for spring)
- DAAD-Jahresstipendium (for studying abroad for two semesters; please check the deadlines which are different for different countries and may be several months before the stay abroad)
- Auslands-BAföG (apply 6 months before studying abroad)
- Bildungskredit
- other scholarships
More information on our website: Finanzierung und Stipendien.
Please check
carefully whether you are eligible to apply: Some financial aid programs and scholarships might only be for German citizens or students who have graduated from German high school and/or have their permant residency in Germany.
You will find a data base of testimonials of former exchange students here (in German).
Kontakt
Global Office
Eschersheimer Landstraße 155
c/o House of Labor
3rd floor
60323 Frankfurt am Main
Mrs. Jule Türke
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