A full term workload should comprise 30 ECTS credits, equivalent to three to five successfully completed courses (one course has 6, 9 or 12 ECTS). One credit point in the Cologne system is equivalent to one ECTS credit point and corresponds to a total of 30 working hours. The home university's provisions governing the required workload take precedence, if different.

Course selection parameters:

Bachelor students who come to Cologne in the fourth year of their bachelor studies may also choose from the course options offered at master level.

Information sources listing the courses available for guest students:

• 'Course options for incoming students'
  The list of 'Course options for incoming students' (available under "Downloads" on this page) is a term-by-term list of all courses available to guest students at the WiSo Faculty. Most of the courses are held in English, some are held in German. The list is frequently updated and sent to students before the beginning of term.
  Until the list for the exchange term is available, the previous year's list can be used as a guide since most of the courses run in the same term every year. Please note that there might be time overlaps between courses.
• KLIPS 2.0 database
  Basic information about the courses as well as times and locations can be found in the KLIPS 2.0 database without any need to log in. Credit points (ECTS) are not listed in KLIPS 2.0 but you will find them in the 'Course options for incoming students'.

Most of the courses available to guest students are taught in English, while a smaller number of courses are taught in German. The minimum language requirement is CEF level B2 in English or German. No certificates are required.

The WiSo Faculty offers the following different types of courses with different degrees of independent learning:

Lectures – Structured and presented by a professor; written examination; often in combination with exercises (see below)

Exercises – Held by professor's teaching assistants; interactive format and smaller groups; serve as exam preparation

Tutorials – Led by fellow students who are further along in their studies; high level of interaction; serve as exam preparation; limited number of participants

Seminars – Higher level of interaction between professor and students; independent group work; examination mostly consists of a term paper and a presentation in class

Before the beginning of the term and during the term, the "German as a Foreign Language" (Deutsch als Fremdsprache – DaF) unit at the University of Cologne's central International Office offers incoming students German language courses at various levels. The ZIB WiSo Incomings Team will provide you with all necessary information before the term starts.

Participation
- 1 course (either pre-semester or semester) is free of charge for international exchange students at the WiSo Faculty

- Want to take both courses? This is possible, however a fee will be charged for the second course.

- Staying for an academic year? You are eligible for one free course in the Fall and one in the Spring.

Pre-semester German course (only for new incoming students)
The pre-semester courses start four weeks before the lecture period starts. The courses are intensive language courses with approx. 20 teaching units per week from Monday to Friday, either mornings or afternoons, depending on course level. They are held from the beginning of March to mid-April (spring term) or from the beginning of September to mid-October (fall term).

Fall term: Please note that there is no 'early leaver' option for German courses and therefore early leavers will only be able to attend pre-semester German courses.

ECTS: 9

Semester German course
German courses are also offered during term time on a weekly basis. These courses consist of 8 teaching units per week. They are held from mid-April to mid-July (spring term) or from mid-October to mid-February (fall term).

ECTS: 9

Registration process

Interested in attending a course?

As you activate your WEX account, you can indicate which course you would like to attend. The ZIB WiSo Incomings Team will then provide you with further information.

The ZIB WiSo's role is limited to the registration process and we are not involved in or responsible for organising or executing the German language courses. Therefore, once the pre-registration and the online placement test is completed, we ask that all questions regarding course details, schedules, ECTS, etc. be directed to the German as a Foreign Language Department via their contact form.

General dates

Fall term
Regular term: Beginning of October – end of February (including examination period)
Short term/'early leaver': Beginning of October – 15 December (including examination period)*
Pre-semester German language course: September

*Early leaver option: Students can only take part in this option due to academic calendar conflicts (not including internships) and if they are nominated by their home university.
To see what courses are ‘Early Leaver’ compatible, refer to the list available under "Downloads" on this page. Along with the ability to finish their term abroad in December, it includes a much higher workload, additional assignments and shorter deadlines. For questions, please refer to your home university and the ZIB WiSo.

Spring term
Beginning of April – end of July (including examination period)
Pre-semester German language course: March

Exact term dates, a comprehensive summary of the most important deadlines as well as dates for CEMS students can be found in the academic calendar available under "Downloads" on this page.

• Academic calendar (23/24)
• Academic calendar (24/25)
• Course options for incoming students fall 2023/4
• Course options for incoming students spring 2023
• Fact sheet 2023/24
• Fact sheet 2024/25
• Incomings presentation 2023/24