Germany: Business Semester in Mosbach with DHBW
This program is for students studying business, communication, and related fields.
Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW), formerly Berufsakademie, is a state university system that offers a practice-oriented approach to learning by making companies an integral part of the university system. There are 9 main locations throughout the state of Baden-Württemberg. Mosbach and Bad Mergentheim are considered part of the same campus even though they are about one hour apart. The Baden Württemberg Cooperative State University (Duale Hochschule Baden Württemberg) is the first of its kind in Germany. It combines on-the-job training and academic studies. Regular DHBW students learn both theory and practice during their 3 year program through a unique rotation of academic study and job-training. Every 12 weeks, the students rotate between the classroom and worksite. GVSU exchange students do not participate in the job training component, but rather the 12 week academic program in either the fall or the spring. GV exchange students will be in a cohort class with both German and other international students studying at DHBW. Students will be taking all of the same courses with the same group of 20-30 students.
German language training is mandatory at the beginning of the program. Students studying in Mosbach will start the program in Mosbach with a German language course.
This program is geared toward students who have been admitted into the Seidman College of Business (SCB) Program for a business major or minor.
The Mosbach campus hosts 1500 students per semester. The campus only has 50% of its population at any given time. Due to the rotation system, half of the students are on their job placement while the other half are in the academic part of the program. Every 3 months, students rotate. The total student population for Mosbach is about 3,000.
Read tips from GVSU student, Joshua Hunter, who studied abroad at DHBW during the Fall 2019 semester.
GVSU's partner universities are largely independent programs; prospective participants should carefully consider if this form of study abroad suits their needs before registering. These partnerships allow students to experience a more independent international study abroad, but also require students to have a high level of flexibility and the ability to navigate much of the program independently. Those who prefer additional support may wish to consider other study abroad options such as external study abroad providers and our faculty-led options.
Partnership
2.8 GPA Required
No Language
Requirement
Requirement
Issue Friendly
Program Dates and Application Deadline
Fall 2023
Estimated Program Dates: September 2023 - December 2023
Application Deadline: February 1, 2023
(Closed)
Academic Year 2023 (Fall 2023-Winter 2024)
Estimated Program Dates: August 2023 - April 2024
Application Deadline: February 1, 2023
(Closed)
Winter 2024
Estimated Program Dates: January 2024 - May 2024
Application Deadline: September 1, 2023
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Fall Semester-Option I: Mosbach, September - December.
Winter Semester-Option I: Mosbach, January - April
Winter Semester-Option II: Bad Mergentheim, March - June
This program does not typically have any semester breaks since it is a 12-week program.
Courses
The IPB program at the Mosbach campus has a set list of courses and is available for participation in both the fall and winter GVSU semesters. International Business Program (IPB) - all classes through this program are taught in English except for the German language course.
Course Options Use this button to view all available course options and descriptions.
Pre-Approved Courses Note: This course list indicates courses that have been previously approved. It is not a list of available courses on this program.
Course Approval Process Students registering for courses that have not been pre-approved will need to follow the course approval instructions.
Students interested in satisfying general education courses abroad can find more information on our General Education page.
GENERAL ACADEMIC INFORMATION
The academic program at DHBW is very different from the structure of a traditional semester at GVSU. Students will start with a two-week language intensive program before starting the business courses. Students will take courses in one to two week periods throughout the semester. Students will be in class most of the day Monday- Friday in order to fit the class hours in during such a short session. There is often overlap with one course ending while a second course begins.
Housing
Students will live in off-campus apartments which are walking distance to campus. The apartments are shared apartments with other international students.
In Mosbach, students may share a 5 bedroom apartment with 6 other students. The apartments offer a shared kitchen, limited access to laundry and bathroom.
Cost and Scholarships
"Other Expenses" listed in the cost breakdown are general cost estimates. Due to COVID-19, costs may increase for basic goods and housing. These estimates are provided as a guide to help students in their planning, but they are subject to change.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Questions? Contact [email protected] or 616-331-3898
Seidman College of Business Study Abroad Scholarship: SCB offers a study abroad scholarship for SCB majors who wish to participate in a qualified study abroad or international internship program. Awards are based on program costs and financial need. Apply online using GVSU MyScholarships: https://gvsu.academicworks.com/opportunities/3103
Baden-Württemberg Stipendium: Students will be contacted by DHBW a couple of weeks into the semester with application instructions. This is a competitive grant, but several GVSU students in the past have been recipients.
Eligibility
Open to business students(Winter/Fall/Academic Year). Business students must be admitted to the Seidman College of Business, have a minimum of 55 credits, and a 2.75 GPA.
No current Covid Requirements
Additional Information
Host University Website
Excursions
Excursionsare organized through this program. Students studying in Mosbach will have several 1-day excursions which may include visits to: Frankfurt Stock Exchange or European Central Bank, a company visit, a day in Tuebingen which may include a tour of the Mercedes-Benz factory, a visit to Stuttgart with a visit to Porsche or Oktoberfest (fall only), as well as many team building/social events that are organized throughout the semester
Culture
When studying abroad, it is important to learn about the culture of your host country.
For information on music, food, language, news & more, view Cultural Information
Campus Info / Campus Life
Both Bad Mergentheim and Mosbach are very small towns. Students will have access to some on-campus activities. Many international students coordinate visits to nearby cities throughout the semester. Most shops and restaurants close around 8 pm throughout the week. It is common for students to hang out together in the evenings.
Google Map
Already Applied
Visa Requirements
US citizens studying in Germany for more than 90 days have two options regarding the residence permit application process. Specific information can be found in our student visa guide. Please note that the appropriate consulate or embassy must be consulted for the most up-to-date visa information.
Arrival Information
Students generally fly into Frankfurt, however, there are many other ways of getting to Mosbach.
General Advice
DHBW provides detailed information on how to get to Mosbach from Frankfurt airport. Students can take the train directly from the airport. The trip takes about one hour to Heidelberg. It may be longer depending on your connections. Students who are a bit concerned about taking the train can research the most direct route to avoid lots of connections.
Print the DHBW packet that will be given to you prior to your departure. Past students did not have a hardcopy expecting to be able to pull the information from their cell phone using wifi. This may not work – take hardcopies.
Also, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the train schedule and connections. You may notice that many of the schedules do not give you much time to connect to your next train. Do not worry if you happen to miss a connection. This may happen. There are usually information agents available to help you figure out the next train you can take. You do not need to purchase your tickets in-advance, you can purchase your tickets when you arrive in Frankfurt. If you are flying into a different airport, you should research the train availability from that airport.
Getting to Heidelberg -Mosbach
From Frankfurt, students will take the train to Heidelberg, and to Mosbach. Detailed information will be provided by DHBW prior to departure.
Students should plan to pack as light as possible due to the need to utilize the trains to get to your destination.
The trains leave from the Frankfurt airport train station (Frankfurt Flughafen).
CDC Report
US State Department Information
US State Department Country Information (Germany)
US State Department - Students Abroad
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) - Crime and Safety Report
Guides
About Our University (general overview of the institution)
Resources for Emergency Situations
Reporting an Incident
Contact Information
"Last semester, fall 2015, I spent in Germany at a partner university. During my time there, I got to visit a few different countries and only stayed at my host university three weekends. I was able to have the experience of a lifetime. It's an opportunity to learn the culture of an entirely new world. My program contained forty students from nine different countries around the world. I lived in a small little town called Mosbach. I was housed in an apartment above the local shops on the main street. Fifteen of the international students also shared this living space with me. This allowed for me to share experiences and get to know each one of the personally. Studying abroad in Germany has so many opportunities. In the fall semester, I was able to participate in the Stuttgart Oktoberfest as well as the Munich Oktoberfest. I traveled to many cities in Germany like Cologne, Hamburg, Triberg, Munich, and Berlin. Because Germany is centrally located in Europe, I had the opportunity to visit other countries like the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, France, and Spain. I made lifelong friends who were able to travel with me and get to know me very deeply. Not only did this opportunity teach me academically, but I learned so much about myself. It was the most valuable experience I've had. I think about my time in Germany and I miss the beautiful country and the friends I've made." -Josie Wing
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