FAQs

When is the best time to register?
You should register as soon as possible since the number of participants is limited.
Registration will end once the maximum number of participants has been reached.

How many seminars can I attend?
You can attend one seminar: "Environmental Engineering – Renewable Energy Sources" or "Reflections on German History - Literature and Art of the 19th and 20th centuries"

How many Credit points can I earn at the IWU?
You can earn up to 6 ECTS Credit points: 4 ECTS Credit points for the seminar and 2 ECTS Credit points for the language course.  

Is there a postal address where I can have mail sent during the IWU?
Please give the IWU address and c/o your name. Example:

University of Kassel
International Study Center, IWU
c/o Your Name
Kurt-Wolters-Str. 5
D-34109 Kassel
Germany

Where can I telephone during the IWU?
There are several public telephone booths on campus, where you can use an international telephone card. Furthermore, you can be reached through your host families telephones.

Can I access the Internet during the IWU?
During the IWU, you will have free access to the computer labs at the University of Kassel.

Am I obliged to take part in the entire program?
You have to participate in all of the classes for which you have registered. If you do not attend regularly, you will not receive credits.

How much free time will I have?
During the week, you will have classes all day from Monday to Friday. You will also have homework to complete in the evenings. On weekends, you are free to participate in organised excursions but these are not compulsory.

Do I need a visa?
Please check whether you need a visa for the European Union. This depends on your own individual circumstances. You may need to refer to www.germany-info.org/relaunch for the USA, or to http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/adressen_html if you come from another country.

Do I need health insurance?
The program fee covers a health, liability and accident insurance during the IWU. The health insurance won’t apply to any chronical illness, allergies or pregnancy. Fur further information please contact the IWU office.

Where can I get information about the city of Kassel and the region around it?
The easiest way is to consult the internet. Here is the website of the City of Kassel, which is designed for tourists.

Do I have to stay with a host family?
Staying with a host family is what makes this program unique. Even though you might encounter a little culture shock at the beginning it is worth to stay. Students who came to Kassel before loved to stay at the families and recommended it to future students. Nevertheless, if you insist of staying in a hostel or hotel, we can arrange that for you. Please contact the IWU office in that case. Please note: It might affect the program fee, though.

Do I need to contact my host family?
Once we have received final confirmation of your application, we will allocate you to a host family and will inform you of their address, email and telephone number. You are, of course, free to contact them.

What do I do if I have to arrive before the course starts or after it ends?
Your host family will not expect you to arrive before the first day of the program, or leave after the last day. Should this, however, be unavoidable, please notify us early enough so that we can assist you in making alternative arrangements, for example, in a youth hostel. 

Does my host family speak English?
Yes they do. However, we have asked them to communicate as much as possible in German so that you will have the opportunity of practicing what you have learnt in a very natural environment.

Can I use the phone at the host family to make private calls?
We recommend that you purchase a prepaid calling card on arrival. We will give you detailed instructions before you arrive. Please do not use the phone without first obtaining permission and make sure that you always pay for your phone calls immediately.