Study Abroad & Exchange Students

Exchange Students: Your semester abroad at CBS International Business School in Germany

Are you already looking forward to your stay abroad as an exchange student at CBS in Germany? Do you still have a lot of unanswered questions? The CBS International Office will support and accompany you during your exciting start in a new country and in a new city.

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Incoming Exchange Students: Globally Connected

International study abroad & exchange students have the unique opportunity to complete their semester abroad at of the 7 CBS campuses across Germany. CBS International Business School currently has about 160 partner universities worldwide and welcomes international students either through its exchange programmes or as study abroad students. CBS has been part of the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU Commission since 2010 and has signed around 40 cooperation agreements within this framework. Students of these partner universities are welcome to apply for a study abroad semester which is sponsored through the Erasmus+ programme. In order to find out whether your home university has signed an Erasmus+ agreement with the CBS, please refer to the list of our partner universities or contact the Erasmus+ coordinator at your home institution. Read more about the Erasmus+ Programme at CBS.

Entry requirements for exchange students

In order to complete a semester abroad at our university, you should have a very good command of English (TOEFL or IELTS if English is not your native language) and have successfully completed at least one academic year (two semesters) of a Business or Management related degree course at a state-recognised university before starting your studies at CBS. Please observe that we recommend early applications due to a restricted number of places. Applications will be assessed based on your academic achievements and your career goals. Participants can select specified courses from the second and third study years with a value of up to 30 ECTS.

Learn about the general requirements to study in Germany - 9 Steps to Study in Germany

Application dates

01 June for the winter semester
01 November for the summer semester

Application procedure

Students from international partner universities must be nominated by their home institution before starting the CBS application process.

If you want to apply as a free mover, please contact the International Office by email for your weblink to the online application form.

Fees

6.930 €/semester

Please contact the International Office by email for detailed information on the application process and tuition fees. Students from international partner universities should contact their International Office for more information.

Campus Köln/Mainz

Campus Brühl

Your first steps in Germany as an incoming exchange student

What can you study at CBS in Germany?

If you come to CBS as a study abroad or an exchange student, you can choose from a wide range of modules offered in the second and third academic year of our English-instruction Bachelor programs, or join one of our Master programs.

Master candidates for student exchange or study abroad at CBS should send an email to international.office@cbs.de in order to receive information on available programs.

All modules are designed to give you the opportunity to spend either one or two semesters in Germany and to transfer the achieved credits to your home university.

How can I apply?

The application deadlines for study abroad and exchange students are as follows:

Spring Semester (February-June): 01 November

Fall Semester (August-December): 01 June

Erasmus+ or exchange students are eligible for a tuition fee waiver at CBS. They must be nominated through their home institutions before starting with the application process. Contact the international relations office at your home university in order to find out whether they have signed a student exchange or Erasmus+ agreement with the CBS International Business School. Please do not hesitate to contact the CBS International Office at international.office@cbs.de for details on the application process, should your home university not be a CBS partner institution.

Please make sure to upload the following documents:

Online application form
Passport-sized photo (jpg)
Proof of English language proficiency
Passport (photo page)
Most recent transcript of records (in English)

Please note that we recommend early applications due to a restricted number of places.

Prepare for your exchange semester at CBS in Germany

How to prepare for your semester abroad at CBS in Germany?

Studying in a foreign country as an exchange student is a great chance to broaden your horizon, immerse yourself in a foreign culture, meet people from other cultural backgrounds and study foreign languages. Especially for those who haven´t lived abroad before, coming to Germany to live and study is a great adventure! Good preparation is key.

Visa regulations

Once you have received your Letter of Acceptance, you can apply for a student visa. We strongly recommend starting the visa process as soon as possible, as it can take a while. You should allow for at least 2 months. If you are an EU citizen, you do not need to apply for a visa before your departure. In general, all other nationals are required to obtain a visa before entering Germany.

A visa is also not required for nationals of those countries for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirements.
Visas are issued by the competent diplomatic representation in the country where you live. Please be aware that you may not enter Germany on a tourist visa!

Further details on visa regulations can be found on the Internet pages of the German representation in your country. Please find further on visa issues for students at the Websites of DAAD or at Auswärtiges Amt.

Learn more about German student visa here

Housing

There are many student residence halls in and around all big student cities in Germany. However, the housing market is quite intense in many cities. Therefore, it is a good idea to start looking for accommodation as early as possible. You can choose between different forms of accommodation, ranging from student dormitories to single apartments or shared flats.
Rents in all big cities are comparatively high. However, monthly living expenses can vary immensely depending on your habits.

CBS offers student dorms close to the campus in Cologne but also supports you with finding accommodation close to the other CBS campuses. As availability is limited, please make sure to sign up for one as soon as you receive your Letter of Acceptance.

Should you require assistance with your search for accommodation, please contact us at accommodation@cbs.de. Our experienced colleagues are happy to answer your questions and assist you in your hunt for the right residence! They can also provide you with plenty of other tips on where to find accommodation and what to consider when renting a place.

Health insurance

All students in Germany must provide proof of health insurance before they begin their studies. We may only enroll you at CBS if you can prove that you have sufficient health insurance coverage. Also, you will have to prove this at the immigration office when you apply for a residence permit with your student visa!

You can choose whether you prefer to get health insurance in your home country that includes coverage abroad, or whether you would like to get health insurance from a company in Germany. Often, insurance companies offer limited services and coverage when you are abroad. If you decide to get health insurance in your home country, be aware of the conditions that apply while abroad. Also, find out whether your health insurance will be recognized in Germany! If not (for instance, because reimbursements in cases of claims are too low), you will have to take out another insurance policy.

We recommend that you take out a German healthcare insurance policy because this will make the process of receiving medical treatment much easier. With your German health insurance card, you will not have to pay for medical treatment, whereas with an international healthcare insurance policy, you will have to pay for medical treatment and then apply for reimbursement afterward.

Learn more about health insurance in Germany for international students

Banking

Especially, if you live in the CBS student dormitory it makes sense to open a bank account e.g. in order to pay your rent and to be able to make money transfers without having to use cash. You can open a bank account with any savings bank. Usually, this is much easier from your home country. If you have the possibility to open a block account in your home country, we highly recommend that you do this. When opening a bank account in Germany you need to bring your passport, your student card, and your registration certificate with the City of Cologne.

Learn more about opening a blocked account in Germany

Exchange Students: Arriving in Germany

When you first come to Germany, there are some things that you will have to take care of: matriculate at CBS, register with the City administration, apply for a residence permit, etc.

Your Introduction Week at CBS in Germany

During the introduction week, we will assist you with all the bureaucratic steps and answer all of your questions. It is the start of your studies at CBS. You will register for your study programme (formal matriculation), attend info sessions, participate in placement tests, explore the campus and the city you are in, and meet your study buddy, your new lecturers, and the staff at CBS. Participation at the introduction week is mandatory for all new students at CBS!

International Students Integration Programme

The CI Team and the International office organize field trips, networking events, and many more activities for international students, from your day one at CBS. They support networking between international and German CBS students in order to help you find your way around CBS as soon as possible. Regular activities included e.g. climbing the Drachenfels or visiting various German cities. All new international students are assigned a Student Buddy who helps them integrate into the CBS student community quickly.

Do you have any questions?

The team at the CBS International Office is happy to assist you with all questions around studying abroad at CBS and planning your stay in Germany. Likewise, as a CBS degree student we will of course support your plans to study abroad at our international partner universities, or make plans for further international experiences, and guide you through the application process and planning of your stay abroad!