Study Abroad – German Programs

Options for Studying German Abroad

An integral part of every student’s college life is studying abroad. The German Department actively encourages and supports study in Vienna at the Flow House, with IES (Institute for the International Education of Students) in Berlin, Freiburg, Vienna, and the Goethe Institut. If one wishes to become a fluent speaker, there is no substitute for direct contact with a foreign language and culture. In addition, studying abroad prepares students for an increasingly global society and encourages a greater understanding of American culture and language from a distanced perspective.

Approved programs in Germany and Austria

• Semester in Vienna at the Flow House Residential Study Center
• Full-year or semester programs with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES). Students receive full (transfer) credit for courses completed and financial aid travels with them. Locations for IES programs include:
  • Berlin / Humboldt Universty
  • Freiburg (German Studies or EU Program)
  • Vienna (strong focus in International Business)
• Summer language study with the Goethe Institut. Students receive WFU credit for one or two German courses (3 or 6 hrs)
• Summer course at Flow House: since the summer of 2008 two undergraduate courses from various disciplines are offered at the house, most of which fulfill divisional requirements.

Financial Aid

Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid through the Center for Global Programs and Studies and through the German Department’s Sanders Scholarship. These scholarships will help defray the added costs incurred while studying abroad.

• IES Programs:
  • CIS travel grant ($2,000)
  • IES merit and need grants
  • Sanders Scholarship (amount varies according to the situation)
• Flow House in Vienna:
  • CIS travel grants (for a semester or summer programs)
  • Humphrey Grant (varies according to the situation)
  • one computer assistant work grant ($1,000)
  • Sanders Scholarship
• For summer study with Goethe Institute:
  • CIS travel grant
  • Sanders Scholarship

I.E.S. Study Abroad

Rising juniors and seniors are invited to apply through Wake Forest to the Institute of European Studies (IES) for study in Berlin/ Freiburg, Germany, or Vienna, Austria. The Berlin and Freiburg GS (German Studies) programs emphasize the German language, literature, politics, history, the arts, and the European Common Market. The Vienna program offers courses in international business, East-West European studies (economics, history, and politics), fine arts, language and literature, and psychology. These are fully-recognized programs of Wake Forest, with full credit earned. All scholarships, tuition concessions, or other forms of financial aid travel with the students. For the past quarter of a century students from Wake Forest have successfully studied abroad with these programs every year, which are fully recognized and credited by Wake Forest.

IES provides need-based and merit-based scholarships to assist students participating in these programs. In addition, students may apply to the Department of German & Russian (Sanders Scholarship), or the Office of International Studies, for financial assistance to cover some of the costs of studying abroad in these programs.

Interested students should contact Alyssa Howards (Department of German & Russian).

Courses at the Goethe Institut

All students are encouraged to study abroad for as long as possible. The Goethe Institut offers some summer courses that enable students with more restrictive schedules to immerse themselves in the German language in a 4, 6, or 8-week course. These intensive courses also prepare students for a semester or year-long program. Financial aid is also available for study at the Goethe Institut through the Department of German & Russian Sanders Scholarship.
Interested students should contact Tina Boyer (Department of German & Russian).