Study@GSU - International Students

As a student at one of our partner universities, you have the opportunity to apply for a semester abroad at GSU. You have to be nominated for an exchange semester at GSU by your home university´s international coordinator. Other requirements are not necessary, although prospective students should speak either German or English. We do not conduct a language proficiency examination for prospective exchange students. However, we recommend that our partner universities nominate only students who have at least a B2 level of proficiency in either German or English. Please note that students from non-partner universities cannot be accepted for an exchange semester at GSU.

Whether you require a visa and a residence permit to enter Germany depends on your nationality. A general overview can be found here.

Please contact your local German Embassy to find out which documents are required for studying in Germany, and make sure to apply (if necessary) in good time and well in advance. Please note that it is your own responsibility to clarify all visa-related matters.

NON-EU Students

Students from Non-EU countries who want to study at a state university must be insured in Germany. Please note that any travel insurances are not valid for studying at a German university. It is therefore of utmost importance to apply for a German health insurance upon arrival. 

EU-Students

Students from EU countries who are already insured in their home country do not need additional health insurance in Germany. They can visit authorised physicians or dentists directly using their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). For students from the UK, there is an equivalent to the EHIC called the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Turkish students can use the so-called AT11 certificate.

For an exchange semester in the subsequent summer term, the nomination deadline is 15 December and the enrolment deadline is 1 February. For an exchange semester in the winter term, the nomination deadline is 15 June and the enrolment deadline is 1 August.

The semester dates for your studies at GSU can be found here (link coming soon!).

Students who intend to study at the German Sport University as exchange students have to enrol via our online enrolment portal “mySpoho” (click here). You can change the language to English in the bottom right corner of the page. Please proceed with the enrolment application as described below:

1. The first step is to create an account. Please choose the option for “international exchange students” and follow the instructions in the portal.
   • You do not need to enter a BID and/or BAN. These are optional fields and only relevant for full-time applicants.
   • You will have to agree that the GSU is allowed to send you emails to the email address given during registration by ticking a corresponding box.
2. Following your successful registration, you will receive an email with a link to validate your account. Please make sure that you remember the password that you create during the registration process. You username will be indicated in the verification email. This is not your email address.
3. As soon as your registration has been validated, you can start your application via the portal ("Start Application"). You must be logged in to your account. Please choose the "exchange programme" option, not one of the Bachelor courses of study.
4. Please upload the following documents in PDF format:
   • GSU Application form
   • Transcripts of Records obtained in previous years of study
   • A copy of your passport or ID card
   • If applicable, a copy of your EHIC, GHIC, or AT11
   • If you would like to apply for our on-campus accommodation: dormitory application form (see detailed information below)
5. Important information for the further process:
   • The HZB/university entrance qualification is your school leaving certificate that enabled you to enter university for undergraduate studies. You can only enter German grades between 1 and 4. If you cannot convert your grade to the German grading system, just enter a “1” – the grade you have achieved in your school-leaving certificate is not relevant for your exchange application, but the field cannot remain empty in the portal.
   • In the area “vocational training” and “military service”, just tick “no”.
   • Before submitting the application, please confirm your data by ticking the corresponding box.

You will be contacted after the enrolment period has ended. You will receive all relevant information needed for your exchange studies (including information regarding the Introduction Day, course selection, etc.) via email. Please make sure to provide your correct email address. 

The German Sport University offers exchange students guaranteed on-campus accommodation if they apply for it. The monthly rent ranges from approximately €300 to €450, depending on the dormitory. Compared to typical rental costs in Cologne, this is very affordable, and we strongly recommend that all incoming exchange students apply for a dorm room.

To apply for accommodation, please complete the application form and upload it together with your mySpoho enrolment application (as mentioned above). Please note that exchange students should not submit accommodation applications directly to the housing department, as all housing applications for exchange students are processed via the International Office.

Please note that tenancy agreements are valid for a minimum of six months (one full semester). The full rent and deposit must be paid before arrival.

• Winter semester: 1 October – 31 March

• Summer semester: 1 April – 30 September

More detailed information about our student dormitories can be found here (link to student dorms site)

In general, exchange students can choose courses from all five Bachelor’s degree programs. However, since most courses are taught in German, not all are suitable for English-speaking students. To provide a clear overview of suitable options, we have created the International Course Catalogue, which can be downloaded here:

• Link current

• Link previous semester

The catalogue includes:

1. Courses from the International Course Offer, designed exclusively for exchange students.

   1. Regular Bachelor’s courses taught in English that are well suited for exchange students.

   2. Practical Bachelor’s courses taught in German, which are often manageable for English-speaking students due to the practical nature of the classes and the support of lecturers.

As the course offer changes slightly each semester, the catalogue is updated shortly before the semester begins. Previous and current versions can be used as guidance and for preparing a preliminary Learning Agreement.

Schedules will be arranged during the Introduction Day with support from the International Office. No course registration or final selection is possible in advance. Students should, however, prepare a list of courses they are interested in beforehand and discuss credit transfer requirements with their home University.

Students considering spending a semester abroad should plan carefully, as it can be expensive. 

GSU does not charge tuition fees. However, there is a semester fee at GSU, which contributes towards the cost of facilities provided by the Students' Services Organisation and the Students' Union. This fee amounts to around €330 per semester and must be paid before the start of each semester.

On-campus accommodation costs around €300–450 per month (plus €350-500 deposit), depending on whether you rent a single or double room. 

Every student in Germany must have health insurance: German health insurance usually costs around €140 per month. 

In total, fixed costs amount to roughly €3,500–4,500 per semester, excluding food, drinks and social activities. These costs vary from student to student. However, you can get an idea of living expenses in Cologne here.