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Office of International Programs

Germany: Jacobs University

The Jacobs University program offers students the opportunity to directly enroll at a prestigious international university in Northern Germany with coursework in English.

With your new friends from Jacobs, you'll explore the charming small city of Bremen and its many restaurants, shops and parks.

Experience Germany!

With your new friends from Jacobs, you'll explore the charming small city of Bremen and its many restaurants, shops and parks.

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Overview

Participants in the program are fully integrated at Jacobs University—they live in residence halls on campus, take courses with Germans and other international students, and are able to take advantage of all the activities and services offered through the University. A semester at Jacobs is an excellent fit for students who are studying business, communications, global health, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. There is typically a core course offered each term that includes activities and excursions in Germany and Europe at no additional cost--the fall semester core course is usually focused on Art in Germany and the spring semester is usually focused on German politics and culture. 

  • Exceptional Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
  • Clean record with the Office of Community Standards and good academic and College standing
  • Professional application: Materials are submitted on-time, are edited before submission, and are thorough and thoughtful.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • This program has a required advising session (30 minutes) as part of the application process. Please visit our home page to schedule an advising appointment.

How to Apply


Spring 2022 
*This program will not be available after Spring 2022*

  • Jan 24-25: Arrival
  • Feb 1: First Day of Classes 
  • Apr 11 - Apr 18: Spring Break 
  • May 13: Last Day of Classes 
  • May 18 – May 30: Exam Period 
  • May 30: Program End Date

Flight & Orientation

Students are responsible for booking their own flight.  There is a small airport in Bremen which receives flights from many European hubs.  Alternatively, students can fly to Frankfurt and take a train to Bremen.  During the Orientation Week (O-Week), students will be introduced to the services available to them at Jacobs, explore the campus and the city of Bremen. In addition, students will receive important information about how to register for classes, apply for a residence permit, purchase health insurance (if required) and other university processes. The International Office provides student support throughout the semester, but students can also access regular student services on campus like the Counseling Center.

Visa

U.S. citizens are not required to get a visa pre-departure but are required to obtain a Resident Permit once in Germany.  Staff at Jacobs will assist students with this process. For general information about the visa process and visas for non-US citizens, see our Passports and Visas Page

Jacobs University

Established in 2001, Jacobs University is Germany’s first private, international university. The academic programs emphasize a global and interdisciplinary approach. Just over 1,300 students attend Jacobs; approximately half are international students representing over 111 countries. Jacobs has partnerships with a number of US institutions, including Rice University and Carnegie Mellon University. Courses are available in a wide range of fields including the sciences, business, political science, psychology, global health, international relations, computer science, humanities, and mathematics.

Courses

All courses and semester language courses are taught in English, except for German language. Students on this program will take a German language course, one of the Jacobs University core courses (either an Arts/Humanities or Social Sciences course, with both from a German perspective) and two to four other courses of their choosing. Each course worth 4 or 5 ECTS will translate as 3 credits each at Rollins.*

*Course requirements may be flexible. Please contact IP for more information.

Rollins students will be studying alongside German and other international students. All courses are available to visiting students pending prerequisites and space in the course. Visiting students have access to all the undergraduate courses including courses in sciences, math, computer science, business, social sciences and more. For a list of courses typically offered at Jacobs University, consult the course catalogue.

Navigating the Course Catalog

There are multiple options to search for classes that best match your major.  The simplest method is to select the correct term and then select one of the main tracks within the undergraduate curriculum: Health, Mobility, and Diversity.  You can also select sub-fields within those main tracks to see more specific options. You should also be sure to search under the sub-fields within "Jacobs Track and Transdisciplinary Offerings" since many of the courses in this area are a good fit for a range of Rollins majors.  This is also where the language courses are listed.

Transfer of Credit

Students participating on this program take four to six courses and typically earn 12 to 18 credits. All courses on this program appear on the Rollins transcript as transfer credits and the grades are factored into the Rollins GPA. Students who successfully complete the program through Rollins will receive an official transcript from Jacobs University. It can take up to 3 months to receive the official transcript.

Housing

For the semester, students live in residence halls with German and other international students in one of the four undergraduate residence hall (called a college). Each college houses between 200 and 300 students and has a faculty member, who lives in the college with students with their family, and serves as the college master. Activities and events are sponsored by the colleges and help to develop the sense of community, while also providing international students with excellent opportunities to meet and mix with their fellow students.  Rooms are singles with a bathroom usually shared by two students. For more information about the housing, peruse the Jacobs University accommodation website. Each college has a student lounge, game and TV rooms, pool tables, quiet study area and a meeting room. In addition, a laundry room with washers and dryers, a bike storage unit and a party zone are found in each college.

Meals

Each College serves three meals per day in their dining hall. You don’t have to eat just in your college; you can eat at any of the four colleges on campus.  Meal options at the dining halls are varied and can accommodate a range of diets.

Activities

Jacobs offers students a variety of means to become involved on campus. The Campus Activities & Intercultural Affairs (CAIA) department coordinates activities on campus to bring students together. Activities include sports, arts, student government and a wide variety of clubs. You can find out more about what specific activities and events are offered by visiting the Campus Activities Portal.  Students at Jacobs can also take advantage of the activities and events in the city of Bremen.

Host Family Program

Students have the opportunity to participate in Jacob University’s Host Family Program which pairs students with local Germany families. Host families might invite you to their home for dinner, include you in a family outing, or just join you for an afternoon coffee.  This program is a fabulous way to get a taste of day-to-day German life and meet locals who can introduce you to Bremen and the surrounding areas.  Past students have had incredibly positive experiences with their host families and have found this aspect of the program to be a real highlight.

Things to Consider

Students with mobility disabilities may find accessibility and accommodations different from the United States. Check the US Department of State Travelers with Disabilities and specific to the country, Mobility International USA, and the IP Your Identity Abroad page for resources.

Program Fee

The program fee is equal to Rollins College tuition and fees, and room for one semester. Most Rollins financial aid and scholarships will apply to the semester abroad. 

  • Tuition: Standard Rollins tuition
  • Room and Board: $7,600.00

Includes

Tuition and administration, housing, meals, health and emergency insurance, local transportation, and orientation program

Does not include

  • Airfare from Orlando: $1,800 (estimate)
  • Visa fee: $100 (estimate)
  • Personal expenses and course materials: $800 (estimate)
  • Souvenirs, entertainment and independent travel: Costs will vary but an average estimate is $1,200 - $2,000
  • Travel/Property insurance (if desired): Costs will vary

Need-Based Scholarships

Scholarships based on financial need are available to off-set costs associated with international airfare and other costs associated with study abroad. Students can apply for scholarships through the Rollins program application.

Living and Working

Germany has a comparable cost of living to the United States. Students are able to work part-time on a student visa while abroad in Germany.