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FAQ about Marburg
Do I need to know German to participate in the program?
No! The BCA Marburg program is open to all language levels. Students with little or no prior experience in German will be brought up to speed via intensive pre-semester language training (12 week program incurs extra fees--read more). Those students who are proficient in German prior to admission to the program will also take pre-semester language training in order to brush up their language skills. All students will need to be fit for attending university lectures, taking notes and tests in German once the regular semester starts, so the more you prepare, the better off you will be! All students take the 4-week language training in Vienna, and if you can afford to add to your cost, then please consider the 8 or 12 week option of language training in Vienna if possible. This preparation will pay off in the end!
Where is the BCA Marburg study center located?
In Marburg, Germany, which is located one hour north of Frankfurt am Main and one hour south of Kassel. As a BCA Marburg student, you’ll be directly enrolled as a regular student at the Philipps University and be entitled to free public transportation within the state of Hesse. Marburg is a Studentenstadt (lit. student city), and you’ll probably be surprised at how much there is to do in this town of around 80,000.
What can I study at BCA Marburg?
The courses available to BCA Marburg students fall into three general categories:
- BCA Courses - For U.S. students only; taught by instructors hired by BCA.
- German as a Foreign Language - Available through the German Department of the Philipps University and through the University’s Sprachenzentrum.
- Regular University Courses - The Philipps University of Marburg offers extensive opportunities for study. The course catalog for a given semester (das Vorlesungsverzeichnis) is published online normally about four to six weeks before classes begin. Please see the website atwww.uni-marburg.defor the latest available course information.
Where will I live?
BCA intentionally spreads its students around the city as much as possible to provide them with the best opportunities to meet Germans and students from other countries. All BCA housing includes convenient access to kitchen, shower and toilet facilities. Options include:
- Collegium Philippium- Literally live in part of the former Duke of Marburg’s castle. Up on the hill overlooking the medieval town, the Schloß (castle) offers lots of opportunities for social and cultural immersion. The castle houses 39 students, mostly Germans, who govern their own affairs and cooperate together to create a unique living environment including eating the midday meal together. BCA offers two places - one for a male and one for a female - whom students living in the Schloß select based on a housing application. Applications from full-year students receive priority, but semester-only students are also welcome and encouraged to apply.
- Various student residence halls in the Oberstadt- Run by the university, these residence halls are located near the castle and overlook the Lahn River Valley. Most BCA students live in the Oberstadt.
- Euler Haus- The Free Evangelical (Baptist) Church runs the Euler Haus, located near most university facilities. BCA students enjoy spending time in the kitchen and lounge areas of this friendly student residence. All rooms have sinks, and a reputation for friendliness. The Euler Haus also has free wireless Internet for its residents.
Will my school accept credit from BCA Marburg?
It is important that students check with their university registration and records office to determine whether BCA credits will be accepted. Each university has its own policy for transferring credits, and it is the students’ responsibility to follow their home university’s rules and regulations. Upon completion of the program, i.e., once the students’ grades are in, BCA sends transcripts to students and to their home universities. If the home university or college requires a transcript from a U.S. school, BCA provides a transcript from Elizabethtown College, which is BCA’s school of record.
Will my financial aid transfer?
Federal aid is transferable; some state aid is transferable. Aid from an individual school is transferred at the school’s discretion. Students should consult their financial aid advisor for further information and advice.
What are the application deadlines?
BCA encourages interested students to apply as soon as possible, and applications for the spring semester are due by November 1 (October 15 to be guaranteed a place on the group flight that is arranged by BCA). Fall semester applications are due by April 15. Students are notified of their acceptance within three weeks of submitting a complete application.
Do I need a visa to study in Germany?
No. Germany does not require entry visas for U.S. citizens traveling to Germany. Only students completing three months of pre-semester language training in Vienna will need to apply for their residency permits prior to departing for Vienna. All other BCA Marburg students with U.S. citizenship will apply for a residency permit after arrival in Marburg. The BCA resident director arranges the issuance of the residency permits from the local Ausländerbehörde.
Can I study abroad as a freshman?
No. In order to study abroad with BCA Marburg, students must have at least one year of undergraduate study. However, BCA encourages students to start planning in their freshman year and investigate which program is a good fit for their individual needs.
Why study with BCA?
BCA is one of the nation's oldest independent organizations committed to promoting international understanding and academic excellence through collegestudy abroad programs for U.S. students and adult seminars for faculty and administrators. Rooted in the values of peace and justice, BCA promotes international understanding, awareness of global citizenship and academic scholarship through educational exchange. Among the special qualities of BCA's programs are: unique opportunities tostudy peace and justiceissues in places where conflict has profoundly affected culture, history and daily life; opportunity for cultural immersion; and tremendous academic and administrative support.
I’m worried my GPA may not be good enough. Should I still apply?
BCA does employ minimum GPA standards for each study center. The required GPA varies by program and is an important tool in evaluating a student’s application, however it is not the only consideration. BCA also takes into account the student’s personal statement and their letters of recommendation. BCA encourages students to apply even if they do not quite meet the GPA standards.
How many courses will I take?
As a BCA student, you can take 12 to 18 credits during the regular semester. The language training and orientation course will add credits for the different language sessions, as follows:
12-week IKI Wien students earn 14 credits. GER 202: IKI Wien* (12). Students also take the first cycle of the orientation course (HIS 205) during their first month in Vienna, but only receive credit for the third and final cycle. This cycle of HIS 205 is offered in English.(added fee for this program)
8-week IKI Wien students earn 10 credits. GER 202: IKI Wien (8). Students also take the second cycle of HIS 205 during their second month in Vienna, but only receive credit for the third and final cycle. This second cycle of HIS 205 is offered in a mixture of German and English. (added fee for this program)
4-week IKI Wien students earn 6 credits. GER 202 IKI Wien (4) plus HIS 205 (2**). (there is no additional fee -- included in regular program cost)
* “GER 202: IKI Wien” is the standard course name for all language courses completed in Vienna. Students or sending schools can request more detailed information about the proficiency level actually completed from the BCA Marburg director. The proficiency level will be indicated in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.
** Students needing a third credit for HIS 205 can, as is common with the BCA program in Marburg, write an 8-12 page research paper to fill this gap. Credit for HIS 205 is only earned upon completion of the March and September (third and final) cycles of HIS 205.
BCA courses are worth three U.S. credits and Philipps University courses are usually worth two or three credits, depending on the nature of the course and contact hours. The BCA resident director explains the credit system to the students in multiple academic advising sessions on-site.
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