Courses can take between 5 and 12 weeks. The full GPC program takes 24 weeks, 2 terms.

Currently GPC does not offer BA, MA, or PhD degrees directly. However, we cooperate with several organizations and universities who can help you.

German language classes are most important to start your academic career in Germany. You will have 3h per day, 5 days a week German courses. However, you do not need to be enrolled for the GPC German language courses B1+ and B2, which are available prior to the full GPC study program.

German Language courses start every 2 months, 4 times a year:

• February
• April
• August
• October

All other GPC courses start 2 times a year, September and March.

Take our digital German Language test and send it to us:

Once received, we will get back to you.

If your German knowledge is sufficient, you should start with the relocation, especially the visa application process. In our students section, you find many useful tips:

If you arrive with German language skills at B2 level you can start the 1 year long GPC foundation program immediately and, later on, apply for a BA study program at a German university in your subject area, — after having passed the final FSP assessment test in your subject area at German language level C1.

17. If you have not become 21 yet, only your parents or parental authorities are authorised to sign any official document.

A valid German visa and German language level B2

Your  German language skills need to be at level B2 in order to start with a GPC program. Only with this starting level can we feel confident that within 2 semesters of study at GPC you can reach the language level C1. This high level is needed in order to reach the GPC program target, i.e. to make you eligible for study at a German university.

Should your German skills be lower than B-2 you may want to look at preparatory German language classes. Several partners of GPC all over Germany offer preparatory German language courses leading from absolute beginner A0 to A1, A2, B1 and B2 levels. Contact us, if you are interested.

On monthly basis we generally give the following figures: For accommodation we recommend calculating between €350,- and €450,- for a furnished single room or small apartment. €200,- for food,  €100,- for books, paper, etc. and €200,- or so for free-time activities. These are just estimates: Eating out, long distance week-end trips and other surely fun activities will raise the costs significantly. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your expenses and plan and budget wisely. We will give more information on these topics during orientation. The German embassies or consulates ask for a guarantee of approx. €650,- per month of stay, but as can you see from the estimates above, it would be comfortable to have little more.

After the semester is about to begin or even has already begun, everything has been prepared for the student, (people on the waiting list have been rejected). For these and many other reasons the Braun Foundation cannot reimburse the tuition fee. Another question is whether or not you can get back parts of your pre-paid rent which you have paid to the housing department. Please contact the housing office for further questions.

Freiburg is a very safe city but common sense, just like at home and anywhere else, is always helpful in order to prevent bad experiences. Other good advice and helpful ideas will be covered during orientation with no question left unanswered.

During orientation we will spend lots of time in the city and you will get to know the campus, the city, many shops and places of interest. Very soon the streets of Freiburg will be familiar to you. If possible GPC staff will find a “buddy” for you. That is a local student who will pick you up from the train station and who will show you around during the first days.

There is a golden rule that experienced travellers follow because it makes trips easy and stress free: Pack light. There are shops in Freiburg where you can buy foreign food which may be similar to your home country, so no need to bring food. Leave at home whatever you can purchase here inexpensively (e.g. towels). There is a simple test to check if you succeeded packing light. If you are done packing, dress in a your coat and outdoor shoes, lift all your bags and walk down and up some stairs for about 20 minutes. If you are not too exhausted afterwards you packed right.

You will receive a few very helpful newsletters with pre-departure information from the GPC office. Please read all the information carefully. The GPC team shares this knowledge with you to make you more independent and help you relax and structure your preparation period. An open mind helps a lot. Things surely are different than at home.  Also: learn some basic words of German (such as: Bitte, Danke, Guten Tag, Auf Wiedersehen…), so you have an icebreaker or two in your very first conversations.

Yes, most weekends are free. Fridays are always class days, and there may be activities even on Saturdays, but they will be announced upon arrival. Therefore we strongly recommend to not make any travel plans before your arrival on site.

Yes. The Student Services Team will do their best to meet your needs, and the housing office will do their best to find the right room for you. It requires some flexibility on all sides, but our staff and the student assistants are more than happy to help. However it is crucial that you list all your needs beforehand and get expert advice and letters of recommendation from medical doctors (if necessary), and then make the final decision together with our onsite staff and the Braun Foundation. GPC staff will do their best to minimize expenses related to on site the support of the student but it is the student who is responsible for all and any extra costs.

The field trips offered by the international office are optional. Field trips and field studies that are organized by your teacher(s) are part of your class and, therefore your participation is mandatory. However, if an international office field trip is used for a field study by a teacher, then participation is mandatory for these specific students, too.

Many local students volunteer as a “buddy” to pick up foreign students and support them during the first days. You can ask them lots of questions and learn how to heat your room, where to shop in Freiburg and so on. The buddies are also great to test your German on them. Give it a try.

Yes. You need to be present during orientation days and all class related activities including scheduled personal  “tutorials”. Other activities such as movie nights, round tables and similar are voluntary, of course.

Your deposit will be returned about eight weeks after your departure if everything has been returned undamaged and no costs have occurred.

Our housing office is run by a not-for-profit organisation by German standards (e.V.) which makes sure that you get the best price available with the best service. Monthly rents depend on diverse factors such as location, standard, utilities etc. and range between €300,- and €450,- for a furnished single room and €400,- and €550,- for a furnished single apartment. The housing office will ask you for a deposit of €300,- which will be refunded after your departure if everything has been returned undamaged and no costs have occurred.

We will do our best to find a suitable accommodation for you and your needs. Freiburg is an old town with lots of stairs and cobblestone streets but we will do our best to find a good place for you. Please make sure to list your needs in the reservation request on the housing office website.

All questions around your living situation will be answered after you have made your rental request through our housing office here. Just complete the form and the housing office will get back to you. They are happy to answer all your questions. Please be aware the specific wishes cannot always be taken into consideration as the housing market in Freiburg is tight and requires some flexibility from all sides.

You find lots of information on the website of the housing office. Our staff on site is happy to answer your questions.