Application U.S./Canada

Next Application Deadline:

August 1, 2026, 11:59pm, for the 2027/28 winter semester and/or the 2028 summer semester.

September 15, 2026, 11:59pm, only for Master students before the first semester who have not previously studied in Tübingen.

The documents must be submitted online via the application portal Mobility Online. The portal will open in mid-May at the earliest.

Notes on the application:

Please take care of obtaining the application documents as early as possible, especially the proof of language proficiency, letters of recommendation, and your list of grades
Incomplete applications will not be processed
You can - and should! - indicate up to 5 preferred universities in your application

The following documents are required to apply for a place at a partner university in the USA/Canada:

Application Documents

Online Application Form

Please fill out the application form. Here, you can indicate your preferences (start and duration of the stay abroad, university preferences). You will then receive an automatic email with a link to log in. Please log in and provide the last requested information. Then you can upload the application documents in the system.

Passport

Please upload a scan of the picture page of your passport. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after return from abroad.

Curriculum Vitae

In English (approx. 2 pages): Please also provide information on sports, musical interests, memberships in associations as well as social engagement! You can find examples here:

http://www.leaderspoint-coaching.de/bewerbung-lebenslauf/bewerbung-eu-lebenslauf-vorlage-2.html

Study Plan (Letter of Motivation)

in English (approx. 1 page) - with signature.

The description of the study plan plays a decisive role in the placement and allocation of the available places.

Please explain:

why you want to study abroad (briefly),
why you are applying for the USA / Canada (briefly), and
on the basis of which subject/personal interests you have indicated your university preferences (in detail). Naming of universities and courses is possible.

Please bear in mind that once you have been nominated for a specific partner university, you will in any case have to submit another study proposal (concerning this university).

Proof of English Proficiency

Result of the TOEFL or the "Institutional TOEFL". See also the website on language certificates.

List of Courses Attended

Please upload a scan of the record of your courses taken so far in German, stamped by the examination office, with the current grade point average.

Bachelor's Certificate (if available)

If you would like to go to the U.S./Canada during your Master's degree, please upload the scan of your Bachelor's degree certificate.

High School Diploma

Please upload a scan of you high school diploma.

Selection Process

Applicants are selected on the basis of the documents submitted. For some universities and certain departments, selection interviews take place during the first two weeks of the winter semester.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are:

Professional qualification (grades and certificates)
Relevance and justification of the study plan (letter of motivation)
Language skills
Extracurricular criteria, e.g. practical experience, voluntary engagement of the applicant
Formal requirements (completeness, compliance with formal standards, grammar and spelling, etc.)

There is no entitlement to a study place abroad or at a specific university.

Procedure after Application

Time	Step
August 1	Application deadline
Until mid-November	The selection committee reviews the applications and allocates the applicants to the partner universities.
Mid-November	Mailing of the acceptance and rejection notices by the International Office
Varies depending on the host university and the time of your semester abroad (winter semester or summer semester)	Upon acceptance: The International Office nominates you at your host university. You apply at your host university and have to submit further documents or upload them to an online portal of the respective university. (Period between the end of November and the end of March, very different depending on the host university).
After application at the host university (approx. March to June)	The host university reviews the application and then sends the letter of admission, i.e. the official certificate that and when you will be studying at the host university.
Ideally 1-2 months before the start of the semester abroad	You will receive the admission letter. Only then you can apply for your visa and you should book your flight.

Testimonials are available online (login via your ZDV-login). We expect all applicants to familiarize themselves with the materials available online.