Integrated Year Abroad

Exclusive to the B.A. Interdisciplinary American Studies Program:

If you decide to take the integrated year abroad, you will gain two additional semesters (usually the 5th and 6th semesters), earning 60 ECTS extra credit points. For the integrated year abroad, you can choose between the following options, which may also be combined:

• Study abroad
• One or several internships (usually abroad, but in some cases also in Germany)

If you're enrolled in IAS without the integrated year abroad, you have until the 4th semester to change to IAS with the integrated year abroad. In order to do so, please email your transcript and the semester you're currently in to an IAS student advisor. If you have any questions about the integrated year abroad, please contact Dr. Thomas Gijswijt.

Studying Abroad/Application

The American Studies Department maintains special exchange agreements with the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), the University of Maryland (College Park), and Tufts University (near Boston). For more information, please see our Exchange Universities page.

In addition, the University of Tübingen offers an extensive exchange program with more than 50 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, as well as a number of universities in other English-speaking countries (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India). Furthermore, the ERASMUS exchange program offers the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Placements are available for a full academic year or for one semester. 

The application process for studying in the United States/Canada starts more than a year in advance - you need to hand in your application on August 1 in order to go abroad in the wintersemester of the next year. As part of your application, you will need to do a TOEFL test (unless you're from an English-speaking country) and you will have to include two references - it will take some time to get these, so we advise you to start early with your application. The current deadlines and all information on the application process are available on the website of the International Office. 

Criteria for Courses at an Academic Institution Abroad 

• The course is conducted in English.
• The course content is related to America.
• Four or five courses per semester (depending on credits and advanced level - consult with your student advisor) need to be successfully completed with credit in order to earn a total of 30 ECTS points for the B.A. Interdisciplinary American Studies program.

Internship

Students enjoy maximum flexibility in choosing the location and field of their internship(s). An internship should provide the opportunity to acquire professional skills, work experience and insights into the labor market. An internship in the US will enrich your understanding of American culture, business, politics, media, economics - please note that visa application processes mean that you should start looking for internships early on.

Criteria for an Internship

• English is used as lingua franca (except for internships in Germany).
• The institution/organization offering the internship is either located in an English-speaking country or conducts its business internationally, ideally with some relation to the United States.
• For 30 ECTS points, an internship should comprise at least three months and should be full-time.
• A summary report of the internship (1.500 words, in English), along with a letter from your employer, must be presented to the American Studies Department after the return in order to obtain credit.
• Students who are funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research ("BAföG") should note that an internship abroad can only be funded, according to BAföG rules, if it lasts at least three months.