Once again the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service, a German government organisation) is offering scholarships for a “Hochschulwinterkurs”, a six-week course on German language, culture and society open to all Australian and New Zealand undergraduates, graduates and junior faculty members, except graduates involved in German and German faculty courses.

The courses will be held from January to February 2013 in co-operation with the Universities of Duisburg-Essen (Faculty of Arts), Freiburg (SLI-Sprachlehrinstitut), Leipzig (interDaF e.V., Herder-Institut) and the IIK Duesseldorf (in co-operation with Heinrich-Heine-Universität Duesseldorf).

The course is open to *all* students with sufficient knowledge of German, regardless of their field of study. This is an exciting opportunity for students and junior faculty members wanting to improve their language skills and their understanding of contemporary affairs.

The 2012-2013 final program is not yet available but a copy of last years program can be found here.

Scholarships include

• A flat rate course allowance of EUR 750 (ca. AUD 960)
• A travel allowance of EUR 550 (ca. AUD 700)
• A part-cost grant of EUR 975 (ca. AUD 1250) for living expenses

Participants should allow EUR 250 to EUR 300 (ca. AUD 400, depending on the current exchange rate) of their own funds for additional expenses.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applications from advanced students of all subjects will be accepted, provided they have completed at least two years of university education at the beginning of the Winterkurs. Graduates and PhD students may also apply, except graduates involved in German and German faculty courses.
• Applicants must have an Australian or New Zealand passport and must be enrolled at an Australian or New Zealand university.
• Applicants must prove a sound knowledge of German in order to be able to follow lectures and work in study groups. By January 2013, they must have completed at least 2 years of German (not necessarily at university) and gained language skills at the European level B1, preferably B2.
• Applicants studying for a Bachelor degree may apply provided they are planning to study for a Master’s in Germany after finishing their Bachelor degree or where equivalent reasons for receiving a scholarship are given. Such a reason could be e.g. the preparation of a thesis during the applicant’s Honours year.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the beginning of the course.
• Applicants may only receive one Deutschlandkundlicher Winterkurs scholarship within three consecutive years.

For the application pack please email advisor4globaled@unsw.edu.au. The deadline to apply is August 15^th 2012.