LAS courses at UCF are taught in English. LAS students can take courses in other study programmes at the University of Freiburg that are largely held in German.
Beginning: Starting LAS is only possible in the winter semester. One week before the semester start in mid-October, UCF hosts a welcome week for all new LAS students.
Duration: LAS is a four-year, 240 ECTS credit study programme with a progressive storyline, covering academic skills, specialisation, and room for intellectual exploration. Many LAS students spend part of their studies abroad, usually in their third year. Thanks to the flexibility of the LAS programme, studying abroad typically does not extend the duration of their studies.
Mode: Most LAS courses are held in-person at the University of Freiburg. Some are held online or include online components, e.g. in collaboration with international partner institutions.
The state of Baden-Württemberg charges study fees for non-EU students and for students pursuing a second degree. More information is available on the website of the University of Freiburg.
Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) is a specific approach to Bachelor-level education – a process of intellectual discovery and personal development in an interdisciplinary and international learning community. The Freiburg LAS programme reaches across academic fields and offers discipline-orientated academic training in a particular major. It encourages students to critically reflect on science and knowledge and become skilled communicators and creative shapers of their environments.
Programme features
Contents
1. The core is shared by all LAS students. It includes basic and advanced academic skills, reflections on knowledge and science, and a curriculum on responsibility and leadership.
2. The majors provide in-depth academic training in a specific discipline of university studies. After their first year in the LAS programme, students choose one of the following majors:
3. In the electives, LAS students shape their own study profiles. They can take courses at other university departments and across our European networks (EUCOR and EPICUR), attend language classes, study abroad for a semester or two, and/or undertake internships or independent projects.
LAS graduates are prepared for careers in international environments that come with complex responsibilities and require fast and efficient adaptation to varying challenges. About 85% of LAS graduates continue with Master's and PhD programmes. For more information on what graduates of the LAS programme at UCF are doing, see the website of the University College Freiburg.
During the first year of LAS, the so-called foundational year, students largely follow the same curriculum and establish a shared basis of knowledge and skills. Furthermore, they take three out of the four introductory courses to the majors.
From year two onwards, students can design their own study programme, meaning individual study trajectories will progress quite differently:
For further information on our LAS programme, please see:
The following chart summarises the LAS curriculum and its components:
UCF encourages students to spend part of their studies abroad; about 80% do so, usually during their third year. UCF has almost 20 international partnerships.
Furthermore, students can apply for University Global Exchange programmes, for other Erasmus exchanges, or can organise their stay abroad as "free movers". Finally, students benefit from the University's European networks EUCOR and EPICUR.
In most cases, studying abroad does not come with a (significant) delay to your studies – thanks to the flexibility of the LAS programme.
The electives section of the LAS programme allows for credit recognition of academically relevant internships, subject to approval by the LAS Board of Studies.
The state of Baden-Württemberg charges study fees for non-EU students and for students pursuing a second degree. More information is available on the website of the University of Freiburg.
190 EUR per semester:
Participants must ensure that sufficient funding is available to finance their participation in a course of study. The average cost of living in Freiburg for one month is currently approx. 850 EUR to 1,000 EUR.
Some details:
For more information on financing your studies and scholarships, please see the website of the University College Freiburg.
The LAS programme is a selective programme with an intake of about 80 students per year. Selection is based on your academic achievements, your motivation for studying with us in Freiburg, and the match between the LAS programme and prospective students. Our target group is students with intellectual curiosity and responsibility who are looking for breadth and depth in their academic training.
The application requirements are:
For details on these requirements and the application and admissions process overall, please see the website of the University College Freiburg.
Applicants must provide proof of English proficiency at level B2 or above according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
You can find a list of the language certificates that the University of Freiburg accepts under “English B2” here.
Applications must be submitted online. For more information and access to the application portal, please see the University College Freiburg website.
The city and the University of Freiburg offer jobs for students, ranging from catering to academic student assistant positions. As Freiburg is a university town, the job market for students is quite competitive. Please see the UCF website for more information and links regarding student life and finances in Freiburg.
As Freiburg is an attractive city, finding a suitable and affordable place to live can take a little while. The University of Freiburg offers all newly enrolled international students the possibility to apply for student housing via the International Office. In addition to these dormitories, which are run by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (www.swfr.de/en), several independent residence halls are listed on the university website (http://www.housing.uni-freiburg.de). The Studierendenwerk Freiburg and the International Office also offer a list of available private rooms.
The University of Freiburg offers career advising in cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency. At University College Freiburg, an academic advising system is in place to support LAS students with questions about career opportunities.
Please see the information and offerings for international students on the University College Freiburg website. Services include:
The University of Freiburg was founded in 1457 as a classical comprehensive university, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Germany. Awarded for its excellence in both research and teaching, the university also boasts a long history, with numerous Nobel laureates. Brilliant scholars and creative thinking distinguish it today as a modern, top-notch university, well equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. As an organisation with around 24,500 students, 288 degree programmes, and 6,536 employees (2021), the University of Freiburg is committed to family friendliness, equal opportunities, and environmental consciousness in its day-to-day operations. The structure of the university is multifaceted, ranging from 11 academic faculties – from the humanities and the social and natural sciences all the way to engineering – to 19 research centres. This goes to show that we are a dynamic, large-scale institution with a diverse educational offering. As studies, research, and continuing education are all an integral part of this offering, we maintain a close relationship with the city and the region as well as with the international academic community. Bilateral partnerships, research projects, joint study courses and memberships in international networks such as the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and of EUCOR – The European Campus are examples of the university's strong transnational relations. All our students, including those from abroad, can take courses at the Universities of Basel (Switzerland) and Strasbourg (France) without having to enrol. Via EUCOR, The European Campus mobility grant, they also receive allowances for travel expenses to their partner institutions.
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in south-western Germany on the edge of the Black Forest. Freiburg was founded by Konrad and Duke Bertold III of Zähringen in 1120 as a free market town – hence its name, which translates to "free town". Freiburg holds a central position in Europe at the border triangle of Switzerland, France, and Germany, and is the city with the most hours of sunshine per year in Germany. It is nestled in one of the oldest cultural landscapes north of the Alps, a location which has had an unmistakable influence on the town. The university plays an essential part in the quality of life in Freiburg; both in the academic sphere and in the perception of the general public, the activities of the university are of central importance. Since its founding, teaching, learning and research have formed an indivisible whole.
With approx. 230,000 inhabitants, Freiburg has a friendly size, offering the safe surroundings of a smaller city whilst at the same time excelling in terms of culture, shopping and infrastructure. Both the inhabitants and the city government of Freiburg attach great importance to ecological values and sustainable development. This "green city" atmosphere influences many aspects of city life – from the numerous cyclists on the streets to cutting-edge solar energy research. Surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the Black Forest and the wine-growing regions of the Rhine Valley, Freiburg is a popular destination for tourism and leisure activities.
To activate the map, click on the "Show map" button. We would like to point out that data will be transmitted to OpenStreetMap after activation. You can find out more in our privacy policy. You can revoke your consent to the transmission of data at any time.
