International Programmes 2024/2025

Social Sciences for Intercultural Relations Social Sciences for Intercultural Relations

Fulda University of Applied Sciences • Fulda

Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Teaching language
  • German
  • English
Languages

If you have appropriate language skills, the course can be completed either in English or German or in both languages.

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
Programme duration
6 semesters
Beginning
Winter semester
Application deadline

30 September

Early applications (March through June) are highly recommended for international applicants from outside the EU for visa procedures. Submitting applications by July or August is recommended for all other students in order to have time to find accommodation.

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
Description/content

The Bachelor's programme in "Social Sciences for Intercultural Relations" (BASIB) at Fulda University of Applied Sciences offers students the opportunity to qualify for intercultural and international careers. The interdisciplinary programme includes the subjects of sociology, political science, communication science, and law, each with a focus on intercultural and transcultural relations. Central topics are:

  • Immigration and transnational migration
  • Social and culturally reflective communication
  • International organisations and politics
  • Sustainability and globalisation
  • Gender and diversity
  • Digitalisation
  • Racism and discrimination

The course can be completed in German and/or English and is supplemented by lessons in foreign languages. Students bring their diverse experiences and perspectives from different cultural and social backgrounds to the internationally oriented degree programme. In addition to training in social science methods, aspects of diversity and intercultural communication are dealt with in workshops, lectures and excursions. Students can spend a semester abroad. Various funding opportunities are available for this, such as scholarships and professional help from the department's international relations office. Students travel to a wide variety of countries and continents. Graduates of the BASIB degree programme have a wide range of job opportunities in intercultural professional fields. Students acquire interdisciplinary and intercultural skills through the programme. These enable them to work in national and international organisations, public authorities, companies and nonprofit organisations.

Course organisation

In the first two semesters, the programme lays the foundations in the disciplines of sociology, political science, communication studies, and law as well as methods of empirical social research. From the second and third semesters onwards, the focus is increasingly set on intercultural topics. In addition, much emphasis is also placed on the application of practical skills in areas such as intercultural training, diversity, languages, modern technologies, presentation, individual learning, teamwork, etc. In most courses, international BASIB students learn together in a group, which gives them an intensive intercultural experience. In addition, various courses are offered that bring them together with other students. Excursions regularly take place in Germany and abroad in order to gain an insight into practical contexts. After the fourth semester, students complete a compulsory eight-week internship in Germany or abroad. The fifth semester is reserved for in-depth studies and reflection on the internship experience. The Bachelor's thesis is written in the sixth semester.

To successfully complete the programme, 20 modules must be completed:

  • Cross Studies
  • Foundations in Sociology and Political Science
  • Foundations in Law
  • Labour Law, Social Law, and Migration Law
  • Communication and Culture in Theory and Practice
  • Foreign Languages
  • Sociological and Political Science Dimensions of Intercultural Relations
  • Globalisation and Sustainable Development: Foundations
  • Migration and Diversity: Foundations
  • Intercultural Relations in Work and Organisations: Foundations
  • Views of the Present - Current Topics in Political Science and Sociology I
  • General Skills in Communication, Culture, and Media
  • Exolingual Communication
  • Internship / Follow-Up
  • International Law
  • Elective Module: Migration and Diversity
  • Elective Module: Intercultural Relations in Work and Organisations
  • Elective Module: Globalisation and Sustainable Development
  • Views of the Present – Current Topics in Political Science and Sociology II
  • Advanced Scientific Work
  • Bachelor's Thesis

A module overview and more detailed information on all subjects are available on the programme website.

A special pre-study programme is offered for BASIB applicants. This programme provides advanced preparation for students from abroad who want to "warm up" for their future studies in Fulda. More information on pre-study options can be found on the pre-study website.

A Diploma supplement will be issued
Yes
International elements
  • Language training provided
  • Training in intercultural skills
  • International guest lecturers
  • Integrated/optional study abroad unit(s)
Integrated/optional study abroad unit(s)

A mobility window has been created in the fourth semester that allows students to spend a semester abroad on a voluntary basis.

Integrated internships

In order to gain initial practical experience, you must complete an internship in Germany or abroad in the fourth semester. The internship is prepared in the second semester and is followed by an intensive reflection phase. The diverse options allow students to optimally prepare for the demands of the intercultural working world.

Course-specific, integrated German language courses
Yes
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
Yes
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Semester contribution

A semester contribution of around 330 EUR is charged to cover the cost of student services, the student government, and an administrative fee as well as the "Deutschland semester ticket" (a student bus and rail pass for local and regional public transport all over Germany).

Costs of living

Approx. 900 to 950 EUR per month, including food, rent and health insurance (approx. 120 EUR per month), depending on one's living standard

Funding opportunities within the university
Yes
Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

International students can apply for the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, which amounts to 300 EUR per month and is usually granted for 12 months. Prerequisites are good results and/or extracurricular activities.

Academic admission requirements

A general higher education entrance qualification for Germany or an entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences

Language requirements

For admission to this course of study, either German language skills at level C1 or English language skills at level B2 are required. At the time of application, level B2 is sufficient for German and level B1 for English. If you are accepted, you can enrol and have until the end of the first semester to prove German language skills at level C1 or English language skills at level B2.
You can find an overview of the accepted language certificates on the website.

Application deadline

30 September

Early applications (March through June) are highly recommended for international applicants from outside the EU for visa procedures. Submitting applications by July or August is recommended for all other students in order to have time to find accommodation.

Submit application to

Apply here: www.uni-assist.de

Further information can be found on this website.

Possibility of finding part-time employment

From tutoring jobs and student assistantships at Fulda University to typical student jobs in restaurants, shops, and many other industries in the city of Fulda and its surrounding area, there is a wide range of job opportunities available.

Accommodation

The International Office offers an accommodation service for international students coming directly from abroad. Costs for accommodation amount to approx. 350 to 450 EUR per month for a single room in a shared flat or 450 to 600 EUR per month for a single apartment. There are excellent, newly built student residences within walking distance of the university.

For more information on housing, see: https://www.hs-fulda.de/en/ueber-fulda/reside-in-fulda.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Welcome event
  • Buddy programme

Fulda University of Applied Sciences

Content Bild

Fulda University of Applied Sciences is a practice-oriented university with an international profile and a strong focus on applied research. Fulda University is the first university of applied sciences in Germany with the independent right to confer doctoral degrees. Founded in 1974, the university currently encompasses eight departments with over 60 study programmes and approx. 8,700 students, including over 1,750 international students from more than 90 countries. The university offers a broad spectrum of academic and professional education. Numerous research and development projects are undertaken in cooperation with private business and industry. Fulda University cooperates with more than 100 universities around the world. The number of international programmes is growing continuously. These programmes are partly or entirely taught in English.
At the Bachelor's level, we currently offer six international Bachelor's programmes: Science & Engineering, Industrial Engineering Food, Social Sciences for Intercultural Relations, Food Technology, Global Health, and International Business & Management. At the Master's level, we offer six programmes: International Management; Intercultural Communication and European Studies; International Food Business and Consumer Studies; Global Software Development; Data Science; and Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law, and Society.

Further programmes designed for international students include the following:

  1. Pre-College Fulda, a preparatory year for applicants with and without a higher education entrance qualification for Germany
  2. Pre-Study Fulda, a preparatory semester for international applicants that includes German language training
  3. Career service for international students and graduates
  4. Preparatory intensive German courses
  5. German courses (accompanying studies)
  6. Support services, e.g. for housing and visa as well as a buddy programme and orientation week
  7. International Summer University (ISU), International Winter University (IWU), International Course in Business (ICB), and International Course in Social Work (ICSW)
19,5% International students
12 International study programmes

University location

A historic city founded in 744, Fulda today has a population of 70,000 with approx. 100,000 people living in the region. Fulda's Baroque quarter is one of the most beautiful in Germany and attracts visitors from all over the world. The picturesque Old Town has many cafés, bars, and pubs, with numerous shops and boutiques. The city's cultural life has something to offer for everyone. The high quality of life makes Fulda a great place to live and an ideal place to study. Fulda enjoys ideal public transport connections. One of Europe's principal international airports, Frankfurt International, is just one hour away by car or direct train. Other major cities in Germany, like Berlin, Munich, Cologne, or Hamburg, are within easy reach and only two to three hours away by train. Even famous European capitals like Paris and Brussels are reachable within five hours by train.

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