From Hessen to WI

UW institutions follow their own internal policies and procedures related to international admissions. UWs generally require application materials in addition to those collected from students and shared with UWs as part of the nomination process. 

Students apply to their respective international offices in Germany. Then, applications are forwarded to the Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange Coordinator at Justus Liebig University Giessen.

The following deadlines and timeline apply to both fall and spring semesters. The Hessen Ministry runs one application cycle per year.

This form is required by the German Studierendenwerk before a German student can receive funding for study abroad.

You may be presented with this form for submission twice – once prior to departure from Germany and once after arrival on your campus.

For both of the questions “The above named student applied for a student waiver” and “And got a tuition waiver”, check “yes. Students participating through the Hessen Wisconsin Exchange do not pay tuition to their host campus.

UWs follow internal policies and procedures for exchange student course enrollment.

Hessen schools require their students to complete a “Learning Agreement” before and after arrival in Wisconsin. A Learning Agreement lists the courses the student will complete and must be signed by a host campus advisor.

Hessen students must meet admissions criteria as set by the UW campus.

HWX Coordinator in Hessen   |   During Business Hours in Hessen

Julia Volz

• julia.volz@admin.uni-giessen.de
• from a cell: 49.64.1991.2130
• from a landline: 011.49.64.1991.2130
• from within Germany: 064.1991.2130  

Imke Polland-Schmandt

• Imke.Polland-Schmandt@admin.uni-giessen.de
• from a cell: 49.64.1991.2170
• from a landline: 011.49.64.1991.2170
• from within Germany: 064.1991.2170

International Office

• from within Germany: 064.1991.2176
• internationales@admin.uni-giessen.de
• from a cell: 49.64.1991.2176
• from a landline: 011.49.64.1991.2176

English proficiency requirements for each campus are available from Go Wisconsin.

The following campuses accept alternatives from Hessen exchange students:

Email global@wisconsin.edu to request corrections.

If a student requests an additional term in Wisconsin, and if your campus will approve an additional term, follow this protocol:

The UW HWX Coordinator sends a “Nomination” form to the UW campus advisor to complete and submit.

The student contacts the Home Campus to follow Home Campus protocol for requesting a program extension.

If the Home Campus approves the extension, the Home Campus advisor requests consideration by the HWX Coordinator in Hessen and the Hessen Ministry.

If approved by the Ministry, the UW HWX Coordinator will create a new “Request for Nomination” form in Via TRM, copying data from the student’s original request into the new request.

The student will receive an automated email with a link. The student will review and update data in the new Request and click “Submit” to confirm the intention to extend.

Semester exchange students count as 1.0 FTE per semester within the state-to-state exchange. Undergraduate and graduate students are balanced separately.

Students must be enrolled by their host campus in the UW-contracted insurance plan.

Internships are not promoted to Hessen students in general, but campuses able to advise on J-1 Academic Training may offer this following their own internal policies and procedures. 

This form is required by the German Studierendenwerk before a German student can receive funding for study abroad.

You may be presented with this form for submission twice – once prior to departure from Germany and once after arrival on your campus.

If you are asked to complete this form before tuition & fees have been formally set for the term of study, you may add a statement such as “Tuition and fees represented here are tentative. Official tuition and fee schedules will not be available until sometime in August”.

UW campuses that plan to send materials to one or more Hessen campuses prior to a study abroad fair should contact the campus directly to confirm these dates. Hessen campuses may change dates without our knowledge.

Have you heard from a partner in Hessen that the information in this chart incorrect? Email corrections to global@wisconsin.edu.

Materials Should Arrive at the Campus by

Our partners in Hessen limit Hessen students to one semester of exchange.

Hessen students typically study in Wisconsin over fall semester. The spring semester in Wisconsin begins before the fall semester in Hessen ends.

Training Video (recorded January 2026)

Click within the video transcript to skip forward/backward to specific points within the video.

Students follow host campus policies and procedures in accessing official and unofficial transcripts.

• Inbound students DO NOT pay tuition to the host institution. (Tuition is paid to the HOME institution.)
• Inbound students pay segregated fees and other similar fees to the HOST institution.

Students follow host campus policies and procedures in applying for immigration documents from the host campus. Hessen campuses provide varying levels of support relative to the visa application process.

Students who withdraw on or before the deadlines below do not count in the exchange balance.  Those who withdraw after the following deadlines do count in the exchange balance.

• Withdrawal Deadline for UW fall semester: May 31
• Withdrawal Deadline for UW spring semester: November 15

A student who withdraws after the program withdrawal deadline may be replaced with another student, and therefore not included in the exchange balance as a withdrawn student, provided the replacement student applies in sufficient time to a campus that still has openings. 

Working is not promoted to Hessen students in general. UWs follow their own internal policies and procedures related to on campus employment for exchange students.