Welcome to Your Exchange Semester in Ludwigshafen!
We're glad you're here! This page is designed to support you throughout your exchange semester at our University. Whether you're looking for academic information, administrative guidance, or support offerings, you'll find the most important resources collected in one place.
Buddy Program
Buddy Program
What is sometimes hard for the regular students at universities, can quickly become a challenge for the international students. Getting started in new surroundings is particularly complicated because of the language barrier and the different mentalities and customs.
With the Buddy Program, Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society would like to welcome the new exchange students, offer them a helping hand in getting settled abroad and assist in their psychological and sociocultural adjustment.
The "buddies" are regular students, who voluntarily offer their support to the incoming foreign students. The buddies help their exchange fellows deal with the difficulties they may face in their daily life.
Your buddy will collect the keys for your flat before your arrival, he/she will pick you up from the train station (bus station) and help you move into your new place. If needed he/she will help you with your first shopping, will show you around the city and familiarize you with the university. Later, your buddy will accompany you to the different institutions, where you need to register - he/she will help you enroll at the university, visit the Immigration office, register at the city hall, open a bank account. You can ask your buddy for advice on your university schedule and recommendations for traveling, but also, your buddy will be the person, who will show you the best places to go and funniest things to do!
Introduction week
The International Office offers an orientation program for all exchange students, which enables you to integrate rapidly into the campus and social life in Ludwigshafen. Please consult our fact sheet for the exact dates!
During the introduction week, you will get practical advice and important information about our university, studies and choosing courses. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions about your stay and your studies in Ludwigshafen.
The introduction week is obligatory for all exchange students and will be held in English. It starts on Monday morning; the meeting place will be announced in time. Here you can see the usual plan for the induction week.
Includes:
- A German test, which helps to check your current level and assign the best course for you!
- An intensive German Language Course - free of charge!
- Information events - so you feel more confident about your stay in Germany!
- Intercultural orientation training - helpful event for your social, academic, and daily life!
- Explore Ludwigshafen - a guided tour through the city!
The University
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
The Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society) is a public university, founded in 1965 as Higher School of Commerce Ludwigshafen. In 1971 it became part of the University of Applied Sciences Rhineland Palatinate, which split up into seven autonomous universities in 1991.
Today, Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society is a major institution in the university landscape of the Rhine-Neckar. It offers over 4,000 students with bachelor's and master's degrees in several areas of business administration and social affairs. Offering a wide range of courses, the university ensures that during their studies, the students will acquire both the theoretical and practical knowledge for their future profession. The range of courses currently includes 39 studies - full-time, part-time, dual and distance learning. Small groups and university didactically trained teachers guarantee personal contact with the teachers and the efficient transfer of expertise, methodology and social skills.
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society has more than 100 partner universities worldwide and is a preferred institution by numerous exchange students from all over the world. For more information on the experience of the former incoming students at Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, visit our page Exchange students - Alumni.
ECTS Guide
ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is a tool that helps to design, describe, and deliver programmes and award higher education qualifications. The use of ECTS, in conjunction with outcomes-based qualifications frameworks, makes programmes and qualifications more transparent and facilitates the recognition of qualifications.
Since many grading systems co-exist in Europe and, considering that interpretation of grades varies considerably from one country to another, the ECTS grading scale has been developed to provide a common measure and facilitate the transfer of students and their grades between European higher education institutions, by allowing national and local grading systems to be interchangeable. Grades are reported on a carefully calibrated and uniform A-to-F scale combined with keywords and short qualitative definitions.
Usually, the performance of the student is documented by a local/national grade. The ECTS grade is not meant to replace the local grades but to be used optionally and additionally to effectively "translate" and "transcript" a grade from one institution to another.
As the ECTS grade is a relative grade there is no fixed conversion into the German mark system. Therefore, the table below only serves as a non-binding general orientation.
For further information European Commission's website.
| German Mark *Note* | German mark in words | ECTS - Grade | ECTS - Definition |
| 1,0 - 1,5 | Outstanding | A | Excellent |
| 1,6 - 2,0 | Very good | B | Very Good |
| 2,1 - 3,0 | Good | C | Good |
| 3,1 - 3,5 | Satisfactory | D | Satisfactory |
| 3,6 - 4,0 | Adequate | E | Sufficient |
| 4,1 - 5,0 | Not passed | FX/ F | Fail |
German language courses
During the Introduction week, the International Office of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society offers an intensive German course for their incoming students.The lessons are from Tuesday to Friday from 9 - 12.15 am (4 x 4 teaching units). In the beginning of the week, on Monday morning, there will be a German placement test.
In addition, there are German courses throughout the semester. The classes are offered at different language levels (A1-C1) in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and are available for all exchange students at no additional charge. There are 6 ECTS for a German language course with 4 hours per week.
If interested in further (fee-paying) German courses and/or examinations, follow the links:
Excursions & Sports
The International Office organizes several excursions each semester - join us and discover new places!
If you are interested in local sport activities, check out:
