Language courses and short-term programs abroad
Not all students can afford to spend a semester or a whole year abroad, and a prolonged stay may not always fit everyone’s schedule either. Intensive language courses and summer and winter schools allow students to gain experience of living abroad and hone their international skills on a short-term academic program.
Intensive language courses
Intensive language courses are a kind of “crash course” in language learning. They last around three weeks, teach languages at various levels and are a good way to either learn a language from scratch or consolidate your existing knowledge. The language courses usually end with an examination, and you will be given a certificate or another form of proof showing the level you have achieved. Some courses also award credits. Please ask your department whether you can have these recognized at the University of Bonn.
Finding a suitable language school? Many governments have language and examination centres abroad that refer to partner schools in their home countries, making your search easier. For example, the Institut Français refers to the language courses offered by ‘Les Ateliers FL’ in various French cities.
Intensive language courses (apart from English) can be funded with a PROMOS scholarship. You can find the application criteria on the PROMOS scholarships website. The DAAD scholarship database (only available in German) lists scholarships for other specific language courses.
Summer and winter schools
Summer and winter schools are two- to four-week short-term academic programs for students. Completing the program earns you credits, which might be able to be recognized at the University of Bonn. You should clarify with your department in advance whether you can have your course recognized in this way.
We have put together a selection of courses from partner universities below. If the university of your choice is not listed, we recommend that you search for courses directly on the website of the desired university.
The courses are subject to a fee. Some universities will give you a discount. Discounts are only possibly if explicitly emtioned in the listings below. Please contact us before you apply.
Summer and winter schools can be funded with a PROMOS scholarship. You can find the application criteria on the PROMOS scholarships website.
Countries and courses
Below you will find an overview of courses that are currently open for applications. Please contact the organizers directly if you have any questions about applying or how your stay will be organized.
Note that we primarily include courses offered by partner universities on this page and are not allowed to recommend any commercial providers of language courses.
Countries and courses
Learn more
Antwerp Summer University
Learn more
Europe Inside Out: A Summer School 2025, Catholic University of Leuven
Learn more
Winter University Global Challenges for our Sustainable Future, University of Leuven
UBC Vancouver Summer Program, University of British Columbia
YorkU Faculty-Led Study Abroad Courses, York University
Please note that it is not possible for the University of Bonn to nominate you as an exchange student for this program and that you must apply as a fee-paying student.
HKU Summer Institute (HKUSI)
Students of the University of Bonn may receive a partnership discount.
Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (SURP) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Please note that it is not possible to be nominated by the University of Bonn as an exchange student for this program and that you must apply as a fee-paying student.
International Summer School at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Please note that it is not possible for the University of Bonn to nominate you as an exchange student for this program and that you must apply as a fee-paying student.
Global Research Immersion Program for Young Scientists (GripS) in Nanjing
Antai Global Summer Programm (AGSP) 2025, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Students of the University of Bonn can receive a partnership discount of 20%.
Global Summer School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Physics International Summer School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
SJTU SDG Global July Camp, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Please note that the summer school will take place entirely online.
SDU International Summer School
UniTartu Summer School
Turku Åbo Summer School
Summer schools at the Université de Bordeaux
Learn more
Winter School 2026, Université de Bordeaux
Students of the University of Bonn may receive a partnership discount.
Ginsen Summer School 2025, Université Grenoble Alpes
Learn more
Summer School 2026 "The European Identity: Past, Present and Future", University of Strasbourg
Summer School 2025, Université Toulouse Capitole
Summer University 2025, Corvinus University Budapest
Philosophy Summer School University of Aberdeen
Learn more
Warwick Summer School (different subjects)
Learn more
Summer Programmes at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford
Learn more
Summer School 2026, University of St Andrews
Various Winter Schools, University of Trento
Summer Courses at the IISC in Rome
University of Tokyo Global Unit Courses (UTokyo GUC)
Students of the University of Bonn may receive a discount for students of USTEP universities.
Sophia Summer/January Sessions, Sophia University
Please note that the University of Bonn does not allow nomination as an exchange student for this program and you must apply as a “fee-paying student”.
Participants of the January Session may apply for the Off-Campus Study-Program in addition to the regular three-week courses
ICU International Summer Program in Japan (ISPJ), International Christian University
Waseda Summer Session, Waseda University
Summer Short-Term Intensive Japanese Program, Rikkyo University
Short-Term Programs, Keio University
Learn more
Antwerp Summer & Winter University
Summer Course of Polish Language and Culture, University of Warsaw
PhD Summer School 2025, Politehnica University of Timișoara, Romania
Summer and Winter Programmes at National University of Singapore
International Summer Campus (KU ISC), Korea University
SNU International Summer Program (ISP), Seoul National University
Students from partner universities receive a 20 % discount on tuition fees.
Sogang International Summer Program, Sogang University
Students from partner universities may receive a discount on tuition fees.
Winter School, Sungkyunkwan University
Language courses at the Swedish Institute (Svenska Institutet) for students of
Scandinavian Studies
Summer school at the University of Bern
Winter School of the Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern
Summer School of Economics and Business, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Climate Change Summer School, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
International Summer School, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Skills Summer School, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Spanish Summer Schools, Universidad Católica de Valencia
2024 National Chengchi University International Summer School (NCCU ISS)
Applications are currently closed.
The International Summer School includes 4 weeks of intensive English-taught program (containing 8 courses) and Mandarin courses, and 4 optional excursions in 2024 to allow applicants with various interests and cultural backgrounds to discover the unique charms of Taiwanese cultures.
NTU Plus Academy
Applications are currently closed.
National Taiwan University offers a selection of topic-based short programs designed to give students from around the world the opportunity to gain experience abroad and learn about different cultures. Program dates vary depending on the course.
Winter School 2026, University of New Mexico
Fulbright Summer Studies Program “Leaders in Entrepreneurship” in Virginia
Learn more (only available in German)
Fulbrigt Summer Studies Program “Diversity Initiative” in Texas
Learn more (only available in German)
Contact
Hannah Scharf
0.002
Poppelsdorfer Allee 53
53115 Bonn (Germany)
