The Lake Constance Summer School is a four-week summer program in August, in which students from around the world come together to study German and learn more about the Lake Constance area.
The summer school is offered to eligible Ontario students thanks to a special agreement between the OBW program and the Universität Konstanz.
There is no German-language prerequisite for successful participation in the Lake Constance Summer School. Classes are offered at all levels of German. Students from participating Ontario universities may apply who intend either:
- to participate in the summer school as a stand-alone experience and then return to their studies in Ontario; or
- to participate in the summer school in preparation for a longer stay in Baden-Württemberg as a student in the “traditional” OBW student exchange.
Students who wish to have the credit transferred to their academic record in Ontario should seek advice from their home university’s International Student Exchange Office and/or their academic counselors. Successful completion of the language course is documented with a transcript showing 6 ECTS credits.
The Lake Constance Arts & Science Association is a cooperative venture of 30 postsecondary institutions in the four countries surrounding Lake Constance. The Summer School takes place at the University of Konstanz, in Germany, from where the OBW program is coordinated on the Baden-Württemberg side, and where many Ontario students since 1990 have spent a wonderful exchange year.
Full information on all aspects of the Lake Constance Summer School can be found on the University of Konstanz website.
Eligibility
To be eligible, an applicant must:
- be pursuing a degree at a participating Ontario university;
- be registered at that university in the academic year preceding participation in the summer school; and
- be continuing in the same academic program in the academic year following participation.
Students who have participated in the IBH in an earlier year are ineligible to apply in the current year.
How to Apply
To apply, you must:
- complete and submit the York University online OBW-specific 2024 IBH application form or the Ontario students online OBW-specific 2024 IBH application form;
- write a statement of your reasons for applying to participate in this program (max. 1 page, double-spaced);
- submit your complete application to your home university’s International Student Exchange Office.
- Please note that you have to meet the application deadline set by your university’s International Office. You must apply through the International Student Exchange Office of your home university. Please do NOT submit your own application directly to either the program or the OBW office.
Important:
- You must apply through the International Student Exchange Office of your home university. Please do NOT submit your own application directly to either the IBH or the OBW office.
- If you are accepted by OBW to participate in the IBH program, we will send your information on the IBH registration process in place at the University of Konstanz. Please do NOT attempt to register directly with the IBH before receiving confirmation of the successful outcome of your OBW-specific application.
Acceptance and Registration
OBW will, as soon as the results are finalized, advise your home university of the outcome of your application. If your application is successful, your name will be forwarded to the Summer School coordinator at the University of Konstanz. At a later stage, you will be asked to register directly online with the summer school at the University of Konstanz.
The deadline for the completion of this step will be May 31.
Fees and Scholarship
The cost for OBW participants in the Lake Constance Summer School can be reviewed on their website.
Successful applicants are automatically eligible for a $1,200 scholarship for participation in the program.