I. The University of Applied Sciences

I. The University
A. Name and Address
Visiting Address:
Mailing Address:
Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau (FH)
Zwickau University of Applied Sciences
Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 2A
D-08056 ZWICKAU
Germany
Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau (FH)
Zwickau University of Applied Sciences
P.O. Box 20 10 37
D-08012 ZWICKAU
Germany
Telephone:
(++49) (375) 536-0
(++49) (375) 536-1060
(++49) (375) 536-1061
(telephone exchange)
(International office)
(International office)
Fax:
(++49) (375) 536-1127
(++49) (375) 536-1033
(telephone exchange)
(International office)
e-mail:
[email protected] (International office)
[email protected]
(International office)
[email protected]
Internet:
http://www.fh-zwickau.de
B. Academic Calendar
Winter semester:
Application deadline:
Semester beginning:
Course beginning:
Course end:
Examamination period:
Semester end:
July 15th
September 1st
beginning of October
end of January
3 weeks in February
February 28th
Summer semester:
Application deadline:
Semester beginning:
Course beginning:
Course end:
Examination period:
Semester end:
January 15th
March 1st
beginning of March
end of June / beginning of July
3 weeks in July
August 31st
Enrollment:
ERASMUS PART-TIME STUDENTS have the option of enrolling for courses at the
Zwickau University of Applied Sciences at the beginning of either the winter or summer
semester – INTERNATIONAL FULLTIME STUDENTS at the beginning of the winter
semester only. Upon enrollment, students further receive a student identification and a
certificate of registration. Enrollment takes place in the International office. The International
office is located in the university building on Schillerstraße 1a (2nd floor, room number RI
217/219).
Required documents for enrollment:
ERASMUS part-time students:
International fulltime students:
the ERASMUS application form*)
the ERASMUS learning agreement*)
the ERASMUS transcript of records*)
application form with relevant documents*)
secondary school leaving certificate
proof of study at home university (if yes)
proof of knowledge of German
proof of health insurance valid for Germany
proof of payment of semester contribution to the Student Council and Student Service
a brief CV (curriculum vitae)
small passport-sized photo
passport
*) see internet: www.fh-zwickau.de/organisation/auslandsamt
C. Student Service
The Student Services is a public academic institution active in an exclusively and directly
non-profit capacity. It has the function of looking after the students on financial, social and
cultural levels. The association also manages two student restaurants, several cafeterias as
well as the student residence . As aforementioned, every student must pay a financial
contribution to the Student Services and to the Student Council. This contribution is about
80,00 EURO per semester.
A room in one of the student residence can be allocated for every student. To make such a
reservation, one must generally indicate on one’s application the interest in a student
residence room, which is then handled by the International office. Student accomodations
succeed in modern student residence with single and double rooms. The current rent costs
vary between 140,00 EURO and 190,00 EURO per month. Upon establishing one’s rentcontract there is a further deposit in excess of the rent. This deposit will be refunded upon the
conclusion of one’s academic stay. Bed linen can also be rented for the present price of 6,00
EURO. All rooms are furnished with a bed, desk and closet as well as other necessities. One
will also have access to a refrigerator and cooking devices. Dishes and silverware are
however the responsibility of the student.
The student restaurants and cafeterias offer both warm and cold meals as well as numerous
beverages. Students may select from three lunch dishes. The prices per meal vary between
1,25 EURO and 1,95 EURO.
D. The history of the university
The city of Zwickau possesses an historically rich tradition in the areas of education, teaching
and research. The following chronology highlights this impressive tradition:
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1290: Founding of the Latin School of Zwickau
1478: Reinvigoration of the Latin School
1828: Sunday School established for merchants
1862: Mining School established
(as of 1949, renamed Mining Engineering School of Zwickau)
1897: Engineering School of Zwickau
1965: Technical College for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering of Zwickau
1969: Engineering University of Zwickau
1989: Technical University of Zwickau
1992: University of Applied Sciences (FH - Fachhochschule )
The Zwickau University of Applied Sciences has the status of a Fachhochschule and offers
the following: a practice-oriented course of studies, a tight academic organisation,
application-oriented academic concepts, cooperation-relationships with Industry and
Business, exchange programs with international partner institutions of higher education,
laboratories with solid technical equipment, modern computer labs, a modern library as well
as a wide assortment of sports activities.
E. Study courses offered
Presently, there are about 4.600 students at the University studying the following Diplom
degree courses (in the frame of the „Bologna Process“ and European Higher Education Area
changes to Bachelor and Master degree courses are planned):
Automotive Engineering
Traffic System Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Management and Engineering
Utilities and Environmental Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Automotive Electronics
Information Technology
Physical Engineering
Microtechnology
Computer Science
Business Administration
Industrial Engineering and Economics
Public Utilities Management
Healthcare Management
Sign Language Interpreting
French and Business Studies
Spanish and Business Studies
Chinese and Business Studies
Textiles and Leather Engineering (Reichenbach Campus)
Architecture (Reichenbach Campus)
Courses of Applied Arts (Schneeberg Campus):
Woodwork Design
Fashion Design
Textile Design
Textil Art
Musical Instrument Design and Production
Master Courses:
Automotive Engineering, Computer Science, Nano & Surface Engineering, Architecture
II. The city of Zwickau
Location, History and Presence
The city of Zwickau is located in the Mulde River valley, at the foot of the Ore Mountain and
near the Vogtland. Zwickau is the cultural and economic center of Western Saxony. The city
is approximately 110 km west of the Saxon capital city of Dresden and about 80 km to the
south of the world-famous fair-city Leipzig. At present, Zwickau has about 100.000 residents.
The city which was originally designated „Zwiccowe“ emerged at first in 1118 as a
geographically trade-favorable slavic town (trade route from Bohemia, through Leipzig, and
towards Goslar). Commercial life began to take route once German businessmen settled there
between 1135 and 1145. Around 1200, Zwickau came under the control of the German counts
of Meißen and received its municipal law from them. After 1212, the German counts
commissioned ‘Castle Osterstein’ and made Zwickau into a city.
The mining (for iron, silver, copper and hard coal), blacksmithing, fabric making as well as
the exporting of the according products led to a period of grand economic flourishment in the
15th and 16th centuries. The cultural life of Zwickau also experienced a renaissance as a
result.
During the time of the Protestant Reformation, Zwickau became renowned due to the
„Zwickau Prophets“, who further influenced Thomas Müntzer.
The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) caused Zwickau to suffer an economic decline, from
which it began to recover only in the 19th century through the early industrialization and the
output of hard coal.
Today, Zwickau is both a cultural and industrial center, which builds upon the economic and
cultural traditions of its legacy. The city will continue develop as an important industrial
location (especially the automotive industry) as well as a significant hub for transportation in
West Saxony and as the Robert Schumann city.
Among the most important visiting sights are the following included:
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the old heart of the city with the city hall and the theater
the Cathedral St. Marien with precious furnishings
the Katharinen church
the house in which classical composer Robert Schumann was born in 1810
the city museum
the city archives
the August Horch automobile museum
III. Practical Information
Entry visa and residential permission
Prior to departure, students are well-advised to become informed by their local foreign
authorities or by the German Embassy or Consulate concerning matters for entry and
residential regulations for Germany. Students from EU and EFTA countries generally have no
need of a visa. The foreigners registration office in Zwickau grant, upon application, the
corresponding residential permission for the purpose of study to students. The International
Office of the university will also assist students upon registration.
Health, Accident and Liability Insurance
Students must provide themselves with insurance while studying at the university. Of top
priority is obtaining health insurance. In most European countries, the health insurance
agencies distribute the required forms or the European Health Insurance Card which entitles
one to coverage in accidental events when abroad. The best insurance package would consist
of health, accident and (private) liability insurance. The student must prove the possession of
an insurance policy which is valid in Germany prior to departure. This is relevant, for
example, for countries of the European Union, which further have a social agreement with the
Federal Republic of Germany. Such an agreement would include an insurance clause
stipulating coverage in one’s home country and abroad. Those, who cannot obtain such
coverage, must seek insurance immediately upon arrival. The International office can also
assist students in obtaining proper insurance coverage.
Language Preparation
The Zwickau University of Applied Sciences requires NO SPECIAL LANGUAGE
CERTIFICATE from its foreign ERASMUS PART-TIME STUDENTS. Unquestionably, the
ERASMUS-student should master the language of German well enough to be able to follow
courses, participate in seminars, take exams and manage everyday living. From its
INTERNATIONAL FULLTIME STUDENTS the university requires a proof of knowledge of
German, e.g. DSH- or TestDaF-EXAMINATION. Nevertheless the language center of the
university offers continual courses of German every semester for the improvement of one’s
ability in German. If required from the ERASMUS students, the language center organizes a
German intensive language course for 2 weeks before beginning of the courses.
Arrival in Zwickau
Most students arrive in Zwickau at the main train station after they have been flown to
different airports in Germany (e.g. Leipzig, Dresden, Nuremberg, Munich).
Directly in front of the station complex, one finds the tram stop and proceeds by tram to tram
stop „Georgenplatz“. Here one proceeds to the entry of the pedestrian zone, marked by the
„Äußere Plauensche Straße“, until hitting the „Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring“. At the traffic lights,
one crosses the „Ring“ and continues to the right for approximately 500 m in the direction of
the main building (Georgius-Agricola-Bau) and administration building. The International
office is located in the administrative building on Schillerstraße 1a on the second floor (room
217). Here must students report-’check-in’.
Public Transportation in Zwickau
Several buildings, laboratories, seminar rooms and lecture halls, the main library and a
cafeteria as well as a modern student residence are all found in the center of Zwickau (within
the Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring). Due to its favorable location, the students have immediate access to
the heart of the social center, thus not requiring frequent use of the public transportation.
Students who choose a major field of study, will have to travel to the Scheffelberg Campus.
One need simply take the tram in the direction of ‘Eckersbach’ and get off at the tram stop
entitled ‘Westsächsische Hochschule’.
In the ‘Eckersbach’ city district, further student residence are located, also best reached by the
tram, even from the train station. One is well-advised to purchase a semester ticket at student
council of the university valid for all transport vehicles of Zwickau. The semester ticket is
included in the semester contribution for the student council and for the student service. It
costs about 80,00 Euro and essentially costs less than individual tickets (see above: Student
Service).
Cost of living in Zwickau
In immediate proximity of the student residence, one can find supermarkets with relatively
affordable groceries and beverages. On average, students require between 500,00 Euro and
600,00 Euro per month for costs of living - including rent costs for the student residence and
contribution for student service and student council. These costs are indeed dependent upon
one’s respective needs (frequent visits to the movies or theater, dining in a nice restaurant, as
well as trips into the near or far-removed surrounding areas, etc.) Beyond this, the service
centers (such as the Post office, many banks, department stores, pharmacies as well as
churches, museums, the theater, a big Movie theater (cinema) with several halls, restaurants
and further sights to see are all found in the city center.
IV. Recognition of academic performance from
foreign education institutions of higher education
(for ERASMUS students only)
General
One necessary prerequisite for the active status of a student within the framework of the
ERASMUS-program is complete recognition of the academic performance at a foreign
partner institution of higher education. This means that the foreign study program (including
exams and evaluations of accomplishment) must be sufficiently comparable to the
corresponding course(s) of the home university. Similar courses which have a differing
content to an acceptable agree count as well.
The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
The European Commission has developed this ‘point system’ in order to allow for an uniform
system of academic (university) course credit among universities in Europe and their foreign
partners. This consists of a method which serves as a uniform (as possible) device for
evaluation, comparison and which further allows foreign credits to transfer from one
institution to the next.
For all academic and administratively technical aspects of ECTS, there is an ERASMUSECTS -coordinator for each major field of study at the university of choice. As a rule, this
coordinator is the contact member for the foreign students. He/she can further clarify practical
course information, the arrangement for available credits and can also comment on the
processes and documents needed for academic recognition.
The coordinator for the respective major field of study can also provide support with the ‘setup’ of one’s course schedule. In addition, he/she will consider the requests and personal
interests of the respective student, in order to establish the most useful schedule. Prior to
departure, the ERASMUS-student’s home university and the host university in addition to the
student him/herself must sign the „Learning Agreement“, in which the program of study is
already ascertained.
In one’s academic „Transcript of Record“, all successfully completed courses at the host
institution will be recorded. One’s home university will, through ECTS application, recognize
all such foreign credits. Thus, one can regulary continue their respective course of study in
the next semester.