Objective
In co-operation with the universities in Essen, Freiburg, Leipzig and the Freie Uni Berlin, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships to participate in a "Deutschlandkundlicher Winterkurs" lasting six weeks from around beginning of January until mid February, in case of Berlin courses last 4 weeks. The program is designed for students and junior faculty with a sound knowledge of German (at least at level B2) and some background in German Studies who are interested in improving their language skills and understanding of contemporary affairs.
The course applies to all Australian and New Zealand undergraduates, graduates and junior faculty members except graduates involved in German and German faculty courses. All lectures in the “Deutschlandkundlicher Winterkurs” are held in German. Upon arrival participants take a written placement test in German, and are divided into groups of 10-15 participants for language instruction accordingly. The programme includes a course of five weeks (German language course, German literature and Modern Cultural Studies of Germany) and one week for a mandatory field study trip (e.g. Bonn/ Berlin/ Weimar) free of charge.
Participants are expected to attend all scheduled classes and activities regularly, and to invest a significant amount of time in homework and class preparation. The course will also include city tours and excursions, as well as visits to museums and other cultural institutions. Students participating in the program are required to take a final examination and receive a certificate upon successful completion of all course requirements. Any questions regarding credit transfer should be directed towards the student’s home institution.

Value
Participation in the winter course is limited to DAAD-scholarship holders from Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and Namibia. The DAAD scholarship covers a tuition fee allowance of EUR 750 (ca. AUD 1,400), a travel allowance of EUR 1,275 (ca. AUD 2,400) and EUR 975 (ca. AUD 1,800) for living expenses. The amount will be transferred directly to the German home university and is to be paid out to the participants in two to three instalments. In addition participants should plan EUR 250 to EUR 300 (AUD 450 - 500) of their own funds for additional expenses. Students must arrange and pay for the transportation to and from the airport to the respective city. Health insurance will be provided by DAAD.

Requirements
Applicants must

• be holders of an Australian or New Zealand passport
• be at least 19 years of age by beginning of the course
• be currently inscribed at a University in Australia or New Zealand
• be at least in their second year of college level education at the time of application
• have an academic record better than B average
• have completed at least two years of college level German by beginning of the Winterkurs and
• have reached the European language proficiency levels of B2 or C1.

Download Announcement Hochschulwinterkurs 2010.

Application papers
Application forms can be downloaded here.
The language certificate can be downloaded here.

Application address and deadlines
Please submit applications (1 original and 1 copy) for stays in January and February of the following year by 15 August to the DAAD Information Centre in Sydney:

Dr. Andreas Jaeger
Director of the DAAD Information Centre
c/o Goethe-Institut Sydney
90 Ocean Street, Woollahra, NSW 2025, Australia
t (+61-2) 8356 8333
f (+61-2) 8356 8314
e daad.australia@gmail.com

Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered; applications for "special consideration" cannot be accepted, sorry.