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Goethe Study Experience Program

Are you a student of one of Goethe University's partner institutions and find it difficult to figure out what classes to take during your semester at Goethe University?

How about participating in one of these thematically focused short-term study programs? Combine studying about Frankfurt- and Europe-related topics in English with learning German! We currently offer two pre-packaged bundles of academic classes for students with no prior knowledge of the academic field (introductory classes will be provided):

  • Critical Theory Past and Present: The “Frankfurt School" and its legacy  
    Discover the history and aftermath of the influential group of social scientists gathered around Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno. Founded in the 1920s in Frankfurt, the Institute for Social Research went into exile after 1933 at Columbia University New York and returned to Frankfurt after World War II. At the forefront of socio-political and socio-cultural debates, the “Frankfurters" dominated the socio-political discourse during the 1950s and 1960s and inspire social theory and social sciences until today.

  • A European Banking Hub: Financial and Economic Policies in the EU
    The Frankfurt based European Central Bank is just the tip of the iceberg: Frankfurt is a city of Finance. Learn more about the European banking system and its political and historical background as an important asset of the European Union.


Are you a regular student of Goethe University and are interested in participating? Please see the tab below for more information. 

  • "pre-packaged" academic bundles / introductory class to the academic discipline of choice - no previous knowledge required
  • open to international exchange students from partner institutions
    • advanced undergraduate and master's students of partner universities
    • no German required
    • English B2 required 
  • two thematically focused study tracks at choice: 
    • Critical Theory Past and Present: The “Frankfurt School" and its legacy  
    • A European Banking Hub: Financial and Economic Policies in the EU
    • and starting in fall 2026 (tbc): Poet, Politician and Polymath: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – Life, Works, Aftermaths 
  • Duration: fall semester incl. pre-semester (September - March) / summer semester (March - July); early-leaver options to be discussed
  • Language: English as teaching language / optional German classes
  • Credits: Earn up to 30 ECTS credits per semester that may transfer to your home university.
  • Certificate: „Certificate of International Studies at Goethe University“ available to those who earn at least 24 ECTS
  • Fees: no tution fees

Study one of the academic tracks

  • introductory class in the month before the semester (September / March)
  • regular classes during the semester 
  • German classes in the month before the semester and during the semester (regular German classes open to all exchange students)

Critical Theory Past and Present: The “Frankfurt School" and its legacy 

Discover the history and aftermath of the influential group of social scientists gathered around Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno. Founded in the 1920s in Frankfurt, the Institute for Social Research went into exile after 1933 at Columbia University New York and returned to Frankfurt after World War II. At the forefront of socio-political and socio-cultural debates, the “Frankfurters" dominated the socio-political discourse during the 1950s and 1960s and inspire social theory and social sciences until today.

Are you a regular student of Goethe University and are interested in participating? Please see tab below. 


A look ahead on the program of spring/summer term 2026:

Introductory class (9 to 25 March 2026, Mon/Tues/Wed 2-4 pm):

Dr. Jonas Heller: "Introduction to Critical Theory: Key Positions of the Frankfurt School“ (3 CP)

Excursion (in March, as part of the introductory class; only for participants of the introductory class): 
  • guided tour through the "Institut für Sozialforschung" (IfS) with its director, Prof. Dr. Stephan Lessenich
  • tour of the archives of the university library 

Regular classes (during the semester): 

(a list will be provided at a later date closer to the start of the spring term)


A look back on the program of fall/winter term 2025/26:

Introductory class (16 September to 8 October 2025, Tues/Wed 2-4 pm):

Dr. Jonas Heller: "Thinking in Context: Introduction to Critical Theory“ (3 CP)

Excursion (in October, as part of the introductory class): A guided tour through the "Institut für Sozialforschung" (IfS) will be given by its director, Prof. Dr. Stephan Lessenich (only for participants of the introductory class).

Regular classes (during the semester): 

Dr. Vangelis Giannakakis: "Critical Theory: Concept and Problems" (3 CP)
Dr. Vangelis Giannakakis: "Critical Theory: Adorno's Theory of Negative Dialectics" (3 CP)
Manuela Santamaría Moncada: "Environmental Theory and Critical Theories of Nature: An Introduction."
Dr. Simone Pfeifer, "Theories of Culture and Society 1" (3CP)
Prof. Darrel Moellendorf, "Political Theory and Environmental Crises"

A European Banking Hub: Financial and Economic Policies in the EU

The Frankfurt based European Central Bank is just the tip of the iceberg: Frankfurt is a city of Finance. Learn more about the European banking system and its political and historical background as an important asset of the European Union.
Are you a regular student of Goethe University and are interested in participating? Please see tab below. 

A look ahead on the program of spring/summer term 2026:

Introductory class (in March 2026, exact times and dates to be confirmed):
Dr. Ingo Sauer: "The European Central Bank Demystified: From Its Mandate to a Delicate Balancing Act of European Financial Tensions“ (3 CP)

Excursion  (in March): A guided tour of the ECB is planned (tbc).

Regular classes (during the semester): 

(a list will be provided at a later date closer to the start of the spring term)


A look back on the program of fall/winter term 2025/26:

Introductory class (9 - 25 September 2025, Tues-Thurs; 3:30-5:45pm):
Dr. Ingo Sauer: "The European Central Bank Demystified: From Its Mandate to a Delicate Balancing Act of European Financial Tensions“ (3 CP)

Excursion  (15 September 2025): guided tour of the ECB  

Regular classes (during the semester): (please click on the links for more information)

Financial Risk Management (6 CP)

Current Issues in Insurance (6 CP)
Money and Banking (6 CP)
usiness Cycle Theory and Policy (6 CP)
Derivatives 1: Discrete-Time Models (6 CP)
Accounting and Capital Markets (6 CP)



In preparation: Poet, Politician and Polymath: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – Life, Works, Aftermaths

This study track is going to be available starting fall 2026 (tbc).

Not just a namesake of the University, Goethe is a pivotal figure for German culture in an epoch characterized by refom, revolution and national reinvention of Germanness and German culture. A man of the 18th century, Goethe became an idol of Germans in the 19th century. His writings, his actions and his convictions – both as private and public person – are emblematic for his own times and their legacy became emblematic for subsequent generations. Reason enough to inquire his times and achievements.
  • pre-semester (September / March): introductory class of academic discipline of choice and German classes (for exact dates see tab "study options" above)
  • regular "Wintersemester" and "Sommersemester": regular content classes and German classes
  • Regular application process for exchange students from partner institutions with student exchange agreement (nomination by home institution required)
  • Register for participation in GStEP via your Mobility-Online workflow (after regular application for exchange students)
  • Priority will be given to students from partner universities with university-wide exchange agreements; after that it will be first-come first-serve. We reserve the right to reject applications to the program in case demand exceeds capacity.
  • English B2 required - please provide with your application one of the following (language certificate may not be older than 2 years):  
    • English proficiency confirmed by language certificate issued by home institution
    • IELTS 6.0
    • Toefl 80 
    • or equivalent certificate 
  • German not required
  • BA students must be at least in their 3rd semester
  • no academic knowledge regarding the study field required

"Certificate of International Studies"

  • „Certificate of International Studies" available to those who earn at least 24 CP  
  • Participants need to talk to their home university about whether credits may be recognized and counted towards their degree. Home institutions may contact the GStEP team with questions regarding this matter. 

A European Banking Hub: Financial and Economic Policies in the EU

  • Introductory class (pre-semester) (3 CP) 
  • German-as-a-foreign-language classes (pre-semester 3/4 CP + during semester 6 CP) = 9/10 CP 
  • 2 of the listed classes (see study options above) during the semester* (6 CP each) = 12 CP

Critical Theory Past and Present: The Frankfurt School and its legacy

  • Introductory class (pre-semester) (3 CP)
  • German-as-a-foreign-language classes (pre-semester 3/4 CP + during semester 6 CP) = 9/10 CP 
  • 3 of the listed classes (see study options above) during the semester* (3 CP each) = 9 CP 
  • One other class of choice (? CP) OR exam on the three classes (3 CP)
*We're flexible: If you want to replace one of the listed courses with a different one, please talk to us!

Are you a regular student of Goethe University and are interested in participating?

  • Regular students of Goethe University may participate in the introductory classes during the pre-semester (September / March) (subject to availability). 
  • wonderful opportunity to study Frankfurt-related topics in English 
  • great chance to study with exchange students from partner universities from all over the world 

Interested students of Goethe University, please send an email to gstep@uni-frankfurt.de to inquire about avaible spots. Please let us know your name, current course of studies and which track you are interested in and submit proof of English B2 (enrollment in English-taught degree program sufficient).

Photo credits © Steffen Böttcher