International Management and Intercultural Communication – For GlobalMBA Exchange Students

We are delighted that you will begin your GlobalMBA study program at our university. Your studies at TH Köln will be conducted by two departments: the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law and the Institute of Translation and Multilingual Communication (ITMK). The key information about your semester in Cologne will be published on this webpage, which is located on ITMK's website.

For most of you the stay in Cologne will be the very first study term abroad. Because we know how difficult making preparations for a foreign study term can be, we would like to offer you some assistance. We hope the information and documents on this website will help you to prepare your studies at our university and will whet your appetite for your stay in Cologne.

Getting Enrolled and Studying at the THK in Cologne

GlobalMBA students from our partner universities enroll at TH Köln as exchange students during the winter term of their first year of study. At TH Köln the Department of International Affairs (RIA) is in charge of the enrollment of exchange students. The RIA sends out further details on the enrollment procedure via email to all exchange students. You will be asked to register online with TH Köln's online portal "Mobility Online" (MobO). To get this done, our RIA provides you with details and what documents you have to upload. Also, they offer online information sessions to help you. We highly recommend you to use this opportunity and ask questions directly to the responsible persons! The dates can be found here. Once your online registration is complete you can download and print out your individual letter of admission (so-called Zulassungsschreiben) via MobO (Non-EU students will need this document for their visa application). Once you have arrived in Cologne you should pick up your "MultiCa" (THK´s student card) at the RIA. Having done so, you can activate the "Semester Ticket" on your MultiCa to use public transport (busses, trams and train) for free. Under Orientation you will find links to our RIA´s websites with usefull information for TH Köln's exchange students.

You will find helpful information about the organisation of your studies at THK in the booklet "Getting started" (to be downloaded under Orientation). We recommend you to read it carefully - and refer to it if you have any questions - as it contains good orientation information. Furthermore, you will find the link our RIA´s webpage "Getting Started at TH Köln" where video tutorials are provided.

Detailed information on your MA studies, especially on your program in Cologne can be downloaded under Study Program. In the "GlobalMBA Study Guide" you will find the MA study plan containing all classes you will attend during the program. For students from UW: Should you apply for an Erasmus+ grant for your study period in Cologne, please use the study plan for filling in your Learning Agreement ("Before the Mobility" part).

Under University Life (see at the bottom of this page to the right) we provide you with website links to student services at TH Köln. Some information exist in German only, in this case please ask your German fellow students to help you with the translation.
We would like to draw your attention to fact that you should activate your CampusID (= personal university account which enables to use THK online services) as soon as you receive the CampusID by email. Only then you will have access to e.g. THK's e-learning platform, called ILU-ILIAS, or to the platform "Online Examination and Student Services" (PSSO), where you can view your grades (please note: GlobalMBA students do not have to register online for exams!) Also, you should get familiar with your "MultiCa", i.e. your student card at TH Köln, and the "Semesterticket" which allows you to use free public transport in Cologne as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia.

How to Find Accommodation in Cologne

All students need to arrange their accommodation themselves, since TH Köln has no means of arranging accommodation for students. Therefore TH Köln´s department of International Affairs put together useful information and advice on how to find accommodation in Cologne.

Please note: You are recommended to apply for student housing at the Kölner Studentenwerk (KStW) asap, because it is the largest provider of student accommodation in Cologne. To help you with this we put together a guide  How to apply for Student Housing at the KStW. If you receive an offer, please make sure you accept it by the stipulated deadline. Otherwise, the room will be offered to someone else. If you have not received an offer 4 to 6 weeks before the start of the rental period, please inquire directly at the Kölner Studierendenwerk. If they have no vacancy (which is likely to happen), you have to look elsewhere. The information provided by our International Office hopefully will be helpful to you.

We regret that we cannot help you with finding accommodation apart from the information provided on our website.

Winter Term 2024/25: Orientation Meeting, Block Classes, Lecture Start

Your study program starts with an orientation meeting on Friday, September 27, 2024 at 10:00 am (Ubierring 48, 4th floor, room 404.1). Afterwards, a TH campus and a city tour in Cologne's city center will be organized. Finally we plan a welcome dinner (end approx. 8 pm).

On September 30 and October 1, 2024 you will attend a two-day Intercultural Workshop (for time/location time see THK Class Meeting schedule). For further information see below.

Afterwards, you will attend a block class on October 2, 2024 (for time/location see THK Class Meeting Schedule).

- Wednesday, Oct. 2: full-day block class and excursion with Prof. Schuch (Intercultural Communication)

Please note: Attendance is compulsory for all meetings and classes! All events/classes take place in presence. 

The regular class meeting schedule starts on Monday, October 7, 2024. Your term in Cologne will end on Friday, January 24, 2025. For details please see the "THK Class Meeting Schedule" (to be released shortly before the term starts) under Study Program where further information is given as well (e.g. Syllabus and textbooks). As the central GlobalMBA webpage is conducted at the University of North Florida you will find the link to this site there as well.

Holidays: October 3 (German Unification Day), November 1st (All Saints). This year's Christmas break will be from December 23 to January 3 (lectures re-start on Monday, January 6, 2025).

Intercultural Workshop

On September 30 and October 1, 2024 you will attend a two-day Intercultural Workshop (dates and location will be published in the class meeting schedule). For details see on the right. As this workshop is part of your Intercultural Communication class attendance is mandatory.

Optional German Classes for Exchange Students

For exchange students special German classes will be available during the term (4 academic hours per week = 4 x 45 minutes) at different levels organized by our "Sprachlernzentrum" (Language Learning Center, SLZ). A compulsory assessment test will be organized in September. Students have to register by email at the Sprachlernzentrum (for details please see here). Students who pass the examination at the end of the semester will get a separate certificate issued by the SLZ.