Course selection
You will take an intensive German language class at the beginning, intermediate or advanced level. Short oral and written language tests will be given the first day of class to help place you in a class that will fit your skill level. In general, class sizes are not more than 15 students. To receive six credits from MU, you must also complete two seminars, each one week in length, taught in English or German by faculty members from Germany or abroad. During the two weeks that you do not have seminars, Marburg offers complimentary courses in which you may choose to enroll.
Grades and credits
The Marburg grading scale is made up of the numbers 15 to zero, with 15 being the highest. See the U.S. equivalencies and additional details in the table below.
| U.S. grade equivalent | Marburg grade | Percentage | Note | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 15 14 13 | 90–100% | sehr gut | very good | Outstanding achievement |
| B | 12 11 10 | 80–90% | gut | good | Performance above the average standard |
| C | 9 8 7 | 70–80% | befriefigend | satisfactory | Performance meets the average standard |
| D | 6 5 | 60–70% | ausreichend | sufficient | In spite of errors, conforms to requirements |
| F | 4 3 2 1 | 0–60% | mangelhaft | inadequate (fail) | Does not meet minimum criteria; some additional work required |
| 0 | ungenügend | insufficient (fail) | Does not meet minimum criteria; considerable further work required |
Transcripts
For your grades to count for MU credit, you must give your study abroad adviser an official, graded transcript immediately upon your return to Mizzou. Your transcript will have ECTS credit and a grade to be transferred to MU.
- Make sure you are properly registered. You should check and double-check that you are properly enrolled in the classes at your host university for which you want to earn credit. If you are not properly registered, no grade will be posted and you may not be able to earn credit for the course. If you enroll in a class and then decide to drop it, it will appear on your transcript as an incomplete, which will be translated as unsatisfactory on your MU record.
- Keep class materials. To avoid any discrepancies, it is crucial that you keep all materials related to the course work you take at your host university. If the course has a syllabus, keep a copy of it and ensure it lists the course name, instructor’s name, department, address, phone number and email address. If there isn’t a syllabus, you should ask the instructor to give you all the above-mentioned information. It is also a good idea to get a written bibliography of the texts used in class. Keep a hard copy of all papers you write for class and, if possible, get a copy of all tests you take. If you don’t want to carry all of these documents with you on your travels, you can send them home through a trackable courier service, such as FedEx, so you are sure they arrive safely. If you are returning home as soon as your program ends, then keep these documents in your carry-on luggage to be sure they don’t get lost.
- Obtain an official transcript before returning if possible. If you are studying abroad during your last 30 hours at MU, it is in your best interest to get an official transcript of all course work from your host university prior to your departure. It sometimes takes the university as long as five or six months to send the transcripts to the Mizzou Study Abroad office, which may be too late to get your credits translated and posted before the applicable graduation deadlines. Take the official transcript to your study abroad adviser in a sealed envelope so your grades can be posted to your MU record shortly after you return.