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Learning Abroad Center
The city of Munich Germany, with a blue sky and rainbow in the distance

Junior Year in Munich

Europe
University Study

For one semester or academic year, attend Germany’s top-ranked university, Ludwig Maximilians Universität (LMU Munich) through the longest standing US study abroad program in Germany, the junior year in Munich.

This program is administered by the Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch. Applications are processed by the Learning Abroad Center.
Apply to Program

Program Details

Location icon
Location
Munich, Germany
Term icon
Term
Academic Year
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Housing icon
Housing
Apartment
Languages Taught In icon
Languages Taught In
German
Sponsor
Sponsor
Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch

Program Eligibility

Student Type icon}
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year icon
Student Year
Juniors
Seniors
GPA Requirement icon
GPA
3.0
Language Prerequisite icon
Language Prerequisite
2 years college-level German

Events & Info Sessions

There are currently no events for this program. Explore more events on our events page.

About

Become part of a unique, distinguished tradition that emerged as a response to the devastating consequences of two world wars on the Junior Year in Munich (JYM) Program. The junior year abroad movement of the 1920s began in Germany with JYM. In 1953 with the re-opening by Wayne State University, JYM became the first program in postwar Germany to promote German-American friendship and understanding.

The program operates academic year and one-semester programs and offers internship experiences and undergraduate research opportunities.

Program Model

University Study

Housing & Meals

You will live single apartments with kitchenettes. You may purchase meals or shop for your own groceries.

Application Deadline

TermApplication Deadline
Academic Year 2027–28TBD (Spring 2027)
Fall Semester 2027
(Wintersemester)		TBD (Spring 2027)
Spring Semester 2027
(Sommersemester)		December 1, 2026

Program Dates

TermDates
Academic Year 2027–2028TBD (mid-September to early February (Wintersemester))
TBD (mid-March tomid-July (Sommersemester))
Fall Semester 2027
(Wintersemester)		TBD (mid-September to early February)
Spring Semester 2027
(Sommersemester)		March 1–July 1, 2027

For more information on dates, visit the academic calendar on the JYM site.

Academics

You can design your own program of study with a combination of LMU Munich courses, JYM German language and area studies courses, an undergraduate research project or even an internship. 

Previous participants have used the first semester to begin research on a wide range of topics (and many were used successfully after JYM as a foundation for post-graduation fellowships), while others used the first semester to focus on strengthening their German language skills as preparation for an internship between semesters or during the second semester. 

Note: Some JYM program features are only available to full-year students.

Open to juniors and seniors in any major with 2 years college-level German (or the equivalent) with a “B” average and a 3.0 GPA.

You receive transfer credit for the courses you take. Your grades do not factor into your University of Minnesota GPA. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's Academic Policies for more information.

Accessibility

If you have a disability and plan to study abroad, visit our Accessibility Abroad page to learn about considerations, answer questions, and request accommodations before you go abroad.

More Information

Contact the department of German, Nordic, Scandinavian and Dutch with program questions. You can also reach out directly to Andrew Elfenbein at [email protected], or Keiko Ehret at [email protected].

Program Fee

The JYM Program fee includes tuition, housing, insurance, and LAC administrative costs. You must also budget for visa, passport and passport photos, airfare, meals not included, personal/miscellaneous living expenses, and spending money.

Spring 2027 costs are forthcoming

Billing & Payments

Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

Flight & Deposit Advance

The Flight & Deposit Advance (formerly Bridging Loan) is a no-interest/no-fees program that allows you to defer payment of your flight and LAC program deposit until your financial aid is disbursed.

Cancellation Policy

You must confirm your place on the program within 2 weeks of acceptance.

If you wish to cancel your participation in the program, you may do so until the day before orientation onsite. You may be held responsible for unrecoverable program costs that may have been incurred on your behalf.

You may cancel up to the day before orientation without penalty, but you must email a written notification of your intention to do so to [email protected]. There are no refunds after the start of orientation in Munich. The UofM Learning Abroad application fee ($50) and the $550 deposit is non-refundable after submitting the Confirmation & Payment Agreement form via the Learning Abroad Center confirmation checklist.

Non-refundable deposit

A $500 program deposit is required to confirm your place in the Junior Year in Munich Program. This deposit is non-refundable under all circumstances.

Refund schedule

If you need to withdraw from the program, the amount you owe depends on when JYM receives your written withdrawal notice:

  • 61 or more days before the program start date: You forfeit your $500 deposit. All other fees paid will be refunded.
  • 1 to 60 days before the program start date: You forfeit the $500 deposit and owe 50% of the remaining program fee. Any amount already paid above this will be refunded.
  • On or after the first day of the program: No refund is available. The full program fee is owed.

Medical or emergency situations

If you must withdraw due to a serious illness or medical emergency, you may request a review of recoverable costs. Documentation from a licensed physician is required and requests must be submitted within 30 days of withdrawal. Contact our program office directly to discuss your situation.

Travel insurance

We strongly encourage all participants to purchase trip cancellation or Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance when you confirm your place in the program. Travel insurance can protect you from financial loss in situations outside.

Spring Semester 2026

Junior Year in Munich

Program Housing

Program Fee
  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit
$550
Tuition and educational costs
$16,000
International health insurance
$308
Housing and/or meals
$4,000
Transportation (if required and included in program fee)
$0
Total Program Fee
$20,858
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable
$-2,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable
$18,858
Estimated Additional Expenses
  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program site
international airfare & local transporation in Germany
$1,800
Passport/photos
$175
Visa/required documents
Visa estimate- based on UMN Frei Uni requirements
$980
Travel clinic/immunizations*
$0
Housing deposit
$0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure
$2,955
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materials
$600
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee
food/meals for the semester
$3,000
Essential daily living expenses
$2,500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
$6,100
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
$27,913
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation
$1,000
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Fall Semester 2025

Junior Year in Munich

Program Housing

Program Fee
  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit
$550
Tuition and educational costs
$16,000
International health insurance
$343
Housing and/or meals
$4,000
Transportation (if required and included in program fee)
$0
Total Program Fee
$20,893
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable
$-2,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable
$18,893
Estimated Additional Expenses
  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program site
international airfare & local transporation in Germany
$1,800
Passport/photos
$175
Visa/required documents
Visa estimate- based on UMN Frei Uni requirements
$980
Travel clinic/immunizations*
$0
Housing deposit
$0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure
$2,955
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materials
$600
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee
food/meals for the semester
$3,000
Essential daily living expenses
$2,500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
$6,100
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
$27,948
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation
$1,000
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Academic Yr Fall 2025/Spring 2026

Junior Year in Munich

Program Housing

Program Fee
  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit
$550
Tuition and educational costs
$32,000
International health insurance
$745
Housing and/or meals
$8,000
Transportation (if required and included in program fee)
$0
Total Program Fee
$41,295
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable
$-4,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable
$37,295
Estimated Additional Expenses
  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program site
international airfare & local transporation in Germany
$2,100
Passport/photos
$175
Visa/required documents
Visa estimate- based on UMN Frei Uni requirements
$980
Travel clinic/immunizations*
$0
Housing deposit
$0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure
$3,255
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materials
$600
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee
food/meals (approx $3000 per semester)
$6,000
Essential daily living expenses
approx $2500 per semester
$5,000
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
$11,600
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
$52,150
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation
$2,000
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Apply

You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

Apply Now

Complete

When you submit your online application, you will be assigned an application checklist that includes:

  • First Step session

Next Steps

  1. After you complete all required application checklist items, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application is ready to be reviewed.
  2. Your completed application will be reviewed by the program leader in the sponsoring college/department.
  3. If admitted, the Confirmation & Payment Agreement form will be added to your checklist. Complete this form to secure your spot on the program. By submitting the form, you also give your approval for the program deposit to be billed to your UofM student account.
  4. Complete the confirmation checklist, which include the following items in additional to program-specific forms:
    • Passport Information
    • Emergency Contacts
    • Health Information Form
    • Online Health & Safety Orientation
    • Release & Waiver
  5. You will receive information about additional steps from the sponsoring college/department.

Important Note: A passport book is required to travel on this program. If you do not currently have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months past your return date, or are still needing to apply for a new one, start the process as soon as possible. Visit the UofM Passport Office website for more information.