About the Hessen Exchange

The five UMass campuses have signed a global agreement with the State of Hessen to pursue mutually beneficial projects in research and student exchange. The agreement takes the form of a "Declaration of Understanding," a foundational document that leads to a range of subsidiary "Protocol Agreements." Among the Protocol Agreements is a comprehensive arrangement for mutual student exchange at undergraduate and graduate levels. The Exchange includes opportunities for a full year, a semester, or a shorter-term course of study, as well as research exchange experiences for advanced graduate students. This "state-to-state" agreement is between the publicly-supported Massachusetts and Hessen university higher-educational systems. Both are multi-campus entities. Principles of the student exchange are (1) that each higher educational system waives academic charges to incoming guest students; (b) that overall, between the Hessen and Massachusetts institutions, there will be a balance of benefit based on an equal "full-time equivalent" of students participating in each country; and (c) that faculty exchanges and research-student exchanges will also be considered within the overall consideration of equal balance in the exchange. For example, while many students coming to UMass from Hessen will be full-time, full-year students at the graduate level, the majority of UMass participants may be undergraduates going for short-term experiences such as summer sessions. However, as well, the program anticipates a growing participation by advanced graduate students from both sides of the agreement participating in research partnerships. Financial aid offered in the United States and in Germany can help cover students' educational costs. Faculty exchanges for teaching in each others' countries and participation in research projects of mutual benefit are a keystone of the UMass - Hessen partnership agreement.