Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to be a college/university student to apply?
A: No. Although, we do offer the option of receiving credit to university students, you do not have to be enrolled at a university to apply.
Q: How do I find the English Department of the Freiburg University?
A: Click here
Q: What academic level are the courses at BFWS?
A: We offer various levels of university courses. Some of our courses require previous writing experience, others are suitable for more inexperienced writers.
Q: How many courses can I take?
A: We suggest taking no more than two classes at a time. Be certain of your ability to respond conscientiously to the course demands before registering for a class.
Q: How many courses should I take?
A: This is entirely up to you. Some students might wish to register for only one course in order to maximize their writing time during the program. Remember that each course requires reading and writing outside of class in addition to the daily seminars. Please make sure the times of the courses you choose don't overlap.
Q: Where can I hear what previous students thought of the Black Forest Writing Seminars?
A: Please check out our Testimonials page (here and on the menu above), and the BFWS Facebook Page where you can read feedback and see pictures.
Q: Will all coursework be completed during the program session?
A: Needless to say, some deadlines will fall after the end of the course.
Q: What is the size of the classes?
A: All writing classes have limits of at most 15 students.
Q: How do I get to Freiburg?
A: Please click here.
Q: How can I find out more about Freiburg?
A: Please click here.
Q: How much does the program cost?
A: Tuition fees are €650 for the first course and €600 for any additional courses. These prices include course fees, a welcome dinner, and a two-day/one-night stay at a mountain retreat in the Black Forest (meals at retreat included). Payment can be made in full or in installments (please inquire if would like to pay in installments). A limited number of partial fee reduction scholarships are available. See here for more information on scholarships.
Q: When is payment for courses and housing (if applicable) due?
A: Payment is due by no later than June 1, 2016 and can be paid through Reservix. However, we strongly encourage accepted applicants to pay for tuition as soon as possible since we cannot guarantee reserved spots in the courses for an extended time. We also ask that accommodation is paid for as soon as possible so we can make sure we are able to book a room/bed for the participant.
Q: Which payment methods do you accept?
A: Reservix, the ticket sales and distribution company we work with, accepts Paypal, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and cash transfers. Cash transfers, however, are only available to customers with German bank accounts.
Q: Can I cancel my application and is it possible to receive a refund on the payments I made?
A: Your initial application to the program (via our online application form on this website) is not binding. Your application becomes binding only after you officially register for a class by paying tuition. If you apply and decide not to attend, you can cancel later — as long as you have not yet paid (i.e. officially signed up) for a class, or classes.
BFWS can only offer partial refunds once you have registered and paid for a course and/or accommodation. We reserve the right to subtract a €150 service fee from the amount refunded (i.e., if you paid €450 for accommodation, you will only be refunded €300 if you decide not to attend.) BFWS cannot provide refunds after June 1, 2016.
The Black Forest Writing Seminars cannot be held responsible for unforeseen events, such as illness or accidents that might prevent students or faculty from attending. However, should such a situation occur with faculty, we will do our best to offer a substitute of equal standing.