Schools Is the IPSP at University of Leipzig Right for a Future in Theoretical HEP?

[krishthelegend]

Hi, Is there someone coming from India this year?

 

[Vikash ranjan]

Hi, Is there someone coming from India this year?

applying- yes
coming there-not sure yet

 

[krishthelegend]

applying- yes
coming there-not sure yet

Have you got your acceptance letter?

 

[Vikash ranjan]

Have you got your acceptance letter?

no, yours?

 

[krishthelegend]

no, yours?

Yes, have you completed your one year of university ?

 

[Chris_H_R]

Hey all,

So I received my acceptance letter Tuesday of last week, and have been spending the last week getting ready for the move. Is anybody else applying for housing through Studentenwerk Leipzig? Hoping to end up at least somewhat close to other IPSP students so I don't have to fly to the moon and back every time I need/want help (and I'm probably going to need a lot of it).

On a somewhat unrelated note, what in particular would anyone who has finished 1st year recommend I brush up on mathematically? I'm working on a bridge course at the moment but its from an American university and may or may not be all that helpful with IPSP. Any specific topics I should be rather fluent?

To all those still waiting on their acceptance letter; Viel Glueck!

 

[Alex_Zendo]

Hey all,

So I received my acceptance letter Tuesday of last week, and have been spending the last week getting ready for the move...

Congratulations Chris! I am still waiting to get a response, in two days it'll be a month since they received my physical application docs. How long did you wait after they got your forms? :)

I will probably not be going to student halls, but go for some alternative options, because I'll be moving with my fiance. Maybe we should rent a house for the whole flock of 1st year physicists? heheh Either way I would definitely love not to be too far away from everyone

Whenever I have some time from work I study A level maths book- "Maths survival guide", another Calculus book and looking up some Feynman's lectures.. Got to do a lot of work to get back in shape :)

 

[The Taberkokt]

by the way when did you send your documents, mine has still not been processed.

Heey all
I haven't much then I sent my documents, in the beginning of July, I hope they won't late for answer.
By the way when you apply for accomodation, how much time it tooks to answer?
And chich accomodation is suggested? near the campus ...


And hope everyone gets positive answer

 

[Chris_H_R]

Congratulations Chris! I am still waiting to get a response, in two days it'll be a month since they received my physical application docs. How long did you wait after they got your forms? :)

I will probably not be going to student halls, but go for some alternative options, because I'll be moving with my fiance. Maybe we should rent a house for the whole flock of 1st year physicists? heheh Either way I would definitely love not to be too far away from everyone

Whenever I have some time from work I study A level maths book- "Maths survival guide", another Calculus book and looking up some Feynman's lectures.. Got to do a lot of work to get back in shape :)

Thank you! It took uni-assist about a month to process my application. Once it was uploaded to the university, took about two weeks to receive my acceptance letter. Did uni-assist just send you confirmation on receipt of your application documents?

I'm worried i may not be able to land a place in the student halls. I don't know if you've started looking yet, but what website/service do you use to look at apartments in Leipzig? Haha well I certainly wouldn't be opposed to it, especially if the rent isn't too bad.

I've been going over some school notes on math and working on a bridge course offered by a university here in the states but I should probably also work on my physics...I really need to make sure I polish off all this rust before September.

 

[Shaig93]

Hi Chris look to this site i hope you will find something https://www.studentenwerk-leipzig.de/en

 

[Sergio Cortez]

Hi Chris
I am an applicant from Peru, my documents were received on the 13th of july so I am waiting anxiously for the results. Anyways in case I am accepted I would definitely try to get a place in the Studentwerk as a first option since it seems a safer option for me (Im 18 and never been in europe).
For prep in general check the syllabus (http://www.uni-leipzig.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Physics_IPSP_BSc_23.04.15.pdf). Linear algebra is a must as well as some calculus, in addition I would recommend some propositional logic as well as proof techniques since it is university level math.
Regarding physics first semester is all mechanics + waves( I would say mechanics only but idk if the "Waves" mentioned in the syllabus are not only mechanical :b), starting linking previous knowledge with calculus and revising concepts should be enough .
Also practice your german, not only because you would be in germany but also because there is a compulsory german course for international students. I would recommend duolingo, it gets really in your head and is very useful.

On another note hope we all make it guys, good vibes. lml

 

[Geometry_dude]

Hi everyone,

I stumbled over this thread and thought it might be interesting for you to read my perspective, as I have graduated from the IPSP Bachelor's program about 5 years ago.

On the program: When I was a student, the program was indeed quite heavy on mathematics, if you compared it to other physics bachelor programs in Germany. I remember struggling quite a bit with it in the beginning and even thought of quitting at the time, but in retrospective a solid base in mathematics is a must-have if you want to do any kind of theoretical research later. As that has been my intention, I am quite thankful for what I have been taught in those many math courses. However, as far as I remember they decreased the amount of math in the curriculum. IMHO physics is at a point right now where it would make sense to have separate programs for experimental and mathematical physics already on bachelor's level with common theoretical physics curses. If you're more experimentally oriented (you're going to find out), mathematics will also help you, but of course your focus will be on different skills and many of those will be taught to you in the IPSP program. If you're more theoretically oriented, it might make more sense to get into a mathematics program where you have the option to acquire a good physics background, as well. But of course, the IPSP program will also open the door for you to go into theory - I just wanted to make that clear.

When I was a student, the overall atmosphere in the program was indeed quite international. It was also nice that there were less students than in the German physics program. This way things were more communal and there was more time to ask questions.

The city of Leipzig is also quite nice. There is a large party culture there, many places to go to, it's a very green city, not too big, not too small and there are also many international students. Leipzig has been growing quite rapidly for some years now, so I don't know how much the housing situation has changed. As an international student it's probably best to apply for student housing.

Now the not so nice things: From my experience life can get quite lonely when you're a foreign student and you neither speak the language nor do you actively try to get into the international communities. You definitely need to take care of one of these two. Also, the program is most likely still not easy and you will struggle quite a bit in the beginning. The good news is that it pays off later, the bad news is that it can lead you to quit. Try to stay ahead, try to solve the problems first on your own and then with others, do not be afraid to ask questions - provided you have thought about them for a bit and looked at the material given to you. You can do it, if you fight and it does get easier as your studies progress.

 

[Alex_Zendo]

Thank you! It took uni-assist about a month to process my application. Once it was uploaded to the university, took about two weeks to receive my acceptance letter. Did uni-assist just send you confirmation on receipt of your application documents?

I'm worried i may not be able to land a place in the student halls. I don't know if you've started looking yet, but what website/service do you use to look at apartments in Leipzig? Haha well I certainly wouldn't be opposed to it, especially if the rent isn't too bad.

I've been going over some school notes on math and working on a bridge course offered by a university here in the states but I should probably also work on my physics...I really need to make sure I polish off all this rust before September.

There are a few FB groups for flats in Leipzig, that seem quite good. I think it's possible to find nicer and cheaper WGs (furnished, communal living spaces) than the student halls offer. My documents got sent to University last week, so hopefully, I'll hear back pretty soon to start planning the move properly :) EDIT: just got the Admittance letter :)

btw, I've just created a FB group "IPSP 2017 Vault" *cooperation intensifies*

 

[Alex_Zendo]

Hi everyone,

I stumbled over this thread and thought it might be interesting for you to read my perspective, as I have graduated from the IPSP Bachelor's program about 5 years ago.

Nice insights Geo_dude! If you don't mind me asking what was your path after graduating from IPSP? :)

 

[Geometry_dude]

No, I don't mind, I'm happy to share.

After graduating from Leipzig I went to Utrecht to specialize in particle physics. That, however, did not turn out too well. Before I came there I did not know much about quantum field theory, I only had a fairly good knowledge of quantum mechanics (for a graduate student). In Utrecht the emphasis of the teaching was put on doing complicated calculations fast (usually in quantum field theory), not so much on conceptual understanding as in Leipzig. That really put me off. I did not and, after learning a lot more, still do not believe that quantum field theory is a subject that one should teach to students in a "shut up and calculate"-manner. The theory is far from carved in stone and in many aspects mathematically not defined or even inconsistent. Being very unhappy with the situation, I decided to drop out and switch to math.

In retrospect, that was a great decision, but I had to surmount many different roadblocks because of it. I slowly quit going to my physics lectures and started going to math lectures. Unerstanding them definitely wasn't easy and I still had to get more aquainted with the mathematicians' (sometimes very indirect) way of thinking. I would probably have been able to get my math degree there with more time, but living and studying in the netherlands was expensive, so I decided to go back to Germany. After a period of unemployment and not-getting-admitted-to-math-master's programs in Berlin, which I spend researching in quantum theory, I was finally admitted to the math program at TU Berlin. At this point I have finished that program with a thesis in mathematical relativity and I am trying to get admitted to doing a PhD in mathematical physics (quantum theory).

I don't think I would have had the guts and the understanding to bypass the theoretical physicists in their own field, if it weren't for the solid education I received in Leipzig.

 

[Ahmed Sameh]

Hi, I'm also planning on applying for winter semester 2017/2018. I was wondering if there are any other high school grads planning on applying, just to get to know some potential course mates.

Yeap, high school grad too bruh, it seems as if a lot of the fellas applying have degrees already so we're going to have some pretty good competition man!

 

[Ahmed Sameh]

Hello Y'all
I got accepted in the program, if anyone has any questions, please fire away!

 

[malm]

Hi everyone!
I am Spanish applicant, also just graduated from high school. I am relieved to hear that the university has already started to inform applicants of their admission!
My documents arrived on the 18th of July, and I couldn't be more eager to hear from them!
How long did it take you to receive an answer? Thanks I advance!

 

[krishthelegend]

Hi guys this is Krish , from India. Got my Visa, acceptance letter, accommodation in studentenwerk. Traveling on 30th September.

 

[NeoL]

Hey, just found this thread. I'm also starting the ipsp for the winter semester 2017. I'm from South Africa and I'm a high school graduate but I've been on a sort of gap year. I've been in Berlin for a while and I'm going back to Berlin week so I can get prepared to go to Leipzig at the end of September.

 

[AgnesOlivo]

Unfortunately I did not get accepted - I have the English language proficiency and everything and thought I did not had to apply for the Studienkolleg. Apparently my Brazilian high school diploma holds me back, and I still need to do an extra/preparatory year in German before the course. Aaaand I missed the deadline for that so now I have to wait another year. :/ I got really frustrated because Leipzig sounded kinda perfect for me. I hope you guys enjoy the course and keep updating this thread for future students :)

 

[Rajagopal]

I am an Indian student currently studying in 12th Grade in ISC. I will be giving my boards on Feb 2018 and will be getting my results around May 2018.So when Should I apply and what is minimum criteria for admission?Do they just look at the board marks?If yes then what should be the marks in order to ensure you will get admission?

 

[sid0123]

I am an Indian student currently studying in 12th Grade in ISC. I will be giving my boards on Feb 2018 and will be getting my results around May 2018.So when Should I apply and what is minimum criteria for admission?Do they just look at the board marks?If yes then what should be the marks in order to ensure you will get admission?

As far as I remember, you cannot directly apply for this program right after class 12th. You have to complete 1 year in any of the Indian colleges recognised in Germany and only then you can apply for this program.

 

[krishthelegend]

I am an Indian student currently studying in 12th Grade in ISC. I will be giving my boards on Feb 2018 and will be getting my results around May 2018.So when Should I apply and what is minimum criteria for admission?Do they just look at the board marks?If yes then what should be the marks in order to ensure you will get admission?

Hey, Sorry for the late response. The minimum criteria (for indians ) is Either 1 year of university or Cracking BOTH JEE Mains and Advanced.

 

[Tyler Romans]

Hi everyone

I've been looking into applying for the IPSP program for around 9 months now (I missed the deadline last year) and can't believe I just now found this. Just reading the comments on this forum has been more help to me than everything I've searched through in the past few months. I still have a few questions though if anyone would be kind enough to help.

1. I'm coming from the U.S. where I have studied all my life. From my understanding, I don't need to include any proof of English competency documents, because it is my primary language. Please correct me if I am wrong.

2. I know I need a certified photocopy of my high school transcript and diploma, as well as my college transcript and degrees. What exactly constitutes a certified photocopy? Here is what I'm picturing: I bring my degrees (the originals) to the university from which I graduated, where they have some kind of licensed employee take a photocopy of them and put a stamp on the photocopy basically saying "this is real". I then scan the new photocopies of my degrees and send them digitally to uni-assist (along with the certified photocopy of my transcript), as well as sending the actual hard copies I just received through the post to uni-assist. Again, please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[Manik Dawar]

Hello! I'd like to ask: if the admission to the IPSP program is unrestricted, why does the decision require a month after the submission of the application? Also, to be eligible for a direct admission to a German university, from my country, one has to have successfully completed a year in college? What does the successful completion of a year here mean?

 

[Manik Dawar]

Hi everyone

I've been looking into applying for the IPSP program for around 9 months now (I missed the deadline last year) and can't believe I just now found this. Just reading the comments on this forum has been more help to me than everything I've searched through in the past few months. I still have a few questions though if anyone would be kind enough to help.

1. I'm coming from the U.S. where I have studied all my life. From my understanding, I don't need to include any proof of English competency documents, because it is my primary language. Please correct me if I am wrong.

2. I know I need a certified photocopy of my high school transcript and diploma, as well as my college transcript and degrees. What exactly constitutes a certified photocopy? Here is what I'm picturing: I bring my degrees (the originals) to the university from which I graduated, where they have some kind of licensed employee take a photocopy of them and put a stamp on the photocopy basically saying "this is real". I then scan the new photocopies of my degrees and send them digitally to uni-assist (along with the certified photocopy of my transcript), as well as sending the actual hard copies I just received through the post to uni-assist. Again, please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks so much in advance!

Hey Tyler! Perhaps the best way to get your documents attested is for you to visit a German embassy in your region. Most of those have information about that process and its timings and booking schedule on their websites.

 

[Manik Dawar]

I have applied for this year's first semester of the Bachelors program. Hopefully, I will get in, in which case I am sure to attend. Do not hesitate to get in touch if we are to be classmates.

 

[Dedu]

Hello, I would like to apply to the IPSP master programme. Is there any master student there or anyone who knows about the application and admission procedure that could give me a method of contact so I can ask a few questions? It would be much easier if we could chat. Thanks!

 

[hayaZ]

Hello
I am from Jordan and hold a bachelor of medicine and surgery,since 2016.
I want to apply to IPSP physics bachelor degree for winter semester.

Anybody with similar experience?
for now , I will start reading calculus and feynman lectures to prepare, as in medicine I was not exposed to math and physics.is that ok?As far as I know : I do not need testAS and preparatory course right?
I also have ielts. but not german language.

thank you and wish us all best of luck

 

[PiaM]

Hi, I am from Chile and am currently waiting for my TOEFL results to send my application for the WS 2018. I have already been in a physics program in my country but didn't like the university so I'm applying for this program.
I have read all the comments saying how hard the program is and I'm a little freaked out, yet exited.
I've already passed linear algebra and calculus in my studies, but I'm unsure about how deep the program will go into these courses, I have the level of Stewart's calculus and David c. Lay linear algebra, is that what the course covers or more?
Good luck with your applications

 

[Isaak_528]

Hi, I'm from Oregon in United States where I'm just about to graduate high school. When I reached out to uni-Assist as well as someone at the university itself, they said that if I am to directly enroll in IPSP, that I will need to submit my SAT or ACT scores in addition to my transcript and diploma. I'm wondering if anyone who has submitted these know if my school can send in a certified copy of the scores or if I need to order myself a copy and then send in that? Hopefully I'll get in for Winter Semester 2018!

 

[Yasmine Gelbman]

Hi guys! I’m from America and am applying with a high school diploma and an ACT score of 29. My question is, that the ACT doesn’t give out copies of scores anymore, and you have to print out your scores. Does uni assist recognise these as official copies? Also, I’ve contacted the international office and they’ve confirmed for me that they don’t have a GPA requirement for the course, at least for American students, is that true? They also have a math prep course before the course starts and I wanted to ask if anyone’s taking it and if it was helpful.
Dankeschön!

 

[Yasmine Gelbman]

Hi, I'm from Oregon in United States where I'm just about to graduate high school. When I reached out to uni-Assist as well as someone at the university itself, they said that if I am to directly enroll in IPSP, that I will need to submit my SAT or ACT scores in addition to my transcript and diploma. I'm wondering if anyone who has submitted these know if my school can send in a certified copy of the scores or if I need to order myself a copy and then send in that? Hopefully I'll get in for Winter Semester 2018!

Hi Isaac!
Did you take the ACT or SAT?

 

[Isaak_528]

Hi Isaac!
Did you take the ACT or SAT?

Hey Yasmine, I took both, but I'm going to be using my ACT score to apply (because I didn't do well on the SAT).

 

[Yasmine Gelbman]

Hey Yasmine, I took both, but I'm going to be using my ACT score to apply (because I didn't do well on the SAT).

May I ask what you got? Also, are you doing a year of university and then applying? I am a high school graduate who is applying this year so I would like to know if there are others like me!

 

[Isaak_528]

May I ask what you got? Also, are you doing a year of university and then applying? I am a high school graduate who is applying this year so I would like to know if there are others like me!

I got a 30 on the ACT, so that plus my high school transcripts and diploma are making it possible for me to directly enroll instead of going to a Studienkolleg . I graduate from high school June 2018, so pretty much as soon as I graduate I'll be trying to finish up my application and then I wait until August to hear back. So no, I won't be doing a year of university, I'll ideally just be going to Leipzig after I graduate.

 

[Yasmine Gelbman]

I got a 30 on the ACT, so that plus my high school transcripts and diploma are making it possible for me to directly enroll instead of going to a Studienkolleg . I graduate from high school June 2018, so pretty much as soon as I graduate I'll be trying to finish up my application and then I wait until August to hear back. So no, I won't be doing a year of university, I'll ideally just be going to Leipzig after I graduate.

Hi Isaak!
This is great to hear since we are exactly in the same situation. I got a 29 on the ACT and will be doing my application in June 2018 as well, also hearing back in August. One question for you, when you send your ACT scores to Uni assist, what copy do you plan to use? The ACT stopped giving out hard copies and only let you print an online score report that doesn’t look official, which really concerns me. I’ll just send that, but is that what you’re sending? I’m not too sure what to do if uni assist does not accept it.

 

[Isaak_528]

Hi Isaak!
This is great to hear since we are exactly in the same situation. I got a 29 on the ACT and will be doing my application in June 2018 as well, also hearing back in August. One question for you, when you send your ACT scores to Uni assist, what copy do you plan to use? The ACT stopped giving out hard copies and only let you print an online score report that doesn’t look official, which really concerns me. I’ll just send that, but is that what you’re sending? I’m not too sure what to do if uni assist does not accept it.

Yasmine, its nice to hear that we're in the same spot! I went onto the ACT website and then went to send scores, selected the date of the test I am using, clicked on the continue with score report request, scrolled down to the bottom of the page and it says "personal copy." So I ordered that and it actually came pretty quickly. In terms of official-ness, its on nicer paper and looks probably more official than the one you can print yourself. I will most likely have my school look at my ACT scores and then write a letter saying that its authentic. But yeah, I don't know what to do either if UniAssist doesn't accept it.

 

[Yasmine Gelbman]

Yasmine, its nice to hear that we're in the same spot! I went onto the ACT website and then went to send scores, selected the date of the test I am using, clicked on the continue with score report request, scrolled down to the bottom of the page and it says "personal copy." So I ordered that and it actually came pretty quickly. In terms of official-ness, its on nicer paper and looks probably more official than the one you can print yourself. I will most likely have my school look at my ACT scores and then write a letter saying that its authentic. But yeah, I don't know what to do either if UniAssist doesn't accept it.

Hi Isaak, I did the same thing! Hopefully this will be enough, but it seems the university really wants to accept people since they’ve told me to email the international office if uni assist doesn’t recognise it, and that they’ll “take care of it”. Not sure what this means, but I’m pretty hopeful that they’ll help people like us out of something happens. I would email them too if uni assist doesn’t recognise the score!

 

[Isaak_528]

Hi Isaak, I did the same thing! Hopefully this will be enough, but it seems the university really wants to accept people since they’ve told me to email the international office if uni assist doesn’t recognise it, and that they’ll “take care of it”. Not sure what this means, but I’m pretty hopeful that they’ll help people like us out of something happens. I would email them too if uni assist doesn’t recognise the score!

Which email would you use to contact international office? Their website has so many emails that you could reach out to, and the one that I had contacted a few months ago never responded, so I'm not sure if it worked or not.

 

[Yasmine Gelbman]

I used this email: auslaenderstudium@zv.uni-leipzig.de
They were super helpful and answered all my questions!

 

[Manik Dawar]

Hey all. I am from India. I applied for the bachelors program. Uni-assist sent my application to the university two weeks ago, but I have still not heard from the university. Am I possibly missing something about the application process? Do I need to do anything apart from submitting my application to uni-assist? Also, has anybody received an admit?

 

[Ahmed el tantawi]

Hey guys
I'm considering applying for IPSP program and i have the paper ready since last year.. but i ran out of time and the deadline was too late for me.
I was wondering do i have to preapre all papers again or they won't mind that it's from last year?
I'm talking about the ilets certificate and my education certificates.

 

[Ahmed el tantawi]

Does anyone know if there is age limit for applying for this program?

 

[Isaak_528]

Does anyone know if there is age limit for applying for this program?

I don't see why there would be. Pretty sure you just have to have the educational background and you'll be okay.

 

[Yasmine Gelbman]

Does anyone know if there is age limit for applying for this program?

Hi there Ahmed,
Although I doubt that there will be any explicitly said age limit, it is common throughout Germany for there to be a cutoff for bachelors degrees and I think it is most of the time 25-28. May I ask how old you are?
Typically, you’ll only find younger people in these programs

 

[Manik Dawar]

Hi. I got in :D, and finished enrolling through the university's online system.
I will be happy to help if you need any information about the application process that I just went through.

 

[MedLam]

Hi. I got in :D, and finished enrolling through the university's online system.
I will be happy to help if you need any information about the application process that I just went through.

Congratulations.
I just have a question, do they require the studienkolleg from you (because my country's high school leaving certificate is not equivalent to the abitur)
And I also studied a year in medecine? but took a year off

 

[Manik Dawar]

Congratulations.
I just have a question, do they require the studienkolleg from you (because my country's high school leaving certificate is not equivalent to the abitur)
And I also studied a year in medecine? but took a year off

Thanks. I have completed four semesters of a Bachelors, Physics course here in India. I have the University Entrance Qualification for all types of Universities offering courses in Technical, Mathematical, and Scientific subjects. In India, one of the ways for one to have the University Entrance Qualification is for them to have successfully completed a year of studies in a recognized university, in a (subject-wise) relevant course. So, I don't require a Studienkolleg.