Outgoing Students
For Karlshochschule, international exchange and the associated intercultural experience are a fundamental part of the didactic concept. The integrated stay at a university abroad in the fourth and fifth semesters of my Bachelor’s degree and the continuous support of the International Office make it much easier for me to organize this. Thanks to Karlshochschule’s large network, I have the choice of many partner universities.
A semester abroad gives me the opportunity to gain new experiences and broaden my horizons. I can increase my intercultural competence, improve my foreign language skills and get to know a new learning culture. At the same time, I can make international contacts that can help me later in my career. Information events and various workshops on intercultural preparation round off the services offered by the International Office. With the help of various financing options, I can also manage my semester abroad financially. I don’t pay any additional tuition fees at the partner universities. I will also remain enrolled at Karlshochschule for my entire semester abroad. I can also complete my compulsory internship in the sixth semester with an organization abroad.
Linguistic and cultural preparation for the stay abroad
Karlshochschule attaches great importance to the language training of its students and expects them to be proficient in English and the teaching language of the partner university (if not English) at B2 level by the time of their stay abroad. To this end, it offers a broad language program that includes courses in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.
In addition, intensive German courses are offered during the semester break (depending on demand). Of course, I am also free to learn a third or fourth foreign language. But the linguistic preparation for the stay abroad is not everything: several weeks before departure, I start with the intercultural preparation, which is organized by the International Office. And when I return, I reflect on my stay abroad in the intercultural follow-up.
Recognition of academic achievements and internships
Students who go abroad can be sure that their academic achievements and internships will be recognized, provided certain conditions are met. This is because it is clearly defined between the student, the home university and the host university or the host company in advance of the stay abroad what work is to be done and how it will be credited. At the end, for example, all compulsory modules are listed in the Transcript of Records and many voluntary achievements in the Diploma Supplement.
Financing the semester abroad
Students at Karlshochschule can apply for various scholarships to finance their semester abroad, depending on the region and duration. I can find all the information about this in the info boxes for ERASMUS, PROMOS and the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship.
Erasmus+ Program
1 What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s program for education, youth and sport. Erasmus+ combines the previous EU programs for lifelong learning, youth and sport as well as the European cooperation programs in the field of higher education.
Erasmus+ has a budget of around 26.2 billion euros. More than four million people will benefit from EU funds by 2028. The seven-year programme aims to improve skills and employability and modernize education and training systems as well as child and youth services. Information on Erasmus+ can be found on the website and in the factsheet of the European Commission.
With Erasmus+, students can study at a European partner university in another participating country after completing their first year of study in order to expand their social and cultural skills and improve their career prospects. You will get to know the academic system of a foreign university as well as its teaching and learning methods. Erasmus internships can also be completed in companies or organizations in other European countries. Stays are funded in all program countries.
The maximum duration of funding is 12 months for Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral students.
Erasmus+ also contributes to the further internationalization of universities by funding short-term lectureships and further education stays for teaching and administrative staff. Furthermore, the universities can invite company personnel from abroad to teach and can now also participate in multilateral strategic partnerships with other European partners (also from the non-academic sector) and jointly develop innovative projects (e.g. in the area of curriculum development or on cross-educational topics). Erasmus+ offers funding for cooperation with industry in the new knowledge alliances. Universities wishing to engage in capacity building in third countries can do so through the program’s international university partnerships.
Funding for most mobility measures and the Strategic Partnerships is awarded by the National Agencies in the 33 program countries (28 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, FYR Macedonia, Norway, Turkey). In Germany, this task is still performed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
1.1 ECHE/EPS
Any higher education institution wishing to participate in and/or apply to the EU Education, Training, Youth and Sport Program 2021 – 2027/8 (hereinafter referred to as “the Program”) must have a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). The ECHE was awarded by the European Commission. It proves that a university meets all the requirements for successful participation in the Erasmus+ program. In accordance with the requirements of the European Commission, both the ECHE and the European Policy Statement (EPS) must be published on the university’s website.
1.2 Liability clause
“This project was funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”
For further information and advice on Erasmus+ mobility measures, please contact
German Academic Exchange Service
National Agency for EU Higher Education Cooperation
Kennedyallee 50, 53155 Bonn
- Phone: +49 228 882-8877
- Fax: +49 228 882-555
- E-mail: erasmus@daad.de
- www.eu.daad.de
2. funding rates for semesters abroad and internships abroad
The financial support for Erasmus+ student stays is based on the different costs of living in the destination countries (“program countries”).
From the 2018 project year, the following minimum amounts will apply for three country groups for study visits (SMS):
Group 1 (450 euros per month): Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Norway, Austria, Sweden.
Group 2 (monthly 390 euros): Belgium, Greece, Iceland, Croatia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Cyprus.
Group 3 (330 euros per month): Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary.
Erasmus+ trainees receive at least an additional 100 euros per month.
PROMOS Scholarship
Students who complete a semester abroad at a non-European partner university and/or an internship in a non-European country can apply for a PROMOS scholarship. Karlshochschule International University regularly receives funding of around €8,000 as part of the BMBF/DAAD-funded PROMOS scholarship program. The scholarships usually comprise a monthly scholarship installment or a travel allowance.
Regularly enrolled students of Karlshochschule International University are eligible to apply. Scholarship holders are selected on the basis of their academic performance, knowledge of the language of instruction at the host university, motivation, social and intercultural skills and commitment both within and outside the university. Interested students should note the application deadlines, which will be communicated in good time by the International Office.
Note for recipients of BAföG or other scholarships:
Merit-based scholarships such as PROMOS remain free of charge up to an amount of 300 euros; the amount above this is offset against the BAföG entitlement. The Deutschlandstipendium and PROMOS grants can be received simultaneously without restriction. In the case of scholarships from other scholarship providers, a combination of scholarships from private funds with PROMOS scholarships is generally possible without restriction. Scholarships from public funds from donors or funding institutions in Germany may not pursue the same funding purpose (semester abroad). In addition, any PROMOS funding must also be declared to the other scholarship providers.
Baden-Württemberg Foundation
The aim of the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for students is to promote the international exchange of highly qualified German and foreign students. Ties between the universities of the state of Baden-Württemberg and their foreign partners are to be developed and strengthened in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.
The Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM thus contributes to the global networking of people associated with Baden-Württemberg.
The continuous expansion of this network is supported by the regional chapters and the Association of Scholarship Holders and Friends of the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM.
Further information can be found at www.bw-stipendium.de .
The target groups are students of Karlshochschule International University who can demonstrate very good performance and want to expand their professional and intercultural competence by studying at a non-Erasmus partner university.
Karlshochschule receives scholarships of around 10,000 euros for its students. Scholarship holders are selected on the basis of academic performance, knowledge of the language of instruction at the host university, motivation, social and intercultural skills and commitment both within and outside the university. Interested students should note the application deadlines, which will be communicated in good time by the International Office.
Note for recipients of BAFöG:
Merit-based scholarships such as PROMOS remain free of charge up to an amount of 300 euros; the amount above this is offset against the BAföG entitlement.
BAFöG abroad
A brief overview of BAföG abroad can be found in the Studentenwerke flyer“Mit BAföG ins Ausland“. Special offices for the promotion of education are responsible for BAföG funding abroad. Since January 1, 2008, the entire course of study, including graduation, has been eligible for funding within the EU member states and Switzerland. Outside the EU, after a one-year start-up phase in Germany, training can be funded for up to one year and up to five semesters in total. As a rule, a maximum of one year of study abroad does not count towards the maximum BAföG funding period.
In addition to the costs incurred during a stay abroad, half of the following costs are paid as a grant and the other half as an interest-free loan:
Foreign surcharges to equalize purchasing power (only outside the EU and Switzerland)
International health insurance
Travel expenses within Europe for a return trip of 250 euros each
Travel expenses outside Europe for a return trip of 500 euros each
For verifiably necessary tuition fees at the foreign university, the additional grant amounts to a maximum of one year b 4,600 euros/year. Further information can be found at:
Further DAAD scholarships and funding programs
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers the largest and most comprehensive scholarship and funding programs for German students, primarily through financial support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BBF). Depending on the funding objective and program type, partial or full scholarships are awarded, the monthly rate of which is based on country-specific criteria.
Scholarships for shorter stays abroad in structured programs are applied for via Karlshochschule (PROMOS scholarship, Baden-Württemberg STIPENDIUM). Applications for one-year scholarships or other regional or subject-specific scholarships should be submitted directly to the DAAD.
Information on DAAD scholarships and funding programs can be found here.
Scholarships abroad from other organizations and institutions
Foundations finance stays abroad during the course of study, but often require acceptance for funding at an earlier stage. Examples include the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and party-affiliated foundations. When searching for suitable foundations, you should start with the databases of the Association of German Foundations (Bundesverband deutscher Stiftungen ) as well as the University Talent Promotion Program ( Begabtenförderung im Hochschulbereich ).
Numerous external organizations offer merit-based full or partial scholarships for stays abroad. A selection of these organizations:
Scholarship databases, e.g. MyStipendium
Scholarship programs of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Scholarships for study and research stays as well as for internships abroad (Europe, Asia, USA), among others:
- China Scholarship Program
- ERP Scholarship Program
- McCloy Academic Scholarship Program
- Scholarship program “Metropolises in Eastern Europe”
Haniel Foundation: Various scholarships for (mostly business-related) short or postgraduate studies and internships abroad (Europe, Asia, USA)
Fulbright Commission: Scholarships for one-year study visits to US universities and travel grants
Association of German-American Clubs (VDAC): Scholarships for study visits to selected US universities
Asia Exchange: Scholarships for study visits to four specific universities: Udayana University (Indonesia), Kasetsart University (Thailand), Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), Guangzhou University (China)
Institut Ranke-Heinemann: Full, partial and travel grants for a study visit to Australia or New Zealand
GOstralia!Scholarships for a study visit to Australia
Gemeinschaft für studentischen Austausch in Mittel- und Osteuropa (GFPS) e.V.: Scholarships for study or research stays in Poland and the Czech Republic
German-Czech Future Fund: Scholarships for study visits to the Czech Republic
Dr. Jost-Henkel Foundation: Scholarships for internships outside Germany
Education loan
Another option for financing a stay abroad is the low-interest educational loan. All German students are eligible to apply; further information can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Administration. The Center for Higher Education Development (CHE) has examined various loan providers more closely.
Together with the leading German study placement agency IEC Online GmbH, Deutsche Bildung AG has developed a special study grant for semesters abroad. Students from all disciplines can apply for funding of up to 25,000 euros specifically for their international study visit. The minimum amount is 3,500 euros. Repayment depends on future personal income. Further information can be found here.
