Financing the semester abroad
For Karlshochschule students who want to spend a semester abroad there are a range of scholarship options, depending on where to study and for how long. I can get all the information I need about this in the Info boxes on ERASMUS, PROMOS, and the Baden-Württemberg scholarship.
Erasmus+
1. What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is the new EU program for education, training, youth and sport. Erasmus+ replaces former funding programs run by the European Commission in the areas of education, training, youth and sports.
Erasmus+ has a budget of approximately 26.2 billion euros across Europe and will, over the next seven years, provide opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to boost their skills and employability. Furthermore, the program aims to modernize education, training and youth work. Further information is available on the website and in the fact sheet.
After completion of the first study year, students can study with Erasmus+ at European partner universities in one of the participating countries to foster their social and intercultural competencies as well as their future job perspectives. During the Erasmus+ stay students get familiar with the academic system as well as learning and teaching methods of the university abroad. Furthermore, students can complete internships in firms and organizations in a European country within the Erasmus+ program. Students at the bachelor, master or doctoral level can be funded for maximum of 12 months within one study cycle.
Furthermore, Erasmus+ supports the internationalization of higher educations by funding teaching and training periods for teaching and non-teaching staff from or to partner countries. Universities can invite representatives from any public or private organization active in the labor market for a teaching mobility. Additionally, universities can take part in multilateral strategic partnerships with other European partners (also from other socio-economic sectors) and develop joint innovative approaches (e.g. in terms of curricula development or for topics relevant to the different systems of education, training and youth). Funding for projects between higher education and business is provided under the Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliances. Universities engaged in capacity-building projects in partner countries can also be funded under Erasmus+.
The budget for most mobility programs and strategic partnerships is implemented by the national agencies in all 33 program countries (28 EU-member countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the FYR Macedonia, Norway and Turkey). In Germany, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) promotes and implements the program.
1.1 ECHE/EPS
Every higher education institution participating in the EU program in the fields of education, training, youth and sports for the period 2021-2027/28 (further referred to as "program") must have been awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). This Charter is part of an accreditation procedure established to guarantee a quality framework for all participants in mobility activities. It is awarded by the European Commission. According to the European Commission, the ECHE and the European Policy Statement (EPS) have to be published on the website of the universities.
1.2 Disclaimer
"This project was funded with support of the European Commission. The author is responsible for the content of this website; the EC cannot accept any liability for the further use of the information provided.
Further information and counselling to Erasmus+ is provided by
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Nationale Agentur für EU-Hochschulzusammenarbeit
Kennedyallee 50, 53155 Bonn
Tel.: +49 228 882-8877
Fax: +49 228 882-555
E-Mail: erasmus(at)daad.de
2. Grant support for the semester abroad and internships
Students will receive an EU grant as a contribution to their costs for travel and subsistence during the period of study or traineeship abroad. These amounts will be defined on the basis of living costs in the program countries. Starting from the project year 2018, the following minimum ranges in the three groups are valid for the student mobility – study period (SMS):
Group 1 (€ 450/month): Denmark, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Norway, Austria and Sweden
Group 2 (€ 390/month): Belgium, Greece, Iceland, Croatia, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Turkey and Cyprus
Group 3 (€ 330/month): Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary
Students doing a traineeship will receive an additional top-up from the EU grant with an amount of € 100 min.
PROMOS Scholarship
Students who spend a semester abroad at a non-European partner university and/or do an internship in a non-European country can apply for a PROMOS scholarship. This scholarship is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Karlshochschule International University has regular access to approx. €8,000 of funding. Students can receive a monthly partial scholarship or a travel allowance.
Applications are open to students who are enrolled in a regular study program at Karlshochschule. The selection is based on academic merit, knowledge of the teaching language of the host institution, motivation, social and intercultural competence as well as extracurricular activities within and outside of the University. Interested students shall look out for announcements by the International Office regarding application documents and deadlines.
Information for BAFöG holders / holders of other scholarships:
Scholarships of more than €300 will be counted towards the Auslands-BAFöG. Holders of the Deutschlandstipendium can be also funded by the PROMOS scholarship. During the scholarship period, fundings from other private organizations may be received. Scholarships awarded from public sponsors cannot be matched with PROMOS scholarships if the funding purpose is the same (semester abroad or traveling allowance). Furthermore, the home university must be informed about any other payments the student may receive during the semester abroad.
Funded by
Funded by
Baden-Württemberg-Foundation
The Baden-Württemberg Stiftung promotes the international exchange of highly qualified German and international students. The partnership between universities in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg and their international partner universities shall be developed and implemented on a reciprocal basis.
Another aim of the Baden-Württemberg scholarship is to link scholarship holders and alumni worldwide with each other and the state of Baden-Württemberg.
The continuous extension of this network is supported by the Regional Chapters and the Association of Scholarship Holders and Friends of the Baden-Württemberg scholarship.
Further Information is available at www.bw-stipendium.de
The scholarship is designed for students of Karlshochschule International University with very good academic achievements who spend a semester abroad at a non-Earsmus partner university in to broaden their academic and intercultural knowledge.
Karlshochschule receives funding of approx. € 10,000. The selection is based on academic merit, knowledge of the teaching language of the host institution, motivation, social and intercultural competence as well as extracurricular activities within and outside of the university. Interested students shall look out for announcements by the International Office regarding application documents and deadlines.
Information for BAFöG holders / holders of other scholarships:
Scholarships of more than € 300 will be counted towards the Auslands-BAFöG.
Funded by
Further Scholarships by the German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the biggest German funding institution for students. Depending on the purpose and the type of scholarship program, partial or full scholarships are available. The amount of the monthly allowance depends on the host country.
Applications for scholarships for shorter periods of stay in structured exchange programs are managed by Karlshochschule (PROMOS scholarship, Baden-Württemberg scholarship). Applications for other region-specific or subject-specific scholarships must be directed to the DAAD.
Please see here for information on the DAAD scholarship programs.
Study Abroad Scholarship from other Organisations and Institutions
Certain foundations finance study abroad periods but often require students to be accepted into their respective funding program at an earlier point in time. Examples are the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, Studienstiftung des deutschen Voleks and party-related foundations. Please start your research by checking the databases of the Bundesverband deutscher Stiftungen and the Begabtenförderung im Hochschulbereich.
Bildungskredit - Education Loan
For a semester abroad (also outside the EU), students can apply for a temporary limited loan at reduced rates of interest, the so-called Bildungskredit. It is a student loan that must be paid back. Eligible to apply are all German students, further information can be found here. When considering taking up a loan, students should also consult the survey done by the Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE).
The Deutsche Bildung AG in cooperation with IEC Online GmbH offer students loan from €3,500 up to €25,000 for a semester abroad. The monthly repayment rate will be determined in accordance to the future income of the loan taker. Further information can be found here.
