A semester abroad brings your studies to life. The more international experience you gain during college, the better for your later career. Landing a good job after college isn't that easy. International experience in the form of a semester abroad can become the door opener to a proper start in working life.

Semester abroad - the ERASMUS funding program

semester abroad

With the ERASMUS funding program, valuable experience can be gained elsewhere in Europe. Everyday student life in Germany is interrupted for a while by the stay abroad. That brings new energy and keeps student life from getting monotonous. Making friends on the international stage is like laying the foundation for later professional success at home and abroad. Becoming more independent and mature: after a semester abroad, your personality has developed further and your own foreign language skills have improved. Foreign language skills are more important than ever for future everyday working life. Students enrolled at a German university have the opportunity to apply for a semester abroad through the ERASMUS funding program.

  • What matters for a semester abroad under the ERASMUS funding program?
  • having completed at least 2 semesters
  • Strong knowledge of the local language (TOEFL or IELTS as proof)
  • Study stay abroad limited to one year
  • Host university in Europe
  • Mobility grant on application
  • Language courses as preparation are funded if the application is approved
  • The ERASMUS coordinator is your point of contact
  • Letter of motivation, a learning agreement and an acceptance statement as your application package
  • Certified transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation and references
  • Host universities offer different courses
semester abroad

Semester abroad - which countries are popular?

Almost every third student spends one or two semesters in neighboring European countries to get to know foreign cultures and university systems. Leaving your home university and discovering other countries is the goal of the trip. Longer cooperation with the respective partner university provides important experience. Countries like the USA are popular because that's where the elite universities are. Speaking fluent English makes the path to the United States easier. If a semester abroad there doesn't work out, a plan B is an important alternative. Those who don't get a place in the ERASMUS exchange program at all can go abroad as a "free mover". In that case you should have applied directly to the desired foreign university beforehand. The organizational and financial effort is higher with this option.

You can choose your place of study completely freely. Traveling across the continent is possible with the across-the-continent program. All kinds of jobs along the way secure your living expenses. A stay abroad in France is popular as a university country with the world language French. Between the Côte d'Azur and Normandy, new study experiences await. French universities are well connected with Austrian universities. Italy, with its 77 state-recognized universities, is also very popular with students. Austrian students prefer a semester abroad in Italy. The appeal of Spain raises the share of students who want to combine their education at 49 state and 14 private or church-affiliated institutions with cultural highlights. Further questions about the exciting topic of "study abroad" are answered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).