Travel is well-known and a longer study or work-related stay abroad offers a very special opportunity. In the age of globalization, foreign language skills are important.

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Score points with intercultural competences

With intercultural Competencies you can at the Application you can show your flexibility and mobility to your future employer. Meanwhile, foreign experience is considered almost natural.

According to a social survey by the German Student Union, many students want to study in Great Britain, the USA, Switzerland, Austria and France in particular. No wonder - these are precisely the countries with which, perhaps because of the cultural similarities or previous language skills from school, relatively few points of friction are to be expected. Far below in the favor of students are the Eastern European or so-called developing countries. But: If you have such a rather exotic stay abroad in your Curriculum vitae can show, you have with it for sure Plus points over other applicants.

Alternatives to studying

Incidentally, you can not only study abroad, but also study languages, work as an AuPair, work (for example during the holidays) or work there as part of one of the countless international programs, a work camp, a Voluntary Social or Ecological Year.

However, it should be noted that a stay abroad costs – time and money Money. For example, you pay travel expenses and twice the rent, you may have lost earnings if you work next to the Study or internship or only for less money on the side. And. The more exotic that Objective, the more complex and expensive the Organization.

Many students and those interested can therefore be confused by the insecure Financing from a stay abroad - there are numerous funding opportunities and programs, of which the foreign BAföG is just one.

Planning your stay abroad: 4 tips

If you want to study abroad, you have a lot to plan, organize and apply for - it depends on which country you want to study in, whether you are only participating in a program like Erasmus/Socrates for a few months or for several years want to study abroad. At her Planning you should consider, for example, the higher education system in your host country:

  1. Maybe there are strict admission procedures, maybe you have to pay tuition fees?
  2. And are German study achievements abroad or foreign achievements recognized here?
  3. In addition, you must clarify financial and insurance issues and should prepare thoroughly - for example, by learning or improving the foreign language.
  4. Finally: If you apply directly to a foreign university (attention: please note formalities and deadlines!), Must be measured with the same degree as the native applicants, including in terms of language skills. Since you will not do all that overnight, you should start planning in good time.

Here was a small Suggestions put together for the organizational process - if you want to take part in a program or study abroad entirely, your organizational process can also look different:

Guidelines for planning an international stay

Minus one and a half years:

Minus one quarter Year:

Minus one year:

Minus six months:

Minus a quarter of a year

When and where to apply the BAföG application?

You should submit your BAföG application at least six months prior to your stay abroad. This advance is necessary, which grind the mills of the bureaucracy here very slowly - who comes too late, there is a risk abroad to receive no or very late payments. Because: Your local BAföG office of your university location in Germany does not simply pay the BAföG.

Attention: If you want to go abroad in the last semesters of your studies, you will only receive BAföG if your stay abroad is of special importance for your studies Significance at a hunt.

The application will not be submitted to the office of your own university but to a BAföG office responsible for your destination country. These are distributed all over Germany - for the most important countries, the offices were put together here:

Overview of the most important international BAföG offices

Africa or Oceania: Studentenwerk Frankfurt / Oder Office for Educational Support Paul-Feldner-Str. 8 15230 Frankfurt / Oder Tel. 0335/5650 922 Fax. 0335/5650 999 eMail: bafoeg@studentenwerk-frankfurt.de

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Cyprus, Australia: Studentenwerk Marburg Office for Educational Support Erlenring 5 35037 Marburg Tel. 06421/296 - 203 or - 204 Fax: 06421 - 15761 eMail: schulzek@mailer.uni-marburg.de

America (excluding the United States and Canada): Senator for Education, Science, Art and Sport State Office for Educational Support Rembertiring 8 – 12 28195 Bremen Tel. 0421 / 361 – 4995 or – 6298 or – 4797 Fax: 0421 / 361 – 15543 Address for visitors: Emil-Waldmann-Str. 3, 28195 Bremen

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Czech Republic, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Belarus Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau Office for Education Funding PO Box 10 32 09001 Chemnitz Tel. 0371/5628 -215 or -450 Fax: 0371/5628 - 455 eMail: auslands.bafoeg@swcz.smwk.sachsen.de

Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Asia (with the exception of the parts of Turkey located there and with the exception of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan): Hanover region Team 40.04 - Training grant Hildesheimer Straße 20 30169 Hanover Tel. 0511/616 - 22252 or -22253 or - 22554 Fax: 0511/616 - 1123205 eMail: bafoeg@region-hannover.de

Denmark, Iceland, Norway: Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein Funding Administration Westring 385 24118 Kiel Tel. 0431 / 8816-0 Fax: 0431 / - 8816 204 eMail: Studentenwerk.sh@t-online.de

Finland: Studentenwerk Halle Office for Education Funding W.-Langenbeck-Str. 5 06120 Halle / Saale Tel. 0345/6847 - 113 Fax: 0345/6847 - 202 eMail: bafoeg@studentenwerk-halle.de

France Mainz-Bingen district administration Office for training funding PO Box 13 55 55206 Ingelheim Tel. 06132 / 787-0 Fax: 06132/787360 eMail: kreisverwaltung@mainz-bingen.de

Great Britain, Ireland, Turkey District government Cologne Training grant Theaterplatz 14 52062 Aachen Tel. 0241/455 02 Fax: 0241/455 300 eMail: bafoeg@bezreg-koeln.nrw.de

Canada: Studentenwerk Erfurt-Ilmenau Postfach 10 16 17 99016 Erfurt Tel. 0431/8816 - 0 Fax: 0431 - 8816 204 eMail: swe-i@swe.uni-erfurt.de Visitor address: Nordhäuser Strasse 63, 99089 Erfurt

Italy / Vatican City: District Office Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf of Berlin Office for Education Funding - International Office - 10617 Berlin Tel. 030/9029 - 10 Fax. 030 / 9029-17593 eMail: bafoegitalien@charlottenburg-wilmersdorf.de Visiting address: Heerstraße 12/14, 14052 Berlin

Malta, Portugal: Saarland University Office for Education Funding Student House University Campus Building 28 66123 Saarbrücken Tel. 0681/302 - 4992 Fax: 0681/302 - 4993 eMail: bafoeg-amt@stw.uni-sb.de

Austria: State capital Munich School and Culture Department Office for Education Funding Schwanthalerstraße 40 80336 Munich Tel. 089 / 233-28653 or 233-21785 Fax. 089 / 233-24411 eMail: sch-afa@muenchen.de

Sweden: Student Union Rostock Office for Education Funding Foreign Office St. Georg-Str. 104 - 107 18055 Rostock Tel. 0381/4592 617 Fax: 0381/4592 9431 eMail: auslands-bafoeg@studentenwerk-rostock.de

Switzerland / Liechtenstein: Augsburg Student Union Office for Education Funding Eichleitnerstr. 30 86159 Augsburg Tel. 0821/598 4930 Fax. 0821/598 4945 eMail: bafoeg@stw.uni-augsburg.de

USA: Studentenwerk Hamburg Office for Education Funding BWF Foreign Funding PO Box 13 01 13 20101 Hamburg Tel. 040 / 41902-0 Fax: 040/41902 -126 eMail: bafoeg@studentenwerk.hamburg.de

Visiting address: 20146 Hamburg, Grindelallee 9

What is promoted?

BAföG you get, if you fulfill certain conditions, also for an Auslandsaufhalt. There are different types of stays abroad:

Promotion in EU countries

If you want to start your studies in a country of the European Union, you can not expect BAföG to do so, because you only get BAföG abroad if you study at least two semesters at a German university at the beginning of your studies.

But then the funding conditions and requirement rates are the same as for a BAföG payment in Germany, ie you get the BAföG as a pupil, student or intern under 30 for the first Vocational Training (for additional, supplementary and second training only in special cases), a master's degree that builds on a bachelor's degree is also funded.

The BAföG maximum rate is 585 €. An extra charge will not be paid for studying within the European Union. However, you can complete your studies in other European countries and continue to be supported. However, you must demonstrate good language skills in the target country. Your travel expenses for a one-time return) and study fees up to 4600 € per year are also included.

By the way: If you complete your studies after a long stay abroad in Germany, you can receive BAföG for the period spent abroad - even if only as an interest-bearing loan.

Promotion outside the EU

If you want to study in a country outside the EU, the following conditions apply: You can be funded for a maximum of one year and at least some of your academic achievements must be recognized in Germany. Positive is, however, that in addition to the normal BAföG rate, you will receive a foreign allowance that does not have to be repaid. Even if you don't get BAföG in Germany or within the EU, for example because your parents pay too much to earn, you have chances of foreign BAföG because of the surcharge.

Important: You first have to prove good language skills of the target country. Also included are travel expenses (for once round trip) and tuition fees up to 4600 € per year. By the way, at the end of your studies, you can receive longer BAföG as interest-bearing loan for the period spent abroad.

Living in Germany, study or part-study abroad

Studying in Germany, studying in France and getting BAföG? In principle, as a beneficiary of BAföG from Germany or another EU country, you have the opportunity to have a full or partial study abroad, but still live in Germany. For this to happen, you must meet two conditions:

Part-study abroad with full study in Germany

Even if you study in the interior and want to complete only part of your studies abroad - whether within the EU or not, you can get BAföG - eg in the context of a university partnership or an exchange program. You must fulfill the following conditions:

auditor

If you only want to enroll at a foreign university as a guest student, you have a bad hand: you can handle this Status the sometimes very strict admission requirements (language certificates, etc.), but you cannot get a foreign BAföG for this course. However, if you are enrolled at the German university during this time, you may be able to simply continue your domestic BAföG. Inquire at your BAföG office.

Internships abroad

Even if you want to do an internship abroad, you can get BAföG for it - and that if the internship lasts at least three months, is prescribed for the study, is recognized and you have sufficient language skills. You should definitely consider such support, because you will receive money for an internship abroad even less frequently than at home - certainly not a pleasure for the travel and housing costs, which you sometimes have to pay twice.

It is not easy, however, to find a suitable internship. You can try it on your own, eg with suitable companies abroad, German companies with foreign subsidiaries or international organizations - for example, the Foreign Trade Chambers or the Employment Agency offer assistance. Incidentally, you must also clarify legal and insurance aspects in advance. If you are lucky, your university will help you organize your internship. Organizations such as the DAAD, INWENT or AIESEC also help with information, arrange internships and, in some cases, also cover your financial expenses.

linguistic proficiency

If you want to study abroad, you often have to have good language skills when applying for funding, but also when enrolling at a foreign university. But how do you prove that? And how can you acquire these?

language certificates

If you want to apply for BAföG funding abroad, you must have good knowledge of the language of your host country. The best way to do this is through an examination certificate, which has the note "for submission to an office for training support". You can obtain such a certificate from the following places.

It may also be sufficient if you have passed a recognized language test - perhaps the best known is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

However, if you meet one of the following requirements, you do not need any voice recognition:

LanguageCourses and language learning abroad

If you want to make a language course abroad, you only need to schedule it for a few weeks. Usually, you have to organize and pay for it yourself, but there are numerous full offers on the market, which include languageCourses, accommodation and cultural ambience. If, however, the languageCourses serve a particular purpose, for example, if certain language skills are prescribed by the regulations, you can also be supported by a scholarship, such as the DAAD. This promotion is often carried out by the faculty of your university. However, paid languageCourses are also included in many exchange programs. There is no BAföG funding specifically for languageCourses.

However, foreign language skills often improve on site, almost of their own accord - but especially if you do as much as possible in addition to attending university or a language course Contact have to locals. However, this sometimes sounds easier than it is, because in addition to the differences in language, there are also differences in mentality and culture: How do you express yourself correctly when there are already accent errors from a politeness insult make? How do you rate the openness or hospitality in some countries?

Exchange programs - alternative funding opportunities

If you want to study abroad, do your doctorate or do an internship, you will not only have the opportunity to be supported by the BAföG: Especially for stays abroad, there are numerous alternative exchange programs between institutions and foundations that partially subsidize your stay abroad. The chances of participating in it are better than in Germany - eg one of the numerous foundations that also offer alternative funding opportunities in Germany. However, the conditions are often stricter than the BAföG. The more money you get, the more bureaucracy you have to reckon with, and the more difficult it is to get a suitable scholarship. The requirements often include opinions from Professoren, social Commitment and very good grades. But even if you don't think you have much of a chance: sometimes the remaining places have to be allocated, so you should definitely apply.

In return, you get the money you paid without a loan, meaning you don't have to pay anything back afterwards. And: in addition to the financial problems and tuition fees, organizational hurdles such as applying to the foreign university and (often, not always!) Problems in the recognition of study achievements, sometimes the search for an apartment is taken care of. Most of the programs also prepare their participants for the stay abroad, both technically and linguistically.

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

If you are a student, graduate or scientist (the field of study does not matter), the DAAD will help you with the organization and financing (the amounts cover almost all Costs) of stays of several months for study or research purposes and as a language assistant or lecturer in various countries around the world Welt.

However, you have to meet a number of requirements for this: The intermediate exam / the intermediate diploma you should have already brought in your pocket and good academic performance so far, as well as good language skills of the host country and the recommendation of a Professors can prove. Depending on the program, you can apply to the international office of your university or directly to the DAAD.

Educational Exchange Service (PAD)

The PAD is a service of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, which you can usually use especially if you are studying to become a teacher and during your studies abroad as a foreign language assistant and organizes the placement of teachers at German schools abroad.

International Continuing Education and Development (INWENT)

INWENT is an organization for international personnel development, Further Training and Dialog and emerged from the merger of Carl Duisberg Society eV with the German Foundation for International Development. INWENT awards on behalf of various clients such as the Federal Government, the European Union, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, but also from foundations and Companys Vocational education and training programs. This includes languageCourses, study colleges or internships, etc. The aim is that the program participants should be trained to be able to act internationally and interculturally.

You can apply to INWENT as a student, graduate, but also as a specialist and manager - no matter which country you come from.

Programs of the European Union

The European Union also offers a variety of mobility programs, where you can usually get less money than an organization like the DAAD, but you are usually easier to get there.

Socrates / Erasmus

Socrates / Erasmus is probably the most well-known and popular mobility program of the European Union - probably because participation in it is quite easy: you can participate, no matter which subject you study and if you come from the European Union or other European countries.

However: You get as an Erasmus student up to 250 Euro a month. However, you often have to reckon with less, but you can also apply for foreign BAföG. And the subsidy is only granted in a period of between three and twelve months.

However, you should consider financial support as secondary, because other things are helpful in this program:

You apply at your university, either with special program coordinators or in your department. In any case, please note the application deadlines. Information is also provided by the DAAD.

tense

Unlike the Sokrates / Erasmus program, the Tempus program does not directly support you as a student, but rather promotes joint projects in areas such as university management, curriculum development, institution building and student mobility. The participating countries include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Mongolia, the NIS and the EU states.

If you have completed the first academic year and come from one of these countries, no matter what you are studying, you can apply for a degree or internship lasting up to three to twelve months in one of these countries. To do so, apply to the Tempus Coordinators of your university, your department or special counseling centers.

Leonardo da Vinci

Not only students and graduates have the opportunity to go abroad via the European Union, but also trainees and Boy workers. Leonardo is an exchange program for vocational education. You will be helped with the financing and organization of internships with about 300 Euro per month - but the amount varies according to the amount of the internship fee, because you should receive 500 Euro per month.

However, your university degree (if you have one!) Must not have been more than twelve months old, and you may not have been employed during this time. You have to complete your internship for three to twelve months in a company in another state of the European Union, one of your accession countries or Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway or one of the candidate countries. The internship must, however, be recognized in the interior. For Leonardo, apply to your department or to the appropriate coordinator of your university.

Scholarships for individual countries

Another possibility to finance a study abroad is to obtain a scholarship of the respective country. For reasons of space, only a few of the most interesting countries were mentioned here. If you are looking for information on another country, you should ask your local host country in Spe, the International Office of your university, the DAAD or perhaps your department which possibilities are available.

  1. USA: If you want to study in the US, you should contact the Fulbright Commission: As a German student, you can receive well-endowed scholarships from US universities here. You can apply each year in April / May (for residence scholarships) and in December (for travel scholarships). The scholarships are advertised at the universities. Very important are proven, good English skills.
  2. U. Kingdom: If you are particularly interested in the UK, you can find links and information about languageCourses, study at about 350 universities and funding opportunities, such as the British Embassy, ​​on the British Council website
  3. France: If you want to live like God in France: The Institute Francais offers you a wealth of information on recognition of study achievements, languageCourses, formalities, funding programs, accommodation and the French higher education system. After completing an online questionnaire you will receive information by post.
  4. Southern Europe: For example, if you want to study, study, or complete your doctorate in Goethe, you can apply for a scholarship from the Italian government through the DAAD or directly to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or to the subordinate cultural departments of the Italian Messages. Spain and Portugal offer similar opportunities. Further information: Stephanie Dostal, Simone Janson, Study Guide Spain, Portugal, Italy, W. Bertelsmann Publishing House, Bielefeld 2005, ISBN: 3-7639-0415-8.

Scholarships of other institutions

There are also numerous smaller foundations that also promote domestic studies. The best known is probably the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes. A comprehensive scholarship database is offered by the German Academic Exchange Service. About individual foundations, you can also inform under.

University partnerships

Many colleges and departments have partner universities abroad, with whom you have agreed direct exchange programs. In most cases, you will not be able to expect any financial support, but you will be strongly supported by the organization and you will have concrete contacts abroad. It is sensible to settle the financial component via BAföG or one of the many subsidy programs for a stay abroad in a university co-operation. Please contact your department or the Akademisches Auslandsamt of your university.

Auslands-BAföG in combination with participation in exchange programs

You certainly have the opportunity to combine BAföG with other scholarship services, be it financial benefits or benefits in kind such as the organization of your stay - yes, this option is explicitly recommended here.

Example of the Erasmus program of the EU: Here the financial benefits are very low, so you should definitely apply for additional BAföG. With DAAD scholarships, however, this is not possible due to the amount of the financial benefits, because of course the scholarship is paid as a Income credited to the BAföG.

If in doubt, you should inquire directly with your scholarship provider or future scholarship provider and with your foreign BAföG office whether a Combination between scholarship and BAföG is possible

BAföG between foreign and domestic promotion

If you have just spent part of your studies abroad, you can get BAföG up to two months before the start of your studies, so to speak, as intermediate funding. The conditions are:

Proof of achievement and recognition of study achievements

If you want to receive BAföG for an international study, you have to regularly prove your studies. This proof is often more than difficult by different education systems, hardly comparable examination services and different grading systems. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, you should ensure that your foreign study achievements are recognized in Germany.

In theory, the recognition of study performance within the EU should be made much easier by the Bologna Process. Thus, with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) created a unified system for assessing examinations - the exams are now assessed by international credit points. The graduated courses should also guarantee the international recognition of study achievements and degrees. However, this development is still in full swing, also in Germany with its bachelor and master programs.

In practice, however, it is often the case that individual lecturers still decide on the recognition based on purely subjective criteria decide. Participation in exchange programs and scholarships does not guarantee that your achievements will be recognised. So whether your achievements are recognized can vary from university to university and from subject to subject.