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Semester abroad

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You want to go abroad?

A semester abroad is more than just relocating the lecture hall. It's a chance to expand your knowledge in a global environment and experience a variety of cultures. Develop intercultural skills, make lifelong friends and open the doors to exciting career opportunities.

Why go abroad?

A semester abroad promotes your personal development in many ways. You become more independent, more self-confident and learn to master challenges.
During your semester abroad, you will make contacts with people from different parts of the world. These international connections can prove extremely valuable later on, whether professionally or personally. Of course, you will improve your language skills when you study in a country where a different language is spoken. A semester abroad gives you the opportunity to explore new places and experience adventures. Use your free time to explore the surroundings, travel to new countries and make unforgettable memories.
In addition, each university has its own teaching approach and focus. By spending a semester abroad, you can benefit from different teaching methods and subject areas. This expands your knowledge and skills.
In summary, a semester abroad is a valuable opportunity to grow both personally and academically. It broadens your horizons, strengthens your skills and enriches your life in many ways.

Information flyer

Information flyer: zum Flyer

Questions about the semester abroad

If you can imagine spending a semester abroad, you should find out about your options as early as possible. A year in advance is often a good amount of time to start preparing. However, we recommend at least 6 months in advance to guarantee a smooth process.

You can complete your stay abroad in two different ways:

You can go to a partner university or you can organize your trip yourself as a freemover.

What are the differences between the two options?

Partner universities:

  • There is a clear database of partner universities. This simplifies your research immensely.
  • The application process is often regulated and therefore simple.
  • Your semester abroad can be financially supported, e.g. via the ERASMUS program.
  • Recognition of acquired credits is usually possible without any problems.

Freemover:

  • You can potentially study at any university. If your university of choice accepts you, you can also study in exotic countries outside of Europe.
  • Although the application process involves more organizational effort, you have more freedom in your decisions.
  • In the past, 'freemover semesters abroad' have resulted in established collaborations. Your stay can therefore lay the foundations for future university partnerships.

Faculty 15 offers students the opportunity to spend time abroad at various partner universities in Europe, Asia, North and South America as part of their studies. The ERASMUS program of the European Union provides financial support.

ERASMUS+ partners
The ERASMUS+ program of the European Union provides financial support. We offer ERASMUS cooperation opportunities for a semester abroad at the following universities:

You can find a list of all partner universities here.

International partners
Various funding programs are available for our international partner universities outside Europe. Funded by programs such as DAAD, PROMOS or SHASTA, we support students on a semester abroad at the following universities:

Hessian partners
There are special exchange opportunities for our partner universities in the USA and Australia as part of the Hessen programs. Supported by Hessen-Wisconsin, Hessen-Massachusetts and Hessen-Queensland, we offer university-wide exchange places with a simplified application procedure at the following universities:

For students who want to go abroad with an ERASMUS+ scholarship, for example, there is no uniform application deadline for all Faculties/fields. Please enquire about the relevant deadlines and other formalities with the responsible cooperation officers.

If you do not require funding or are a freemover, you can also organize your semester abroad more spontaneously.

Your ERASMUS grant will be paid to you in two installments: 70% before the start of your trip abroad and 30% afterwards.

Your monthly funding installment can be found in the following table:

GroupsCountriesMonthly funding rate
1

Belgium, Denmark,

Finland, France, Germany

France, Ireland, Iceland,

Italy, Lichtenstein,

Luxembourg, Netherlands,

Norway, Austria,

Sweden

600€
2

Estonia, Greece,

Latvia, Malta, Portugal,

Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,

Czech Republic, Cyprus

540€
3

Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania,

North Macedonia, Poland,

Romania, Serbia, Turkey,

Hungary

540€

The following additional funding is also available for participants with fewer opportunities:

Additional funding

Students with disabilities,

Additional needs due to chronic illness,

Students with children, first-time graduates

(students from a non-academic family)

parents), employed students

+250€/month

During your stay at the university abroad you do not pay tuition fees.

In principle, the examination board is responsible for the recognition of credits earned abroad. This committee asks the department's specialization and module coordinators to assess whether the credits earned abroad are equivalent to the requirements of our university.

Before you go abroad, you should therefore consider and research which courses you would like to take. You should then have your provisional examination plan ('Learning Agreement') approved by your specialization coordinator and the module coordinators.

Responsible are:

  • for compulsory subjects: the person responsible for the module
  • for subjects that are on the elective list of your specialization: the respective subject lecturers
  • for subjects that are not on the elective list for your specialization: the specialization coordinators and the persons responsible for the subject area
  • for key competencies: the Dean of Studies

After your semester abroad, ask your specialization coordinator to confirm that you have passed your course and have it entered by the Examinations Office.

ERASMUS funding is an integral part of the application procedure for a semester abroad and does not have to be applied for separately outside the University of Kassel.

All important information about the application - including the exact procedure, your contact persons and relevant deadlines - can be found here: here.

For general questions about studying abroad, please contact the International Office of the University of Kassel.

Our ERASMUS representative Fatih Meral (f.meral[at]uni-kassel[dot]de) will be happy to help you personally with specific questions about the ERASMUS+ program in Faculty 15 - for example about semesters abroad, cooperation agreements, applications or selection.

Questions about the internship abroad

You should plan your internship abroad at least 4 months in advance, preferably even earlier. Although the application deadline for Erasmus funding is 2 months, the funds are often exhausted at short notice.

In addition, an internship requires careful planning to ensure that it suits you perfectly. Especially if you want to complete the internship with a company, you need to allow enough time for the often lengthy application process.

Through ERASMUS, Faculty 15 offers various cooperation opportunities for internships abroad, practical professional studies (BPS) or final theses at the following partner institutions:

  • Purdue (USA), with Professor Riley Barta in the field of Energy Engineering:
    https://www.purdue.edu
  • NTNU (Norway), with Professor Hafner in the field of energy technology:
    https://www.ntnu.edu
  • Castellon (Spain), with Professor Rodrigo Llopis Doménech in the field of energy engineering:
    https://www.uji.es

An internship abroad can also be carried out at a European university without existing cooperation, provided that the content requirements are met. In such cases, Erasmus funding is still possible under certain conditions.

Own internship partners are possible

You do not necessarily have to make use of existing partnerships for your internship abroad. You can also look for an internship on your own - at universities or research institutions as well as in companies. Large, internationally active companies in particular offer exciting opportunities for an internship abroad.

Here you will find a list of helpful contacts, tips and search engines for finding your internship.

You can apply to the following programs to finance your internship abroad:

Internal university funding and grants:

External university funding and grants:

Remuneration from companies:

Many companies also pay you a salary for your work and sometimes support you in finding accommodation.

Your ERASMUS funding for an internship abroad will be paid to you in two installments: 80% before the start of your trip abroad and 20% afterwards.

Your monthly funding installment can be found in the following table:

Country groupsper dayper month (=30 days)

Country group 1:

Denmark, Finland, Ireland,

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,

Norway, Sweden

25,00€

750€

Country group 2:

Belgium, France, Greece,

Italy, Malta, Netherlands,

Austria, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus

23,00€

690€

Country group 3:

Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia,

Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia,

Slovakia, Slovenia, North Macedonia,

Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary

21,33€

640€

The following additional funding is also available for participants with fewer opportunities:

Additional funding

Students with disabilities,

Additional needs due to chronic illness,

Students with children, first-time academics

(students from a non-academic family)

parents), employed students

+250€/month

The ERASMUS officer Fatih Meral is responsible for all issues relating to ERASMUS funding.

You can find out how to apply for ERASMUS funding, who your contacts are and what deadlines need to be met here.

The amount of funding for PROMOS scholarships is based on the assessment of your application by a committee. This assessment is based on the following key points:

Individual scholarships:

A maximum of 100 points can be achieved.

  • Evaluation of the letter of motivation according to the 4-eyes principle (max. 45 points)
  • Academic achievements (max. 45 points)
  • Social commitment (max. 10 points)

Funding categories are determined annually at the selection meeting depending on the funds raised and the number of applications. The classification into categories is based on the points achieved and determines the level of funding. Depending on the category, travel and/or accommodation costs are covered on a pro rata basis. Please note that the scholarship is paid out in one installment.

Here is an example of an internship abroad in the USA (West):

Destination countryPartial scholarship installmentOne-time mobility rateStay allowance per dayTuition fees

USA (West)

450€1.375€45€9.000€

The recognition of your internship depends on the context in which it takes place:

Professional Practical Studies (BPS):

Claudia Schneider is responsible for the recognition of the BPS. She will support you with all organizational and content-related questions concerning the internship semester.

Final thesis abroad:

If you would like to write your Bachelor's or Master's thesis abroad, e.g. in a company or at a university, a professorship at the University of Kassel will take over the official technical supervision. Please note: Not every thesis advertised abroad automatically corresponds to the academic level of a thesis at our university - especially in the case of theses that mainly take place in companies. In order for your thesis to be recognized later, it is essential to contact a supervising professorship at the University of Kassel at an early stage. The topic of the company or the foreign laboratory must be agreed and approved by the Kassel professorship.

For general questions about stays abroad, please contact the International Office of the University of Kassel.

Our ERASMUS representative Fatih Meral (f.meral[at]uni-kassel[dot]de) will be happy to assist you personally with specific questions about the ERASMUS+ program in Faculty 15 - for example about internships abroad, cooperation agreements, applications or selection.

You can discuss all aspects of work placement studies (BPS/internship abroad) with Claudia Schneider.

Further reports from students with experience abroad

Study and internship abroad

Exchange places for students

Exchange places for students : zur Datenbank

Outgoing - abroad

Cooperation database of the University of Kassel

Cooperation database of the University of Kassel: zur Datenbank

Exchange Program Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL)

Cooperation Officer University of Kassel, Prof. Dr. Andreas Kroll

Exchange Program Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL): Short list of courses for exchange