Orientation

A lot of questions usually arise, especially when you start thinking about a stay abroad. Perhaps you have already answered some of these questions for yourself and already have certain ideas about your stay abroad. You should still remain open to other possibilities – many paths lead abroad!

The questions give you an overview of what you should consider when planning your stay abroad. You will see that it is often not easy to answer the questions independently of each other.

Start your planning early!

You need to start planning a stay abroad well in advance. Ideally, you should have at least one and a half years’ notice before you start your stay abroad. You should therefore find out about possible deadlines and suitable financing options for your project abroad at an early stage.

  • We have summarized the most important financing options for you

If you plan early, you can also learn a new language or improve your language skills,
which you will need for your stay abroad.

There are also opportunities to go abroad at much shorter notice. However, the very option that would have interested you the most may no longer be feasible.

Why go abroad?

This question is not only relevant for you if you do not yet know exactly whether you would like to study abroad at all. We want to give you a compass for planning your stay abroad, even if you have already decided to go abroad.

I'm still unsure whether I want to go abroad

Perhaps a little inspiration will help you to decide whether you would like to study abroad. The “Studieren Weltweit” correspondents will take you with them and show you what a stay abroad can look like.

The correspondents also discuss possible problems and concerns so that you get a realistic picture of a stay abroad.

Ask yourself what is currently causing you to have doubts and whether these doubts are justified. A good overview usually helps to dispel any doubts – we are happy to support you with our websites, information events, and advising services.

Many students benefit from a stay abroad, for example because they can

  • improve their language skills
  • get to know a new country or a different culture
  • study at a renowned university
  • take courses that are not offered in Hohenheim
  • gain practical experience that would not be possible in Germany
  • take advantage of the best framework conditions for research in the context of final theses or project work
  • get to know other university systems and teaching methods
  • get to know their own field of study from a new perspective

I would like to go abroad

There are many good reasons to go abroad – what is yours?
Do you simply want to live abroad for a while? That's fine, of course. Take your chance, because a stay abroad is usually never as easy and flexible as it is during your studies.
But perhaps you are also pursuing one or two more specific goals with your stay abroad:

You would like to

  • improve your foreign language skills.
  • get to know another (specific) country or culture.
  • study at a particular university abroad for a period of time on the basis of their reputation.
  • attend certain courses that are not offered in Hohenheim.
  • gain practical experience that you cannot gain in Germany.
  • the best conditions for your research as part of your project or thesis.
  • get to know a different university system and different teaching methods.
  • get to know your subject from a different (international) perspective.
  • ...

Be aware of possible goals and prioritize them for yourself. This will help you to answer the other questions and to decide what exactly your stay abroad should look like.

What kind of stay abroad do I want to do?

Study abroad? But if so, for how long? The question of “what kind of stay abroad" inevitably leads to further questions and is of central importance when it comes to answering them.
Many paths lead you abroad from Hohenheim. We distinguish between these options:

Study stays

  • Mobility programs (semester/year abroad)
  • Double/triple degree
  • Summer/winter schools and language courses (short-term stays)


Practical stays abroad

  • Internship in a company
  • Internship in an NGO/NPO
  • Internship in an international organization (or government institution)
  • Internship at a foreign school
  • Research internship (e.g., as part of a thesis)

The following questions depend largely on the type of stay abroad you decide on.
You should therefore consider all aspects when making your decision.

Where do I want to go?

Students often have preferences when it comes to where they would like to study abroad. It often depends on how far away you want to go, which languages you speak, which cultures or countries you are particularly interested in, where friends or family live, or where they come from. A first relevant decision is usually whether you want to spend time abroad within or outside Europe.

Don't lose sight of the fact that your stay abroad should also be academically meaningful, especially in the case of a study or research stay (Where are there particularly renowned institutions? Which institutions offer courses that are not available in Hohenheim? At which institutions can I deepen my specialization or add a new specialization to my studies?).

You can use the country information provided by the DAAD, for example, as a starting point for your research.

  • Important: Many students are drawn to English-speaking countries. However, bear in mind that demand and therefore competition is often greatest in English-speaking countries.
    It may therefore be worth considering other destinations. For example, the national language is not always the language of work or teaching. In addition, learning another foreign language can always be an advantage. Let us advise you and take advantage of the services offered by our Language Center.
  • Tip: Language Center courses are accepted as proof of language proficiency in many University of Hohenheim exchange programs.

When would I like to go abroad?

Before you go abroad, you should first familiarize yourself with your degree programs at Hohenheim. Possible lead times of up to one and a half years, especially for applications for mobility and scholarship programs, must also be taken into account. The general recommendation is therefore: Stays abroad should only be planned after the 2nd semester.


Depending on the type of stay abroad you choose, the timing of your stay abroad is more or less predetermined:

The timing of study stays is usually determined by the academic calendar of the host university.

  • Summer Schools: During the lecture-free period of the host university
  • Semester/year abroad: During the lectures and examination periods of the host university
  • Use the “mobility window” for your semester/year abroad (usually 5th semester for Bachelor’s programs or 3rd semester for Master’s), if provided for in your curriculum.

In the case of internships and research stays, (e.g., internships or research stays as part of final theses), the timing can usually be planned individually with the host institution.

Staying abroad after completing your Bachelor's or Master's degree?

This option is also available. Please note, however, that for many programs you must be enrolled at the University of Hohenheim for the entire duration of your stay abroad. The Baden-Württemberg Higher Education Act (LHG) § 62(2) sentence 1, item 2 provides the necessary basis for a study stay abroad.

The Erasmus+ program also offers funding opportunities for practice-related stays abroad for graduates after exmatriculation.

How long do I want to go abroad?

Depending on the type of stay, different time periods are common:

  • Summer schools last between one and several weeks.
  • Research stays of several weeks to months are common.
  • Study stays are possible for one trimester or up to a maximum of one year, depending on the host university.
  • Internships usually last from a few weeks during the semester break to a semester.

A short stay of a few weeks, e.g., as part of a summer school or a language course, can be quite beneficial.

However, many years of experience have shown that the actual benefits of a stay abroad generally only become apparent after 4–5 months. The first weeks and months are for settling in, and the “productive” phase often comes afterwards.

As there are only a few annual programs in our exchange programs, we recommend that you combine different stays abroad (e.g., an internship abroad and a semester abroad).

How much does a stay abroad cost?

The exact costs depend above all on the type of mobility abroad and your destination country and can therefore not be generalized. Calculate the costs realistically and for the full period of the planned stay. In order to have a buffer in your budget, it is best to multiply the calculated total costs by a factor of 1.5.

Here you can find more information on the costs of a stay abroad:

You should include the following costs in your calculation (depending on the type of stay abroad and the destination country):

Costs before the stay abroad:

  • Application (including proof of language skills)
  • Visa (including travel to the embassy if necessary)
  • Passport
  • Vaccinations
  • Outward and return journey

Costs before the stay abroad:
Educational costs for

  • Tuition fees/participation fees
  • Semester fee
  • Teaching materials

Ongoing costs in the home country

  • Accommodation
  • Communication
  • Memberships
  • Semester fee
  • Tuition fees (for international students or second degree students)

Cost of living for:

  • Food
  • Accommodation
  • On-site transportation
  • Clothing
  • Communication (cell phone, Internet, etc.)
  • Insurance (health, accident, and liability insurance)
  • Medical treatments, medication
  • Leisure activities

Keep the costs low!

  • A stay in Europe is usually cheaper than outside Europe due to travel and visa costs.
  • If you study abroad as part of an exchange program, you benefit from the tuition fee waiver compared to a stay as a free mover, which often incurs high tuition fees.
  • You can often keep travel and accommodation costs to a minimum by booking early. In some cases, services are included in grants or participation fees.
  • Keep ongoing costs in your home country as low as possible (cancel/sublet apartment, pause/cancel memberships).

Tip: Find out about funding opportunities early on and apply for scholarships.

Contacts

Office of International Affairs
Student Mobility and International Admissions Unit (AA2)
Student Mobility Team

Further information

To help you keep track of the decisions you need to make and the tasks you need to complete, the DAAD's step-by-step checklist for going abroad will also help you.