Outgoings – Study and Internship Abroad
Experience abroad, language skills, the ability to orient yourself in a different cultural environment and knowledge of European and international contexts are becoming increasingly important in a dynamically developing global field of work. We would therefore like to encourage you to look into studying abroad/internships abroad. Further information on the requirements, the application process, financing, etc. can be found below:
- 1. Preparations and Requirements
Studies: If you are interested in spending parts of your studies abroad, you should assume that you will need about a year to prepare for the stay. You can count on advice and support on the academic and organisational level. The International Office has set an annual deadline for applications to study at one of our partner universities abroad at December 15 for the following, academic year.
Internships: You need to apply for financial support of an internship. As internships tend to have flexible starting dates due to the needs of companies and their availabilities, applications are accepted at any time during the academic year.
Requirements for studies and internships abroad
- current enrolment at the HfK, enrolment at a partner university that has an agreement with the HfK for an (ERASMUS) cooperation
- home and partner universities have a valid ERASMUS+ Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) or a current cooperation agreement for partner universities outside of Europe
Advantages of studies abroad
- recognition of academic achievements abroad
- waiver for study/tuition fees at host universities
- financial support for additional costs of stays abroad
- help and advice in preparation of a stay abroad (cultural, with languages and organisation)
- additional grant funding for first time-academics (students from non-academic families)
- additional grant funding for working students
- additional grant funding for students with children
- additional grant funding for disabled students
- additional grant funding for students with chronic diseases
- additional grant funding for sustainable travel (Green Travel)
Advantages of an ERASMUS internship abroad
- EU contract agreement on internship between university, company and student
- academic recognition of internship
- a dedicated contact person at the company provides guidance during the internship
- financial support for additional costs of stays abroad
- additional grant funding for first time-academics (students from non-academic families)
- additional grant funding for working students
- additional grant funding for students with children
- additional grant funding for disabled students
- additional grant funding for students with chronic diseases
- additional grant funding for sustainable travel (Green Travel)
- internships in European countries may last 2–12 months each (multiple times).
- internships within a year after finishing a study cycle (graduate internships) if the application has been filed during the last year of the study cycle.
ERASMUS+ provides students with an opportunity for a stay abroad in participating European countries during any study phase
- up to 12 months in a Bachelor and Master programme, or 24 months for single-track studies (studying for a diploma).
- study stays in European countries lasting 2–12 months each (or multiple times).
- internships in European countries lasting 2–12 months each (or multiple times).
- internships within a year after finishing a study cycle (graduate internships) if the application has been filed during the last year of the study cycle.
- 2. Financing
Erasmus+ Scholarship Studies (SMS)
Students at HfK who are interested to study abroad at a partner university in Europe can receive a scholarship under the Erasmus+ programme.
The funding for Erasmus+ mobilities is based on the varying costs of living at the respective destinations (“programme countries”).The Erasmus+ Programme 2021–2027 has set the following funding-baselines for studies abroad in three groups of countries (SMS):
- Group 1 per month 600 euros Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden
- Group 2 per month 540 euros Belgium, France, Greece, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Spain
- Group 3 per month 490 euros Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia
You can apply for additional funding for “Green Travel” and / or as a social top-up:
- Green Travel 50 euros and one-time payment + travel subsidy for up to 4 days
- Social top-ups – First-time academics 250 euros per month
- Social top-ups – Working students 250 euros per month
- Social top-ups – Disabled or chronically ill students 250 euros per month
- Social top-ups – Students with children 250 euros per month
Only one social top-up can be granted.
Open all- Students from a non-academic home / first-time academics
Students whose parents have not acquired an academic qualification (technical college or university) recognised in Germany can apply for 250 euros per month. For single parents, this regulation only applies to the respective parent with whom the child lives.
If both parents are known, students can apply for this social top-up if neither parent has an academic degree. If one parent does not have an academic degree and the other does, then this social top-up cannot be granted.
For one parent:
If only one parent is known, then only that parent can be taken into account for the top-up. If this parent has an academic degree, this social top-up will not be granted. If this parent does not have an academic degree and the other parent is not known, this social top-up can be granted.
Academic degree:
An academic qualification is defined as a degree acquired at an university, a vocational academy or a technical college (within or outside Germany). A master's certificate in the skilled trades is not considered an academic qualification.
If your parents are not sure whether their degree counts as a degree:
Visit the website of the “Accreditation Council Foundation” (Stiftung Akkreditierungsrat). If you find your parents' degree there, you are not allowed to apply for this top-up.
Proof: Declaration on honour on “additional funding”.
You also undertake to provide supporting documents upon request.
- Working students
Students that were gainfully employed prior to their studies and have to give up their job during their studies abroad are entitled to a top-up of 250 euros per month.
The following rules apply for employment with an obligation to pay into social security and also for freelancers:
- monthly income between 450 euros and 850 euros after taxes
- steady employment up to at least 6 months prior to the mobility
- the employment is discontinued during the stay abroad, including mobile work, online work, paid vacations, etc. A dismissal from the job is not required, the work contract can also be put on hold.
You also undertake to provide supporting documents upon request.
- Students with disabilities
Students with a disability up from a severity of 20 percent are entitled to a top-up of 250 euros per month.
Proof: Declaration on honour on “additional funding”.
You also undertake to provide supporting documents upon request.
- Students with additional funding needs due to chronic illness
Students with a chronic illness that results in additional, financial needs during a stay abroad are also entitled for a monthly top-up of 250 euros. These grants are based on an official list of “chronic” illnesses:
"Liste der chronischen Erkrankungen des Robert Koch Instituts".
Proof: Declaration on honour on “additional funding”.
You also undertake to provide supporting documents upon request.
- Students with children
Students who take their child or children abroad with them can also receive an additional 250 euros per month. The prerequisite is that the child or children come along with you for the entire stay. The subsidy is 250 euros per month per family, regardless of the number of children. The application is also possible if a care person (partner) is traveling with you.
Proof: Declaration on honour on “additional funding”.
You also undertake to provide supporting documents upon request.
The funding conditions for the top-ups are available here:
- Info sheet – funding conditions for top-ups (PDF – German)
The International Office grants funding for top-ups based on the persual of your application and your declaration on honour you have filed with them.
PROMOS scholarship
Students at HfK going for studies abroad at a partner university outside of Europe can apply for a PROMOS scholarship.
Depending on the funds granted by PROMOS, the funding period varies from 2 to a maximum of 4 months.
- Japan per month 550 euros
- Australia, Israel, South Korea per month 450 euros
- Chile per month 350 euros
BAföG for stays abroad
You may apply for a special grant for stays or internships abroad with the federal funding programme for support in education, BAföG. Key information for these grants is available here (in German): Gibt es BAföG auch im Ausland? – BAföG
- 3. Application for studies abroad (SMS)
The application deadline is December 15 for the entire coming academic year.
Applications for student mobility for studies (SMS) are processed by an application form that must be completed, signed and submitted to the International Office of HfK. Email international-office@hfk-bremen.de
Please select two favoured institutions among the partner universities. Please note that you can only apply to partner universities on your degree programme. If you apply to a partner university from another degree programme, students from this degree programme have priority. This will considerably reduce your chances of being accepted onto a degree programme.
The form is available here.
Once the application form has been received, it will be checked whether the requirements for applying to one of the partner universities are met. The luck of the draw will decide among multiple applications for one slot.
If the International Office of HfK has confirmed your study place at one of our partner universities and you also have confirmed this, you will need to undertake the following steps:
Note: Please inform yourself in advance on the website of your selected partner university about the study programme you wish to attend and their application process as well as the documents to be submitted, such as a visa!
Next steps
- You inform the International Office which study programme you would like to apply for at the relevant partner university.
- Nomination at the partner university.
- You will receive initial information about the application deadline and documents to be submitted to the partner university.
- Application documents to be submitted often include: CV, letters of recommendation, Transcript of Records (listingyour academic achievements to date), portfolio (Fine Arts and Design) or video-audio recordings (Music). Some partner universities also request a language certificate.
- You submit your application documents to the partner university on time and also send them to the International Office of HfK.
- The partner university decides whether they accept you.
- Financial contract: If the partner university accepts you, we will conclude a financial contract (Grant Agreement Erasmus+) or a scholarship agreement (PROMOS funding) with you. Information on the funding rates are available under Financing.
- Online Learning Agreement (OLA): The Online Learning Agreement confirms the creditable study achievements you want to complete abroad. The host university thereby declares that your study plan can be implemented (with or without changes). The signature of the responsible person for signing the OLA at the HfK will confirm that we will recognise your achievements abroad.
- Please complete the Online Learning Agreement before you start your stay abroad. Instructions for the OLA (PDF – German). Explanation video: Logging into your Online Learning Agreement (YouTube)
- Submit an application for a semester abroad to Department 1, office for students and academic affairs. (Form in the HfK portal under: Documents – For students – General – Application for a semester abroad)
After your mobility
- Procure a letter of confirmation from the International Office of the partner university indicating the exact duration of your stay
- Complete the online EU survey (will be sent to you automatically via email)
- Hand in a three-page testimonial to the International Office
- Current OLA (if applicable, including adjustments made during your studies abroad)
- Transcript of Records of the partner university listing your course achievements during your studies there.
- You also need to provide the Online Learning Agreement and Transcript of Records to the Campus Office Arts and Design or Campus Office Music so that your achieved credits can be regognised.
Language tests are mandatory for an Erasmus+ exchange (OLS – Online Language Support). Currently on a voluntary basis (in calls 22, 23). The International Office will inform you about this separately.
The European Commission provides online language tests. A test must be completed in the working language for all students/graduates both before the start of the mobility and after the end of the stay. However, it is not a selection criterion for funding in the Erasmus+ programme and does not apply to native speakers. After the ERASMUS + participants have been selected, the language test is intended to serve as a placement test to document their current language level. It should take place both before and at the end of their stay abroad so as to obtain comparable results and a record of any progress made by the supported participants in language acquisition. The systematic, Europe-wide review of the development of individual language proficiency enables an evaluation of the effectiveness of Erasmus+.
Helpful information to prepare for a stay abroad is available at the website of the DAAD: Auslandsstudium vorbereiten – DAAD
- 4. Partner Universities
Choose from more than 70 partner universities for an institution that fits your study programme. You will enhance your chances for a stay abroad if you pick a first and a second choice.
- 5. Internship
Internships abroad can be sponsored by various institutions.
Depending on the continent, target country and funding organisation, certain conditions must be observed.
The International Office will support you with advice on internship funding.
Internship with ERASMUS+ funding
Funding for internships in other European countries is possible through the EU funding programme Erasmus+. Since internships have flexible start dates in consultation with the companies, applications can be submitted throughout the academic year.
Internships in European institutions or organisations, national diplomatic missions and organisations that manage EU programmes are not eligible for funding.
Conditions for an internship via Erasmus+
- You are currently enrolled and have send us your application at least four weeks prior to your de-registration.
- the internship needs to be full-time (depending on the country-specific definition)
- the internship needs to last at least 60 days and be connected to your studies.
- a liability and accident insurance covering your stay and work abroad is obligatory and you need to present the policy to us.
Next steps
- You need to complete a Learning Agreement in cooperation with your employer and provide the signed paperwork to us (“Before the mobility”). The document contains your planned activities and declares the number of CPs the HfK will recognise for your internship (via the signature of the respective HfK official for international relations).
- Financial contract: as soon as you satisfy the requirements spelled out above, we will conclude a financial contract with you (Grant Agreement Erasmus+, see: funding rates und social top-ups).
To be handed in after your internship
- the “After the mobility” review contained in the Learning Agreement, completed and signed by the employer
- a three-page testimonial on your internship
- completion of the online EU survey you will automatically receive via email
Erasmus+ funding rates for an internship
- Group 1 per month 750 euros Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden
- Group 2 per month 690 euros Belgium, France, Greece, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Spain
- Group 3 per month 640 euros Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia
You can apply for additional funding for “Green Travel” and / or as a social top-up:
- Green Travel 50 euros and time payment + travel subsidy for up to 4 days
- Social top-ups – First-time academics 250 euros per month
- Social top-ups – Working students 250 euros per month
- Social top-ups – Disabled or chronically ill students 250 euros per month
- Social top-ups – Students with children 250 euros per month
* Only one social top-up can be granted
The funding conditions for the top-ups are available here:
- Info sheet – funding conditions for top-ups (PDF – German)
The International Office grants funding for top-ups based on an examination and an avowal of the truthfulness of your request.
The platform erasmusintern.org offers various search criteria for organising an internship in Europe. Students and companies can contact each other directly if they are interested.
- 6. Testimonials of students on their stays and internships abroad
Here you will find testimonials from HfK students who have studied a semester abroad at a partner university or went for an internship outside of Germany. You can find a larger selection of testimonials on our HfK portal (internal).
Open all- Faculty of Art and Design – Studies
Digital Media
- Minerva Art Academy, Netherlands, winter semester 2023/24 (PDF – German)
Fine Arts
Integrated Design
- University of the West of England in Bristol, England, winter semester 2023/24 (PDF – German)
- University of Art and Design Linz, Austria, winter semester 2023/24 (PDF – German)
- Università Iuav di Venezia (IUAV), Italy, winter semester 2023/24 (PDF – German)
- Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest, Hungary, summer semester 2023 (PDF)
- School of Arts, Ulster University Belfast, Northern Ireland, winter semester 2022/23 (PDF)
- University of Art and Design Linz, Austria, winter semester 2022/23 (PDF)
- University of the West of England in Bristol, England, winter semester 2022/23 (PDF)
- Nagoya University of Arts (NUA), Japan, summer semester 2022 (PDF)
- Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo (KHiO), Norway, winter semester 2021/22 (PDF)
- Korean National University of Arts in Seoul, South Korea, summer semester 2019 (PDF)
- Faculty of Art and Design – Internships
Digital Media
Integrated Design
- Porto, Portugal, winter semester 2023/24 (PDF – German)
- Margarites, Greece, summer semester 2023 (PDF – German)
- Abisko, Sweden summer semester 2023 (PDF – German)
- Abisko, Sweden summer semester 2023 (PDF – German)
- Abisko, Sweden summer semester 2023 (PDF – German)
- Cambridge, England, winter semester 2017/18 (PDF)
- Madrid, Spain, winter semester 2017/18 (PDF)
- Faculty of Music – Studies
- Nagoya University of the Arts, Japan, winter semester 2023/24 (PDF – German)
- Conservatorio Superior de Música de Vigo, Spanien, winter semester 2022/23 (PDF)
- University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Austria, summer semester 2020 (PDF)
- Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon, Frankreich, 2016 (PDF)
- Faculty of Music – Internships
- Vigo, Spain, winter semester 2023/24 (PDF – German)
- Faculty of Art and Design – Studies