Outgoings – Study and Internship Abroad

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.

• 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

• 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)

• 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.

• 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.

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):

You can apply for additional funding for “Green Travel” and / or as a social top-up:

Only one social top-up can be granted.

The funding regulations for the top-ups are available here:

• Fördervoraussetzungen für 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.

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.

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

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!

• 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)

• 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

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.

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. 

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. 

• 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.

• 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).

• 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

You can apply for additional funding for “Green Travel” and / or as a social top-up:

* Only one social top-up can be granted 

The funding conditions for the top-ups are available here: pdf link

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.

The Bremen Studienfonds supports stays abroad for particularly qualified students for a maximum of 6 months. The aim of the funding is to further personal and professional qualification, i.e. only practice-related stays can be funded (internship).

Graduates are only eligible to apply if they begin their stay abroad within three months of completing their studies. 

The internship may only begin once the Bremen Studienfonds has decided on the award (approx. 4 weeks after the application deadline). 

Application deadlines: January 15th and June 15th of each year. 

The application is sent by the International Office. They will also provide further information about the process. 

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.

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).