How many universities should/could I apply to in parallel?
You can apply to up to three partner universities per semester via the university's International Office. It is advisable to make full use of this quota and not to put all your eggs in one basket when applying.
I would like to go to a country where I can communicate in English. Which of the partner universities would be suitable for me?
All Scandinavian countries are suitable for this. The partner universities Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania (Vilnius), LUCA School of Arts in Belgium (Brussels), Academy of Fine Arts in Poland (Krakow), Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Poland (Lodz), Marmara University in Turkey (Istanbul), Bezalel Academy of Art & Design in Israel (Jerusalem), Salzburg University of Applied Sciences in Austria (Salzburg) and Óbudai University in Hungary (Budapest) are also available. In all other countries, however, you should have a good knowledge of the respective national language!
None of the partner schools appeals to me. How can I be supported if I want to apply somewhere else?
If there is no bilateral agreement between the desired host university and the Faculty of Design, it is possible to make contact with a university on your own initiative and with the help of the International Relations Officer.
I would like to spend my semester abroad in Australia. What are the possibilities?
Unfortunately, the Faculty of Design does not currently have any partner universities in Australia. For this reason, we can only refer you to the appropriate agencies that can help you with the exchange. GOstralia, for example, advises and places students at Australian universities free of charge.
I have downloaded the application forms from the university website. What are the 'Transcript of Records' and 'Learning Agreement' forms?
The 'Transcript of Records' is a translation of the grade report and is used by the partner university to be able to evaluate the student. The 'Learning Agreement' is a kind of course plan, which should be compiled by the student in advance. It gives both universities an overview of the course of the semester and should be adhered to as much as possible. However, subsequent changes are usually possible in consultation with the international offices.
In case the course catalog of the partner university is not yet available at the time of application, the courses can be added later.
Will the ECTS credits I receive abroad be credited to me at the Hochschule Niederrhein?
For the semester abroad provided for in the curriculum, the student should fulfill a course volume of at least 20 ECTS credits from specialized courses. Together with the semester abroad report, the student will receive a total of 32 ECTS credits.
How high can the tuition fees at an Erasmus partner university be for me?
A key point of the Erasmus agreement is that the student does not have to pay tuition fees - neither at his/her own nor at the partner university. At partner universities that are not in the Erasmus funding program, tuition fees may be high. But don't worry - here, too, there are many possibilities for financial support.
The tuition fees will be waived. But what exactly is the situation with the remaining semester fee? Do I still have to pay it?
Yes, the semester fee must be paid in full. However, in the case of a successful exchange, an application can be made to have the semester ticket fee included in the exchange fee refunded. The whole thing is a personal calculation for everyone. Is it worthwhile to use the NRW-Ticket for the transition period from stay abroad to semester change, or not?
What if I am granted leave of absence during my semester abroad?
A leave of absence is only possible if the semester abroad or internship semester is completed voluntarily and no credit points are earned as a result. By the way, in case of a leave of absence students do not have to pay a semester fee! However, they are not allowed to take any studies or examinations in return - unless they are repeat examinations.
When am I entitled to foreign Bafög?
If you receive Bafög in Germany, you are entitled to receive Bafög abroad in any case. However, even if you have not yet been granted domestic Bafög, you may still be able to receive Bafög abroad. Students who have their permanent residence in Germany and meet the following requirements, among others, are eligible to apply:
- sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction
- stay abroad with reference to the previous field of study
When and where do I have to apply for the Auslandsbafög?
Applications must be submitted to the responsible BAföG office as early as possible (6 months before departure).
I have been approved for the foreign Bafög. Do I have to pay the money back after my stay abroad?
No, the Auslandsbafög is a repayment-free grant.
How much Erasmus money can I expect to receive each month?
Unfortunately, there is no general answer to this question. The amount of the scholarship depends on the number of applications and is recalculated every year. The amount of the grant is adjusted according to the standard of living in the partner country. The scholarship is paid once during the stay abroad. In some circumstances, a subsequent payment will be made upon the return of all students if funds are still available and all confirmations and reports have been received.
