Broadening your horizon, meeting new people and gaining valuable experience - a stay abroad can offer all of this.

There are different options for HSNR's students and members of staff to go abroad.

Here we explain which options you have, how to plan and prepare, which funding programmes are available and what comes after you have returned to HSNR.

We also provide information on opportunities to enhance your own intercultural competences at your home campus.

If you need personal advice, please do not hesitate to contact us.

There are various funding opportunities available for stays abroad whether it is for studiying, teaching or further education purposes. Here are some of them:

ERASMUS+
This DAAD and EU funding programme offers financial support for students intending to study or do an internship, take part in short programmes (blended mobility) or study in double degree programmes. Funding can be obtained when staying at ERASMUS programme universities or working in companies in the EU.

Members of staff who would like to take part in teaching education and further training courses can also receive financial support via ERASMUS+ programmes for teaching and training purposes at programme institutions within the EU.

PROMOS
Students who would like to complete studies or internships at partner universities or companies outside of Europe can apply for this funding programme.

HAW.International
This funding programme is designed especially for students at universities of applied sciences (HAW).

Other funding programmes
Students or lecturers intending to go abroad for a short period can be supported through short-term scholarships as part of the ThinkGlobal project. There are also programmes such as the Auslands-BAföG or the Fulbright scholarships.

Please contact us for advice.

ERASMUS+ Blended Mobility

Under certain conditions, shorter mobility in the form of a "blended mobility" (combination of virtual and physical mobility) can also be sponsored. The duration of the physical phase is a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 30 days. The format is supplemented by any volume of virtual learning before or after the physical mobility. The duration of the virtual component is not subject to any eligibility criteria, but at least 3 ECTS credits must be awarded for the combined virtual and physical mobility.

The Hochschule Niederrhein encourages students of STEM degree programmes (Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Engineering) and the "Fewer Opportunities" group to undertake a blended mobility (subject to sufficient funding). If you have a specific plan, please contact the HSNR International Office for information on the application procedure.

Blended Intensive Programs (BIP) in which the HSNR is actively involved can be used by students of the participating faculties. Information on this can be obtained from the relevant departmental coordinator. Funding is also possible (subject to sufficient financial resources).

Applications must be submitted via the online tool at least 2 months before the start of the program.

The link to the online tool will be sent to the participants by email by the International Office after nomination by the departmental coordinator.

Participants who are abroad for longer than 15 days must complete an OLS language test in advance.

Regular students of the HSNR who are planning a study-related stay abroad and can provide proof of the necessary language skills. Recognition must be ensured by the faculty.
Students with a foreign higher education entrance qualification cannot be sponsored for a stay in their "home country".

The selection criteria are
academic achievements at HSNR, recognition of examination results, subject relevance for the studies, good language skills in the language of instruction.

Deadlines for the year 2024
December 01, 2023 for the whole year 2024
July 15, 2024 - depending on the funds provided by the DAAD, will be updated here - only for stays in the winter semester 23-24

You are also welcome to apply outside the deadlines; there is the possibility of being placed on a waiting list and moving up if funding becomes available or additional funds are made available.

The stay abroad must not have been completed at the time of application.

Application
The application is made via our Mobility Online Tool (see links below). The following documents must be uploaded:

Please note the following information before submitting your application:

• Only complete applications submitted in the Mobility-Online Tool can be considered. The International Office reserves the right to reject applications if the documents are not complete and/or the deadlines have not been met.
• If the stay abroad is planned from July of the year, there is usually no confirmation from the host institution by the first PROMOS application deadline and possibly no Learning Agreement with the desired courses. In this case, placeholders with a corresponding justification can be uploaded to the tool as an exception . Placeholder: A document with the current application status at the university, possibly with information on when you will be accepted.
• Please submit all documents - before the stay abroad - by e-mail by 15.07. at the latest.
• It is not possible to receive PROMOS funding at the same time as a DAAD scholarship. If you have applied for another DAAD scholarship (BAföG abroad is not included here, the scholarship only has to be indicated there), please re-registration promptly.
• There is no legal entitlement to funding.

To the online application:

- PROMOS application: Studies
- PROMOS application: Internship
- PROMOS application: Thesis
- PROMOS application: Specialized course
- PROMOS application: Language course

The DAAD's new scholarship program "HAW.International" supports students at universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences during their stay abroad and the universities in cooperation projects with international partners.

In addition to full scholarships for studies or theses, scholarships are also available for participation in trade fairs and conferences abroad.

While PROMOS scholarships are administered and awarded directly at the HSNR, the DAAD awards HAW scholarships nationwide following an assessment by a selection committee based on subject-specific criteria.

Double funding through HAW International (or another DAAD scholarship) in parallel with a PROMOS scholarship is not possible. There is no legal entitlement to funding.

The HSNR and its Tunisian partner university École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir (ENIM), an institution of the Université de Monastir, have successfully applied for DAAD funding in the area of mobility with partner countries (KA171).

This sponsorship program will enable both universities to promote the mobility of students (HSNR outgoing students at PhD level / incoming students at BA and MA level) and staff in the period from August 2022 to July 2025.

The exchange will take place in the fields of Textile and Clothing Technology and Mechanical Engineering.

The first exchange will take place in WS 23-24 at the HSNR.

HSNR students can apply for additional funding of 200 euros / month as grants in the following cases:

• Green travel/green travel
• Students with special needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds (Fewer Opportunities, FO): Participants with a degree of disability of 20 or more, with chronic illnesses and students with child/children, etc.

Your contacts at the HSNR are:

• Viola Konrad, FB 07
• Prof. Jaan Unger, FB 04
• Katharina Tsang, International Office

We hope that you have arrived safely back at the HSNR.

Now there are still a few things to do to prepare for your stay abroad.

After your return from abroad, we would be delighted if you could pass on your experiences:

• as a buddy for newly arrived international students (more information in the Intercultural Competence chapter)
• as a mentor for students who want to go abroad like you.
• as an ambassador by sharing your impressions with fellow students in a report.

If you have not yet registered for the Intercultural Competence certificate, now would be a good time to do so, as you have already acquired an important building block through your stay abroad.

With the GLOBUS students for students Buddy Program, we want to help newly enrolled international students to find their way around Germany and the university more quickly and easily.

In order to achieve this goal, an already enrolled student (from the 2nd specialization semester) supports the international newcomer in settling in, for example by making contact before arrival, giving directions to the dormitory or campus, accompanying them to registration or to the health insurance company.

The Buddy Program creates an international network that benefits both German and international students. It enables participating students to apply and expand their language skills in practice, gain intercultural competence and get to know new cultures. In addition, this voluntary work is a component of the Certificate for Intercultural Competence (ZIK).

The activity lasts for one semester, which can be chosen at will, and is concluded with a personal interview at the International Office.

The application deadline for the winter semester is August 15; for the summer semester February 15 of each year.

Interested HSNR students can register using the registration form.

Further information can be found on this website.