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→ In the iHN app, tap the three vertical dots next to “Latest News” and then enable the “International” channel.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact the Outogings team
The classic study abroad programme at a (partner) university comprises one to two semesters.
5 steps to studying abroad:
1. enter your faculty (FB) and degree programme in our database and find possible partner universities.
2. contact the international coordinators in your department to find out about requirements, programme content and recognition of credits.
3. find out - on this website - about funding opportunities and application deadlines.
Staying abroad within the EU (ERASMUS+ funding)
4 If you would like to go to an ERASMUS+ programme university, apply via our online tool Mobility Online.
5. draw up the Learning Agreement in consultation with your faculties .
→ The application goes hand in hand with an ERASMUS+ scholarship application.
Staying abroad at a partner university outside the EU
4 If you would like to go to a partner university outside the EU, please contact the faculty for a Learning Agreement and the International Office for a nomination.
5 Once you have been nominated, you will receive further information from the partner university.
→ An application for certain funding programmes is possible.
An internship semester abroad offers practical work experience in addition to language and cultural experience.
HSNR students are responsible for finding a suitable internship on their own.
5 questions to help you prepare
Tips for your research:
Support from placement centres
There are placement centres and agencies that arrange internships, usually for a fee. You will find a comprehensive list of links in the drop-down menu below.
Students who cannot go abroad for such a long time may have the opportunity to take part in short-term programmes , e.g. summer or winter schools as well as language or specialist courses. The HAW.International or ERASMUS+ blended mobility programmes, for example, offer funding opportunities.
If you would like to study abroad at a non-partner university (EU or non-EU), you can apply as a so-called free mover to this host university. Funding opportunities...
In the following degree programmes, students can decide to obtain a second degree at a partner university while still studying at HSNR:
HSNR lecturers can go to a partner university in the EU as a guest lecturer as part of an ERASMUS+ programme if a valid contract with the relevant faculty is in place.
Staff and lecturers can take part in further education and training measures at ERASMUS+ programme universities and other institutions in the EU. The respective events should be closely related to the activities of the employee/lecturer.
In this blog, we publish reports at irregular intervals from our students who have embarked on an adventure abroad. Whether Europe or overseas, whether studies or internship, whether alone or with friends - read about the experiences of your fellow students abroad here.
Would you like to know what the DAAD student correspondents have to say about their experiences abroad?
Then follow the link and take a look at what they regularly report live from their stay abroad!
Planning and preparation
A study visit usually makes sense from the 3rd specialisation semester onwards. A favourable time is a study phase in which many compulsory modules have been completed and optional courses are on the curriculum.
Internships or short stays are also possible before this.
You should start preparing at least one year in advance.
Some funding programmes (such as Fulbright for the USA) have an even longer application deadline.
However, study visits to partner universities can also be realised about 8 months in advance.
This checklist can be a helpful aid in your preparations.
In order to study or work successfully in the country of your choice, good language skills are of course required.
The level is determined by the host universities themselves.
Take advantage of the offers of our language centres in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach in good time.
The certificates or language tests they offer are usually accepted for an application.
You will always need health insurance for your stay abroad outside the EU.
Travel insurance is not sufficient.
Private international health insurance including repatriation is recommended.
There are often insurance packages that include health, travel and liability insurance. Please enquire with your insurance company or the DAAD.
You can find more information on the necessary insurance policies here.
It is also advisable to find out about necessary vaccinations.
If you have decided to stay abroad outside the EU, you should check the websites of the Federal Foreign Office and the embassies or consulates of the host country for information on entry and residence regulations, the necessary foreign insurance and information on work permits.
You will also find a lot more information about the host country on these pages.
The country information provided by the DAAD is also helpful here.
A leave of absence is only possible if the study abroad or internship semester is completed in addition to the curriculum and no credits are recognised.
Further information can be found under "Leave of absence".
If you are not on grant leave of absence, you must re-register and pay the semester fee.
After re-registration, submit an application to the AStA for a refund of the semester ticket fee.
You will receive the necessary confirmation directly from us if you are taking part in an exchange programme.
As a "freemover", we will be happy to confirm your stay on presentation of the confirmation from your foreign university.
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the only internationally recognised proof of student status with recognition and funding from UNESCO and the EU and offers access to a worldwide network of the ISIC community in over 100 countries with 4 million users per year.
The card enables countless discounts worldwide, inexpensive flexible flight tickets and bus and train travel.
Full-time students receive the ISIC after submitting an application.
The application must be accompanied by the following documents:
Proof of full-time student status (student ID card), identity card or passport and a passport photo (36 x 30 mm).
The ISIC costs 15 euros. It is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.
Issuing office and further information:
Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf
Info-Point
Building 21.12
Universitätsstraße 1
40225 Düsseldorf
Our university offers intercultural competence seminars in various areas(HNSummer Academy and Winter Academy) - including the International Office.
Information on the Certificate of Intercultural Competence (ZIK) can be found here:
In our database you can search for partner universities or ERASMUS programme universities in your faculties using a search mask.
Application to non-EU partner universities
If you decide to spend your semester abroad at a partner university outside the EU, please apply via our online application tool Mobility Online (link ↓).
Application deadlines:
Winter semester: online application by 1 March at the latest
Summer semester: online application by 1 August at the latest
→ Please also check the application deadlines of the partner universities, which may differ.
Application to non-EU universities (free mover mobility)
If you decide in favour of a university outside the EU that is not a partner university, mobility is on your own initiative as a free mover.
This means that you apply on your own initiative and organise the exchange yourself in consultation with the faculties and the International Office.
Funding for non-EU mobilities is offered by the PROMOS programme, for example. Further funding programmes can be found here.
Overview of funding programmes
There are various financial aids available for stays abroad for studies, teaching or further education purposes. Here are some of them:
ERASMUS+
This DAAD and EU funding programme offers financial support for students staying abroad as part of studies or internships, short programmes (blended mobility) or double degree programmes. Stays at ERASMUS programme universities or companies in the EU are sponsored.
Teaching education and staff can also receive financial support via ERASMUS+ programmes for teaching and training purposes at programme universities within the EU.
PROMOS
Students who wish to complete studies or internships at partner universities or companies outside Europe can apply for this funding programme.
HAW.International
This funding programme has been specially developed for students at universities of applied sciences (HAW).
Other funding programmes
Short stays abroad by students and lecturers can be supported via programmes such as the Auslands-BAföG or Fulbright scholarships.
Please contact us for advice.
The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) is a signatory to the ERASMUS Charter for Higher Education.
In the ERASMUS Policy Statement, HSNR is committed to internationalisation in all areas of the university.
The ERASMUS+ Programme 2021-2027 places new specialisations on social inclusion, sustainability through green travel and digitalisation ("EWP - Erasmus Without Paper").
The following mobility measures are sponsored:
ERASMUS+ Student Mobility Studies (SMS)
ERASMUS+ Student Mobility Internship (SMP)
ERASMUS+ mobility for teaching purposes/teacher mobility (STA)
ERASMUS+ mobility for further education and training purposes/staff mobility (STT)
ERASMUS+ offers you
The following European countries take part in Erasmus+
The 28 EU countries, Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey.
Study visits within Europe at our partner universities are sponsored by the ERASMUS+ programme.
Study visits close to the border cannot usually be sponsored with a scholarship. This includes study visits to Venlo in particular.
Sponsors are regular students of the HSNR (of any nationality) who
Please note that there must be a bilateral agreement between the respective faculties of the HSNR and the host university.
The European Commission has made a free online language test available for almost all European languages.
All ERASMUS+ scholarship students (except native speakers) are required to take this test in the language of instruction before the start of their stay abroad and can take it again voluntarily after their stay. The test results have no influence on participation in the programmes.
The language test makes it possible to compare the language skills before and after the stay abroad and to record any progress made by the funded participants in language acquisition.
The systematic, Europe-wide review of the development of individual language skills makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of Erasmus+. However, the agreements on certain language levels made in the Learning Agreement (LA) between partner universities cannot be verified with OLS test results. These language competences must be proven by other certificates when selecting participants.
The HSNR has agreed a fixed number of study places with its partner universities.
If there are more applications than places, a selection must be made.
Students should therefore inform themselves about several universities and consider alternatives.
Further information on the criteria for selecting scholarship students can be found here.
Erasmus+ aims to promote equal opportunities and inclusion.
For this reason, access to the programme is made easier for students from disadvantaged backgrounds (students with fewer opportunities (FO)).
In Germany, this applies in the Erasmus+ programme for single parents studying abroad and for students with special needs:
Students with chronic illnesses can also receive an additional 250 euros per month (long-term stay).
Green Travel: All students also have the opportunity to receive a grant for sustainable travel. Up to 6 days of travel can be subsidised at a daily rate if you are travelling green.
The additional grants can be combined with the Green Travel grant.
Please apply for additional funding directly when making your application in the online tool. It is not possible to apply for these funds retrospectively.
Info sheet on additional funding
Mobility (studies or internship) is possible once in each study phase (Bachelor's, Master's, doctorate); it may last a maximum of 12 months per phase.
What are the application deadlines?
Primarily the deadlines of the foreign universities apply. Please inform yourself in good time.
The HSNR deadlines also apply. Please submit your application to the International Office by the deadline, even if the deadline of the partner university is later.
Winter semester: online application by 1 April at the latest
Summer semester: online application by 1 August at the latest
After examination of the application, you will be nominated by the HSNR International Office at the partner university.
You will receive information on how to proceed by email.
How do I apply?
You can find a video guide to the application process on the right.
Which application documents do I have to upload?
Native speakers and students taught in English degree programmes are exempt.
Placement tests and OLS language tests do not count as proof of language proficiency.
After completing the examination, you will receive a request from the International Office to complete the digital Learning Agreement (LA) in the online tool.
The digital Learning Agreement will be checked online and, if accepted, signed by your faculty's international coordinator
You can download a sample paper-based Learning Agreement for information and preparation purposes on the right.
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 amount 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). Please contact the HSNR International Office for information on the application procedure.
Blended Intensive Programmes (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 programme.
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.
The programme offers you the following services:
The following European countries take part in Erasmus+
The 28 EU countries, Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey.
Stays within Europe can be sponsored by the ERASMUS+ programme.
As a rule, internships near the border cannot be sponsored with a scholarship.
This includes in particular internships in Venlo/Netherlands.
Sponsors are regular students of the HSNR (of any nationality) who
Internships in European institutions/organisations, national diplomatic representations and organisations managing EU programmes as well as interships in your home country (return to home) are not eligible for funding.
The European Commission has made a free online language test available for almost all European languages.
All ERASMUS+ scholarship students (except native speakers) are required to take this test in the language of instruction before the start of their stay abroad and can take it again voluntarily after their stay. The test results have no influence on participation in the programmes.
The language test makes it possible to compare the language skills before and after the stay abroad and to record any progress made by the funded participants in language acquisition.
The systematic, Europe-wide review of the development of individual language skills makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of Erasmus+. However, the agreements made in the Learning Agreement (LA) between partner universities regarding certain language levels cannot be verified with OLS test results. These language competences must be proven by other certificates when selecting participants.
Information on the criteria for an ERASMUS+ internship scholarship can be found here.
Erasmus+ aims to promote equal opportunities and inclusion.
For this reason, access to the programme is made easier for students from disadvantaged backgrounds (students with fewer opportunities (FO)).
In Germany, this applies in the Erasmus+ programme for single parents studying abroad and for students with special needs:
Students with chronic illnesses can also receive an additional 250 euros per month (long-term stay).
Green Travel: All students also have the opportunity to receive a grant for sustainable travel. Up to 6 days of travel can be subsidised at a daily rate if you are travelling green.
The additional grants can be combined with the Green Travel grant.
Please apply for additional funding directly when making your application in the online tool. It is not possible to apply for these funds retrospectively.
Info sheet on additional funding
The internship can be completed during your studies or directly afterwards if the maximum funding period (12 months and at least 2 months) has not been exhausted.
Deadlines
The application for funding for an EU internship, which must be completed within one year of graduation, must be submitted in the last semester of study - before exmatriculation.
Application
Only complete applications submitted in the Mobility-Online Tool will be considered. The International Office reserves the right to reject applications if the documents are not complete and/or the deadlines are not met.
In addition, the university reserves the right to reject an application for nomination for reasons of equal treatment or to give preferential consideration to other applicants if a DAAD scholarship for the same internship has been applied for at the same time.
There is no legal entitlement to funding.
You can find more information on the mobility programmes for teaching, further education and training purposes under Programme elements
Teaching stays can be combined with further education and training activities.
The programme offers you the following benefits:
Please ensure that you upload all documents to the online portal up to 8 weeks before the start of the mobility programme.
Erasmus+ sponsors guest lectureships at European partner universities. Guest lecturers should strengthen the European dimension of the host university through their stay, complement its teaching programme and impart their specialist knowledge to students who do not want to or cannot study abroad.
Where possible, the development of joint study programmes between the partner universities should play a role, as should the exchange of teaching content and methods.
Participants who are abroad for longer than 15 days must complete an OLS language test in advance.
Personnel from foreign companies and organisations can also be invited to German universities for teaching purposes.
Teaching and training activities can be combined during a phase of staff mobility. Any stay abroad for teaching or training purposes can be organised as mixed mobility.
Erasmus+ enables further education and training measures for university staff in programme countries to expand internationalisation.
Personnel (with a contract at the HSNR) can undertake this mobility:
A training period at a partner university, in a company or at another relevant workplace abroad. A training period abroad allows all personnel of a higher education institution to participate in a training activity abroad that is relevant to their daily work at the higher education institution. The activity can take the form of training events (with the exception of conferences) or periods of job shadowing and work shadowing.
Participants who are abroad for longer than 15 days must complete an OLS language test in advance.
The development of short, intensive and joint mobility curricula and activities is intended to offer students and university staff the opportunity to participate in a short physical group mobility (5-30 days) combined with a virtual phase of undefined duration. The minimum number of participants for a BIP is 15 and at least three ECHE universities from three different programme countries must be involved. Other universities or organisations from programme or partner countries can optionally participate in a BIP. The participation of participants from partner countries is not funded by the programme. The physical activity can take place at the receiving university or at another location in the country of the receiving university.
Applications for BIP must be submitted to the International Office in good time. Erasmus applications are usually submitted in January of a year and are approved from June of the same year at the earliest (this must be taken into account when planning).
Between €6,000 - €8,000 can be applied for for the organisation (€400/participant for min. 15 people + max. 20 people). Additional persons can participate. Students and personnel of the HSNR can participate as learners. German participants are not counted when organising a BIP.
Participants who are abroad for longer than 15 days must complete an OLS language test in advance.
With the PROMOS programme, the DAAD provides universities with funds from the BMFTR with which they can award scholarships to qualified students for study-related stays abroad (usually outside Europe).
Partial scholarships are awarded in the amount of - as a rule - 450 euros per month of funding; in addition, there may be a travel allowance, depending on the budget and applicant situation.
23,000 euros are available for 2026.
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 an international higher education entrance qualification cannot be sponsored for a stay in their "home country".
The selection criteria are
academic achievements at the HSNR, recognition of examination results, subject relevance for the studies, good language skills in the language of instruction.
Deadlines for the year 2026
01 December 2025 for the whole year 2026
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:
Letter of motivation (1-2 pages) with statements on recognition (> to be addressed to the HSNR selection committee)
Proof of language skills in the working language, the following proofs are acceptable:
For studies abroad additionally:
Note on the Learning Agreement (course recognition):
Learning Agreement between student and faculty ("Learning Agreement" document) does not need to be uploaded in advance.
You can enter the digital Learning Agreement in the tool later after confirmation of the application documents / after the deadline.
We provide the document under Downloads as support and for consultation in advance with the faculty. You enter the courses
later digitally in the tool and these are then checked digitally by the faculty.
For an internship abroad additionally:
For theses additionally:
For specialised courses and language courses additionally:
Please note the following information before submitting your application:
To the online application:
- PROMOS application: Studies
- PROMOS application: Internship
- PROMOS application: Thesis
- PROMOS application: Specialised course
- PROMOS application: Language course
The DAAD's new scholarship programme "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, the programme also offers scholarships 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.
It is possible for students who do not receive funding at home to receive BAföG abroad.
Advice on BAföG abroad can therefore be very helpful in any case.
If funding is possible, please remember to submit the application early - preferably 6 months before departure.
Applications for funding must be submitted to the offices for education funding.
Depending on the destination country, these offices are located throughout Germany.
Selection of offices for the application
Fulbright scholarships promote German-American academic and cultural exchange as well as personal and professional continuing education.
Participants
Bachelor's graduates of universities of applied sciences.
Benefits
Financing of tuition fees and living expenses, placement, travel expenses, insurance
Prerequisites
Deadlines
June/July for a scholarship starting in August/September of the following year.
Application
Current information can be found on the Fulbright Germany homepage.
The various scholarship programmes of the DAAD and other selected funding organisations can be found in the DAAD scholarship database.
The education loan is applied for at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) and paid out by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).
The loan is intended to help students in particular who either do not receive BAföG or do not receive sufficient BAföG.
Funding for a one-year stay for language acquisition, studies and/or internships in Eastern Europe:
Metropolises in Eastern Europe
Study stay to obtain a Master's degree in the USA (ERP programme):
Master's or PhD studies in the USA
Every year, Mawista awards a scholarship to students who would like to realise a stay abroad with a child.
Applications are submitted directly via the MAWISTA website.
A jury selects a group of finalists and a public vote decides who ultimately receives the scholarship.
Return to the HSNR
We hope that you have arrived safely back at the HSNR.
Now there are still a few things to do to finalise your stay abroad.
After your return from abroad, we would be delighted if you could pass on your experiences:
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.
Intercultural competence
The Certificate of Intercultural Competence (ZIK) recognises HSNR students who have shown particular intercultural commitment in the course of their studies.
It documents foreign language skills and international commitment, as well as experience abroad, for example.
You can use it as preparation for your stay abroad or as documentation after your stay abroad.
How does the ZIK work?
You can register for the programme at any time during your studies.
It is possible to obtain the ZIK until the end of your studies.
You will receive the certificate by successfully completing the three modules and a final interview.
The modules can be completed in any order.
With the GLOBUS students for students Buddy Programme, 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 specialisation semester) supports the international newcomer in settling in, for example by making contact before arrival, giving directions to the hall of residence or campus, accompanying them to registration or to the health insurance company.
The Buddy Programme creates an international network that benefits both German and international students. It enables participating students to apply and expand their language skills, 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 15 August; for the summer semester 15 February of each year.
Interested HSNR students can register using the registration form.
Further information can be found on this website.
Reinarzstrasse 49
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Reinarzstrasse 49
Counselling at Krefeld SouthCampus, Room AE07C:
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Reinarzstraße 49
For a personal consultation, please come and see me on our Krefeld South-Campus, Raum AE07B:
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