ERASMUS+ Studies abroad

Students can, with ERASMUS+, study at a European higher education institution in another participating country after completing their first year of studies, in order to broaden their social and cultural competences and improve their career prospects. They get to know the academic system of a foreign university as well as its teaching and learning methods.

Studying abroad with ERASMUS+

Benefits of an ERASMUS+ study period abroad

Students may receive funding multiple times in each study cycle (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
Academic recognition of study achievements completed abroad
Support is provided throughout the studies by a designated contact person at both the home university and the partner institution
Exemption from tuition fees at the host institution
Funding of additional costs incurred abroad
A travel allowance and additional funding for environmentally friendly travel are available
Additional grants for students with fewer opportunities
Support with preparation (cultural, linguistic, organisational)

More information on studying abroad (SMS)

Requirements for an ERASMUS+ study period abroad

Regular enrolment at a German higher education institution
Completion of the first year of studies
Study stay at a partner university with which the home institution has concluded an ERASMUS+ cooperation agreement (Inter-Institutional Agreement)
Both the home and host institutions hold a valid ERASMUS+ University Charter (ECHE)
A valid identity document for the entire duration of the stay at the partner university at the time of application

Detailed, up-to-date information on HAWK’s ERASMUS+ partner universities can be found under Partner Universities.

Application criteria

Funding for an ERASMUS+ study period abroad is possible from the 3rd semester onwards for bachelor students. Application criteria are the applicant’s previous academic performance, the subject-related justification (motivation) for the study period abroad and, where applicable, existing language skills in the language of instruction of the study programme abroad.

Funding rates for study periods (SMS)

The financial support for ERASMUS+ stays by students is based on the different costs of living in the destination countries (“programme countries”). The amount of the monthly basic grant depends on the destination country. ERASMUS+ distinguishes between three country groups, which are based on the cost of living in each country.

From summer semester 2027, the following SMS funding rates of project year 2026 (per month = 30 days), set uniformly by the DAAD National Agency for all German higher education institutions, will apply:

Group 1: €600

Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Sweden

Groups 2 and 3: €540

Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus

Through ERASMUS+ International, study periods at partner universities in the United Kingdom and San Marino can also be funded in project year 2026. The funding rates of Group 1 apply.

Important information for the 2026 project year: In order to enable all students to receive funding, we are unfortunately required to limit the duration of funded mobility periods for the 2026 project year.

Limitation for the 2026 project year: Study periods of less than 5 months will be funded on a daily basis. Study periods of more than 5 months (more than 150 days) will be funded as a lump sum for 5 months (150 days); any additional mobility period beyond this will be considered a zero-grant period. “Zero-grant days” are days or periods during which students participate in the ERASMUS+ programme but do not receive a mobility grant.

Language skills and Online Language Support (OLS)

To receive ERASMUS+ funding for a study period abroad, students must have at least a B1 level in the language of instruction. The language of instruction does not necessarily have to be the national language of the host country. Proof of sufficient language proficiency can, for example, be provided through the OLS placement test. Students who study at the partner institution in their native language are exempt from this requirement.

The partner institution may also require a higher level of language proficiency. However, the HAWK International Office does not verify participants’ language levels. It is therefore the responsibility of students to inform themselves in good time about the specific requirements of the partner institution and to ensure that they meet the required language level at the time of application. In some cases, proof of language proficiency must also be submitted to the partner institution.

Many partner institutions (though not all) accept a language certificate issued by HAWK, which can be obtained by taking a language test at the university’s Language Centre. It is therefore advisable to clarify at an early stage whether and which proof is required in order to meet all requirements in advance.

Funded students in the ERASMUS+ programme are granted access to the EU Academy, a platform provided by the European Commission for online language support (Online Language Support, OLS). Using their EU Login, participants can access language assessments and online courses in the respective programme languages. The platform is continuously being expanded.

In addition, the HAWK Language Centre and its cooperation partners, such as adult education centres (Volkshochschulen, VHS), offer further foreign language courses to help students prepare specifically for their stay abroad.

ERASMUS+ student charter

Additional funding for students with fewer opportunities

An essential component of the new ERASMUS+ programme is social inclusion. ERASMUS+ aims to promote equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity. A central instrument is the additional funding for students with fewer opportunities. This is intended to provide particular support for students for whom a stay abroad may be a greater challenge.

At HAWK, students with children, students with disabilities or chronic illnesses and first-generation students can apply for this additional funding. The additional funding amounts to €250 per month abroad. Due to limited funds, it will no longer be possible to provide financial support for “working students” through a social top-up from the summer semester 2027 onwards.

Real cost applications

Students with chronic illnesses or disabilities, as well as students who go abroad with a child, also have the option of submitting a so-called real cost application for costs abroad that cannot be covered by this top-up (e.g. assistive devices, personal assistants, childcare costs). Through a real cost application, additional costs of up to €15,000 per semester can be reimbursed. Applications are submitted via the International Office and require a lead time of 6–12 months.

Travel cost support

All information on travel cost support can be found in the information sheet “Travel days and environmentally friendly travel”.

ERASMUS+ students also have the option of purchasing an Interrail Pass, which allows them to use both the outward and return journey to the host country as well as train journeys during the stay abroad. Further information is available on the page “Interrail Pass for ERASMUS+”.

Reporting obligation

Recognition and credit transfer

In the Learning Agreement (study contract), the choice of courses and the recognition of study achievements at HAWK are determined before the stay abroad. The Learning Agreement is completed digitally via the MoveON portal, to which students receive access after they have been nominated.

Final recognition and credit transfer of study achievements completed abroad at HAWK only take place once the students have submitted an application for recognition/credit transfer, including the relevant evidence (such as Learning Agreement, Transcript of Records, internship certificate, grading system of the host institution), to the responsible office of the respective faculty.

Application

Applications for an ERASMUS+ exchange place are submitted to the respective cooperation coordinators in the faculties, who make the selection decisions. The application deadlines are:

15 January for the following winter semester
15 July for the following summer semester

The subsequent nomination at the International Office by the cooperation coordinators takes place by 31 January (winter semester) and 31 July (summer semester). Afterwards, nominated students receive a link to the online application portal MoveON from the International Office for registration. Registration and data entry in MoveON must be completed by 15 February (winter semester) and 15 August (summer semester).

Current information on HAWK’s ERASMUS+ cooperation partners and the available exchange places for outgoing students at each partner university can be found under Partner Universities.

Downloads project year 2026 (for funding from summer semester 2027, funding period until 31.07.2028, in German)

Checkliste ERASMUS+ Auslandsstudium – vor dem Auslandsaufenthalt

ERASMUS+ Student Charter

Anerkennung von Erasmus+ Auslandsaufenthalten

Infoblatt zur Zusatzförderung im ERASMUS+ Programm

Ehrenwörtliche Erklärung (SMS) Zusatzförderung "geringere Chancen"

Vorlage Nachweis zur ERASMUS+ Zusatzförderung für Erstakademiker*innen

Infoblatt Reisetage umweltfreundliches Reisen

Ehrenwörtliche Erklärung (SMS) "Reisetage"

Confirmation of Stay (SMS)

Abschlussbericht (SMS)

Antrag auf Anerkennung/Anrechnung