Study abroad – Outbound Bachelor
Study Abroad Options & Information on Money MattersGoing Abroad – from Hamburg to the world
From Hamburg to the world
A stay abroad during your ø degree programme brings with it countless advantages, as well as a dose of adventure: you expand your foreign language skills, build up intercultural competencies, view study content from a different perspective, make contacts from all over the world, test your frustration levels and your ability to adapt. At the same time, of course, it quenches your wanderlust.
Most employers focus on key competencies such as the soft skills mentioned above, but they also look for international team work experience, a global network, personal growth, and the ability to communicate and critique across borders. Your career will certainly benefit from this experience.
ø promotes international exchange at all levels, for example in the form of Internationalisation@Home, i.e. exchanges with foreign lecturers and visiting exchange students. But also by supporting students who want to go abroad for a while with their employer (for example to work at a foreign branch), who want to participate in a summer school, or who want to spend a semester at a partner institution.
As a rule, a stay abroad does not prolong your studies at ø, but it does require early planning. The academic achievements from abroad can possibly count towards your ø degree. Find out more about ø's international partnerships and the various options for gaining experience abroad during your studies at ø on this page.
Unterkünfte (Zimmer oder Wohnung) für Incomings / Austauschstudierende gesucht!
Die ø nimmt regelmäßig Austauschstudierende von Partnerhochschulen aus dem Ausland auf, die zwischen 3 und 12 Monaten an der ø studieren. Die Suche nach einer geeigneten Unterkunft gestaltet sich oft als nervenaufreibend und schwierig. Falls Du ins Ausland gehst, prüfe doch bitte, ob ich Du Deine Wohnung / Dein Zimmer an eine_n Gaststudierenden untervermieten möchtest oder ob Du jemanden kennst, der jemanden kennt, der… und melde Dich in diesem Fall beim International Office.
Options for work or study periods abroad
Short term stays: Summer School or Winter School
You want to go abroad just for a short period of time? A full semester does not fit into your plans? There are various options for you: You can visit a language school or take part in a Summer School or Winter School.
General Inforamtion about Summer Schools/ Winter Schools
- Intensive study programmes lasting two to six weeks
- Study Content: general studies or specific topics with additonal extra-curricular activities
- Th e application process and arrival and departure generally must be planned by you but accommodation is normally part of the deal
- Do check early on whether credits can be transferred to your ø degree. More info at “Step 4: Approving Credits from abroad” on the page "Organisation & Application Process"
- Not all higher education institute are recognised as such in Germany. More information available at the ø International Office
- Information on money matters is available at Financing Options
- Check out the experience reports in the Team Outgoings
Search for a suitable short term stay
- There is an updated list on options available in the Team Outgoings
- More options can be found at
- Inform yourself at
Erasmus +
Spend a semester at a European partner institution
Erasmus+ is THE European Union's exchange programme and has been promoting European exchanges for students, professors, and university staff since 1987. The current runs from 2021-2027 and focuses on sustainability, digitalisation, and social participation.
ø participates in the programme track KA131 "Mobility of Individuals", which can be a semester abroad (SMS) or an internship abroad (SMP) for students.
The prerequisite is an existing partnership between ø and the university abroad. A semester abroad must last at least three months and an internship abroad at least two months for Erasmus+ funding to apply.
There are some advantages studying abroad at an Erasmus+ partner:
Financial advantages
- Tuition fee waiver, no admin fees, no language tests at the host institution
- Financial support (part scholoarship) when spending a minimum of three months studying abroad. The amount of funding depends on the destination country
- There are Top Ups for first generation university students
- Students with special needs or travelling with children will also receive Top Ups
- You use "green" travel for arrival and/or departure to your host? You will receive an additional Top Up funding
Advantages during the planning stage
- The International Offices at ø and the partner institution support the application process
- ø staff and staff at the host will advise and support during all stages
- There will be some support looking for accommodation, some partners reserve spaces in their housing for Erasmus+ students
- The experience reports of previous ø Outbound students may help you in your planning
- free of charge language course via the EU Academy
Networking
- You will be part of the Erasmus Student Network ESN even after your stay abroad
Semester at Partner Institution worldwide
Semester at Partner Institution worldwide
In addition to the European Erasmus+ partnerships, ø maintains partnerships with higher education institutions outside Europe. These include, for example, partners in Asia and North and South America. The network is regularly reviewed and expanded as needed.
A semester at a university in the partnership network has the following advantages:
Planning and support structures
- Tuition fee waiver, no administration costs, no language tests needed
- Simplified application procedure. Students are supported in this process by the International Offices of the sending and receiving university
- Mostly support in the visa process by the host
- Testimonials from former ø outgoings can be found in the Outgoings Team.
- In most cases, no official language certificate such as TOEFL or similar is required. After successful acceptance of a place, a confirmation of language skills can be issued by the ø- International Office.
Financial advantages
- Tuition fee waiver, no administration costs,
- Financing options are listed in the Financing section
Semester as a Free Mover student
Semester as Free Mover
You have not found what you're looking for in our partner institutions? Then there is the option of going abroad as a Free Mover and finding a suitable place of study yourself.
Please note:
- Usually, the universities charge tuition fees, which can vary in amount (as in the USA, for example).
- Some countries do not offer Free Mover options at all
- Possibly, the language confirmation for English from the ø International Office will not be recognised and an official language certificate (e.g. TOEFL or EILTS for English) must be submitted.
- The application deadline of 15.03. for places at partner universities does NOT apply here. The deadlines of the respective university apply.
- Have the possible credit transfer from abroad checked at an early stage. See "Step 4: Credit Transfer from abroad".
- Not every university/institution abroad is recognised as a university in Germany. Please contact the International Office if you have selected a university and are unsure about .
- Experience reports from former ø outgoings can be found in the Teams channel Outgoings
- Financing options are listed in the section "Financing".
The ø International Office will of course support you in planning and realising the mobility.
Work abroad at foreign branch
Work abroad at foreign branch
Would you like to know what your company's offices in Asia or the USA look like? You always wanted to test your foreign language skills and work in international teams abroad?
Talk to your company if there is an opportunity to work abroad for a while. You can plan your time abroad individually, avoid overlapping with your ø semester, and your company will not lose any working time.
Other advantages for you could be that you combine vacation days with the assignment, make new international friends and receive a small grant through the Erasmus+ programme (if you work in a European country).
One-week Study Trip
An intensive week abroad
The module "Study Trip" is an important part of the curriculum in many of the degree programmes at ø. The students choose a topic, which is mostly dealt with intensively in a foreign country (there are a few destinations within Germany each year, too) during one week. Company visits, visits to foreign universities and an exciting social programme make this week an unforgettable experience.
ø holds the ERASMUS+ Charter for Higher Education 2021-2027, enabling ø to take part in the Erasmus+ programme. Students find their rights and obligations in the ERASMUS+ Student Charter which is available following the link to the Erasmus+ page. More Information on Erasmus+ can be viewed here on the ø Erasmus+ website.
ø international partners
The ø partnership network
ø maintains a network of diverse partner institutions from around the world.
A current list of all partners is available on our website. It should be noted that not all partners necessarily accept ø students for a semester. The type of contract currently in place is mentioned, as are the Erasmus+ partnerships.
Each partner institution has its own page, listing links to its home page and its fact sheets. The fact sheet summarises the information relevant for interested outbound students like semester dates, links to course lists, contact details and general information such as accommodation, visa, insurance and much more.
ø students who are considering studying abroad should work with the partner list which is available in Teams. Please request access to the team "Outgiongs" at the International Office.
Financing
There are numerous financing opportunities for the various options of a stay abroad. Usually, these are partial scholarships that do not cover the entire expenses for a stay abroad:
Erasmus+
The most well known programm of the EU Commission
The EU Commission supports stays abroad with financial means through the National Agency DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service e.V.).
Funding is possible for minimum stays of three months (study mobility) at a European partner institution and two months (internship mobility) in a European company.
The amount of financial support is based on the cost of living scaled according to three country categories published by the DAAD. Information on this and required documents to be filled out by students and hosts will be provided by the ø International Office in due time and are available from the Outgoings Team.
Promos
DAAD Scholarship
PROMOS is a scholarship programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The funds come from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Semesters abroad at non-European partner universities, free movers and short programs such as summer schools are eligible for funding. The funds are awarded on a calendar year basis. The ø- International Office sends out the call for applications with the current funding conditions towards the end of April/beginning of May each year.
Please note: PROMOS cannot be combined with Erasmus+ or other DAAD funding.
Additional Options for Funding
It may be worthwhile researching options
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An application may be worthwhile, even if you do not receive domestic BAföG.
Embassy of your host country
It is worth googling scholarships in the destination countries or enquiring about scholarships at the embassy there.
Fulbright Commission
Fulbright offers various scholarship programs for the USA (e.g. Summer Institutes for students of dual universities)
GO EAST Summer Schools
The DAAD offers scholarships for summer schools in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe as well as the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
GOstralia and GOzealand
This organisation awards scholarships for Australia and New Zealand
Institute Ranke Heinemann
This institute awards scholarships for Australia, New Zealand and Canada
MyStipendium.de
Europe´s largest scholarship platform shows that scholarships are something for almost everyone. The platform shows which scholarship match your profile. Please note: Search the small print for the status "dual student", as not all scholarships are open to you.
Partner universities
Some parter universities offer incoming scholarships. Switzerland, for example, awards SEMP scholarships to visiting students, and UNCC awards financial support to selected incoming students.
Foundations
Foundations are non-profit organisations that are endowed with specific assets and use them fo fulfil their defined objectives. These goals can be divers. Some foundations award funds specifically for stays abroad to promote international cooperation and/or for education and personal development. Further information: , .
Scholarships from service providers
The external service provider College Contact, which advises students on studying abroad, also awards scholarships.
Verein der Freunde und Förderer der ø e.V. (VFF)
In certain situations, the VFF supports ø students who are travelling abroad and require financial assistance. It is important to the VFF that ø students do not only network locally, but also establish international contacs and that the innovative and cosmopolitan students can stick to their plans to further their personal and academic education through a stay abroad (wheter for a semester or a short stay). Further information:
Please note:
In case of funding by e.g. : Please clarify with the sponsors whether combinations with other scholarships are possible!
It is worthwhile to google the respective destination country or embassy to see if they offer incomer scholarships, for example.
Switzerland, for example, awards scholarships to visiting students, and so does the ø partner institution UNCC.
Preparation and Commitment
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Cannot see the trees for the information forest? The International Office offers an annual International Evening, usually at the end of November. Here you will find a wealth of information on options to study abroad. An invitation is sent out in time via MS Teams.
In the MS Teams channel International Office, you can find the application documents, the credit application and sample credits as well as experience reports from former outgoings (rather Bachelor).
Language Skills
Language courses
- ø offers some language courses (usually Mandarin, Spanish and French) as part of the undergraduate general electives.
- ø students receive discounted fees on language courses at our
- Language tandems with current inbound exchange students from our partners can be set up. Contact the International Office for assitance.
International Committee
The ø International Committee is happy to provide support and organises various activities for incoming students at ø. These range from Christmas market strolls to harbour tours, climbing forest tours to barbecues on the Alster or international cooking evenings. Network with students from our partner universities and get valuable information.
The Buddy Programme is a great start-up aid for international students at ø. You can give an exchange student a helping hand and make it easier for them to arrive in Hamburg and at ø. If you are interested, please contact the International Committee.