Your Path to Foreign Study
Application Process
The semester abroad at one of our partner universities is possible in the 6th semester. However, you apply for a place during your 3rd or 4th semester. The selection process takes place once a year in November and December. If you are in the 4th semester, you apply for a place in the coming winter semester; third semester students apply for the summer semester the year after next.
What exactly is the application procedure?
Your required application documents include the application form in which you name your three desired universities, your curriculum vitae and a letter of motivation. The CV and letter of motivation can be written in both German and English. In the letter of motivation you describe why you would like to spend your semester abroad at the universities you named, how the semester there can help you to make progress and which specific areas of specialisation and courses you are particularly interested in. General statements about your stay abroad are not decisive for us. You should formulate a separate section for each of your preferred universities. The letter of motivation should not be longer than two DIN A4 pages. Your documents in a PDF document can only be accepted if they are posted here by 15 November 2022 at the latest:
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The International Exchange Fair provides all necessary information and helps you to clarify specific questions about the application procedure.
The criteria for the allocation of study places
After reviewing your application documents, you will be invited to an interview with representatives of the International Office, the degree program and the Examination Office at the beginning of December. Decisive for the allocation of a place to study are the meaningfulness of your letter of motivation, your academic achievements to date, the results of the interview and your social and extra-curricular commitment. We also require a good language level – at least B1 – in the language of instruction at the host university.
The admission capacities at our partner universities are limited. At each university, the University usually has one or two study places per semester. Unfortunately, we are not able to fulfil all wishes. We make every effort to offer you at least one place at one of your three preference universities. It is, therefore, essential that you state three university priorities in your application form and in your letter of motivation. The International Office will inform you about the allocation of places abroad before the end of the year. You must then confirm this by the end of January.
Application to the partner university
Approximately six months before your planned semester abroad, you will apply to the partner university. The International Office will inform you of the application deadlines in good time after you have been nominated. Please never contact the partner university on your own before the nomination is completed. Communication during this phase must be exclusively through the International Office.
As a rule, the partner university will not request a portfolio from the partner university until the application has been submitted. The portfolio should be meaningful and free of errors. Accompanying text should be written in English. The partner university decides on admission based on your portfolio and the available places. Once you have been admitted, you can take care of the local accommodation, including insurance, visa and travel if necessary.
Recognition of academic achievements
For the later recognition of your achievements, it is essential that you submit a learning agreement before the beginning of the semester abroad. In the learning agreement the modules from the 6th semester at the University of Applied Sciences S.G. are already registered. Important: The content and scope of these modules must correspond to the courses you wish to take abroad. For each module at the here at the University you should take at least one course at the partner university. The choice of courses is always made in accordance with your course of study. The International Office will be happy to assist you in drawing up the learning agreement.
Erasmus+ Semester Abroad
The Erasmus+ program enables you to study at a European partner university – including Norway and Turkey – and receive financial support through the program. The same currently applies to our Israeli partner universities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The application for a place at a European partner university for the 3rd and 4th semester takes place at the end of November. Once you have been accepted at a European partner university, you will automatically be funded by the Erasmus+ program. You do not have to apply for funding separately.
Which documents do I have to submit and when?
Those who participate in the Erasmus+ program must complete and sign the learning agreement before the start of their studies, have it approved by the Head of Studies and countersigned by the partner university. Later changes to the learning agreement must be recorded in the section „During the mobility“. You must also fill in and sign the grant agreement before you start your studies at the partner university. This document sets out all rights and obligations for participants in the Erasmus+ program and is a prerequisite for financial support. You will receive the grant agreement from the International Office before the beginning of the semester abroad. At the beginning of the semester abroad it is necessary to fill in the certificate of arrival and send it to the International Office. The same applies to the certificate of attendance after the end of the semester abroad.
The Online Linguistic Support (OLS)
Participants in the Erasmus+ program take a free online language test, the OLS test in the language of instruction, before beginning and after completing the study semester abroad. The test is not a selection criterion, it is only used to determine your language level and to document your progress. Based on the results of the first test, you will be given the opportunity to take part in a free language course in the language of instruction or the national language. Participation is voluntary, but highly recommended.
Freemover
You would like to study abroad for a semester, but you cannot find your dream university among the our partner institutions? Then you can organise your semester abroad yourself as a so-called freemover. You are not bound by our university’s cooperation agreements and have the possibility to apply for a place of your choice as a „non-degree seeking student“. This means that you are not aiming for a degree at the host university.
What should I consider?
As a freemover you unfortunately do not benefit from the agreements that we have made with our international partners. You have to take care of your own travel and accommodation, you are not exempted from their tuition fees and you do not receive any financial support from your home university. Important: Your achievements are not automatically recognized at the University of Applied Sciences S.G. As a freemover, you should definitely submit an application for a semester off in advance in consultation with the examination office.
Can courses be recognized as Freemovers?
The prerequisite for a possible recognition of study achievements at the host university is that it is accredited. It is strongly recommended to prepare a learning agreement with your course director in order to select courses that could possibly be credited to your major. To avoid making your stay abroad a financial adventure, we recommend that you apply for a scholarship.
International Office
The International Office is located in the main building in room H 1.01 – if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us personally or we help you by e‑mail or phone:
