There are various options to choose from when studying abroad. Depending on your personal interests and goals, there are various options to consider. Studying abroad allows you to immerse yourself in a different culture and gain new academic perspectives. Those who want to gain practical experience, on the other hand, can consider an internship abroad. Another option is to take part in shorter stays (e.g. a summer or winter school), which offer intensive courses and intercultural exchange. Ultimately, it depends on which type of stay abroad best suits your own needs and goals.

When deciding to study abroad, it is advisable to remain open to different countries. By not limiting yourself to one particular country, you open up a wide range of possibilities. We would like to point out that the language of instruction at our partner universities is not always limited to the national language. In fact, many of our partner universities also offer a wide range of courses in English. You can find out which languages of instruction are available and whether there are certain entry requirements at the respective partner university (e.g. GPA etc.) in our partner university portal.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you obtain an official language certificate in good time. See the note on language certificates in the application documents.

Ultimately, however, the answer also depends on individual preferences, goals and interests. Some prefer to go to a country where they already speak the language or want to improve their language skills. Others are curious about completely new cultures and would like to explore a country that is previously unknown to them. Some choose a country that has particularly renowned universities or research institutions for their department. You can find inspiration in our partner university portal . Get a comprehensive overview, keep an open mind and remain open to new opportunities.

English and Romance Studies: If you wish to have your stay abroad recognized as a 3-month compulsory stay, please enquire in advance which countries and national languages are accepted.

When deciding to study abroad, the question often arises: How long do I want to spend abroad? There are various options to choose from, such as stays during the semester break, for one or two semesters.

However, it is important to remember that longer stays abroad can offer numerous advantages. A longer period gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself more deeply in the culture, familiarise yourself better with everyday life as a student and develop a deeper understanding of the host country. You will have more time to make new friends, get involved in the local community and really feel at home. Longer stays abroad also allow you to significantly improve your language skills and gain in-depth training in your department. You will have the chance to build a broad network and make international contacts that may prove valuable in the long term.

We therefore encourage you to consider the possibility of a longer stay abroad. This will open up a world of new experiences, personal growth and professional opportunities. Take the opportunity to broaden your horizons and dare to stay abroad for longer.

A shorter stay abroad can still make sense, as it is flexible and can be easily integrated into your own study plan. Semester breaks or a single semester abroad allow you to gain international experience without taking too much time away from your regular studies. This can be particularly beneficial for students with a tight schedule or specific academic requirements. You may not have the opportunity to participate in longer stays for personal or family reasons. In addition, a shorter stay abroad can also serve as a stepping stone. It can help you explore the benefits of an international study experience and give you the opportunity to decide whether you would like to plan a longer stay abroad in the future.

For some degree programmes, there are special time slots or phases in which it is particularly advantageous to plan a stay abroad. This information can be obtained directly from the programme directors, the relevant academic advisors or study offices in your faculty. They are usually familiar with the specific requirements and possibilities of the respective degree programme and can give you valuable advice on how to integrate a stay abroad into your course of study.

It is advisable to plan your course selection and curriculum in advance when integrating a stay abroad into your degree programme. In this way, you can ensure that the credit points earned and coursework completed abroad can be properly integrated into your degree programme. See also: Recognition.

When looking for a suitable partner university, you may also want to consider whether the courses on offer match your current degree programme. You have the following options for researching this in advance:

• Enquire on the homepage of the university of your choice and see if you can find current course catalogues as a guide. Of course, the courses on offer change from semester to semester, but this will give you an initial indication.
• To get a more personal impression, you can read the experience reports of students who have already completed an exchange at the university. These can be found in the detailed view of the contracts in the partner university portal.
• Furthermore, each partner university has a departmental coordinator in the faculty at UPB who may have experience with the course offer at the partner university. You can also find these contacts in the partner university portal.

The semester times abroad are usually different from ours. If there are major differences, there may be semester overlaps with UPB. You must expect this and take it into account in your planning. If the semester times of your host university overlap with those of UPB and you are therefore unable to take examinations, for example, we recommend that you make individual arrangements with your faculty and the lecturers of your courses. There are no university-wide regulations for this case. However, you must be at the partner university at the beginning of the semester abroad.

UPB's application procedure always uses the terms WiSe and SoSe, as our own systems are designed for these semester types. Other terms are used abroad (e.g. Autumn semester, Fall semester or Winter semester and Spring semester or Summer semester). Please do not be confused by this. Semester periods abroad between July and February correspond to an application for the winter semester and semester periods between January and July correspond to an application for the summer semester. The exact semesters in which we are allowed to send exchange students to the partner universities are determined by contract. Therefore, please research the semester periods of your chosen universities in advance.

The DAAD provides an overview of the European university terms.

The financial aspects should not put you off spending time abroad, but we want to help you make the right decisions for you and ensure you are well prepared by being transparent about these matters. We want you to be aware that a stay abroad involves increased costs. Depending on which country you go to, the cost of living may differ significantly from the standard in Germany. It is a good idea and important to take this information into account when planning and to secure sources of funding in good time.

Potential costs

At all our partner universities, you are exempt from tuition fees. Sometimes you may receive a general breakdown of semester costs from the host university in which tuition fees are still listed. Don’t worry – you will usually subsequently receive a tuition waiver or be informed by the partner university’s contacts that you can disregard this cost item in the list.

It is important for you to bear in mind that, in addition to the waived tuition fees, there are a number of other costs that you will need to cover. These include, for example, other administrative fees (such as application fees and administration fees), study materials, insurance, as well as visa and healthcare costs (e.g. compulsory vaccinations or check-ups, depending on the country and university). Accommodation, living costs and travel to and from the destination must also be paid for by the students themselves.

Possible requests for financial guarantees (deposits)

Particularly outside Europe, you may be required to provide evidence of certain financial resources as a guarantee in advance, during the application process with the partner institution. The reason for this is often that the universities are responsible for your stay and wish to ensure that you do not find yourself stranded abroad due to insufficient financial resources. The form of proof required can vary considerably depending on the country and the university. You may be asked to provide details of a sponsor, bank statements or scholarship confirmations, or the partner university may have its own specific form. Proving that you have this so-called ‘deposit’ can amount to several thousand euros per semester in non-European countries and is common in the Americas and Asia. The money does not have to be transferred all at once at that moment, but it must be visible in some way.

As approvals for the necessary scholarships can sometimes take a very long time or arrive too late to allow the money to be used as proof during the application process with the partner university, you should consider straight away what individual alternatives might be available. If you need certainty at an early stage, in addition to scholarships and BAföG for studying abroad, there is also the option of taking out special student loans. These have the advantage of being interest-free; there is only a processing fee on top. You can apply for and secure the funds initially; should another funding option ultimately work out, you can repay the amount at any time. On our page about funding, for example, we outline the Daka student loan.

Key considerations
When considering how to finance a stay abroad, there are various options and resources that can be pursued, sometimes in combination. For most students, it is important to have a solid financial foundation in place before embarking on their journey. However, applying for scholarship programmes can be a lengthy process. It is important to be aware of this and to consider several options to be on the safe side.
Financial support can help you cover the costs of your stay, such as administrative fees (pure tuition fees do not apply to partners), accommodation, travel tickets, visa fees, health checks or living expenses. In some countries, it is also common for universities to require proof of financial resources as a guarantee of solvency before the start of the semester.

Scholarship programmes
The International Office offers scholarship programmes (mainly Erasmus+ or PROMOS) that are specifically aimed at students who wish to study abroad. Attractively, the Erasmus+ scholarship (European area) is already linked directly to acceptance for an exchange semester at a partner university. You do not need to apply separately for this. For PROMOS (non-European area), applications can be submitted twice a year.
Apart from the International Office, there are of course many more scholarship programmes, both state and private, e.g. within organisations, foundations or at the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). It is worth being resourceful and doing some research here. You will need to check the respective scholarship conditions to find out whether the individual programmes can be combined.

Further financing options
There are also other options, such as education loans, BAföG for studying abroad, financial support from education funds or opportunities for part-time work abroad (depending on the country).

Explanations and conditions for all of the options mentioned can be found on our homepage on funding, where you will also find links to other scholarship databases.
With careful planning and an early search for financing options, you can successfully realise your plans for a stay abroad.

A stay abroad always means dealing with new circumstances and situations, enduring the unknown and growing from it. Of course, this is not only an administrative challenge, but also an emotional one, which many students have subsequently perceived as a great personal development.

When preparing to go abroad, you need to be well organised. You must gather detailed information, review your options and take a timely and orderly approach. Even though you have the advantage of the International Office and your faculty being at your side and the processes being more guided when you participate in a partner university exchange, you still have a lot of personal responsibility, especially in the last few months before your stay when many steps have to be taken in parallel or in a short period of time, and sometimes short-term problems have to be solved. All of this is completely normal; it is just good to be prepared for it early on and to accept the challenge.

Beyond the bureaucracy, however, it is equally understandable that temporarily changing your life also brings other considerations. You leave friends, family or partners behind for a certain period of time, you may have to give up your flat or job for this period, and the new environment and the people you meet abroad are still a big unknown until you actually arrive. At first glance, all these factors can cause uncertainty, which is why it is important to talk openly with your loved ones and seek their support, as uncertainty can lead to wonderful opportunities.
Remember that you are not the only person spending a semester abroad; at your partner university, you will meet other incoming students who are in the same situation as you and with whom you can exchange thoughts and experiences. In addition, many partner universities have welcome services, buddy programmes and local contact persons who will support you and be there for you, especially in the early days.

Social media has made it much easier to stay in touch today, not only in your private life, but also with us at the International Office. Our office hours are deliberately held via Zoom so that you can always connect with us, even from abroad.

Every country has a different cultural history, different laws, customs and traditions. These may differ from our own expectations. For this reason, we ask that you always find out in detail about the customs and regulations in your chosen host country, as well as at the individual universities, and assess for yourself whether these are in line with your own values before appyling.

Yes.

Going abroad with child(ren) often presents students with organisational challenges. The Paderborn University Family Office offers qualified support in the planning and realisation of stays abroad for student (and doctoral) parents.

In addition to organisational issues, financial aspects also play a major role. The Erasmus+ programme offers additional funding options, as does the Auslands-BAföG with child supplement.

Planning a stay abroad with a disability? Definitely possible with the right support! Experience abroad and in-depth language skills are desired by many employers when hiring university graduates, and in some cases even required. Students with disabilities and chronic illnesses should therefore plan a period of study abroad or an internship abroad from the outset as part of their degree programme and prepare well, even if this is not mandatory. In order to obtain all the necessary information and meet application deadlines, it is best to start planning two years in advance.

Funding options
For students with a disability, the Erasmus+ programme offers the possibility of additional financial support in the form of a top-up grant. A real cost application can also be submitted online. This can be used to reimburse additional costs incurred abroad due to the disability.

Counselling
While the International Office can provide you with general information on the various forms of study abroad, the partner universities and advice on organisation, Paderborn University's Representative for Students with Disabilities is available to take your specific needs into account in the planning process. 

Grundsätzlich ist in den Arbeitsverträgen der Hilfskräfte die Universität Paderborn als Dienstort festgelegt. Eine Beschäftigung aus dem Ausland ist aufgrund steuer- und sozialversicherungsrechtlicher Vorgaben nicht zulässig. Daher wurde entschieden, dass für Hilfskräfte keine Arbeit aus dem Ausland möglich ist.

Sollten Sie während eines laufenden Arbeitsverhältnisses ins Ausland gehen wollen, ist dies nur möglich, wenn das Beschäftigungsverhältnis für diese Zeit ruht oder unterbrochen wird. In solchen Fällen kann es eine Möglichkeit sein, das Arbeitsverhältnis zu beurlauben oder es nach der Rückkehr neu aufzunehmen.

Falls Sie hierzu Fragen haben oder eine individuelle Klärung benötigen, stehen Ihnen die zuständigen Ansprechpersonen im Personaldezernat gerne zur Verfügung.