Freemover
Perhaps you have always had a specific university in mind where you wanted to spend a semester abroad as a visiting student, or you cannot find a suitable offer for your subject or level of study among the partnerships of the University of Paderborn.
As an alternative to a semester abroad at a partner university, you can also organise this independently as a freemover. In this case, you can contact any university worldwide of your choice to enquire about individual admission requirements, application procedures and deadlines. The International Office at the University of Paderborn is then no longer involved. Tip: most university websites provide relevant information under keywords such as ‘International Office, Admission, Exchange, Incoming, Visiting or Non-Degree Students’. Furthermore, you have the option of using the services of private placement agencies.
We have summarised the advantages and disadvantages of freemover exchanges for you here.
Help with preparation
Once your application has been accepted by the university abroad, it is time to continue with your preparations. You may be required to submit additional references or documents in order to complete your registration. You will also need to arrange accommodation, visas, insurance, etc. Before you leave, it is important to discuss the possibility of having your academic credits from abroad recognised at the University of Paderborn. We have compiled some helpful information for you below.
Many universities, especially in the USA, offer their students their own health insurance policies , which are often compulsory. Nevertheless, we recommend that you take out additional German health insurance abroad. It is advisable to find out about the exact requirements on the website of your future host university.
As a freemover, there are also various funding options for a stay abroad.
The International Office offers freemovers outside Europe the opportunity to apply for the PROMOS partial scholarship.
The Erasmus+ programme (corresponds to Europe) is unfortunately tied to partner universities and is not suitable for freemovers.
You can find information about various offers such as scholarships, BAföG abroad and student loans on our page on financing. Here you will also find links to other scholarship databases, such as that of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Universities in the USA and Canada in particular require a bank letter. This document confirms that you have sufficient financial means to finance your stay abroad. The host university uses the bank letter to secure itself. If you get into financial difficulties, the university is not obliged to step in on your behalf.
If you are planning a stay outside Europe, you will need a student visa. You can apply for this visa at the relevant embassy or consulate as soon as you have received an official acceptance letter from the foreign university.
If this has not already been requested for the application, language tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS are required, especially in non-European countries. Take care of this in good time, as these are usually subject to a fee and require intensive preparation and you have to register for them in advance.
We recommend that all freemovers sign a Learning Agreement to clarify which courses from abroad can be recognised at UPB and which cannot. You can find information on the recognition process on the faculties' websites.
