FAQs about Erasmus+ during the corona pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect all aspects of studying, including stays abroad as part of the Erasmus+ program. As a rule, students are strongly discouraged from studying in countries for which the Federal Foreign Office has issued a warning and/or that the Robert Koch Institute has designated as a high-risk area. Read the following section to find out what options Erasmus+ students have during the coronavirus pandemic and which information and documents we need to grant funding and/or reimburse any additional costs incurred due to the pandemic. Find more general coronavirus information in the FAQ on the Coronavirus and its impact on Universität Hamburg. This FAQ is updated continually.
Important information:
Note that due to popular demand, the application process may take longer. Submit complete applications only.
We ask that all students who have continued their stay online or completely discontinued their stay during Summer Semester 2020 submit the force majeure declaration; this is required for Erasmus+ funding.
The funding ceiling is the amount provided or announced in the Grant Agreement.
1. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, I was unable to embark on a planned period of study or internship abroad. Will my expenses be reimbursed?
If a student has incurred travel expenses relating to their planned stay abroad (e.g., a canceled plane ticket, booking fees for accommodation), they can apply for reimbursement of those expenses (up to the maximal sum specified in the grant agreement).
This is subject to the following conditions:
- All funding-related documents, such as the learning agreement, certificate of enrollment for the current semester, and grant agreement, must be uploaded to the database in full.
- Complete the reimbursement form, and submit the original.
- Upload all documents to the Mobility Online database (e.g., your plane ticket).
- Upload proof of confirmation from the airline, travel agency, accommodation provider, etc., stating that they are unable to reimburse the costs (e.g., your email correspondence with the providers).
2. Can I receive funding for a semester or internship abroad that will take place entirely online?
Funding is not available for online studies or internships offered by the host university while the student remains in Hamburg. To be eligible for funding, you need to be physically present in the host country, regardless of whether your studies or internship take place in person or online.
3. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, I have had to interrupt an in-person period of study or internship abroad. The program is continuing online instead. For which period can I receive funding?
Students receive the funding specified in the grant agreement on the basis of the period confirmed by the host university or the institution hosting their internship, provided that:
a) they have ongoing expenses that are directly and exclusively due to their Erasmus+ stay in their host country (e.g., rent, utilities, season tickets for public transport)
and/or
b) they participate in virtual activities (e.g., online courses or working from home), the institution in their host country has made these options available as alternatives to in-person activities, and these contribute to the student’s achievement of the learning objectives specified in the learning agreement.
This is subject to the following conditions:
- All funding-related documents, such as the learning agreement, certificate of enrollment for the current semester, and grant agreement, must be uploaded to the database in full.
- Complete the force majeure form, and submit the original.
- Submit proof of confirmation from the host university or the institution hosting the internship, including the start and end dates of your stay (confirmation of stay / internship certificate).
Regardless of the regulations on force majeure, the following documents must be submitted in print or digitally for you to complete your Erasmus+ semester successfully:
- transcript of records
- online EUSurvey
4. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, my period of study or internship abroad was canceled. The program will not continue. For which period can I receive funding?
The stay abroad has been canceled completely. The period of study or internship will not continue online. And the student will incur no further expenses that are directly and exclusively due to their Erasmus+ stay in their host country (e.g., rent, utilities, season tickets for public transport).
Funding can only be granted for the period spent abroad. Students are therefore required to repay the part of their subsidy that was intended to cover the period between the actual end of their program and the planned end date.
The following documents must be submitted or uploaded:
- Force majeure form (submit the original).
- Submit proof of confirmation from the host university or the institution hosting the internship, including the start and end dates of your stay (confirmation of stay / internship certificate).
Ignore the automatic invitation to complete the OLS language test 2 and the EUSurvey.
5. Can I receive reimbursement for expenses incurred abroad that are not covered by the regular funding?
For Winter Semester 2020/21 and Summer Semester 2021, we can only reimburse expenses up to the maximum sum specified in the grant agreement following an internal review.
This is subject to the following conditions:
- All funding-related documents, such as the learning agreement, certificate of enrollment for the current semester, and grant agreement, must be uploaded to the database in full.
- Complete the reimbursement form, and submit the original.
- Upload all documents to the Mobility Online database.
- Upload proof of confirmation from the airline, travel agency, accommodation provider, etc., stating that they are unable to reimburse the costs (e.g., your email correspondence with the providers).
6. In what language and format do I need to provide receipts for my incurred expenses?
All receipts must be in German or English. Students need to obtain translations of any documents in another language. If the cost of a certified copy exceeds the sum of the receipt, a simple translation may suffice.
We can only process complete applications. Make sure that your application is clear and comprehensible.
Send the original signed copies of the force majeure declaration and the reimbursement form to the following address:
Universität Hamburg
Department of International AffairsErasmus TeamMittelweg 17720148 HamburgUpload all evidence of additional costs to be reimbursed and correspondence with external providers proving that the costs will not be covered to the Mobility Online database.
7. What documents must I submit or upload?
Premature termination or interruption of a physical stay at the host university
You have terminated your stay prematurely but are continuing your studies/internship online in Hamburg or in the host country. You must submit/upload the following documents when you have successfully completed your (online) mobility:
- Force majeure form (submit the original).
- Submit proof of confirmation from the host university or the institution hosting the internship, including the start and end dates of your stay (confirmation of stay / internship certificate).
- transcript of records
- online EUSurvey
- OLS language test 2
The OLS language test 2 was previously not mandatory. Due to changes, you must now take the second language test in order to receive Erasmus funding. Go to OLS FAQ for details on how you can take the second language test when the relevant link has expired.
Termination
You have terminated your stay completely and do not continue online with no further expenses that are directly and exclusively due to your Erasmus+ stay in your host country (e.g., rent, utilities, season tickets for public transport). The following documents must be submitted or uploaded:
- Force majeure form (submit the original).
- Submit proof of confirmation from the host university or the institution hosting the internship, including the start and end dates of your stay (confirmation of stay / internship certificate).
Ignore automatic invitations to complete the OLS Language Test 2 and the EUSurvey.
8. Can I take classes at Universität Hamburg in addition to the online courses offered by the host university?
Yes, you can participate in classes offered by Universität Hamburg in addition to the online courses of your host university provided that said online courses contribute to you achieving the learning objectives specified in the learning agreement. To sign up for classes, contact the faculty members responsible. For further information about the course registration process, see the central FAQ about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel and stays abroad and the FAQ about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students.
9. Can I postpone my stay abroad?
Stays abroad can be postponed from the winter semester to the summer semester provided that you can secure a place at the university. Discuss this with your faculty’s Erasmus+ coordinator. You cannot postpone a stay abroad from the summer semester to the next academic year. In this case, you will have to reapply instead.
10. If my graduate internship was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, can I do it at a later stage?
Recent graduates who have had to postpone their internship abroad due to the pandemic will be able to complete their internship within 18 months (rather than the usual 12 months) of graduating.
11. Will my canceled or interrupted stay abroad count toward my Erasmus+ allowance?
Yes. Students can receive no more than 12 months of funding per study cycle. Staatsexamen (state examination) students can receive up to 24 months of funding. Any funded periods in the current semester count toward that allowance.
12. I am about to start my stay abroad. Can I leave the country? What do I need to bear in mind?
Students are strongly discouraged from studying in countries for which the Federal Foreign Office has issued a warning and/or that the Robert Koch Institute has designated as a high-risk area. Students who nonetheless wish to travel abroad at their own risk must complete the Information on International Stays during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Students are required to keep abreast of all new information from the Federal Foreign Office, the Robert Koch Institute, and the host country’s entry requirements.
Students may start their semester abroad online if the host university offers this option. They may travel to their host country as soon as the travel warning or high-risk status has been revoked.
13. My stay abroad is about to finish. What do I need to bear in mind if I am traveling to Hamburg from a high-risk area?
Students who are near the end of their stay abroad and wish to travel to Hamburg from a high-risk area must observe the entry and quarantine requirements in place. When entering Germany from a high-risk area, consult the quarantine regulations issued by the Federal Centre for Health Education and the Federal Ministry of Health.