FAQ on Studying Abroad with Erasmus

Interested students can apply to partner universities of their respective department or institute. Search by country or subject on the website of the Department for International Affairs for an overview of exchange places.

See the Department of International Affairs website for your Erasmus coordinator.

At the University of Hamburg, Erasmus places are offered by your faculty after you have uploaded your online application and all supporting documents to the Mobility Online database. Make sure you consult beforehand with the Erasmus officers in your faculties.

Yes. For each application, you can name up to 5 different universities and these may be located in different countries.

Yes, you can apply for either your major or your minor.

No, within the scope of the Erasmus program, you can apply only to those universities with which the University of Hamburg has a bilateral agreement. Of course, you can also go abroad as a free mover, meaning you can organize a period of study abroad on your own and apply directly to a university abroad outside the scope of a program. Further information about the free mover program can be found on our website (available in German only): Free Mover – Organizing Your Own Semester Abroad.

Yes, in exceptional cases, applications from other departments are possible. However, you need to discuss this with your own and the other department in advance. The host university also has to be willing to accept your application. Students in the same department always enjoy preference.

As a rule, the application for an Erasmus place includes, in addition to the online application form, the following documents:

• letter of motivation
• Europass CV template or regular CV
• preliminary learning agreement
• proof of your proficiency level in the language of instruction (not more than 2 years old)
• proof of enrollment

Some departments also require evaluations, recommendations, or other documents. Contact the Erasmus officer in your faculty in good time about the documents you need to submit.

The central deadline for an Erasmus application is 31 January. Complete application documents need to be uploaded to the Mobility Online database by that date (there are different deadlines for mathematics).

Every year, a different number of students apply for the Erasmus program, so it is difficult to make predictions. The chances of being offered a place also depend on the number of exchange places set in the cooperation agreement.

Yes, this is possible depending on the institute or department. Ask the Erasmus officers in your faculties about remaining vacancies; in consultation with them and the partner university, these places can still be offered.

Yes, all students can take part in an Erasmus program if they are completing a program based at the University of Hamburg that leads to a recognized degree. Please note that you may need to apply for a visa, depending on the status of your residence in the host country.

The letter of motivation (up to 2 pages in German unless otherwise stated by your institute or department) should clarify what qualifies you to attend the desired university (language skills, interest in the profile in question at the university, etc.).

Include the following information:

• Describe your motivation for going abroad and your choice of country/countries and partner universities.
• How is study abroad related to your studies or research? What are your goals?
• Explain your study goals in detail. Explain your interest in the subject and the necessity and feasibility of study abroad.

The letter of motivation should focus on your first choice.

Most partner universities recommend that you already have sound knowledge of the country’s language (at least B1). For the application, you will need to provide proof of your language skills. This proof may not date back more than 2 years. Often, Erasmus students can also attend language classes at the host university—either as an intensive course before the semester begins or during the semester. A few universities also offer programs held in English. The University of Hamburg students can attend preparatory courses at the University Language Center. There, you can also be tested to acquire proof of your language skills. This test is free for University of Hamburg students.

See the University Language Center website for more information.

The Erasmus officer in your faculty decides on whether or not to offer a place based on all the application documents you submit. Good grades are certainly advantageous in the application procedure but they are not the only relevant criterion.

As a rule, you can take part in Erasmus while pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate. Nonetheless, partner schools set up exchanges for particular levels of study and, generally, you can apply for a place only at your level of study. PhD students may also be able to undertake mobility as academic and/or administrative staff within the framework of an employment relationship at the University of Hamburg.

Yes, students can receive funding for study or internships for up to 12 months (24 in the case of state examinations) per study cycle (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate). If you have already received funding within a given cycle, the funded months will be deducted from the maximum funding period.

• Example: You are currently in your Bachelor's program and have already completed 5 months of Erasmus study. You can still receive Erasmus funding for another 7 months during your Bachelor's, for example, 5 months of Erasmus study and 2 months of an Erasmus internship.

Before you begin studying abroad, we need the following documents:

• the Digital Learning Agreement Part I (DLA, Before the Mobility)
• the Grant Agreement
• proof of enrollment at University of Hamburg (for the semester abroad)

List the courses for the Digital Learning Agreement on the database Mobility Online. After internal review and signing at University of Hamburg, the DLA will be sent digitally to the host university, where it will also be reviewed and signed. Print out the Grant Agreement at Mobility Online and send the original, with a wet signature to the Department of International Affairs. After the institutional Erasmus coordinator(erasmus.coordination"AT"uni-hamburg.de) has signed the document, the Department of International Affairs will upload it to your records. Upload the proof of enrollment in Mobility Online.

In the Digital Learning Agreement (DLA), fill in the courses that you would like to take at the host university (Table A, 24-30 ECTS credits per semester, 20 ECTS credits per trimester). In Table B, add those courses from the host university that you would like to have recognized in Hamburg as equivalent. The DLA needs to be signed by the following:

• the student
• the Erasmus coordinator, professor, or degree program coordinator of the respective institute or department at the University of Hamburg
• the coordinator at the partner university

The Digital Learning Agreement is complete only when all of these signatures have been provided and Tables A and B have been filled in. Contact your Erasmus coordinator of your faculty in good time for advice. The DLA is sent automatically (digitally) after you submit and sign it via the Mobility Online database.

The document must be completed and signed by all parties and be uploaded to Mobility Online prior to starting your study abroad. If you study abroad for 2 semesters, indicate the courses for both semesters in your Learning Agreement when you begin your stay. For changes or additions, use Part II of the Learning Agreement. In some cases, it can be difficult to get the signature from the host university before you begin your semester abroad. In this case, notify your faculty’s Erasmus coordinator in writing. Your signature and the signature of the person responsible at University of Hamburg, however, must be provided before you start.

A few partner universities already request a Learning Agreement when you register. Because a course plan is often not set that early, you should list past courses that interest you. The host university simply wants an idea of your goals. This preliminary Learning Agreement does not replace the later Digital Learning Agreement.

Erasmus students are not obligated to apply for a vacation semester. It is advisable, however—the vacation semester is not an official university semester but it does count as a subject semester; thus, you do not “lose” time from studying if you apply for it. However, remember that you are not permitted to take any exams at your home university during a vacation semester.

See the Campus Center pages for more information about the academic leave.

Check with the Erasmus coordinators in your faculty to find out when and in which semester a study abroad period is recommended, as in many countries, semester dates are different from those in Germany. For example, winter semester might already end in December or January and the summer semester begins immediately thereafter in January or February. At some universities, the academic year is not divided into semesters but into trimesters. Find out in good time by consulting the partner university’s website.

You can get proof attesting to the duration of your study abroad, the amount of Erasmus funding, etc. from the Erasmus officer in your faculty or the team Erasmus in the Department of International Affairs.

Yes. According to EU guidelines, you are required to earn 24 to 30 ECTS credits per semester (or 20 ECTS credits per trimester). If you have completed fewer ECTS credits, the Erasmus Team in the Department of International Affairs has the right to request a statement in writing.

To navigate daily life in your host country, we recommend that you gain at least basic language skills before you start studying—it is best to start learning these in Hamburg. Here are few possibilities:

• University Language Center
• Adult education center
• Language tandem / PIASTA

Many partner universities also offer language courses before the semester begins or during the semester. The Erasmus officers in your faculties or the web pages of the partner universities can provide more information.

International universities assign dorm rooms in very different ways. Sometimes, you can get a place in a student dormitory; sometimes, you may be completely on your own. First inquire at the host university’s international office about whether they can help you find a room or apartment.

No. Erasmus funding is not linked to insurance protection. The University of Hamburg, the European Commission, or the DAAD are not liable for damages or injuries that result from illness, death, accidents, harm to others, loss, or damage to things in connection with an Erasmus stay. By accepting funding, students promise to secure sufficient insurance (international health insurance and liability insurance) for the duration of their stay.

• Health insurance 
Just as in Germany, in your host country you must prove upon enrollment at your host university that you have health insurance recognized by the host country. You can often—but not always!—gain an exemption from mandatory health insurance in the country in question if you have this proof. If necessary, you should take out additional international health insurance, including return transport, in Germany that, for example, assumes the costs of medical treatment in non-EEA countries or countries with which Germany does not have social insurance treaties, and, if necessary, will cover the costs of having you return to Germany. Germany has insurance treaties, for example, with Croatia and Turkey.
• Accident insurance and liability insurance
For stays in countries with which Germany has no insurance treaties, it is advisable to take out additional accident insurance and liability insurance, especially if your host university does not insure you for accidents.

Via the DAAD, you can take out “combined insurance,” which includes international health, accident, and private liability insurance. See the DAAD website for detailed information.

Before you take out new insurance, ask your current insurance providers about the scope of your insurance coverage throughout your planned stay abroad and, if necessary, also seek independent advice.

Once your studies at the host university begin, contact the staff responsible for you or your program and have them fill out the Confirmation of Stay Part I. Scan this document and upload it directly onto Mobility Online. Make sure you keep this document! You will also need to note the date of your departure and upload this to the database. Please note that Part I of the Confirmation of Stay must be signed within two weeks of your arrival.

You need to record the changes in your Digital Learning Agreement Part II (During the Mobility) and the document needs to be signed at the latest one month after you start studying abroad. This data set is also created using Mobility Online and you can complete and sign it before you forward for further signatures to the coordinators and the host university.

Yes, but extending study abroad at the same partner university is possible only from a winter semester to the summer semester immediately following it. Students must request an extension at the latest one month before the originally scheduled end of their stay at the host university. To do so, upload the extension request alongside the Learning Agreement to Mobility Online. The maximum funding duration for an exchange study period is 7 months within one academic year.

The respective examinations board for your department decides on the recognition and accrediting of coursework completed abroad. In every department, subject, or degree program, there are contacts for questions about recognizing coursework completed abroad.

The transfer of academic achievements earned abroad has been governed by the new guidelines of the European Commission since 2015, as published in the ECTS Users' Guide.

Most partner universities provide information about their grading systems and grade conversion in the final Transcript of Records, which can serve as a reference. Before your stay abroad, discuss with your Erasmus coordinator how many ECTS credits can be recognized for the courses you plan to take.

When you end your study abroad, we need the following documents:

• Confirmation of Stay Part II. This document must be signed by the host coordinators before your departure—but no earlier than one week in advance.
• Transcript of records.
• If applicable, missing proof of enrollment.
• Online EU survey using the EU tool.

You will be sent an email with the request to complete this EU survey. You will need to upload all of the above-named documents to Mobility Online yourself.

A transcript of records shows all of the courses you attended and grades you earned for those. At the end of your study abroad, have your host university issue your transcript of records showing all of the courses you attended while there, including grades and earned ECTS credits. It is also helpful if the host university includes an explanation of its grading system. The transcript of records is the basis for having your coursework and examinations recognized at the University of Hamburg.

After receiving the document from the host university, upload a scan of the Transcript of Records to the Mobility Online database. Every Erasmus student must submit this transcript and it will also be required as proof for the EU Commission.

You have to re-enroll every semester at the University of Hamburg, including the ones you will spend abroad, so that you stay enrolled. You can take leave for the semester abroad by contacting student administration. Then your contribution for the Studierendenwerk will be refunded. You may also get a refund for your semester public transport pass (see below). See the Campus Center pages for more information about academic leave.

Yes, you can submit a request for an exemption from the semester public transport pass / reimbursement. In your own interest, please submit the application preferably before paying the semester contribution, as the refund process may take some time. Keep in mind, however, that after a short semester abroad (for example, 3 months), you will not have a valid pass when you return to Hamburg.

The Erasmus program offers an Erasmus+ mobility grant intended to cover any additional costs related to your stay abroad. The amount is based on the average costs of living in the respective host country and ranges from € 540-600 per month.

Please note that the maximum funding duration is limited to 3.5 months (105 days) per semester and 3 months (90 days) per trimester.

 The following funding rates apply for the academic year 2025/26.

• Country Group 1: €600 per month (€20 per day): Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Sweden.
• Country Group 2: €540 per month (€18 per day): Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Cyprus.
• Country Group 3: €540 per month (€18 per day): Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Hungary.

The Erasmus funding period may differ from the actual duration of your stay at the partner university. The duration of financial support is determined annually, based on the allocation of funds by the DAAD.

• Example: You are going to Finland for one semester (from September 1 to January 15) and are not eligible for any additional funding ("top-ups"). Your stay lasts 4.5 months, but only 3.5 months are funded. This means your total Erasmus grant amounts to €2,100 for the entire stay.

The Erasmus+ mobility grant is paid out in 2 installments. The first installment is 70 percent of the total funding amount and is paid out aproximatelly 4-6 weeks after your study abroad begins and all required documents have been submitted in full. Please note that payments may be delayed if the required documents are incomplete or missing. The second installment (30 percent) is paid out after you complete your stay abroad and all final documents have been received in full.

No, when you apply for an exchange place, you also apply for the funding. If you have been accepted for an Erasmus place and uploaded all required documents to the database, then you have also automatically requested the Erasmus+ mobility grant at the University of Hamburg.

If you shorten your stay, you must pay back the respective share of the grant. For study abroad that lasts less than the minimum 2 months, you must pay back the grant in full.

Yes, there are 2 types of special support (“top-up”) for students with fewer opportunities.

Additional support grants:

• students with a degree of disability of 20 or over,
• students with chronic illnesses,
• students with children,
• students who are the first academics in their family,
• and students who must interrupt or terminate their employment during the semester abroad

can receive an additional support grant of € 250 per month. To do so, fill out a sworn declaration in Mobility Online and keep the relevant documents. Find details on the various supplements in our Infosheet on additional funding.

Individual request for up to € 15,000 per semester:

• students with a degree of disability of 50 or over,
• students with chronic illnesses,
• students with children

can submit a long request (individual request) to have all additional costs (e.g., for an accompanying assistant, care, etc.) covered. In this request, only those additional costs should be included that public assistance demonstrably does not cover. Within the scope of this request, you can apply for up to € 15,000 per semester. To do so, check the box on the application form for special funding (long request). To submit the request, contact the institutional Erasmus coordinator(erasmus.coordination"AT"uni-hamburg.de) in the Department of International Affairs directly. The request must be submitted to the national DAAD agency at the latest 2 months before you leave.

Contact us in good time so that we can best advise you!

Further information about funding opportunities (such as DAAD grants, BAföG for studies abroad, other scholarships, etc.) can be found on our website: Funding Study Abroad.

No. Domestic BAföG is not paid while you study abroad. You can, however, request BAföG for study abroad at the office responsible for you. Further information about can be found on our website: Funding Study Abroad.

Yes, participants in the Erasmus program can receive financial support. However, your existing scholarship may need to be paused or terminated. Please contact your scholarship organization in advance to clarify this. In general, participants in the Erasmus program cannot receive double funding from EU sources. Please also note that it is not possible to receive simultaneous funding for Erasmus studies and an Erasmus internship, or for Erasmus studies and Hamburglobal.