Erasmus+ internships

• An internship abroad that you have found on your own and that is relevant to your studies
  • Funding is available for both required internships and voluntary internships related to your studies
  • Internships conducted remotely from Germany, where the host organization is based abroad, are not eligible for funding
• Duration: The internship must last at least 60 days; Erasmus funding covers a maximum of 4 months (120 days) per internship stay. One month always corresponds to 30 days.
• Workload: at least 30 hours per week | for teacher education students: 30 hours per week or a full-time equivalent teaching load; this requires corresponding confirmation from the host school
• Academic Recognition: Mandatory internships (ECTS), voluntary internships (Transcript of Records/Diploma Supplement/Europass)
• Enrollment at the University of Kassel (full-time program). Exchange students are not eligible for funding.
• Graduate Internship: If you are completing your internship following the completion of your master’s degree, an artistic degree, or a state examination (graduates), you must still be enrolled at the time of submitting your complete application; during the entire internship, you must be withdrawn from the university or have already completed all academic requirements (proof must be submitted in each case). The same requirements (such as regarding minimum duration of stay, maximum funding period, and weekly working hours) and application documents (including the submission of a certificate of academic relevance) apply as for undergraduate students.
  Graduate internships are intended to facilitate the transition from higher education to the workforce; therefore, graduate internships taken between a bachelor’s and a master’s program (if a master’s degree is being pursued) are not eligible for funding.
• Your status must not change during the entire internship: You must either be enrolled at the University of Kassel for the entire period or be withdrawn from the university for the entire period.
• You have not yet exhausted your maximum Erasmus quota (for study and internship stays). You are eligible for funding for up to 12 months per study phase (BA, MA, PhD); for teacher training programs and programs leading to an artistic degree, the maximum is 24 months.
• Doctoral candidates must provide clear proof of affiliation with the University of Kassel (certificate of enrollment or a letter of confirmation from the supervisor stating acceptance as a doctoral candidate). If you also have an employment relationship with the University of Kassel, the internship abroad cannot be funded through this funding program but may be eligible for funding under the staff mobility program.
• General Information About the Erasmus Program
• Participating countries

 The following are not eligible for funding

• Internship projects at EU institutions and other EU bodies, including specialized agencies (complete list available at https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/institutions-bodies_de) and bodies that administer EU programs
• pure language study stays

Your complete application for an Erasmus grant must be received by the International Office no later than 8 weeks before the start of your internship. If we receive your application later than that, your internship may not be funded, or funding may not be provided from the start.

You must already know the host institution for your internship.

Documents:

• Online application via our application portal (Form 2)
• Resume (PDF to be uploaded with the online application, no design guidelines)
• Statement of purpose (follow the guidelines; to be uploaded when applying online)
• Certificate of enrollment (scan to be uploaded when applying online)
• Certificate of Academic Relevance: Your BPS department/internship coordination office/exam office must certify the academic relevance of your internship and specify whether it is a voluntary or required internship.

Please notify us immediately by email after you have submitted your application through our application portal, and attach the certificate confirming the relevance of the internship to your email.

You may also submit the documents by mail or in person.

Only scans are accepted (.pdf, .jpg). Photos of documents are not sufficient.

Selection Process

The selection of applicants is carried out by the International Office at the University of Kassel. The evaluation criteria include the completeness of the documents, fulfillment of the formal requirements, and the academic and professional motivation for the internship as demonstrated in the statement of purpose. Since funding is limited, Erasmus funding is not guaranteed.

Each participant receives an Erasmus mobility grant. The amount depends on the destination country.

• Current funding rates
• The grant is paid out in two installments: 70% before the start of the mobility period (after the required documents have been submitted) and 30% upon completion of the mobility period (after all final documents have been submitted).
• The funding rates depend on the amount of funding allocated by the DAAD and may therefore differ from those listed above next year.

Travel Expense Grant and Additional Funding for Green Travel

• All students selected for an Erasmus scholarship receive a grant to cover travel expenses based on the distance to the internship institution.
• What does “Green Travel” mean? Participants who use lower-emission modes of transportation—such as trains, buses, bicycles, or carpooling, or a combination of boats and lower-emission modes—for the majority of their trip to and from the host institution (50% or more of the travel to and from the institution) may apply for up to 6 additional travel days, each at a daily rate (€23 or €25), and receive a higher one-time travel allowance compared to standard trips using high-emission modes of transportation such as airplanes.

Additional Funding for Participants with Fewer Opportunities

• Participants with fewer opportunities may, under certain conditions, apply for a monthly grant of 250 € in addition to the regular Erasmus grant. This is intended to provide special support to students for whom a stay abroad may pose a greater challenge.
• Participants with fewer opportunities include:
  1. Students with a disability
  2. Students with additional needs due to a chronic illness
  3. Students with children
  4. First-generation college students (students from non-academic families)

Further information can be found here.

You will receive further information on how to apply for the additional funding along with your funding approval via email.

Documents to be submitted

We will provide you with the following documents, which must be submitted in full to the International Office before the start of your internship.

• Learning Agreement for Traineeships: An agreement between you, your internship host institution, and the University of Kassel. It must be filled out by all parties and signed in person. The International Office requires at least one scanned copy.
• Grant Agreement: A funding agreement between you and the University of Kassel.

Insurance

An Erasmus grant does not include any insurance coverage. Each participant is required to arrange adequate insurance coverage independently. The European Commission, the DAAD, or the University of Kassel are not liable for any damages incurred during the semester abroad.

It is mandatory to obtain accident insurance for injuries the beneficiary sustains at the workplace and liability insurance for damages the beneficiary causes at the workplace.

Note: Participants have the option of joining the DAAD’s group insurance plan at their own expense. Health, accident, and liability insurance are included. For more information, please contact the DAAD directly.

Visa
Please check well in advance whether you need a visa for your host country. You can obtain definitive information from the relevant consulates, the DAAD, and the Federal Foreign Office.

As an international student from a non-EU country, can I participate in the Erasmus+ program?

Yes, all students who are pursuing a full degree program at the University of Kassel leading to a recognized degree are eligible to participate in the Erasmus+ program. This includes international students from non-EU countries.

Please note that, depending on your immigration status, you may need to apply for a visa for the host country. Therefore, be sure to inform the Office for International Students about your plans to study abroad and also check with the University of Kassel’s Visa Information Office in advance: visa-info[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

If there are any changes to your Learning Agreement—for example, regarding your internship supervisor—please notify the International Office immediately and submit (only in such cases!) the “Major Changes Form.”

Shortening

If your internship is shortened, the grant amount will be adjusted. The minimum duration of 60 days must be maintained; otherwise, the mobility grant will be reclaimed. Please refer to the Grant Agreement for further details.

Extension

If you wish to extend your internship and apply for additional financial support, your request (informal, via email) must be received by us no later than 30 days before the original end date of the internship. Since funding is limited, an extension of Erasmus support is not guaranteed. We will inform you promptly after receiving your request about the current regulations governing this matter.

The final documents should be submitted to the International Office within 30 days of the end of the internship.

EU Survey (Questionnaire)

You will automatically be prompted via email by the EU’s Beneficiary Module to complete a questionnaire.

Internship Certificate

• Traineeship Certificate

Have your internship supervisor fill out this internship certificate form as confirmation of your internship. The International Office requires a copy or a scan of this document.

Experience Report

Describe to us and to future students the experiences you gained during your internship abroad. Please also mention the support you received through the Erasmus program. Please use this template, including the cover sheet, and send us the report via email. Here you will find a guide on how to write the experience report.

For further information and questions, please contact

Alexa Schubert - your contact for internships and school internships abroad

You can also take advantage of the initial information provided by a student assistant and visit us at the International Office (Campus Center - 2nd floor):

Every Monday from 1 to 2 p.m.