If you are studying for a bachelor’s degree, a stay abroad is recommended starting in the third or fourth semester. At this point, you will already have a general overview of the field of research in your subject and will be able to show proof of completed courses and grades. A later stay abroad is also conceivable for instance if you would like to gather material for your bachelor’s thesis abroad.

You can also spend time abroad while studying for your master’s degree – to gain experience abroad or obtain material for your master’s thesis, for example. You can decide when on an individual basis depending on your master’s degree program.

The timing of a stay abroad while working on your doctorate depends largely on your goal for your time abroad. Do you want to collect data, take part in conferences, present or advise on existing research findings? Ultimately, you are responsible for putting together your individual stay abroad and discussing your plans with your supervisors.

During the state examination phase, you can expand your language proficiency or focus on international content with a stay abroad. It is also worth utilizing the time to collect data for your exam thesis. A stay abroad could be possible after the first or second state examination depending on your individual program structure. It is possible to study abroad during the state examination phase, especially in the Law and Medicine degree programs.

So be sure to choose a host country where you have at least a basic command of the language. Even if courses are offered in English or German, for example, it is important for you to be able to communicate with locals. However, proficiency in the language of instruction or the language you will work in is even more important. If you are going abroad to study, having previously acquired sufficient proficiency in the language will help you follow lectures and complete coursework.

Don’t have the desired or required language proficiency yet? Our general language courses for students are designed to help. JGU’s International Preparatory and Language Center (ISSK) offers free language courses in many contemporary foreign languages at various levels.

Alternatively, you can take a language course abroad.

Visa requirements vary depending on which host country you choose. If you are an EU citizen and want to travel to another EU country, there is no need to worry about a visa – your identity card is all you need.

However, it is possible that you may only be able to enter non-EU countries if you have a valid visa. German citizens should check the website of the German Federal Foreign Office well in advance for detailed information on up-to-date entry regulations. Citizens of other countries should check with their own Foreign Office.

Please keep in mind that applying for a visa can take a long time. We recommend that you submit your application well in advance to avoid delays or other issues when entering the country. You may need proof of your admission to your studies abroad. JGU or your host university can provide you with it.

For a longer stay abroad, some countries may require a residence permit. This ensures that you are permitted to remain and live in your host country after entry. If you have any questions about these formalities, please contact your host university.

You can make arrangements for your accommodations before you embark on your journey to your host country. Some universities offer rooms in dormitories for foreign students, but these are limited. The earlier you apply, the better your chances are of being offered a room in a dormitory.

Alternatively, you can rent a private apartment or a room in a shared apartment for the duration of your time abroad. In many cases, your host university will recommend websites for finding accommodations. If you book your accommodations before your stay abroad begins, you will usually be required to pay a security deposit in advance.

Prices and the availability of apartments can vary greatly depending on the host country. As such, it is a good idea to make arrangements for your accommodation well in advance.

Whether you will need to open a bank account in your host country or not depends on various factors. What payment methods does your landlord accept? Does your bank charge fees for transactions made in other countries? Ask your bank about what options it offers you in the country you are going to and the related costs.

Students going abroad usually need to provide proof of sufficient health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in their host country. Before the semester begins, host universities often ask for proof of health insurance coverage. In EU countries and several other European countries, you are already sufficiently insured with your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

However, as this will only cover the basic services available in the host country, it may make sense to take out additional private travel health insurance to cover further medical services. Please note that you have to take out any travel insurance policies before your stay abroad begins. Proof of health insurance is often required when applying for a visa for your host country.

In addition to health insurance, there are other types of insurance that may be useful for you. German personal liability and accident insurance is often also valid in other countries and protects you against financial damages.

Liability insurance covers bodily injury or property damage that you cause to others. This insures you for cases where claims could arise from damage caused unintentionally.

With accident insurance, you are protected against financial consequences of any accidents you may have abroad. Check with your host institution and your health insurance provider before your stay abroad to find out whether additional insurance coverage is necessary.

You may take a leave of absence under certain conditions, but be sure to inquire about the procedure before you do so! If you are traveling abroad for at least three months for a study-related stay, you can also request reimbursement of the semester ticket from the General Students’ Committee (AStA). You can find more information here.

Courses completed abroad can only be recognized and credited after your return, but you should check with your Academic Advisory Office during the planning phase to find out which courses can be recognized and under what conditions. Regardless of recognition, you also have the option to take courses at the host university that are not offered here, but are relevant to your degree program or envisioned career.

Universities usually offer most courses in the language of the country where they are located (with the exception of some partner universities, such as some Erasmus+ partners), and if they do offer courses in English, these are sometimes limited to certain subjects or forms of exchange, or participants are charged a fee. If you are not proficient in the local language at the lecture level, you should focus on English-speaking countries when choosing your target institution of higher education – in addition to the UK, the USA, and Australia, this also includes Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and Malta. You can find tips for choosing a university on the Studying Abroad page.

No, you cannot apply for the Erasmus+ partnerships of other departments, but you are also not limited to Erasmus+. JGU has other partner universities, and there are also scholarships called individual scholarships, such as through Promos or the DAAD, where you can and actually have to choose the host institution yourself.

JGU’s partner universities often have easier application procedures and a tuition fee waiver (or partial tuition waiver). But of course you are free to choose your preferred university, and with individual scholarships such as Promos, DAAD, or Fulbright, you can also fund a stay at a non-partner university!
When choosing your host institution, please pay particular attention to the application requirements at your preferred university, how high the tuition fees are, and whether this university also accepts exchange students not covered by cooperation agreements. You can find more tips on choosing a destination on the Studying Abroad page.

Not really. You can, for example, take (required) courses abroad that will be recognized upon your return. Ideally, you should already find out at the planning stage what you will receive credit for on your return. But you can, of course, also take advanced courses, conduct research for your final thesis, or complete an internship. And, while some courses of study require a stay abroad, others don’t! If the stay abroad is not a requirement for you, you may also be able to take an academic leave of absence from JGU.

Your grade plays a role, but it isn’t the only criterion. If that were the case, you would only have to submit a transcript of records as your application. Yes, grades are important, but your motivation plays a major role (Why do I want to study at this university? How will my studies or internship abroad benefit my later studies or career plans?), but your extracurricular activities are also important and you should definitely include them in your CV! To find out what you should keep in mind when applying, see “Applying for a stay abroad.”

No – your studies abroad should be relevant to your program of study at JGU, but you can also take courses that expand on your specialization or are not offered at JGU. You don’t have to exclusively take courses within your major – perhaps you will want to take courses at your desired university that are only indirectly related.

Essentially, yes, you can, but you will need to be able to pay for your studies abroad, and in some countries this can be hindered by high tuition fees. Find out about tuition fees and other costs on the website of the university you wish to attend. If you want to apply for 1 or 2 semesters as an exchange student, make it clear from the start in your application that you are only planning a temporary stay at the host institution and not seeking a degree there, because as a non-degree-seeking student, you may be able to pay lower tuition fees and/or take advantage of a simplified application procedure.

Yes, of course. There are a number of programs that enable you to go abroad during your bachelor’s degree studies and then apply again during your master’s degree studies (such as Erasmus+ or Promos). You can also apply for an internship or a language course after studying abroad, for example.

You are welcome to contact us, and you can also find out more on the following websites:
1. Under “Sicher Reisen” (Travel safely) on the www.auswaertiges-amt.de website, you will find profiles of all countries worldwide that also address social and safety issues (in German).
2. Visit ilga.org to find out about the legal situation in your host country.
3. Check the website of your host institution to see if there are any student initiatives or organizations that are relevant for you.
4. Research online and read reviews of your host country that may contain relevant advice and blogs such as the Gay Travel Index.