Study abroad with Erasmus + Key Action 103 (Mobility with Programme Countries)

The Erasmus+ programme is an educational programme initiated by the European Union aimed at internationalising and modernising European higher education and in particular at improving the employability of students.

Within the Erasmus+ Key Action 103 (Mobility with Programme Countries), students have the opportunity to study at other European universities participating in the programme for personal and professional development. A stay takes place based on inter-institutional agreements between the respective universities. Students can be supported in the first (Bachelor or equivalent) as well as in the second (Master or equivalent) study cycle for up to 12 months each. The minimum stay is 3 months except for stays at universities whose study cycles are organised in trimesters or terms. The actual possible duration of a stay is determined in the inter-institutional agreements between the universities. In general, an Erasmus+ stay abroad can be undertaken from the third semester onwards.

The following countries participate in the Erasmus+ Key Action 103 programme: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Macedonia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary, United Kingdom, Cyprus.

The promotion of an Erasmus+ Key Action 103 stay abroad is structured according to 3 country groups. The financial support is based on the average living costs of the respective destination country. The scholarship is not a full scholarship. The scholarship application procedure at the University of Göttingen is renewed every year by the department of Göttingen International (The International Office) from the winter semester for the next winter and the following summer semester. The selection of the funded students takes place at the faculties (allocation of places) and the granting of the scholarship depending on the available funds, centrally according to firmly regulated admission requirements and criteria. As a general rule, there is no general and legal entitlement to financial support if an Erasmus+ Key Action 103 exchange place is accepted. Apart from the scholarship, an Erasmus+ exchange place is already a benefit due to the exemption from tuition fees and the high-quality care services offered by the partner institutions.

An essential part of the Erasmus+ Key Action 103 stay abroad is the Learning Agreement (LA). This learning agreement between the student, the host university and the home university regulates the study visit and sets out in written form the modules, which the student will take abroad. In the ideal case, the modules are equivalent to modules at the home university. The Learning Agreement shall ensure the recognition of foreign study achievements at the home university (see also APO).

In addition to studying, a stay abroad also serves to acquire and consolidate the language skills with regard to the language of the country and/or the language of instruction. In order to achieve a successful mobility, students should familiarise themselves with the minimum requirements for the required language level at the host institutions at an early stage and prepare themselves. Up-to-date information on the Erasmus+ Key Action 103 programme as well as the scholarship procedure are available in the right-hand column.