We are glad that you want to study abroad with ERASMUS+!

There is hardly A more accessible and cheaper way to spend an extended stay abroad than with ERASMUS. The organization is much easier than with an independently planned stay abroad. In addition, a stay abroad offers several other advantages: 

► No loss of time: progress in your studies despite and with the experience abroad
You can have courses that you take abroad recognized at Trier University. You can find all the essential information under Recognition of achievements abroad.

► Alternative and/or supplementary course offerings
... to those at the home university. You can try out new courses at the host university and set other priorities. Each university has its thematic focus, allowing you to experience different subject-specific orientations.

► Expand subject-specific competencies
Organization, problem-solving, and intercultural competencies get promoted during a stay abroad. Through ERASMUS, you have the opportunity to acquire new perspectives for your political science studies and thus expand your skills and knowledge.

► Learn or deepen a new language. 
► Strengthen your self-confidence, gain new experiences and perspectives
► Benefit from international networking 
► Increase career opportunities 

For more information, please see the latest version of our Political Science ERASMUS Info Presentation. If you are unsure whether an ERASMUS stay is right for you, please feel free to contact the ERASMUS Assistance.

Conditions

✓ no tuition fees at the host university
✓ monthly allowance
✓ if necessary, additional BAföG international grant (up to 300 EUR without crediting the ERASMUS grant)
✓ crediting of academic achievements at the host university within the framework of the previously established Learning Agreement
✓ free online language preparation

Funding

Since a stay abroad is also associated with costs, students receive a monthly mobility stipend of approximately 450 to 600 euros. The funding intends to cover the additional costs incurred abroad.

ERASMUS+ grant per country group

► Group 1:    600 EUR per month
     Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden

► Group 2:    540 EUR per month
     Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain

► Group 3:   490 EUR per month
    Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
    Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary

In addition, financial support for the year abroad can be applied for at the BAföG office. All students who receive BAföG also receive BAföG abroad for the duration of their ERASMUS stay. In addition, students who do not receive BAföG in Germany also have a chance to receive BAföG abroad. Here you can find more information about the Auslands-BAföG. In addition, it may also be possible to receive a Green Erasmus Prämie of EUR 50 for up to four days of travel.
A top-up grant of 250 EUR per month is available for students from a non-academic home and students who finance their studies through employment, for students with a disability (GdB 20 or higher) or chronic illness that leads to additional costs abroad, and for students with children. Students with a disability or chronic illness and students with children can apply for the assumption of the actual additional costs (max. 15,000 EUR per semester) as an alternative to the flat-rate top-up grant. On the University of Trier's website, you will also find further information about the DAAD programs and scholarships for studying at renowned universities abroad.
Moreover: ERASMUS waives all tuition fees at the host university, which in some cases amounts to several thousand euros per semester.

Internship abroad

ERASMUS+ funding is also available for internships abroad. Conditions are enrollment at a university and a minimum period of 60 to a maximum of 360 days for the full-time internship. Here, too, the funding amounts to approx. 400 to 550 euros per month, depending on the country group.

Whom can I contact if I have further questions?

You are welcome to write an e-mail, to the ERASMUS Assistance for example, to arrange a (for the time being) digital ERASMUS consultation. The International Office will also be happy to assist you.

Application

The application for an ERASMUS stay abroad is done via the application portal of the International Office. You will also find all the information and documents required for the application as downloads on the pages of the International Office. 

! The application documents have to be uploaded to the application portal and not (!) handed in at the International Office !

Our selection criteria for the allocation of exchange places are:

► Motivation - presentation in the letter of motivation
► Social, political, or other commitment
► University achievements

In general, the chances of getting the desired place are very high!

Recognition of achievements abroad

One of the many advantages of a stay abroad coordinated by ERASMUS is that the achievements made abroad can be recognized at the home university. This is possible under the following conditions:

1. There is a correspondence in content between the course attended at the host university and the course to be recognized at the University of Trier.
2. The scope of performance (ECTS) of the attended course abroad corresponds to the scope of performance of the module at the University of Trier.
3. The ECTS of successfully completed courses cannot be split for recognition. The credits earned abroad must be entirely attributable to the Trier modules.

If a course at the host university earned you 6 ECTS and you would like to have it recognized for a 10 ECTS module at Trier, you would have to add another course with 6 ECTS for successful recognition. The 2 ECTS left in the difference are dropped and cannot be used to recognize another course. The same applies if you have taken a course abroad with 14 ECTS and want to have it recognized for a 10 ECTS module in Trier.
Nevertheless, an accumulated surplus of ECTS will be positively considered for recognition.

In order to avoid complicated recognition procedures and ambiguities, you should find out before your stay abroad which recognition possibilities exist within the framework of the selected courses. For this purpose, the ERASMUS Assistance is at your disposal and will also take care of the correctness of the content of the Learning Agreement before it is submitted.

You can apply for recognition as soon as you have received your official Transcript of Records from your ERASMUS contact person in Political Science at the end of your stay at your host university. Afterward, proactively submit the official Transcript of Records together with the carefully completed Application for Recognition of Study and Examination Achievements to the ERASMUS Assistance.

If you have any questions regarding the recognition form or the recognition of credits earned abroad, please contact the ERASMUS Assistance. They gladly clarify any unclear points, then proofread all documents accordingly and forward them to the ERASMUS Coordinator Dr. Sascha Werthes.

Frequently asked questions about the recognition of achievements

When do I have to take care of the recognition?
There is no fixed period in which you have to take care of the recognition after the end of your stay abroad. However, it can take a few weeks to enter the study and examination achievements on PORTA. Therefore, if recognition is required for registration for examinations, completion of studies, or other time-limited circumstances, you should submit the documents early and communicate corresponding deadlines. Therefore, we recommend you taking care of the recognition immediately after your stay and receiving the official Transcript of Records.

How do I proceed with the recognition of achievements?
Complete the Application for Recognition of Study and Examination Achievements and submit it with the official Transcript of Records by e-mail to the ERASMUS Assistance. If applicable, documents such as essays, term papers, or seminar plans may also be submitted.

How will I know when the recognition has been completed?
Grades are entered into PORTA after recognition for students in the B.A. and M.A. systems.