Short Stays

Summer & winter schools

Summer and winter schools are “short semesters abroad” in which you take courses on a specific topic for 2–4 weeks at a university abroad.

1. Finding a summer/winter school
Start by checking other HSBI students’ reports on their semesters abroad. We will be happy to pass on the contact details of students who have already stayed abroad.

These websites may be useful in gathering information:

There are also the DHIK network’s Summer School (China), Summer School (India) and Winter School (Mexico). HSBI is a member of this network. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us!

2. Discussing recognition

Academic achievements from abroad can be recognised for studying at the HSBI. It is best to check with your faculty whether a summer/winter school can be recognised for your studies before you apply.

If recognition is not possible, please let the Registrar’s and Examination Office that you have participated through this form after your stay.
3. Visa and passport

For a summer/winter school in an EU country, individuals with German citizenship do not require a visa or passport, a valid ID card is sufficient.

Outside the EU, a valid passport and possibly a visa are often required, so please check the conditions before applying. Your passport will be issued by citizens’ registration office at your place of residence.

4. Planning your finances

We recommend you get a rough overview of the costs of your stay abroad in advance, e.g. participation fees, accommodation, travel costs. Participation fees may vary depending on the city and university, so it is worth comparing.

Participation in summer/winter schools can be funded through the PROMOS programme and the Mobility Grant as well as the Green Mobility Grant. However, do check the application deadlines! 

If the summer or winter school has a virtual component, it may be eligible for funding through Erasmus+ (see below, Erasmus+ Blended Mobility).

Some universities and programmes also offer scholarships for the participants in their summer/winter schools, e.g. the Fulbright Summer Institutes or the Go East Summer and Winter Schools.

Some scholarships can also be combined, e.g. Promos + Mobility Grant + Green Mobility Grant.

5. Insurance and safety

To make sure that you are always covered, you should take out health insurance for abroad before the stay abroad, and additionally accident and liability insurance if necessary. You can either request an extension of your insurance from your current insurance provider or take out private supplementary insurance.

Please make sure to check with your current insurance provider whether you need to continue paying your insurance in Germany during your stay abroad.

Also find out about the safety situation in your destination country, e.g. via the Federal Foreign Office’s Sicher Reisen app, and register in the ELEFAND crisis prevention list.

Writing your thesis abroad

1. Finding a supervisor

First of all, you to find someone at HSBI who can supervise your thesis. You should then discuss with them whether a stay abroad would be useful and doable, e.g. for:

  • Research stays, e.g. at universities, companies, institutes, archives or other places
  • Writing the thesis itself abroad at a university or company

To write your thesis at a university abroad, you usually need a second supervisor at this university. For this purpose, please contact the university’s teaching staff or research groups directly. You can search at HSBI’s partner universities, but also choose other universities. In addition, please note that you will usually have to write the final thesis in English so that the second supervisor can review it.

2. Visa and passports

For a stay abroad in an EU country, individuals with German citizenship do not require a visa or passport, a valid ID card is sufficient.

Outside the EU, a valid passport and possibly a visa are often required, so please check the conditions before applying. Your passport will be issued by citizens’ registration office at your place of residence.

3. Planning your finances

We recommend you get a rough overview of the costs of your stay abroad in advance, e.g. accommodation, travel costs, cost of living, insurance.

The good news is that writing your thesis abroad can be funded through the PROMOS programme + Mobility Grant, the HAW.International scholarship for theses or the Green Mobility Grant. In some cases, Erasmus+ funding is also possible. However, do check the application deadlines! 

Some scholarships can also be combined, e.g. Promos + Mobility Grant + Green Mobility Grant.
4. Insurance and safety

To make sure that you are always covered, you should take out health, accident and liability insurance for abroad before your stay abroad. You can either request an extension of your insurance from your current insurance provider or take out private supplementary insurance, e.g. via the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Please make sure to check with your current insurance provider whether you need to continue paying your insurance in Germany during your stay abroad.

Also find out about the safety situation in your destination country, e.g. via the Federal Foreign Office’s Sicher Reisen app, and register in the ELEFAND crisis prevention list.

Erasmus+ Blended Mobility

What is Blended Mobility?

The Blended Mobility format allows for short physical stays abroad to be connected to a virtual component.

  • The physical component can be study-related stays (e.g. semester abroad, blended intensive programmes or summer/winter schools) or internships abroad for students and continuing education abroad for employees.
  • Collaborative online learning, exchange and teamwork in the context of joint projects and/or online courses can be considered examples of a virtual component. There are no time limits for the virtual component.

However, the minimum duration of the physical component must be met:

  • Short-term: 5–30 days
  • Long-term: 2–12 months

Participation in the virtual component is mandatory. For short-term measures, at least 3 ECTS must be achieved.

Funding is possible through the Erasmus+ programme.

For doctoral candidates

Short-term mobility with Erasmus+

Short stays abroad in Europe (5 to 30 days), optionally with additional virtual components, e.g.:

  • To learn a range of cross-functional skills,
  • To train the presentation of scientific information,
  • To acquire specialist knowledge and skills,
  • To make valuable contacts in Europe,
  • To search for opportunities after your doctorate.

Funding is possible through the Erasmus+ programme.

Travelling to congresses, trade fairs or lectures

Active participation in international scientific congresses and conferences or in international trade fairs (on site or online). Active participation (at congresses and conferences) is holding a (poster) presentation or being the main responsible person for conception and management of a panel.

Funding is available through the HAW.International: congresses and trade fairs scholarship programme or through DAAD’s congress travel programme.

 

Visiting colleagues or scientific institutions abroad to present your scientific work outside of congresses and conferences.

Funding is possible through DAAD’s lecture trip programme.

Information on stays abroad in work-integrated study programmes

Here you will find information on stays abroad as part of a work-integrated study programme.