Internship Abroad

Whether compulsory, voluntary or an internship after graduation (postgraduate internship), everything is possible abroad. But how to find an internship? Here are some ideas and aids.

1. Join the group Studium und Praktikum im Ausland (log in to ILIAS first and then click on the link) for:

• • • • Information on searching and applying for internships abroad
      • List of previous internships
      • Internship programmes, e.g. PEP programme, RISE, New Kibbutz

2. Read experience reports to find out how other HSBI students found their internships:

	Design and Art				Minden Campus
	Engineering and Mathematics				Social Sciences
	Bielefeld School of Business				Health

3. Please find more inspiration and advice on the website “studieren weltweit” and on our Planning and Organising page.

Compulsory internships

It is important to discuss the requirements and registration of the internship with the person who is responsible in your faculty (e.g. programme director, placements office) early on, so that it will also be recognised.

Voluntary internships

After your stay, please inform the Registrar’s and Examination Office that you have completed an internship abroad through this form.

For an internship 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 visa are often required, so please check the visa conditions before applying. You will usually receive an invitation/confirmation from the internship provider for your visa application. Your passport will be issued by citizens’ registration office at your place of residence.

In some countries, including France or Spain, a specific internship agreement is required (Convention de stage). Please use our bilingual template provided in the download box on the left-hand side of this page.

We recommend you get a rough overview of the costs of your internship abroad in advance (see checklist).

The good news is that there are many funding programmes and scholarships that offer financial support for your internship abroad. However, do check the application deadlines! 

Some scholarships can also be combined, e.g. Promos + Mobility Grant, Erasmus + Green Mobility Grant or “Auslands-BAföG” + most scholarship programmes.

To make sure that you are always covered, you should take out health, accident and liability insurance for abroad before the internship. 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.