Welcome to the Information Session Introduction to Studying Abroad of the Central International Office! Contents: I. Contacts, Sources of Information and General Basics Alternative: Internships Abroad II. III. Studying Abroad Two Main Questions 1. How Can I Get a Study Placement Abroad? 2. How Can I Get Financial Aid? Application Documents, Selection Process and Information about Your Chances
I. Contacts, Sources of Information and General Basics Alternative: Internships Abroad
Your Contacts Regarding Going Abroad Central International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt): L 1, 1 (1st floor) www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english aaa@verwaltung.uni-mannheim.de Open Office Hours (for short questions): Mon: 9am 12pm Wed: 2pm 5pm Please note: Office hours may differ outside term time! For an extensive consultation: Please book an appointment by phone! Contacts at the Central International Office: Overseas Programmes: Carita Emmerich-Wessels (North America, Ozeania) Lukas Dausend (Asia, South America, Africa) (part time) European Programmes: Kerstin Bach (France, Spain, Italy, Portugal) Kathrin Blitzke (all other European countries) (part time, available on Wednesday afternoons from 2-3pm only) Contacts at Departmental Level: can be found on the department s website as well as on the Central International Office website (e.g. listed for each exchange programme in the partner universities database).
How to Get Informed in Time 1st step: Introductory Study Abroad Information Session 2nd step: Website of the Central International Office: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english Database containing our partner universities and experience reports, application deadlines, application documents Departmental Websites DAAD Website (German Academic Exchange Service) for country-specific information: www.daad.de/en 3rd step: (if required) Individual consultation at the Central International Office: For this, an appointment is necessary plus you are required to have attended this information session and/or Consultation with your department s contact person
Studying Abroad - Why? Foreign Language Skills Communication Skills Cooperation Skills Knowledge of Foreign Culture Enriching Intercultural Cultural and Personal Competence Experience Problem-Solving Skills Methodical / In-Depth Knowledge Self-Reliant Working Skills
Studying Abroad Some Basics Requirements / Selection Criteria Advanced knowledge of the language of instruction Grades Extra-curricular activities Personal Motivation and preparation of the study abroad period Recognition of Credits
Studying Abroad Recognition of Credits At Time of Application: Choice of Host University dep. on approx. Course Catalogue Once Exchange Place is Confirmed: Search for Exact Courses Prior to Departure: Confirmation of Courses with Mannheim Department, Filling in of "Learning Agreement" During the First Weeks Abroad: Discuss potential Changes of Courses with Department Once Returned: Hand in LA and Transcript at Exams Office (Request for Recognition of Credits) Subsequently: The Exams Office converts the Grades and recognises the Credits
Alternative: Internships Abroad Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD) / Comenius: Teaching Assistant placements at a school abroad for 6-9 months (PAD, worldwide) or 3-10 months (Comenius, Europe), financial support 500-1000 per month some countries only accept students who lived in Germany since their secondary education Placement Databases of the Career Service and the Faculty of Social Sciences (open for all students) as well as non-universitary sources (links on International Office website) Financial Aid for Internships, e.g.: Erasmus Combination Internship (max. 11 weeks): Continuation of the Erasmus sponsorship (approx. 150 Euro per month) Erasmus Internship (12-52 weeks): Sponsorship 50-400 per month After Graduation: Leonardo da Vinci programme for internships within Erasmus countries, 8-26 weeks, sponsorship 400-1000 per month Further information about PAD and internships abroad: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Other ways to go abroad
II. Studying Abroad Two Main Questions 1. How Can I Get a Study Placement Abroad? 2. How Can I Get Financial Aid?
II. Studying Abroad Two Main Questions 1. How Can I Get a Study Placement Abroad? 2. How Can I Get Financial Aid?
Studying Abroad: Your Options (1) Exchange Programmes of the University of Mannheim = Partner universities existing exchange contracts for one or several degree courses Implying: No tuition fees abroad Application: At the University of Mannheim, not at the university abroad approx. 2-4 places available in each exchange programme per year Characteristics: Europe: Exchange contracts are simultaneously Erasmus contracts, i.e. in addition to the tuition fee waiver, students receive Erasmus funding by the European Union (currently approx. 150 Euro per month) Overseas: Both bilateral exchange programmes as well as multilateral exchange programmes within the so-called Landesprogramme Baden-Württemberg (no tuition fees) www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing students / Partner Universities
Studying Abroad: Your Options (2) Self-Organised Studying Abroad (Free Mover) = A stay abroad outside one of our exchange programmes Implies: You do have to pay tuition fees abroad Application and information: at the university abroad Some scholarships available But: No Erasmus scholarship Fulbright Scholarship Programme (USA) Not an exchange programme of the University of Mannheim, but information and application via the Central International Office Travel Grants: Apply by mid January (other Fulbright scholarship application deadlines only available during Bachelor studies)
Application Deadlines University of Mannheim Exchange Programmes: See next slide In most cases: Application via the International Office sometimes application at the department Free Mover: Application at the foreign university Deadlines: 4-8 months before local start of semester External Organisations: Deadline to be found on the website of the respective organisation, application to be directed to the organisation Exemption: Fulbright
Overview of Application Deadlines for University of Mannheim Exchange Programmes Deadline Department(s) Staying Abroad Period Destination 31 Oct All departments excluding Business Administration Fall and/or Spring Term Overseas North Business Administration Fall or Spring Term Worldwide 31 Jan Humanities / Social Sciences / Law / Business Informatics & Mathematics Fall Term Europe 30 Apr All departments excluding Business Administration Humanities / Social Sciences / Business Informatics & Mathematics Spring Term Spring Term Overseas South (incl. Japan) Europe Students of the Business School / Department of Economics / School of Social Sciences should consult their department for further application deadlines (internal application procedures)! For your reference: Overview of Deadlines: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Application
II. Studying abroad two main questions 1. How do I get a university place abroad? 2. How do I get financial aid?
Financial Aid Opportunities (1): Full-Year DAAD Scholarship - Only available for German nationals (or those legally equal to German nationals as per Bafög regulations) - For all countries (free choice of host university), for all courses - Early application deadlines, for example: Europe (incl. Russia): 01 Nov 2013 (stay abroad starts fall 2014) Latin America: 31 Mar 2014 (stay abroad starts fall 2014) Australia, New Zealand: 31 Mar 2014 (stay abroad starts spring 2015) (USA, Canada: 15 Jul 2014 stay abroad starts fall 2015) Scholarship Benefits: Full scholarship (rate depending on country) as well as a one-off payment for travel expenses and insurance abroad. If necessary, tuition fees abroad will be paid/subsidised. Further Information: www.auslands-stipendien.de or www.daad.de
Financial Aid Opportunities (2): Semester Scholarship Europe Erasmus funding for all university programmes in Erasmus countries currently no separate application necessary. (But: Second round of funding currently not possible!) The Erasmus funding can also be paid for a two-semester stay. Overseas (incl. Russia) Baden-Württemberg Scholarship: Expected deadline 15 Oct 2013 for funding in the spring term 2014. Expected deadline 31 Mar 2014 for funding in the fall term 2014. Application via the International Office Further information: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Funding
Financial Aid Opportunities (3): Further Funding Opportunities Bafög Abroad www.bafoeg.bmbf.de Only available for German nationals or those legally equal Bildungskredit www.bildungskredit.de available for German nationals and, dep. on circumstances, foreigners - Better chances to get accepted than for local Bafög - Payment of tuition fees abroad of up to 4,600 Euro (Free Mover) - Travel expense contribution; if necessary, additional payment for health insurance and top-up depending on country (may depend on the amount of your parents income) - Max. 12 months during Bachelor studies and max. 12 months during Master studies - Combination with scholarships is usually possible for an amount not exceeding 300 Euro - Low-interest loan independent from parents income - Available for studying and internships - 300 Euro per month, total amount max. 7200 Euro - One-off payment of up to 3600 Euro available - Combination with Bafög is possible
Financial Aid Opportunities (4): Further Funding Opportunities Details of these and further funding opportunities can be found on our website: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Funding For example: Information on foundations and country-specific funding opportunities
III. Application Documents, Selection Process and Information about Your Chances
Your Application Documents What You Need to Do: 1. Starting now: Research the partner universities that are of interest to you 2. Once you know your desired destination/region: Read the specific application instructions (if applicable, consult last year s instructions) 3. Then: make an appointment for your language test(s) immediately you must hand in a valid proof of language skills (no older than 2 years) by the application deadline! Students with a Non-EU nationality need to check the visa requirements and potentially separate proofs of language skills that their host university might require. Information about the application process for Exchange Programmes of the University of Mannheim: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Application
Your Application Documents Usually, application documents consist of: 1. Online Application Form 2. Letter of Motivation 3. Curriculum Vitae 4. Proof of good knowledge in the language of instruction Please note: This proof must not be older than exactly two years at day of the respective application deadline. 5. Transcript of Records Information about the application process for Exchange Programmes of the University of Mannheim: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Application
The Selection Process and Your Chances Selection Process: A committee of school representatives / professors responsible for the respective exchange programme carries out the selection process for all exchange programmes. The committee cooperates with Central International Office staff members in the selection process. Some programmes may require group interviews for which you are separately invited. General Selection Criteria: (no fixed weighting) Language Skills Grades, length of studying, references CV (internships, extra-curricular activities, etc) Study Proposal / Letter of Motivation A few words about your chances Application submitted in due time and form Personal impression (interviews)
Thank You Very Much for Your Attention. Good Luck for Your Application! Some examples from the photo contest of our students abroad 2008/09