FAQ's
Do you also organise internships abroad?
No, we do not organise any internships abroad, however:
- Please see our Information Boards.
- Forward to the Career Centre of the FH, (contact: sabine.simon(at)fh-mainz.de)
- Organisation of the InWent application procedure. InWent promotes internships worldwide, butt not in German-speaking foreign countries and offers travel expenses or partial scholarships, but be sure to send in your application early!!
- Once per semester: Information event of the EU Service Point, promotes internships of 3 to 6 months in Europe
Which exchange programmes does the School of Business offer?
The School off business currently has contracts with over 50 partner universities worldwide. The relationship to our European partners is largely based on bilateral agreements within the framework of the Erasmus programme. For Erasmus students studying at a partner university means:
- Free studies at a partner university!!!! +
- Erasmus scholarship to the monthly amount of about. € 200 (only when staying for at least 3 months and achieving credits which are accepted by the School of Business)
- Organisation mainly via the International Office
- Should all the Erasmus places be taken, there is the possibility of studying at some of our European partner universities as a so-called fee-paying student, i.e. you pay the study fees. The organisation of these studies abroad is also largely carried out by the International Office.
If you want to study at a partner university of the FH outside Europe, then the International Office will also organise the exchange for you. However, in this case you do not have Erasmus status, i.e. you may have to pay the study fees yourself and you will not get an Erasmus scholarship.
Which application conditions must I fulfil?
You must have completed at least two study semesters (credits of the 1st and 2nd semester must have all been passed). Furthermore, appropriate language skills must have been acquired.
Can I choose the partner university myself?
In principle yes, but...
we only have a limited number of places at each partner university. Therefore, you should always state 4-5 universities at which you might like to study in your application for studies abroad (serious choice only!).
Can I study at a partner university for a year?
Yes, but Erasmus only applies for a complete academic year, i.e. WS + SS, not vice versa!
Can I study at 2 different partner universities?
Yes, but the same also applies here: financial support for one academic year (WS+SS) only.
Note: Financial support for both BA and MA studies (later on) is not possible!!
Can I study at a university which is not a partner university?
Yes, but you have to organise this yourself. Please note that foreign universities have different application deadlines. As for financing, you can either ask for the free mover scholarship programme at the International Office (applicable for European universities) and/or you can apply for a scholarship for a semester or a year on your own initiative at the DAAD. This must be done at least a year in advance. As you are most likely to achieve credits at the foreign university which you would like to have accepted later on, please have the study programme checked beforehand by the International Office.
Where can I find information on partner universities of the FH?
Several times per semester the International Office offers a “question time” on the topic of studying abroad (information in Blackboard or per notice). )
- At the International Office you can find:
1. study guides and information about the individual universities
2. experience reports by former exchange students
3. e-mail addresses of exchange students (incoming and outgoing)
What are the application deadlines?
If you want to go abroad for the winter semester: by 15th February.
If you want to go abroad for the summer semester: by 15th August.
For the USA: by the end of December/beginning of January, you can only start your studies in the winter semester in the USA!
In St. Petersburg you can only start your studies in the summer semester.
Which application documents must I submit?
- Letter of motivation: why you would like to go to this specific partner university, in the language in which you will study there (approx. 1 page)
- Marks printout (Intranet)
- Proof of language skills (as detailed as possible: school reports, language courses, time spent abroad)
- CV (in German or English)
How much chance is there of my being able to study at the partner university of my choice?
It depends on the number of applicants and their respective preferences – each year there are different favourites, but in general, Great Britain is always very popular, and there are not very many study places available there. Should there be more applicants than places, allocation will be carried out by way of a ranking procedure.
There will be a separate interview regarding the allocation of university places at our Asian partner universities – the date will be announced per notice (on the door of the International Office).
Which selection criteria is the ranking procedure based on?
- average marks
- language skills
- motivation
- general impression of application (such as completeness etc.)
- selection interviews
When will I know which university I can go to?
As a rule 2-3 weeks after the application deadline. The date for the place allocation meeting will be announced per notice and is obligatory for all applicants, as on this occasion important formalities will be dealt with.
When do lectures start at the foreign universities?
Please refer to the semester dates in the descriptions of the individual universities. The exact dates will be announced at the place allocation meeting.
What possibilities of financial support are there for studies abroad?
· Erasmus scholarship (only for so-called Erasmus programmes); organisation via the International Office only.
· Bafög for studies abroad ( www.bafoeg.bmbf.de, see FAQ – international grants); here you can find an overview of the Bafög (Federal Education and Training Assistance Act) authorities for the respective countries.
· Education loan(www.bildungskredit.de)
· DAAD scholarship for semesters and full-year scholarships for studies outside Western Europe (www.daad.de) / 1 year in advance
· Free Mover scholarships for studies in EU countries, accession states and Switzerland (for new partner universities in Europe or for Erasmus partners as so-called free movers); organisation via the International Office only.
· Fulbright scholarship for the USA (study place allocation; long time in advance); www.fulbright.de
Can I have credits achieved abroad accepted by the FH?
Under certain conditions...yes! There are deviating regulations for Business Administration and Business Law.
How can I prepare myself linguistically for going abroad?
-English: always offered at various levels, advice given by Prof. Dr. Swartz
-Spanish and French: is also usually offered at various levels, advice given by Mrs. Rico Albert
-see language offer of ASTA
-Tell-me-more: interactive language learning programme which you can use here at the University of Applied Sciences, as long as you register beforehand (Prof. Dr. Swartz)
-language courses at universities in Europe (www.daad.de)
-language holidays / language courses abroad (brochures at the International Office)
-contact to Erasmus students at the University of Applied Sciences (so-called ‘language tandem’ and Café Lingua)
-EILC – Erasmus Intensive Language Courses
Courses in less popular languages, such as Estonian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish
Applications via AAA. However, this is only possible if you are going to study in one of these countries belonging to the Erasmus programme.
What else do I need to observe?
Any questions regarding insurance in case of illness or accidents abroad are generally to be discussed with your former insurance company. Many insurance companies offer the European Health Insurance Card EHIC. It is advisable to have additional private overseas health insurance.
Please make sure you confirm your return to the University of Applied Sciences Mainz in good time during your absence (if necessary issue a certificate of authority).
An international student ID card can be obtained on presentation of a valid student ID card and a passport photo at ASTA for a small fee (approx. € 10). The Franco-German social ID card entitles you to the same social services (food, accommodation) in France as French students. It is available in the mornings at the Studierendenwerk Mainz, Staudinger Weg 21, entrance A.
It is possible to apply for a leave of absence, but then you will not be able achieve any credits at the University of Applied Sciences or re-take any failed examinations. This is only possible in the following semester. An improvement of the achieved marks is also not possible, as this can only be done in the following semester according to the examination regulations.
Possible problems in connection with a leave of absence could arise as far as health insurance companies or Bafög offices are concerned.
An improvement of marks already achieved at the University of Applied Sciences Mainz by taking an examination abroad is generally not possible.
Choice of options
Students choosing to take 4 options abroad are not entitled to the choice of options for the following semester in Mainz.
In case you do not pass one or more options abroad, you can take these options subsequently at the beginning of the following semester here in Mainz.
Those who only choose 2 or 3 options abroad right from the start have the regular choice of options for the following semester in Mainz, but only for the respective options not taken.
