Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP)

A key element of the BIPs is the mandatory virtual component, which enables the preparation, support and follow-up of the short mobility phase.

The new format is designed to encourage colleagues who have had little experience of this form of collaboration to design learning modules with colleagues from abroad. At the same time, the format also offers a potential route to international experience for students who, for various reasons, may not be able to undertake longer stays abroad.

Requirements (minimum criteria for the award of mobility funding)

•     Cooperation between at least three European higher education institutions (holders of an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education) from three different programme countries to
•     develop an innovative course for students and/or staff, which, in addition to
•     a virtual phase (of unspecified duration)
•     in one of the countries where the participating higher education institutions are located, with a physical learning phase lasting a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 30 days.
•     During the face-to-face meeting, at least 10 participants must be present; there must therefore be at least 10 mobile learners, who may be drawn from the following target groups: students (SMS) who will have at least 3 ECTS credits recognised by their home institution at the end of the project, as well as university staff on mobility for training and further education purposes (STT). The ECTS credits must be certified at the end of the BIP in the form of a Transcript of Records, or a document of similar content.
•     Ideally, a BIP is integrated into the curriculum of the participating learners. BIPs can form part of the universities’ existing curricula or complement them effectively.

A BIP is coordinated by a partner university in a European programme country, whilst TH Köln participates as a partner university and sends students and staff as mobile learners to the BIP.

Participants from TH Köln can apply for an Erasmus mobility grant to support their participation in the programme.

Applications for participation in a BIP abroad must be submitted by the relevant faculty/department on behalf of the group to the Department of International Affairs by 1 December or 1 June for the following or subsequent semester and at least three months prior to the planned BIP.

If the application is approved, the administrative requirements of the Erasmus+ programme must be met (e.g. Learning Agreement, Certificate of Attendance, Transcript of Records).

* In the 2024 project:
• Students and graduates with a disability (GdB 20 or higher) or a chronic illness
• Students and graduates undertaking their stay abroad with child/ren
• First-generation university students (students from non-academic backgrounds)
• Working students

Students and graduates receive travel grants for short-term mobility. An overview of the travel allowances can be found on the DAAD website.

You can find the grant rates (daily allowances and travel allowances) here.

The organising university bears primary responsibility for the organisation, application process and administration of a BIP and receives financial support for this in the form of organisational funds (OS = organisational support). In most cases, the organising university also acts as the host institution.

How can you apply?

If you are interested in running a BIP, you can apply to the Department of International Affairs by 31 January each year for funding for a BIP in the next Erasmus programme year (which covers the following winter and summer semesters).

The Department of International Affairs then applies for organisational funds (OS) for the BIP in February through the EU-wide Erasmus KA131 application.

How is the BIP funded?

The amount of the OS funding depends on the planned number of mobile participants, which must be at least 10 and is capped at a maximum of 20 persons.

Universities are entitled to €400 per mobile participant, which means that an eligible BIP receives a minimum of €4000 and a maximum of €8000 in OS funding.

An administrative allowance is reserved for the Department of International Affairs, whilst the remaining amount is made available to the respective department/ faculty.

The OS funds may be used for various purposes in connection with programme preparation and implementation, as well as the general administration of the BIP. In addition, these funds support programme management and may be used, for example, to cover staff costs such as student assistants, materials, room rent, public relations, hospitality (partial), activities, etc.

Further information will be provided to you by email upon request or following the allocation of BIP funds.

You can provide feedback on your Erasmus+ activity via TH Köln's feedback management system – please feel free to share positive comments if you felt well supported. Complaints or suggestions for improvement can also be submitted there in a factual manner and, if you wish, anonymously.