Erasmus+ Studying in Europe

In addition to academic suitability, certain conditions must be met in order to participate in Erasmus+.

•     Your degree program must lead to a state-recognized university degree from TH Köln.
•     Participation in the Erasmus+ programme is possible from the first semester onwards.
•     You must still have funding available for a further Erasmus+ grant.
•     You should have a good command of the language of the host country or of English.

The duration of the study abroad period must be at least 2 months and may not exceed 12 months. Short-term physical mobility is possible during a PhD. In combination with a virtual phase, students who are unable to undertake long-term mobility can undertake what is known as ‘blended short mobility’. Participation in a blended intensive programme also offers a good opportunity to gain initial experience abroad during your studies. You can receive up to 360 days of Erasmus+ funding during each of your study cycles – Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD.

The host country may vary. For example, during a Bachelor’s degree, you could study for 5 months at a partner university in France and 5 months at a partner university in Poland. Following this, a further 2-month Erasmus+ funded internship in Sweden would be possible. Find out more under Internships Abroad.

Student exchanges under the KA131 Erasmus+ programme are based on bilateral cooperation agreements, known as inter-institutional agreements, which are in place between the faculties and institutes of TH Köln and a partner university abroad.

On our World map you can find out about the exchange cooperations available for your degree program.

You will also find Testimonials from students who have already been "mobile". These first-hand reports are an invaluable source of information and will inspire you to go abroad too.

If you are interested in a university that does not have a partnership with your faculty, but is a partner institution, please feel free to contact us. In consultation with the relevant faculty and the partner university, we can often arrange to "borrow" unused places.

Useful information, such as links to course catalogues, language requirements and the application process for partner universities, can be found on the world map under the respective universities. Here you will find the factsheets and information sent to us by the partner universities. First, select a country or a specific university. Clicking the ‘Show details’ button will take you to a list overview. To view the stored information, click on the ‘i’ icons next to the country or university name.

The application process for an Erasmus+ study place consists of two steps.

1. The Erasmus+ coordinator of each faculty will provide academic support. You should start preparing around one year before your planned stay abroad. Depending on the faculty, there may be specific application deadlines, so you must always discuss your plans to study abroad with your departmental coordinator first. The departmental coordinators will also inform you of the academic selection criteria and the application documents to be submitted. At some faculties and institutes, the selection and allocation of places takes place before registration on the Mobility Online portal; at others, you register directly in Mobility Online and the selection and allocation of places takes place there. Your departmental coordinator will let you know which process applies to you. Registration in Mobility Online is mandatory in all cases if you are going on a semester abroad. 

Faculties with high mobility figures and compulsory semesters abroad have clearly defined application procedures, which you can find on your faculty’s website. If you are interested in an optional study period abroad, please speak to your departmental coordinator first and seek advice on your options. You can then apply for one of the partnership places via our Mobility Online administration platform, provided you meet the academic and language requirements. Should there be more applicants than places at individual universities, or if you are unable to meet the language requirements of the partner universities, we will discuss the options available to you in joint meetings and seek suitable alternatives. After the application deadline, the departmental coordinators, together with the International Mobility team, will assess the applications and allocate the available places according to your preferences and qualifications.

2. The International Mobility Team within the Department of International Affairs is responsible for the administrative support of your mobility and the Erasmus+ grants. In the spring (for the coming winter semester) and autumn (for the summer semester), we will contact the selected students and invite them to attend mandatory online information sessions. All the administrative steps for your stay abroad will be explained, and you will be fully informed about funding opportunities and processes under the Erasmus+ programme. To give you the opportunity to exchange ideas with former Erasmus+ students, the digital information days ‘Go Global’ takes place twice a year, during which our returnees share their experiences abroad. 

The staff of the Department of International Affairs will provide administrative support throughout your period of study abroad, whilst the departmental coordinators will offer academic guidance. All processes have been digitised, and your mobility, including all application documents, is managed via the software Mobility-Online – this covers both administrative paperwork and your academic documents, such as the Learning Agreement. You must therefore register if you are planning a period of study abroad. Once you have registered, the staff of the Department of International Affairs, can support and advise you before, during and after your mobility. 

Extension of the stay abroad

An extension of the study stay at the host university is possible. You need to discuss with the host university and the home faculty whether there are still sufficient places and time available for an extension. The extension has to be indicated in Mobility Online. Here you will also see all the necessary steps for the extension, which you should complete promptly in order to get Erasmus+ funding for an additional semester.

Application documents

For the application and implementation of your Erasmus+ study period, the following documents are required in Mobility Online as part of your pre-mobility application. All documents are created or uploaded exclusively in Mobility Online:

Before the mobility:

•     Passport photo (optional)
•     Curriculum vitae
•     Letter of motivation
•     Academic transcript (Notenspiegel)
•     Certificate of enrolment (for the semester you will be spending abroad)
•     Grant Agreement (GA) – generated in Mobility Online. Available for download there. Must be submitted by email with your handwritten signature.

During your mobility :

•     Confirmation of Arrival (CoA) – confirmation of when you arrived at the host university and how long you expect to stay
•     Digital Learning Agreement During Mobility (DLA DTM) – only if you wish to or need to make changes to your course selection

After the mobility :

To complete the mobility process, you must upload the following documents to Mobility Online:

•     Letter of Confirmation (LoC) from TH Köln – BOTH signatures must appear on ONE LoC.
•     Certificate of Attendance (English) / Certificat de Participation (French) / Certificado de Asistencia (Spanish) – (optional in each case)
•     EU online questionnaire (EU Survey) – to be completed online upon receiving an email request from the EU! The invitation will be issued around the end date you specified on the LoC
•     Detailed experience report
•     Learning Agreement – After the Mobility (LA ATM) – Records the recognition of academic achievements completed abroad at TH Köln
•     Transcript of records (TOR) – issued by the host university and is your academic transcript for the semester abroad

Some faculties, departments and degree programs at TH Köln have their own, separate application deadlines for exchange places, which you must take into account. To be eligible for funding under the Erasmus+ programme, your complete application must be submitted via Mobility Online by the deadlines listed below at the latest.

Winter semester: March 15

Summer semester: September 15

Your departmental coordinator and the staff of the Department of International Affairs will be pleased to inform and advise you.

Promoting language proficiency and language acquisition is one of the core objectives of Erasmus+ mobility. In the current programme cycle, online language support is provided via the EU’s Online Language Support (OLS) for beneficiaries of both funding streams (Erasmus+ in Europe KA131 and Erasmus+ Worldwide KA171). You can use the platform both to assess your current language level via a placement test and to expand your language skills in so-called language communities.

Most partner universities will expect a certain level of proficiency in either the local language or in English. This is usually a B1 level in the main language of instruction according to the CEFR, but may vary. You should therefore start your language preparation in good time, enrol on a language course at the Language Learning Centre at TH Köln, or use the OLS platform. A sound knowledge of the local language increases your chances of securing one of the highly sought-after exchange places.

You can find information from partner universities regarding required language skills via the world map by clicking on the ‘i’ icon next to your chosen university. If the partner university has sent us materials, we will upload them here for you. The experience reports from former outbound students are also helpful. If you cannot find the information you need, please contact the host institution or the staff of the TH Köln Mobility Team.

Online Language Support learning content:
The open area provides some basic language learning content. Here, teaser and taster videos are gradually made available, introducing the languages and some elementary aspects of language learning.
The second area, also called the core area, provides Erasmus+ participants with access to Online Language Support. In the core area, additional features are available, such as the placement tests for Erasmus+ participants (so-called self-assessments) or the designation of a community manager who can support participants in their language learning. In the core area, the language offering will be expanded to 29 languages and additional learning levels and content will also be developed.

What you need to know:

Before your mobility period begins, your university’s Erasmus+ team will also send you a further email inviting you to register on the EU Academy’s OLS. By clicking on this hyperlink, grant recipients are taken directly to the main section of the OLS, where they can access the learning materials and complete self-assessments.

Access to the Online Language Platform is valid for three years.

Before your study period, it is also possible to take a language course abroad. The duration of the language course may also be funded, but only within the maximum funding period applicable in the relevant funding year. An official confirmation of successful participation and the duration of the course must be submitted to the Department of International Affairs. Costs for language courses cannot be covered.

You may also include a language course in your Learning Agreement; it will be accepted towards the minimum requirement of 20 ECTS credits from confirmed and documented courses taken during the optional semester abroad. 

•     Guaranteed scholarship of at least €540 per month, depending on the destination        country
•     Exemption from tuition fees at the host university
•     Simplified enrolment procedure at the host university
•     Academic contacts at the host university and at TH Köln
•     Support with language preparation
•     Academic recognition of credits earned abroad

If you are studying abroad through Erasmus+, you will receive a financial grant – known as the mobility grant. This is intended to help cover additional costs during your stay abroad.

The monthly grant amount is based on the cost of living in the respective destination country and is set by the EU.

Limit on the duration of funding

Due to limited approved funds, it may be the case that not the entire stay can be financially supported. This may vary in each funding year; in the past, the maximum funding had to be limited to 120 days (2023/24) and 150 days (2024/25 and 2025/26). 

What does this mean for you? Example: 
You spend 160 days at your host university. However, TH Köln can only provide financial support for 150 days. The remaining 10 days are considered ‘zero-grant’ days – this means:

You will not receive any money for these days, but they still count towards your personal funding quota.

In this example, you would still have 200 eligible days remaining after your stay, which you could use, for example, for another Erasmus+ stay within the same study cycle.

The Mobility Team will inform you in good time before the start of your mobility period if there is to be a reduction in the funding period applying to your stay abroad, and will provide information on this in the scholarships section of this website.

Payment of the grant

The grant will be paid in two instalments:

You will receive 80% of the total amount at the start of your semester abroad, and the remaining 20% upon your return – once all the necessary supporting documents and reports have been submitted in full.

If you extend your stay, you will receive an interim payment.

Tax information regarding the Erasmus+ grant

Erasmus+ grants, as mobility grants funded from public funds of the European Commission, are tax-exempt in the Federal Republic of Germany pursuant to §3 (44a) of the German Income Tax Act (EStG).

Furthermore, grants from the EU’s Erasmus+-program do not reduce the education allowances under §33a (2) of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) (judgement of 17 October 2001 [III R 3/01], Federal Fiscal Court in Munich).

In principle, however, an Erasmus+-grant must be reported to the tax office responsible for you, your child benefit office and your health insurance fund.

TH Köln is subject to tax record-keeping and reporting obligations. It therefore submits the following data to the tax authorities annually: first name and surname, address, tax identification number and date of birth of the recipient, type of entitlement, amount and date of payment. In the case of recurring payments, it also provides details of the first payment, the method of payment and the expected duration of the payments.

The scholarship recipient is personally responsible for fulfilling tax record-keeping and reporting obligations to the tax authorities in relation to income from Erasmus+ (§ 12 MV).

From the funding year 2025 onwards, all students receiving Erasmus+ funding will also receive a travel allowance. The amount is based on the distance between TH Köln and the host university and is set by the EU.

Green Travel – Sustainable travel: If you use low-emission transport for travelling to your Erasmus destination – for example, travelling by train, long-distance coach or carpool – you can receive 2, 4 or 6 additional daily allowances on top of the higher travel allowance, depending on the distance.

In concrete terms, this means:

2 travel days: 0 – 499 km between TH Köln and your host university

4 travel days: 500 – 1999 km between TH Köln and your host university

6 travel days: 2000 km or more between TH Köln and your host university

‘Green Travel’ refers to journeys where lower-emission means of transport, such as trains, buses or carpooling, are used for the majority of the journey (more than 50% of the outward and/or return journey). The Erasmus+ programme does not provide a detailed list of means of transport. Air travel is not considered a sustainable means of transport, even if CO₂ emissions are offset.

On the Mobility Online platform, you must indicate at the time of application whether you intend to travel sustainably. You can amend this information at any time before the end of your mobility period, as the grant for travel days is only paid out once the mobility period has concluded. 

To receive the grant, you must upload the Green Travel Declaration of Honour to Mobility Online at the start of your mobility period, and upload proof of travel, such as tickets, at the end of your mobility period. From the 2023 project onwards, the grant recipient’s signature on the document will suffice. Selected students can find the template for the Declaration of Honour in their Mobility Online file under ‘Download Documents’. Students should specify here the means of transport they will mainly use.

TH Köln reserves the right to announce and carry out random checks of travel documents proving sustainable travelling.

The additional travel days do not count towards the minimum or maximum duration of the mobility period or the total Erasmus+ quota per study cycle.

Zero-Grant participants are not entitled to a financial grant for sustainable travel.

Please bear in mind that this is a subsidy. It is not intended to cover your travel costs in full; rather, the travel days are intended to encourage you to consider booking an alternative means of transport at an early stage and to consider the option of a slower journey. 

The advantages of travelling by train are the virtually unlimited luggage allowance and the slower pace of travel.

To travel affordably, those under 27 can use the My Bahncard 25 or 50, which are available at discounted student rates.

An Interrail Pass is also a good option if you want to explore the country first-hand. The Erasmusbytrain project has worked tirelessly to promote the Interrail Pass for young people. 

However, sustainability during a semester abroad involves much more than just the journey there and back. Through the Green Erasmus project, we have compiled lots of helpful and useful tips and information for you here.

A journey on a night train isn’t just an experience; you also save on a night’s stay in a hotel and get closer to your destination more quickly. Many night trains have women-only compartments. The following websites are quite helpful when searching: Trainline Sleeper and Trainline Night Train.

Forming travel groups via - Explore Europe Together with Go2RAIL

TH Köln is a proud member of the Go2UNIS Network, supporting the mission of Go2RAIL – Travel Together – a non-profit tech start-up making student travel across Europe more social, sustainable and accessible.

What is Go2RAIL?
Go2RAIL helps exchange and international students travel together by train through its smart grouping bot that connects students on similar routes. It’s a new way to discover Europe, make friends, and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.

Why Use Go2RAIL?

•     Travel greener by train
•     Connect with fellow students
•     Make journeys safer (night trains)
•     Maximise your exchange experience

🔗 Find out more at www.go2rail.eu
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @go2rail
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: Go2RAIL – Travel Together

Join the movement. Travel together. 🚆

Questions?  Send an email to
outgoings@th-koeln.de

Students from certain target groups may receive additional funding of €250 per month on top of the standard Erasmus+ mobility grant.

You will receive this top-up if you have indicated the relevant need in your Mobility Online application by the deadline prior to the start of your mobility period.

The following target groups are generally eligible for the top-up. You can find the detailed social, health or financial criteria in the criteria catalogue linked on this page.

•     Students and graduates with a disability with a GdB 20 or higher
•     Students with a chronic condition (chronic physical or mental illness) resulting in            additional financial needs
•     Students and graduates undertaking their period abroad with a child or children
•     First-generation university students (students from non-academic family                        backgrounds)
•     Continuously employed students (average salary between €450 and €850 during          the last 6 months prior to the start of the semester abroad)

Special funding in the form of an actual costs application for students

A semester abroad can be very expensive if you anticipate higher financial costs due to a disability or chronic illness. Together with the Erasmus+ university coordinator, you can apply to the NA DAAD for funding to cover your estimated actual costs. 

What does this mean for you?

- Apply for up to an additional €15,000 per semester abroad.

- You must apply very early, as the application process is time-consuming.

- The grant amount is calculated based on your personal needs and is paid in addition to the standard Erasmus+ grant.

Please note that only additional costs can be taken into account which:

•     are not covered by national authorities (integration offices, health insurances, regional associations (Landschaftsverbände), social welfare offices, student services (Studierendenwerke)).
•     are incurred by you as a result of your stay abroad. These include, for example, flight costs and accommodation costs for accompanying assistants or for accessible accommodation.

You may apply for both a Top-Up Fewer Opportunities and a actual costs grant, provided that either two different criteria are met, or the Top-Up and actual costs grants cover different costs.

The application should be submitted to the DAAD by your home university at least two months before your departure. You should therefore contact Ms Knöll well in advance. Compiling a list of additional costs is often more time-consuming than you might expect.

Please submit your application to Janina Knöll, not to the DAAD.

Special funding for students with child/ren

Students who receive funding through Erasmus+ to study abroad and who travel abroad with their child or children can apply for a monthly top-up (top-up for students with fewer opportunities), which is paid in addition to the standard Erasmus+ grant.

Regardless of the number of children travelling with you, the monthly grant amounts to 250 Euro.

In addition, an application for reimbursement of actual costs to cover additional expenses incurred can be submitted no later than two months before the mobility period begins. Please prepare the application in good time in collaboration with the Department of International Affairs. The NA DAAD decides on the approval of the funds.

Further useful information on studying abroad with a child, including internal and external links, can also be found on the following website.

An Erasmus+ mobility grant does not include insurance cover. Neither the European Commission, the DAAD National Agency, nor TH Köln shall be liable for any loss or damage arising from illness, death, accident, personal injury, or loss of or damage to property in connection with Erasmus+ stays abroad (study, placements, visiting lectureships or Erasmus+ training activities).

TH Köln is obliged to ensure that grant recipients have adequate insurance cover and to provide participants with sufficient information regarding the requirements in the host country. We do this at our information sessions for students selected for study abroad and on our websites, as well as in these FAQs.

According to the European Commission, the following insurance cover should be in place:

• Health insurance: As a rule, you will have student insurance, which is also valid in other European countries thanks to the EHIC. Further information can be found on the European Commission’s website.

You can also find information on insurance requirements in your respective host country here.

• Travel insurance (including repatriation from abroad), if applicable. => We also recommend this insurance, so that you can be repatriated to Germany in the event of illness.

• Third-party liability insurance (professional and personal liability, if applicable) => Everyone should have personal liability insurance. Often, parents’ insurance still covers you during your first degree. Please check with your parents or their insurance provider directly to see if this applies to you.

• Insurance for accidents and serious illnesses (including total or partial incapacity to work),

• Life insurance (including repatriation from abroad).

You do not need to have all the courses you take abroad recognised for ECTS credits. Courses that broaden your perspective and knowledge in your field of study and are not offered at TH Köln, or courses that provide insights into potential further fields of study or a planned Master’s programme, are also eligible for funding. Language courses can also be included in the Learning Agreement to help you improve your proficiency in the language of instruction or the local language. Your mobility period will be recorded in your Diploma Supplement – whether or not ECTS credits are recognised – which you will receive upon completion of your studies. In the Learning Agreement During the Mobility, you must record all courses that you have actually taken at the host university, whether you are sitting exams for them or have taken them as additional courses. Further information on credit recognition can also be found on the TH Köln website dealing with the recognition of credits. Here you can find further information on grade conversion.

The Department of International Affairs will issue you with a certificate for application purposes upon request.

You have the opportunity to provide feedback on your Erasmus+ stay via the TH Köln feedback management system. Naturally, we hope that you felt well looked after throughout the entire process and had what is often described as the ‘time of your life’. And if we were able to contribute to that, you are welcome to leave us or your faculty a positive review via the official TH Köln feedback management system.

But sometimes things in life don’t go as we’d hoped. So if you have a valid reason to complain or suggestions for improvement, you can also do so via the feedback management system mentioned above in a factual manner. You may also do so anonymously.

However, you are also welcome to speak to us at any time during our weekly consultation hours if you wish to discuss anything.