Internship overseas

The search for an internship takes place independently. On our main page on internships abroad, we have listed a number of portals and providers that can help you find a suitable placement. Narrow down your project in terms of time and region to make your search easier. Don't hesitate to send unsolicited applications to companies or contact the specified contact persons directly.

Also discuss the suitability of your internship with the person responsible in your degree program if it is an Obligatory internship. Your professors or supervisors may also have tips or good experiences that you can benefit from when looking for a placement.

There are two application deadlines per year for applying for a PROMOS scholarship for your internship abroad:

March 01 for internships starting between August and December of the same year

September 01 for internships starting between January and July of the following year

You apply to us via the Mobility Online portal.

You can apply for PROMOS internship funding if the following criteria apply to you and your internship:

• You are completing an internship of at least six weeks and a maximum of six months outside the European Union and associated Erasmus+ partner countries
• You are enrolled at our university during the internship
• You have sufficient knowledge of the national or working language
• A professor approves of your internship stay
• Intercultural preparation should have taken place

You apply via Mobility Online.

You must submit the following documents with your application:

• Curriculum vitae
• Overview of achievements
• Letter of motivation in English, describing the purpose and aim of your foreign stays. The added value of the foreign stays and your personal motivation should be convincingly explained. Indicate preparatory seminars (intercultural and language preparation) and information events, commitment and activities within the university. The justification of the study plan should not exceed 2 pages.
• List of outstanding achievements up to the start of the semester abroad
• Expert opinion/recommendation from a professor
• Confirmation of internship
• Language certificate

After the application has been reviewed (after the application deadline), a selection will be made from all PROMOS applicants. You will then receive an acceptance or rejection letter. If you are accepted, we will provide you with your scholarship agreement in Mobility Online, which you must complete, sign and submit in the original (on paper) to the International Office before the start of your foreign stays.

PROMOS scholarship holders can receive funding for a maximum of six months. The monthly funding rate depends on the host country in which you complete your internship. In most cases, however, the funding amounts to €350 per month (for more detailed information: PROMOS funding rates by country). Half months can also be funded on a pro rata basis.

HAW Kiel receives its own PROMOS budget every year, which can be used to fund both semesters abroad and internships abroad for HAW students overseas. After the application deadline, a selection committee reviews all applications and selects the best candidates.

The following criteria are taken into consideration when selecting the scholarship holders

• Quality of the application documents
• Academic achievements
• Recommendation by a professor
• Personal motivation
• Social commitment
• Knowledge of the national language/working language
• Intercultural preparation

The better you score on these criteria, the higher your chances of receiving funding. Depending on the size of the budget and the number of applicants, the International Office reserves the right to set a maximum funding period so that more students can be funded.

If your internship is not remunerated, it can be difficult to finance the journey to the host country and the cost of living there. In addition to PROMOS, which is awarded by our university, you can also apply for other scholarships and BAföG abroad. In these cases, the application is not made via the International Office, but via the relevant authorities.

Here are a few funding options/examples:

• BAföG abroad. Students who spend time abroad during their studies can apply for BAföG abroad. Different funding rates and assessment criteria apply here than for domestic BAföG. Students who are not entitled to BAföG in Germany may therefore also have the opportunity to receive financial support abroad.
  Important: You do not necessarily have to apply for BAföG abroad at the Studierendenwerk SH. Other Studierendenwerke or offices are responsible for each region of the world. You can find more information on the application requirements at the Association of Student Services and at http://www.auslandsbafoeg.de/.
  
  You can also apply for Auslands-BAföG in addition to a scholarship. 300 € of your monthly approved funding amount is free of charge.
  
• Overview of further funding opportunities. On this page we present some scholarship programs.
  
• Scholarship database of the DAAD. In addition to "haw.international" (see above under funding opportunities), the German Academic Exchange Service awards many regional or thematic scholarships. The scholarship database can be filtered by destination country and other parameters.

An internship in a non-European country and the application for funding require time and good advance planning:

• As the application deadlines for PROMOS are only twice a year, it is advisable to plan well in advance and collect the necessary documents early on . The application deadline for other scholarships (e.g. haw.international) is also often well in advance of the actual foreign stays. When planning your application, please bear in mind that you will also be dependent on other bodies (e.g. professors) to provide you with the necessary documents and that this may result in waiting times depending on the timing and workload.
• It is particularly important to have sufficient health, accident and liability insurance when abroad, as you will not usually be able to use your European health card. This can result in high costs in the event of an emergency. Talk to your host company about insurance during working hours and take out international health insurance that is valid in your host country.
• Check your vaccinations: In tropical regions in particular, vaccinations appropriate to the region are mandatory or at least recommended.
• Check whether you need a visa for your host country for the duration of your stay. Outside Europe, freedom to travel is not necessarily guaranteed.
• Look for an apartment abroad. This can be done via internet portals or through contacts at your host company. Depending on the region, it may be difficult to find accommodation. Get in touch early on.
• Check whether you have sufficient language skills in the working language of your internship company. The earlier you start planning, the sooner you will have the chance to prepare for your foreign stays with language courses. The ZSIK offers a wide range of language courses.
• Book your arrival and, if necessary, departure early to save money and have planning security. Find out how mobile you will be in the host country and organize your journey to the internship company or place of residence.