The easiest way to go abroad on a scholarship is to apply for one of the Erasmus exchange programs at the University of Mannheim. They usually combine the allocation of a study place abroad with Erasmus funding. However, there are many attractive scholarships available for other destinations. Depending on the scholarship, applications may have to be submitted to the International Office or directly to the respective funding organization.
Tip: The Scholarship Database offered by the German Academic Exchange Service is a helpful search engine.
Also take a look at the funding options for internships abroad or stays abroad as a foreign language instructor (Fremdsprachenassistenz).
Erasmus scholarship
Information on scholarships as part of Erasmus can be found in the Erasmus+ program section.
PROMOS scholarship
Through the PROMOS program, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides financial resources for the funding of shorter stays abroad to higher education institutions in Germany.
Target group
Students in a bachelor’s program who are planning to stay abroad in a non-European country during a semester are eligible to apply for the PROMOS scholarship. This includes exchange semesters as part of a university exchange program as well as study abroad as a free mover. If you have already received a PROMOS scholarship, a second PROMOS scholarship is not allowed.
Students in master’s or state examination programs at the University of Mannheim can apply for a Baden-Württemberg Scholarship for stays in the same countries.
For stays in European countries, only the Erasmus program is available from the University of Mannheim.
ApplicationPlease be aware of the different application deadlines:
- 31 March 2024: Application deadline for students who were admitted to a non-European exchange program with their studies starting in the fall semester 24/
25 or who are planning a free mover stay in a non-European country for that period.
- 15 October2024: Application deadline for students who were admitted to a non-European exchange program with their studies starting in the spring semester 25 or who are planning a free mover stay in a non-European country for that period.
To apply for the PROMOS scholarship, the following documents have to be sent consolidated as one single PDF document via e-mail topromosuni-mannheim.de in due time:
- Application form ( Word document / PDF document)
- Letter of motivation
The letter of motivation (one DIN A4 page) gives a chance to explain your application for a PROMOS scholarship in detail. These questions should help you with the preparation:
What makes you stand out professionally and personally?
What significance does the semester abroad have for your future career?
Why did you choose the country and the host university?
Is there any information that may be important for the decision about the scholarship and not been asked so far?
Please send the letter of motivation to the selection committee.
- Curriculum vitae (without additional documents/
certificates) - Current transcript of records which includes the current average grade (in English or German, printout from Portal2)
- Proof of language proficiency for your host country. Only one copy is needed.
Please use your university e-mail address only to submit your application.
Please note: The application does not require a letter of recommendation! Additional documents and reference letters will not be considered.
The application documents are to be submitted by the application deadline, even if they were previously submitted to the International Office with the application for a placement abroad. Only complete applications will be processed.
Please submit your application documents in the order specified above. Documents out of order will have a negative effect on your application.
Selection process and criteria
Scholarship recipients are selected within two months as of the application deadline. The same criteria apply as were used in determining admission of the applicants to the different exchange programs. These include academic performance, meaning and purpose of the planned stay for the further course of studies, language proficiency required for the planned stay abroad. Additionally, the letter of motivation, extra-curricular activities, and possible funding through another scholarship will be considered.
Scholarship benefits
- The funding period usually is four months (might be shorter for shorter stays)
- Monthly scholarship payment according to the DAAD country rates in 2025
Canada EUR 350 per month Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam EUR 450 per month Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Uruguay, Venzuela EUR 550 per month - The monthly scholarship does not include travel costs.
- Additional support for Promos scholarship holders with disabilities and chronic illnesses: A maximum of 10,000 euros can be granted upon approval to cover additional expenses.
Free movers: Reimbursement or partial funding of tuition fees abroad is not possible.
Combining the PROMOS Scholarship with other scholarships and/
or BAföG Whether the scholarship can be combined with other public funding programs depends on the funding purpose. The funding purpose of the partial PROMOS scholarships is funding the stay abroad. If, for example, another scholarship provides funding only for travel expenses, it can be combined with the partial scholarship. However, if a scholarship has the same purpose of funding the stay abroad, you cannot receive additional funding through the partial PROMOS scholarship. In this case, you would have to choose between the two scholarships.
Receiving BAföG and the PROMOS scholarship at the same time is possible. Please ask your BAföG office about the effect of the PROMOS scholarship on the amount of BAföG you receive.
Combining the PROMOS scholarship with funding from private organizations is always possible.
Receiving the Deutschland Scholarship and PROMOS funding at the same time is also always possible.
The PROMOS scholarship advertised by the University of Mannheim can be combined with the Fulbright Travel Scholarship.
Please keep in mind that you will have to notify other sponsors of being funded by the PROMOS scholarship.
I would be happy to help you with your questions about the PROMOS scholarship:
- 31 March 2024: Application deadline for students who were admitted to a non-European exchange program with their studies starting in the fall semester 24/
Baden-Württemberg Scholarship
The Baden-Württemberg Scholarship supports highly qualified German and international students in their exchange abroad. General information on the program, events and more can be found on the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship website.
Every year, the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung enables about 1,200 young people from all over the world to go abroad through the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship. Students from any program who want to use their semester at a partner university abroad to develop their subject knowledge and intercultural competencies, as well as students from partner universities who want to spend a semester at the University of Mannheim are eligible for the program. The foundation is not affiliated with a political party and is active in the areas of research, education, society and culture. It is their mission to promote a sustainable and forward-thinking Land of Baden-Württemberg.
Target group
Only students in a master’s or state examination program at the University of Mannheim who are planning a stay abroad outside of Europe during the fall and/
or spring semester are eligible to apply for the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship. Free movers cannot apply. Students in a bachelor’s program at the University of Mannheim can apply for the PROMOS Scholarship for a stay abroad in the same countries.
For stays in European countries, only the Erasmus program is available from the University of Mannheim.
Application
Please be aware of the different application deadlines:
- 31 March 2024: Application deadline for students who were admitted to a non-European exchange program with their studies starting in the fall semester 2024.
- 15 October 2024: Application deadline for students who were admitted to a non-European exchange program with their studies starting in the spring semester 2025.
Applications are to be submitted
1. online to the BWS-World portal of the Baden-Württemberg-Stiftung
and
2. via e-mail as one consolidated PDF document to BWStipendiumuni-mannheim.de
The following documents are required:
Application form (Word / pdf ) 1st page of your PDF application, only has to be sent via e-mail in the pdf document, not to be uploaded on the BWS World website Application letter 2nd page of your application in the consolidated PDF document and to be uploaded on the BWS World website.
The letter of motivation (one DIN A4 page) gives a chance to explain your application for a Baden-Württemberg scholarship in detail. These questions should help you with the preparation:
What makes you stand out professionally and personally?
What significance does the semester abroad have for your future career?
Why did you choose the country and the host university?
Is there any information that may be important for the decision about the scholarship and not been asked so far?
Please send the letter of motivation to the selection committee.
Curriculum Vitae (without any additional documents and certicates) 3rd page of your application in the consolidated PDF document and to be uploaded on the BWS World website Current transcript of records which includes the current average grade In English or German, printout from Portal2
4th page of your application in the consolidated PDF dcoument and to be uploaded on the BWS World website
Please use your university e-mail address only to submit your application.
Please note: The application does not require a letter of recommendation!
Additional documents and reference letters will not be considered.
The application documents are to be submitted by the application deadline. Only complete applications will be processed.
Selection process
Scholarship recipients are selected by the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung after pre-selection by the University of Mannheim. Scholarship notifications will be sent out in July for the fall semester and in December for the spring semester.
Scholarship benefits
- The funding period usually is four months (might be shorter for shorter stays)
- The monthly scholarship payment amounts to EUR 600
Report
Within four weeks after their return, scholarship recipients have to write a report on their experiences while studying abroad for the BWS-World portal to complete the scholarship program.
Combining the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship with other scholarships and/
or BAföG Students who are funded by other scholarships for stays abroad cannot be granted the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship for the same time period. It does not matter whether funding is provided by a public or private funding organization. Scholarships for other purposes or in the form of additional funding (for example grants for travel expenses, free student housing) do not interfere with the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship. Therefore, for example, a combination with the Fulbright Travel Scholarship is possible.
Please keep in mind that you will have to notify other sponsors of being funded by the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship.
Receiving BAföG and the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship at the same time is possible. Please ask your BAföG office about the effect of the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship on the amount of BAföG you receive.
I would be happy to help you with your questions about the Baden-Württemberg scholarship:
DAAD scholarships
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the biggest funding organization for the international exchange of students and researchers worldwide. The DAAD does not only offer scholarship programs, their website also provides the most comprehensive information on stays abroad. In addition to funding programs, the website contains country-specific information, lists of helpful links as well as many useful tips on studying abroad, internships abroad and learning foreign languages.
The DAAD one-year scholarships are especially appealing. All scholarships offered by the DAAD can be found on the scholarship database (available in German only). There, you can enter your search criteria. Be aware that the “Undergraduates” status applies to students in bachelor’s programs and the “Graduates” status to students studying in master’s programs. The search results contain all scholarship options available to you, including scholarships offered by other organizations collaborating with the DAAD.
Under certain conditions, students who are not German citizens can also apply for scholarships, provided that they are enrolled in a program of study at a German higher education institution. As this website is available in German only, please contact us if you require assistance.
Foundations
If your studies in Germany are funded e.g. by the scholarship from a foundation it is likely that your funding organization will also grant funding for your stay abroad. The governmental Internet portal for the promotion of young talent gives an overview of the organizations supporting especially gifted students.
Some organizations for the promotion of young talent also offer special programs for stays abroad that do not require being admitted into a scholarship program beforehand. Check out the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (available in German only) and the programs captioned “Promoting future generations” offered by the Haniel Foundation.
Scholarships of universities abroad
It is rare that host universities grant scholarships to their exchange students. If the International Office is aware of such cases, we let the eligible students know. In some cases, scholarships may be granted to degree-seeking students (bachelor's or master’s programs) studying abroad. You will be provided information by the respective university abroad you are applying at for admission.
Country- or region-specific funding
You are looking for scholarships available for your host country? Find out more on the country-specific funding page.
The PROMOS scholarship supported me well during my semester abroad in Australia. The application requirements for the scholarship are very clear and easy to meet. I particularly like that it is possible to apply for a scholarship on short notice and that the academic achievements as well as the letter of motivation are taken into account when scholarships are being awarded. I very much appreciated the financial support. In an expensive country like Australia, the grant allowed me to participate in some cultural events outside the university. I can only recommend applying for the PROMOS scholarship.
We are happy to help you:
Study abroad advisor for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Austria
Study abroad advisor for France, Italy, and Switzerland
Study abroad advisor for Northern and Eastern Europe
Study abroad advisor for USA, Canada, and Israel
Study abroad advisor for Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Study abroad advisor for Spain, Portugal and Latin America
Advice on selecting courses and recognition of examinations and coursework
If you have any questions regarding your stay abroad, here you can find the respective competent contact person at your school. They will advise you on any study-related aspects of your stay abroad, including the question of when a stay abroad can be best integrated in your degree program.
