Scholarships for Studying Abroad

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 study 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.

Application

Please be aware of the different application deadlines:

• 31 March 2025: Application deadline for students who were admitted to a non-European exchange program with their studies starting in the fall semester 25/26 or who are planning a free mover stay in a non-European country for that period.

• 15 October2025: Application deadline for students who were admitted to a non-European exchange program with their studies starting in the spring semester 26 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  to promosmail-uni-mannheim.de in due time:

•  Application form ( Word document (DOCX, 7 MB)  /   PDF document) (PDF, 152 kB)
• 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 and extra-curricular activities will be evaluated.

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

• 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.