International Office

Erasmus+

As an enrolled student at Alanus University, you can receive funding through the Erasmus+ funding program for studying or for an internship abroad.

PROMOS

The PROMOS funding program also opens doors to a stay abroad as part of your studies.

Self-organized stay abroad

If you are planning a semester abroad at a university that does not have a cooperation agreement with Alanus University, you can organize your stay abroad independently. However, please note that a self-organized stay abroad comes with some disadvantages:

• The entire preparation and organization of your stay lies solely in your hands (contact with the host university, enrollment, travel planning, international health insurance, accommodation)
• You must bear all costs associated with your stay abroad yourself, such as tuition fees, travel costs, visa, vaccinations, insurance, and accommodation.
• It is possible that credits earned at the host university may not be recognized by Alanus University. Please contact your department in advance.

BAföG for studying abroad

Even if you do not receive domestic BAföG, you can apply for BAföG for studying abroad as financial support. Please note that scholarships are counted toward BAföG entitlement: merit-based scholarships, such as those from the DAAD, are exempt from consideration up to an amount of 300.00 euros.

Please also note that different central foreign offices in Germany are responsible for BAföG funding abroad depending on the destination country.

Further funding opportunities

A stay abroad for study purposes involves a number of costs. However, there are now numerous ways to receive financial support. For many scholarships, good grades are not the only factor—often your personality or your social or political commitment is more important. You can find more information here:

• DAAD scholarship database
• Organizations for the promotion of gifted students

Step 1: Advising at the International Office, selection of your preferred top 3 partner universities

Step 2: Application to the International Office

• Application form including a letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Language certificate or comparable proof of proficiency in the language of the host country or the language of instruction, at least at level B1 (school leaving certificate is accepted)
• Transcript of records from Flexnow (master’s applicants should include a copy of their bachelor’s degree certificate)

Step 3: Selection by Alanus University and nomination to the partner university

• Candidates are nominated by the International Office for student exchange at their preferred university. In the selection process, first preference is considered first, and depending on the number of applicants, second and third preferences may also be considered. By submitting a declaration of acceptance, you confirm that you accept the offer.
• After nomination, the partner university may request additional documents from you.

Step 4: Determination of the learning agreement, scholarship agreement, payment of funding, preparation

• With the help of the Erasmus departmental coordinator in your department (see below), you prepare the Online Learning Agreement (OLA) in the relevant database. It is signed by you, the Erasmus departmental coordinator, and the partner university and guarantees the automatic recognition of academic achievements completed abroad. You will receive instructions.
• Issue of the Grant Agreement (funding contract) by the International Office, original signature by both parties
• Participation in the mandatory preparatory Zoom session organized by the International Office on intercultural and organizational topics relating to your stay abroad, including BAföG for studying abroad, health, accident and liability insurance, vaccinations, and the website of the Federal Foreign Office (travel and safety information).

Please note that 70% of your funding amount will be paid out before your stay abroad. The remaining 30% will be paid after the end of your stay.

Erasmus departmental coordinators

Internships abroad within the EU can be funded through the Erasmus+ program. Here you can find information on the conditions and the amount of funding rates.

In rare cases, internships in non-European countries can be funded through the PROMOS program; this depends on the budget available to the university in each case.

Alanus University offers you the opportunity to remain enrolled for one semester without tuition fees if you would like to complete a so-called graduate internship directly after your bachelor’s or master’s degree. The prerequisite is that you apply to the International Office before your graduation, no later than two months before departure. Otherwise, the same rules apply to the graduate internship as to an internship abroad during your studies.

You can apply for an internship abroad at any time, but all application documents must be submitted to the International Office no later than two months before departure.

Step 1 Advising at the International Office, research tips

Step 2 Research internship positions and apply there

Step 3 Acceptance confirmation from the internship provider with signature / function and logo as well as the exact internship period to the International Office

Step 4 Complete the application form and submit it to the International Office.

Here you can find the checklist for internships abroad.

The Study Buddy program, coordinated by the International Office, promotes intercultural exchange between international and local students. Its aim is to make it easier for international students to settle into everyday life in Germany and at Alanus University. For you as a local student, the program offers a great opportunity to gain intercultural experience and prepare for your own stay abroad!

As a local buddy, you are the contact person for your international buddy: for example, you help with arrival (e.g. picking them up from the train station). You are also welcome to communicate in advance by email. In addition, you will meet with your buddy during the semester. How you organize the meetings—whether you want to have a coffee, improve language skills, or cook together—is up to you. Meetings in larger groups (e.g. taking them to parties) give your buddy the opportunity to quickly get to know more people.

Who can participate?
Anyone can take part and decide for themselves how much they want to contribute. The program is aimed at students from all fields of study!

Certificate of participation
If you are regularly involved, you will receive a certificate of participation from us, which can be useful, for example, when applying for scholarships.

How can I register?
Please fill out the registration form (here if you are a local Alanus student and here if you are international) and drop it in the International Office mailbox at Campus II (with the mailboxes in the foyer) or send it digitally to international.office@alanus.edu.

In order to study in Alfter as an exchange student, your university must be an official partner university of Alanus University.

Language skills
To participate in most courses at Alanus University, you need very good German language skills. However, the Business department also offers a selection of courses in English.

Procedure at your home university
Please discuss your plans with your department. They will then contact the International Office at your home university. If the decision is positive, the International Office at your home university will inform the International Office at Alanus University.

Procedure at Alanus University
Only after contact has been established between the International Offices of your home university and Alanus University should you complete the application form. The current application forms will be sent to you on request by the International Office at Alanus University.

Applications for the spring semester (starting in March of a given year) must be submitted no later than November 15 of the previous year.

Applications for the autumn semester (starting in September of a given year) must be submitted no later than April 15 of the same year.

You can obtain the current application form as well as information about the courses offered on request from the International Office.

The final course catalogs will be posted as soon as possible, at the latest by mid-August (for the winter semester) and mid-February (for the summer semester); they are not available any earlier even to local students. Please contact the International Office for the course catalogs from previous semesters.

Here you can also find an overview of which courses are usually offered:

• Department 01 Fine Arts
• Department 02 Performing Arts, Acting, Eurythmy
• Department 03 Architecture Bachelor’s: Module handbook; Curriculum plan
• Department 04 Artistic Therapies and Therapy Sciences
• Department 05 Education

Studying in Germany is expensive. Monthly expenses amount to at least 992 euros for rent, food, insurance, clothing, leisure, books, internet, and transport.

International students must already prove for the visa and residence permit that they have sufficient financial means. German authorities currently require proof of 11,904 euros per academic year.

Scholarship database
In the scholarship database of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), you can search for funding opportunities.
Please also ask at your home university about funding options and scholarships for studying abroad.

STIBET contact scholarship
Students from overseas partner universities who do not receive financial support from their home university may be funded by Alanus University with a STIBET contact scholarship. If you are interested, please contact the International Office.

Information on the current visa regulations can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. Exchange students require a visa for study purposes unless they are citizens of a Schengen Area country.

Important information on applying for a visa

• A valid passport is required to apply for a visa.
• A visa must be applied for early, as processing can take several months. Entry into Germany is not possible without a valid visa.
• Students require a student visa (not a tourist or language-course visa!). For part-time students, these visas are only issued if important family-related or health-related reasons can be demonstrated.
• Students must first properly enroll at the university in order to apply for a residence permit for study purposes.

Documents for the visa application

• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of financing
• Proof of previous academic achievements
• Proof of existing German language skills or planned language course
• Letter of admission from the university or notification of expected admission

All international students in Germany need valid health insurance, which is a prerequisite for enrollment and residence authorization.

In Germany, there are two types of insurance.

Statutory health insurance

Contributions for statutory health insurance average between 110.00 and 120.00 euros per month.

Here is a list of statutory health insurance providers.

Notes

• Students with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) do not need to take out additional insurance. It is sufficient to send a scan of the card to a German health insurance provider and have the exemption from mandatory insurance confirmed.
• Students from countries that have a social security agreement with Germany (e.g. Switzerland, Turkey) must inform their home insurance provider about their stay abroad and ask whether the insurance coverage also applies in Germany. The provider can issue a form with which a German health insurance provider can confirm the exemption from mandatory insurance.

Private health insurance

Private health insurance can only be taken out under certain conditions. Both the insurance benefits and the amount of contributions to be paid are determined individually.

Here is a list of private health insurance providers.

Further information on health insurance for international students can be found on the website of the German National Association for Student Affairs (English) as well as on the website of the DAAD. The International Office will be happy to advise you on this.

If you are coming to Alanus University through Erasmus funding under “Fewer Opportunities,” please inform the International Office about your individual needs. We have very strong local and regional networks regarding support options, specific advice, etc. (e.g. childcare options).

On the following pages you will find all important information about accommodation as well as information on various housing options. Please note that the International Office does not arrange apartments or rooms. Alanus University cooperates with the student residence at Campus II. You are also welcome to create a notice, which we will post for you.

You can find offers, among others, on the following pages:

• Studierendenwerk Bonn Housing
• Room available?!
• WG gesucht.de

Important note on registration law
Anyone moving into an apartment must register with the relevant residents’ registration office within two weeks of the move-in date. If you live in Bonn, this is the Bonn Citizens’ Office, and in Alfter the Alfter Citizens’ Office. Further information is provided by the DAAD.

The requirements and procedure differ depending on the degree program. Please inform yourself on the relevant pages of the degree programs.

Selection criteria
Please note that you must have sufficient German language skills, both spoken and written. Here you can find an overview of the required language skills.

International students seeking a degree are asked to obtain information about admission requirements and the application procedure exclusively through the general study advising. Please contact one of the colleagues.

All international students in Germany need valid health insurance, which is a prerequisite for enrollment and residence authorization.

In Germany, there are two types of insurance.

Statutory health insurance

Contributions for statutory health insurance average between 110.00 and 120.00 euros per month.

Here is a list of statutory health insurance providers.

Notes

• Students with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) do not need to take out additional insurance. It is sufficient to send a scan of the card to a German health insurance provider and have the exemption from mandatory insurance confirmed.
• Students from countries that have a social security agreement with Germany (e.g. Switzerland, Turkey) must inform their home insurance provider about their stay abroad and ask whether the insurance coverage also applies in Germany. The provider can issue a form with which a German health insurance provider can confirm the exemption from mandatory insurance.

Private health insurance

Private health insurance can only be taken out under certain conditions. Both the insurance benefits and the amount of contributions to be paid are determined individually.

Here is a list of private health insurance providers.

Further information on health insurance for international students can be found on the website of the German National Association for Student Affairs (English) as well as on the DAAD website. The International Office will be happy to advise you on this.

Studying in Germany is expensive. Monthly expenses amount to at least 992 euros for rent, food, insurance, clothing, leisure, books, internet, and transport. At least 11,904 euros per academic year must be proven to the German authorities as proof of financing. At the private Alanus University, the tuition fees for the chosen bachelor’s or master’s program are added to this.

International students must already prove for the visa and residence permit that they have sufficient financial means.

Alanus International Scholarship

The Alanus International Scholarship is funded by the Alanus Foundation and is aimed at students with foreign citizenship who obtained their higher education entrance qualification abroad.

Types of scholarships

• Degree completion scholarships (bachelor’s and master’s)
• Scholarships for students with special commitment

Funding conditions

• Bachelor’s students can only receive a scholarship if they have completed at least two semesters at Alanus University.
• Master’s students and doctoral candidates can already receive funding in their second semester at Alanus University.

Funding period

The funding period is a maximum of 5 months. In the case of degree completion scholarships, funding ends no later than the month of the final examination or the submission of the final thesis.

Selection and criteria

The scholarship recipients are selected by a committee appointed annually. Depending on the type of scholarship, the primary selection criteria are:

• Academic performance
• Commitment (preferably within the university and in an intercultural context)
• Motivation
• Secondary criterion: financial need

Next application round until February 16, 2026

The next application round for the Alanus International Scholarship (STIBET I) for undergraduate international students, scholarships with support services, and degree completion scholarships is currently open.

The application deadline is Sunday, February 16, 2025.

Please send the completed application documents, consisting of the application form and the reference, to the International Office.

DAAD Prize

The DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements by international students is awarded every year as part of the ceremony for the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and special cultural and political commitment on the part of international students.

Each department can nominate one person from the student body for the selection. The prize winner is selected by a committee of professors.

On the following pages you will find all important information about accommodation as well as information on various housing options. Please note that the International Office does not arrange apartments or rooms. Alanus University cooperates with the student residence at Campus II. You are also welcome to create a notice, which we will post for you.

• Studierendenwerk Bonn Housing
• Room available?!
• WG gesucht.de

Important note on registration law
Anyone moving into an apartment must register with the relevant residents’ registration office within two weeks of the move-in date. If you live in Bonn, this is the Bonn Citizens’ Office, and in Alfter the Alfter Citizens’ Office. Further information is provided by the DAAD.