Country information and summaries

On the following web pages you can find extensive information about different countries:

• “Länderinformationen” (in German) 
• “Länder entdecken” (in German)
• Country summaries

Study abroad opportunities at one of our international partner institutions

The Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (the Ohm) has cooperation agreements with around 160 partner institutions worldwide of which around 80 are supported under the  EU Erasmus programme .
Our database with an interactive map provides user-oriented navigation through all opportunities for student mobility at the Ohm’s international partner universities; the database is regularly updated.
Based on your degree programme and the country you would like to visit, you will find information about the institutions, possible admission requirements, and information about the semesters at the partner institutions.

Please note that places for exchange students at partner universities are limited and may no longer be available for the summer semester. Only available places for each semester are displayed in the database.
 

Funding opportunities

Funding one or two semesters of study abroad is not always easy, as it is often associated with additional costs. There are however a large number of grants and funding programmes that may provide you with financial support while studying abroad.

A list of selected offers is available below. When applying, make sure that you apply by the relevant deadline, that your application documents are complete, and that you meet all of the funding criteria.

Funding programmes for studying in Europe

• Erasmus+

Funding for one or two semesters of study at one of the Ohm’s partner universities. The amount of funding is determined by the destination country, and students receiving Erasmus grants do not pay any course fees. Students who apply for a semester abroad at one of the Ohm’s Erasmus partner universities will receive all further information and documents related to the Erasmus+ programme in a timely manner via email from the IO at the Ohm. 

• “Deutschlandstipendium”

Only two to three per cent of students in Germany currently receive a grant. That figure is very low compared to other industrialised nations. The Ohm would like to change that and has been issuing “Deutschlandstipendien” to students since winter semester 2011. Information

• British Council

On the British Council’s website, students can search for scholarships and other funding opportunities to support studying in the UK. Information

• BAYHOST

The Bavarian Academic Center for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (BAYHOST) is an institution set up by all universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of the arts in Bavaria and awards grants for study and research stays, summer language courses and internships in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Information

• The GFPS grant programme

The “Gemeinschaft für studentischen Austausch in Mittel - und Osteuropa (GFPS) e.V.” (Association for Student Exchanges in Central and Eastern Europe) awards grants for periods of study in Poland and the Czech Republic. Information

• BFHZ

The Franco-Bavarian University Cooperation Center awards mobility allowances to students at Bavarian universities planning a period of study or taking up an internship at an institution of higher education in France. Information

Funding programmes for studying in Asia, Australia and New Zealand

• BayCHINA

The Bavarian University Center for China awards grants for periods of study, internships, and writing final theses in China. Information

• BayIND

The Bavarian-Indian Center for Business and University Cooperation awards grants for periods of study, research stays, and summer schools in India. Information

• Institut Ranke-Heinemann

Full or partial grants, and grants to cover travel costs for a period of study in Australia or New Zealand Information

• GOstralia!

Full or partial grants, and grants to cover travel costs for a period of study in Australia

Dates vary, depending on the issuing university Information

Funding programmes for study in North, Central, or South America

• Fulbright

The German-American Fulbright Commission awards grants for periods of study at US universities and grants to cover travel costs. Information                                                                                                     

• Institut Ranke-Heinemann

Grants for a period of study in Canada Information

• BAYLAT

The Bavarian Academic Center for Latin America awards grants for periods of study, internships, and writing final theses in Latin America. Information (in german)

Funding programmes for study worldwide

• PROMOS: A programme to enhance student mobility

Grants and travel cost allowances for periods of study or internships for students from the Ohm, worldwide. These are issued by the International Office at the Ohm. Information and Applying (In german)

• Fonds Hochschule International

The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts awards grants to encourage students to undertake periods of study or internships abroad. The grant is awarded by the International Office at Nuremberg Tech. Requirements: The grant is awarded based on need. Students must have completed all of their basic modules and have achieved a good academic performance.

The application must be made before the stay abroad begins. Applications submitted after the stay abroad has concluded will not be considered. Information (In german)

• UAS.International: study abroad semesters and foreign research visits for final theses

Universities of applied sciences are highly regarded in Germany and around the world, especially for their practical orientation. The DAAD is helping students at universities of applied sciences carry out study and research visits abroad and supports the universities in cultivating collaborations with international partners.  Information​​​​​​​ (In german)

• DAAD

The German Academic Exchange Service is the first port of call when it comes to organising periods of study abroad. It provides a database of grants, ranging from grants for a full year in any country and any subject, grants for combined study and internships abroad, grants for language courses, etc. Information

• Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation)

This organisation awards grants for periods of study and research, as well as for internships abroad (Europe, Asia, USA). Information

• MyStipendium grant database

An extensive database listing funding opportunities and grants for periods spent abroad Information

• Associations providing grants for outstanding students

These associations award grants and provide study support for periods spent abroad. Information

Funding by means of BAföG for study abroad and loans

• BAföG for study abroad

Even students who are not entitled to receive BAföG in Germany can in some cases apply for BAföG for study abroad. Over and above the funding provided to students studying in Germany, BAföG for study abroad can also include allowances for travel costs, health insurance, and a supplement for studying abroad. Different BAföG abroad offices are responsible for awarding grants, depending on the destination country.

Applications must be submitted at least 6 months before the stay abroad commences. Information     

• Educational loan

The German Federal Government has set up a system of educational loans for students undertaking advanced level studies: a total loan amount of 1,000 euros to 7,200 euros, optionally available in 24 monthly instalments of 100 euros, 200 euros or 300 euros, a very favourable interest rate, simple to apply for online, repayments are not required until four years after the first amount was paid out, and a low monthly repayment rate amounting to 120 euros. Information  

• Student loan from KfW Bank

The KfW Banking Group issues student loans for studies and internships (including abroad) during the advanced stage of the degree programme. Information

Linguistic proficiency

When submitting your application for a semester abroad, you will be required to provide evidence of a good knowledge in the teaching language of the partner university (Level B2/C1). The specific language requirements are set by the individual partner universities or exchange programmes themselves.
At many partner universities, courses are conducted in the English language.
It is however recommended to acquire a basic knowledge of the national language of the country concerned before applying, as it won’t always be possible to get by in everyday life using English.

In many cases, partner universities will test your linguistic proficiency again at the start of the semester abroad. When applying for a grant or a BAföG for study abroad, you will be required to provide evidence of your knowledge of the teaching language.

There are many ways to acquire and increase your language proficiency. For example, the Language Center at the Ohm offers a wide range of courses in various foreign languages. 

Common ways to demonstrate language proficiency are:

• language courses you have completed successfully (depending on the partner university: B2/C1 level - contact the Language Center for a Confirmation of Participation)
• the courses in Business English or Technical English (B2 level -  contact the Language Center for a Confirmation of Participation)
• the DAAD Language Certificate (C1 level -  contact the Language Center for an appointment)
• TOEFL (minimum score depending on the partner university and the type of test IbT, PbT, CbT)
• IELTS 6.0 - 6.5 (C1 level)

If you do not already have any clear certification of your linguistic proficiency, you can take a placement test at the Language Center and receive certification confirming your current level of linguistic proficiency. 

Students who wish to increase their linguistic proficiency through conversation with a native speaker can get in touch with suitable speakers by means of the Language Tandem programme operated by the International Office: sprachtandematth-nuernbergPunktde

The cultural and leisure activities organized by the International Office also provide an opportunity to enter into conversations with international students at the Ohm and practise the foreign language.

Furthermore, many partner universities offer intensive courses before the start of the semester and operate regular language courses in the national language during the semester itself. 

ECTS and credit transfers

In all cases, decisions regarding the recognition of coursework achieved abroad are taken by the examination board of the relevant Faculty.  
As a future exchange student and before commencing your studies abroad, you should clarify with the examination board of your Faculty at Nuremberg Tech which of the courses or examinations you will take at the partner university can be recognised towards your degree once you have returned. 
Please note that the provisions in the Examination Regulations concerning any deadlines must also be clarified prior to commencing any period abroad. The International Office does not accept any liability for any disadvantage you may suffer as a result of failing to follow regulations or instructions.
For students studying abroad under the Erasmus programme, the Learning Agreement should act as a guide when selecting courses and provide the highest degree of certainty that the outcomes they achieve abroad will be recognized on their return.   Before commencing your stay abroad, please make sure that your Learning Agreement is signed off by the examination board of your Faculty. 
You can however make changes to the Learning Agreement during the first few weeks of your semester abroad, in consultation with the examination board.

What is ECTS?
ECTS (European Credit Transfer System and Accumulation System) is a project of the European Commission that sets out to facilitate the recognition of academic coursework achieved abroad. Individual institutions and/or faculties are able to decide whether or not to participate in the ECTS. ECTS is based on a trustful collaboration between the participating universities in Europe and is therefore governed by only a small number of rules. The fixed components of ECTS are: ECTS credits, ECTS grades, Learning Agreements, and the Transcript of Records.

What are ECTS credits?
ECTS credits represent the work and effort expended by a student in connection with the course concerned. The assignment of credits to the individual courses is carried out by the universities themselves as they see fit. One semester of full-time study corresponds to 30 ECTS credits (and one year is therefore equivalent to 60 ECTS credits and one trimester is equivalent to 20 ECTS credits). Credits are awarded once a student has successfully completed the relevant coursework or examination. ECTS credits can only be awarded for courses that form part of a student’s enrolled degree programme.

What are ECTS grades?
The grades for a particular course are awarded in accordance with the grading system in use at the university concerned. In order to make it easy for grades to be converted into the grading system in use at the student’s home university, a descriptive ECTS grading system was developed, though it does not replace the national grading system in any way.

How does the ECTS operate?

By agreement with the ECTS Coordinator, students from participating universities can spend part of their degree programme at one of the established ECTS partner universities.
Your host university will provide you with an information package consisting of this general guide, known as the “International Student Guide”, together with the ECTS Handbook for the Faculty concerned. In the future, those handbooks will also be made available online. The handbooks contain a description of the subject area and the degree programme. They also contain details about the content of all courses offered, the credits awarded for them, the type of examination, etc.

Before the student departs, the courses the student should attend are specified precisely in the Learning Agreement drawn up between the two partner universities and their official contacts.  Changes during the student’s stay abroad must be discussed with both official contacts involved. Once the student returns to their home university, their coursework can be recognised by means of the Transcript of Records. This ensures that the student does not lose any time due to the fact that they spent time abroad.

Applying

At present, the Ohm has around 160 cooperation agreements in place with international partner universities for the purposes of student exchanges, approximately 80 of which are financed by the EU’s Erasmus education programme.

All normally enrolled students at the Ohm are entitled to apply for a study place on our exchange programmes. Such exchange visits will be for a duration of between three and twelve months, depending on the programme. As part of these programmes, you may also write your final thesis during your time abroad. While studying abroad, you will continue to be enrolled at our university.  

All applications for study places submitted in connection with exchange programmes are processed via the Ohm’s International Office. 

Please contact the International Office and the appropriate academic coordinator within your Faculty in good time in order to obtain information concerning partner universities and possible funding opportunities, and to submit your application. Where possible, it is important that you begin planning your study abroad a year in advance of the commencement of your planned stay abroad.

Application process

Applications for an exchange semester at one of our partner universities must be submitted to the International Office by using our online form (the form will be accessible in mid-May 2024).

Please log in using your my.ohm login(username and password).
Privacy policy for using the online portal (MoveOn).

Please register on the platform, complete the online form with all required information, and upload the following documents as pdf files:

• A cover letter written in the respective teaching language of your first-choice partner university
• CV in table format and in the relevant teaching language, together with a photo, if necessary
• Documentation of proficiency in the relevant national or teaching language of your first-choice partner university
• Current transcript of records
• Copy of your current confirmation of enrolment
• Confirmation from your Faculty’s academic coordinator (the contact person will be listed in the database under the tab labelled “Contact” for the respective partner university).
  The academic coordinator must have received your complete application (including all documents) in order to approve your nomination.

On your application form, you can indicate up to four alternatives to your first-choice partner university. Your application should be addressed to your first-choice partner university.

Submitting more than one application is not permitted.

It is also not permitted to submit an application directly - without being processed through the International Office -to a partner university.

PLEASE NOTE there is a new deadline (valid as of January 2024):

For summer semester 2025: by 30 July 2024

For winter semester 2025/26: by 31 January 2025

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Candidates will be selected by the International Office by agreement with the relevant academic coordinator. Around four to six weeks after the closing date for applications, you will be informed whether you have been nominated for a suitable study place.<br/> Before commencing your stay abroad, you should also familiarise yourself with the situation in your host country.

Amongst other organizations, the DAAD (https://www.daad.de/de/) and the German Federal Foreign Office (https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de) provide useful information on their websites.

Safety information

Information about general safety precautions

Studying abroad is still possible in principle in any country and can be undertaken, if you wish and bearing your own risk. Please note the following general information about safety precautions in your planning:

• Submit your information in any case to the crisis provision list “ Elefand ” (in german) at the German Foreign Office for German citizens
• Remember your health care provisions (travel health insurance, vaccinations, prophylaxis, first-aid items, and medications)
• Educate yourself about your host country and what behaviours are appropriate there
• Make note of important emergency numbers
• Copy/scan important documents

A detailed overview of the most important safety precautions with links is available in the following checklist from the DAAD: Information about general safety precautions (in german)

Travel and safety information from the German Foreign Office

The Foreign Office offers the app “ Sicher Reisen ” (in german) and publishes travel information, safety information, and travel warnings regularly. (in german)

• Travel information will cover the entry requirements of a country, medical information, particular legal information (criminal and customs law). The information provided is regularly reviewed and updated.
• Safety information indicates specific risks for Germans who are traveling or living abroad. They may contain recommendations to refrain or restrict travel. As may be appropriate, there may be an explicit advisory against undertaking not absolutely necessary travel or any travel at all. The information is regularly reviewed and updated.
• Travel warnings contain urgent appeals from the Foreign Office to refrain from traveling to a country or region of a country. They are only issued, if it is necessary to warn against travel to a country or a region of a country due to an acute danger to limb and life. Travel warnings are only seldom issued. Germans who live in a country for which a travel warning is issued may be summoned to leave the country.

Travel and safety information as well as travel warnings are based on information available to the Foreign Office at a given time that is considered reliable by that office. A guarantee that the information is correct and complete as well as liability for possible damages cannot be assumed.

The Foreign Office continues to urgently advise securing travel health insurance with repatriation insurance if travelling abroad.

Summary of all degree-related experiences abroad

Summary of all degree-related experiences abroad

A record of all degree-related study abroad is created at Nuremberg Tech and the experience is officially documented in the Diploma Supplement, the annex to the final official transcript conferred upon you.

The “Record of degree-related study abroad” form (in german) required for this purpose can be found in the download center on the homepage of the Student Office.

Please complete the record form and send it to the Student Advisory Service (email: studienbuero@th-nuernberg.de)  after completing your studies abroad  along with the confirmation from the host university.

The OUTGOINGS Guide will provide you with a summary of all of the essential tips and information about spending a semester studying at a partner university abroad.

Please contact us at any time if you have any questions about studying abroad at: outgoingsatth-nuernbergPunktde

Advisory unit - Europe (Erasmus+ programme KA 131)

Şemsi Çolak
Office hours by telephone (0911/5880-4851), MS Teams, or on campus:
Wednesday, 9.30 – 11.30 am 
Thursday, 1.00 – 3.00 pm 

Erasmus Online Learning Agreements

Joseph Jehlicka
Office hours by telephone (0911/5880-4294), MS Teams, or on campus:
Wednesday, 9.30 - 11.30 am (only via MS Teams)
Thursday, 1.00 – 3.00 pm 

Advisory unit - Americas, Russia, Ukraine

Renate Zehetbauer
Office hours by telephone (0911/5880-4115), MS Teams, or on campus:
Wednesday, 9.30 – 11.30 am 
Thursday, 1.00 – 3.00 pm 

What are the deadlines for applications for a semester abroad?

Applications to spend a semester at a partner university can be submitted at two times during the year. Application documents must be submitted to the International Office in full by email only, in time for the following deadlines:

• For the subsequent winter semester: 31 January
• For the subsequent summer semester: 30 June

Will I need to prove my linguistic proficiency before the start of the semester abroad?

Yes, valid evidence of linguistic proficiency forms part of the full application.

Under the Erasmus programme, you are required to provide evidence of linguistic proficiency in the relevant teaching language at a minimum of B2 level. Language courses taken at Nuremberg Tech (such as Business English or English for Engineers) count for that purpose. Please ask the Language Center to issue a confirmation of participation (in English). If you can provide evidence of linguistic proficiency at a higher level (such as TOEFL, IELTS, DAAD language certificate, etc.), this can also be used. Any statements of linguistic proficiency listed on your high-school diploma certificate cannot be accepted as part of your application.

If you do not already have any documentation of your linguistic proficiency, you can take a placement test at the Language Center and receive certification confirming your current level of proficiency.
For all other cooperation agreements with universities, it is the case that: The Exchange Coordinator in the IO will be able to tell you what evidence of linguistic proficiency is required and what minimum level applies. In the case of the English language, the most usual types of documentation are

• TOEFL (minimum score depending on the type of test IbT, PbT, CbT) (www.toefl.org)

• IELTS 6.0 – 6.5

• DAAD Language Certificate (C1 level)

The partner university determines what proof of linguistic proficiency they require and will accept.

How do I apply for the Erasmus grant?

Almost all of Nuremberg Tech’s partner universities located within the EU are part of the Erasmus programme. When you apply for a place to study at one of Nuremberg Tech’s Erasmus partner universities, the IO will send you additional documentation and information about how to apply for an Erasmus grant, once you have been successfully nominated. 

What courses can I choose?

In most cases, the partner university will only send you a list of courses available during your semester abroad once you have made your application. We recommend that before applying, you look on the website of the partner university to find out the courses currently open to exchange students. Generally speaking, the list of courses offered to exchange students changes very little.

What must I do to have my coursework recognised?

In all cases, decisions regarding the recognition of coursework from abroad are taken by the examination board of your degree programme. As a future exchange student and before commencing your semester abroad, you should clarify with the examination board of your degree programme at Nuremberg Tech which of the courses you will have completed at the partner university can be recognised once you have returned. In many cases, the examination boards also have lists of courses at the partner university that have already been recognised in the past.
For those courses to be recognised, the examination board will require full descriptions of the modules of the individual courses at the partner university. Please note that the provisions in the Examination Regulations concerning any deadlines must also be clarified prior to commencing any period abroad.

When will I find out whether I will receive a place abroad?

Once the closing date for applications has passed, we will process the applications we have received. We will inform you within 3-5 weeks whether you will be able to do an exchange with the partner university of your choice. After that, we will nominate you at the partner university. This means that we will inform the partner university that we will be placing you as an exchange student.
If we are unable to nominate you, we will provide you with an alternative suggestion, if necessary.

What will happen once I have successfully been nominated by Nuremberg Tech?

Once you have been nominated by the IO, we will inform the partner universities and will inform you soon afterwards what additional documents and information the partner university requires for your ongoing application (external application). You will receive detailed information about this directly from the partner university or from the IO, once you have been nominated. Once your application documents have been submitted to the partner university in full, you will receive a letter of acceptance from the host university in good time before the start of your semester abroad.

Can I complete a semester abroad at a higher education institution abroad that is not a partner university of Nuremberg Tech?

In the case of institutions that are not partner universities of Nuremberg Tech, you must submit your application yourself as what is known as a “free mover”. To do that, you must contact the institution you want to attend, for example their International Office, and ask whether it accepts non-degree-seeking free movers for a period of one semester (and if so, subject to what conditions).

In such cases, you will need to make degree-programme specific agreements yourself and will largely be responsible for solving administrative issues yourself.

What are the semester dates at the university’s partner institutions abroad?

In many cases, the semester schedule at partner institutions abroad differ from the semesters at the Ohm. At many partner universities, the Autumn/Fall Term (equivalent to our winter semester) starts as early as August/September and the Spring Term (the equivalent of our summer semester) begins as soon as January/February. It may therefore be the case that a study semester can only be taken in either the winter or summer semester, as the start of the semester coincides with our examination phase. What is more, the compulsory orientation event at the partner university will take place before the start of the semester.

Please visit the homepages of the individual partner universities for details about semester schedules, or consult the database of study abroad opportunities at partner institutions.

Where can I live?

Usually exchange students are accommodated in halls of residence belonging to the partner university, assuming sufficient places are available. If students cannot or do not wish to be accommodated in a hall of residence, the International Office at the partner university will help the exchange student find private accommodation.

Where can I find testimonials from previous outgoing exchange students?

intranet pages .

What documents must I submit?

Applications for an exchange semester at one of our partner universities must be submitted to the International Office by using our online form.

Please log in using your my.ohm login (username and password).

Privacy policy for using the online portal (MoveOn).

Please register on the platform, complete the online form with all required information, and upload the following documents as pdf files:

• A cover letter written in the respective teaching language of your first-choice partner university
• CV in table format and in the relevant teaching language, together with a photo, if necessary
• Documentation of proficiency in the relevant national or teaching language of your first-choice partner university
• Current transcript of records
• Copy of your current confirmation of enrolment
• Confirmation from your Faculty’s academic coordinator (see the database under the point “Study abroad opportunities at one of our international partner institutions”)
  The academic coordinator must have received your complete application (including all documents) in order to approve your nomination.

On your application form, you can indicate up to four alternatives to your first-choice partner university. Your application should be addressed to your first-choice partner university.

Office  - not permitted.

Where can I find information about partner institutions?

partner institutions have cooperation agreements with your Faculty. You can also obtain valuable and useful information (subject selection, travel tips, etc.) from the homepages of the partner institutions themselves and from reports from students who have already been abroad.

How can a stay abroad be funded?

If you are spending a semester at one of the Ohm’s Erasmus partner universities within the EU, you can obtain an Erasmus grant. Once you have successfully applied to spend a semester studying at an Erasmus partner university, the IO will give you all of the information and documents that you need to apply for an Erasmus grant. If you are spending a semester studying outside the Erasmus+ programme, you will not receive any grant directly associated with the university place you have obtained. You are however able to request a grant via the BAföG for study abroad or via a grants programme. A list of selected funding opportunities can be found on the homepage of the International Office  .

Will I need to pay course fees?

If you can be placed as an exchange student at one of our partner universities, you will be exempt from course fees by virtue of the cooperation agreement. Exceptions are Australia, Japan, Canada, South Africa, and the USA. In individual cases, please clarify with the relevant advisory unit what fees will be payable at your desired university.