Erasmus+ Europe

If you’re enrolled at a German university and haven’t yet completed your degree—meaning you still need to earn ECTS credits to graduate—you have the chance to apply for an Erasmus mobility grant. This is a great opportunity to study abroad, meet new people, and broaden your horizons!

And the best part: Not only German students can apply, but also third-country nationals studying in Germany are eligible for funding.

A quick note: Exchange students who are at TU Ilmenau for only one semester or for a limited time are unfortunately not eligible for an Erasmus grant. But there are still plenty of other exciting ways to gain experience abroad!

If you can imagine studying or doing an internship abroad, then the Erasmus+ program is just right for you! It supports two exciting options: either a study abroad program (SMS) or an internship abroad (SMP). Both offer you the chance to discover new places, cultures, and people, and to broaden your horizons.

For a study abroad program, it’s important that both your home university and the host university have a valid Erasmus University Charter (ECHE). Additionally, there must be an inter-institutional agreement between the home and host universities. This agreement not only regulates the number of exchange spots but also the duration of your stay and the academic field in which you can complete your semester abroad.

And don’t worry: Under this agreement, both universities commit to not charging you tuition fees. This is a great opportunity to gain international experience without having to pay any extra money!

If you’re enrolled at TU Ilmenau, you have the chance to apply for an Erasmus exchange!

That means you can study or do an internship abroad while receiving financial support. And the best part: Whether you’re currently pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or even a doctoral degree—you can apply for Erasmus programs all the way through your doctoral studies.

Take this opportunity to discover new places, make international connections, and take your studies to the next level!

If you want to study abroad, you should know that every host university requires at least a B1 or B2 language proficiency level in the language of instruction—this ensures that you can follow the course material effectively. You can see exactly which languages and requirements apply in our overview of partner universities.

To prove your proficiency to your host university, you can either submit a language certificate or use the DAAD form. Important: The certificate should not be more than two years old—this ensures your proof is always up to date.

It’s also super helpful if you have basic knowledge (Level A1) of the local language. This makes your daily life there easier and helps you find your way around quickly and communicate with people. 

With Erasmus+, you have the flexibility to study in different European countries during your degree program—whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

You can spend up to twelve months abroad in total, spread across multiple stays ranging from 2 to 12 months. This means you can take several shorter or longer stays abroad, allowing you to broaden your experiences in a variety of ways.

The same applies to internships: 2 to 12 months, multiple stays possible! And if you’ve already completed your studies, you can still do an internship abroad within one year of graduation—this is called a post-graduate internship—provided you applied during your final year of study.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the semester dates at your partner universities: Semesters usually start in early or mid-September, as well as in January or February. This way, you’ll be well-prepared to plan your study abroad experience properly!

Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey.

In addition to the countries listed above, their respective overseas territories are also eligible for funding.

Here you will find the current list of our university’s Erasmus partner institutions and contact persons.

Do you have a disability and are unsure whether your preferred institution meets your needs? Then search for the institution in the Inclusive Mobility database and find out more about its facilities and support options!

Get to know our SUNRISE partner universities! Experience an exciting semester abroad and become part of our SUNRISE community!

Would you like to know where other students from TU Ilmenau spent their Erasmus study abroad semester and what exciting experiences they had there? Then read on and see for yourself!

Starting in 2024/2025, the following funding rates will apply to three country groups for study stays (SMS):

Country Group 1 – Countries with higher living costs – €600.00 /month
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Sweden

Country Group 2 – Countries with moderate cost of living – €540.00 /month
Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Cyprus

Country Group 3 – Countries with low cost of living – €540.00 /month
Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary

Die TU Ilmenau fördert deine Aufenthaltszeit im Gastland zu Studienzwecken. Der endgültige Zuschuss berechnet sich anhand deiner bestätigten bzw. anerkannten Aufenthaltsdauer.

Eine Förderung von Erasmus-Studierenden (SMS und SMP) ohne Stipendium ist möglich („Zero Grants/LABEL“-Studierende). Diese Studierenden müssen alle Erasmus-Förderbedingungen erfüllen und können dann von allen Vorzügen des Programms (z. B. Befreiung von Studiengebühren im Gastland) profitieren.

Ein Rechtsanspruch auf Förderung durch das Erasmus-Programm (Austauschplatz und finanzielle Förderung) besteht nicht und kann daher nicht gegenüber der Hochschule geltend gemacht werden.

Starting in 2024/2025, the following funding rates will apply to blended short-term stays:

Days 1–14: €79.00/day
Days 15–30: €56.00/day

In addition, all travelers receive a travel expense subsidy based on the distance (according to the EU distance calculator) between Ilmenau and the host institution.

Students with fewer opportunities will also receive a subsidy of €100.00 (duration 5–14 days) or €150.00 (duration 15–30 days).

The Erasmus mobility grant is a financial aid award and is by no means a full scholarship. It is intended to help you cover the additional costs incurred during your stay abroad. The grant does not cover the costs that you are required to pay to TU Ilmenau anyway.

In addition to the Erasmus mobility grant, all recipients have been receiving a travel allowance since the 2025–2026 winter semester. The amount of the allowance depends not only on the distance between Ilmenau and the host institution, but also on the mode of transportation you use. Students who use eco-friendly modes of transportation (bus, train) for their round-trip journey receive a higher travel allowance.

For standard trips, travel days are included in the funded stay days.
If you travel to and from your destination using eco-friendly transportation, you may apply for additional funded travel days, depending on the duration and complexity of the trip.

Erasmus students also have the great option of a discounted Interrail Pass. You can find more details online.

If you go abroad as an Erasmus student, you don’t have to pay tuition fees at your host university—that’s a huge advantage! During your stay abroad, you remain enrolled at TU Ilmenau and are therefore required to pay our semester fee.
Important: Insurance premiums, student social security contributions, and costs for the use of materials are not included in tuition fees. This means you’re responsible for these expenses, but they aren’t considered tuition costs in the traditional sense.

If any of the above criteria apply to you, please contact your International Office to secure additional monthly funding during your Erasmus+ study abroad program.

The funding rates listed here apply to long-term mobility programs lasting between 2 and 12 months.

Not only the DAAD, but also TU Ilmenau, is deeply committed to supporting all students—including those with physical, health-related, or other limitations. That is why we support Erasmus+ students who face particular challenges during a stay abroad.

If you decide to go on an Erasmus+ exchange and need support, we can submit an application to the NA DAAD to request coverage of the additional costs incurred abroad. This financial support is based on the extent of your additional needs while abroad and is only granted if other agencies, such as health insurance providers, social welfare offices, or student services, do not cover these costs.
Important: To ensure everything goes smoothly, you should submit your application to the NA DAAD no later than two months before the start of your stay.
We want everyone to have the same experience and the same opportunities—no matter what challenges they face!

In addition to receiving the Erasmus mobility grant, you can apply for the BaföG grant for study abroad at the relevant BaföG office.

1 year before your stay: Contact the relevant coordinator at TU Ilmenau to obtain detailed information about your desired exchange destination, selection criteria, and required qualifications.

Our Erasmus partner institutions

Next, apply for the exchange spot with your contact person. This person will decide who is awarded the spots.

The following application documents must be submitted to the contact person:

• Informal letter of application/statement of purpose

• Resume in table format

• Certificate of all academic achievements and exam results (your GPA must be higher than 3.0 to be eligible for funding

• Proof of sufficient language proficiency (you can use the DAAD language certificate here)

The contact person will select candidates based on the following criteria:

•     Motivation
•     Required language proficiency
•     Academic achievements

You should start planning about a year before your planned stay and contact the designated representative at TU Ilmenau.

Each host institution has different application deadlines. As long as your preferred spot is still available and the deadline at your preferred institution has not yet passed, you are welcome to apply for the exchange semester.

Please log in to our Erasmus database and upload your documents. You will receive the link via email from the International Office.

•     Proof of proficiency in the relevant language of instruction (no more than two years old) (you can submit a DAAD language certificate here)
•     Current transcript from TU Ilmenau
•     Letter of acceptance from the contact person

The International Office will notify the partner institutions of the nominated students. You will then receive an email with further instructions from the host university.

To ensure proper registration at the host university, you must complete the application and enrollment forms. The application deadline is typically four months before the start of the semester there.

During your Erasmus stay (SMS), you will take courses totaling 22 to 30 ECTS credits per semester. You must list these in your digital Learning Agreement, which is created in Mobility Online.

You should clarify in advance with the responsible instructors at TU Ilmenau and your registrar’s office how the selected courses will be recognized.

Please note that, as a rule, you cannot select courses from the entire course catalog of the host institution, as Erasmus+ Inter-Institutional Agreements are concluded on a subject-specific basis.

A key focus of Erasmus+ is supporting your language skills and language learning. The European Commission helps you improve and deepen your proficiency in the working language and the local language.

The Online Language Support (OLS) system is designed to guide you through this process—it includes language courses, language tests, and much more. 

The signing of an Erasmus+ Grant Agreement or the awarding of an Erasmus+ mobility grant does not provide any insurance coverage.

As an Erasmus+ student, you are responsible for ensuring that you have adequate insurance coverage in your host country.

Note: Your national health insurance generally provides basic coverage for stays in another EU country through the European Health Insurance Card. Coverage under the European Health Insurance Card or private insurance may be insufficient, especially if repatriation or special medical procedures are required. In such cases, supplementary private insurance may be advisable.

Please check your health insurance coverage for your stay in the host country and take out additional insurance if necessary!

In addition to health insurance, taking out liability and accident insurance for the host country is strongly recommended!

Your cost of living abroad depends on various factors. The key factors are the length of your stay abroad, the conditions in your destination country, and your own lifestyle and standard of living.

Potential expenses:

• Housing (rent and utilities)
• Food (groceries and beverages)
• Insurance (health insurance, supplemental insurance)
• Education (books, course materials, tuition)
• Communication (internet, phone, smartphone)
• Transportation (bus, train, subway)
• Leisure, sports, culture, excursions
• Clothing, toiletries, personal care

Are you an EU citizen? If so, all you need to enter the host country is a valid ID card or passport. Please check the expiration date again beforehand and renew your documents, if necessary, before your departure.

Are you from a non-EU country and currently hold a student visa for Germany? If so, please consult the International Office regarding visa requirements. Despite the Schengen Agreement, students from certain countries may need an additional visa to stay in some countries.

• Identification documents (passport, ID card) – originals and copies
• Insurance documents (health, liability, and accident insurance; repatriation in case of illness), European Health Insurance Card
• Personal documents and Erasmus documents in both paper and digital formats (USB drive, cloud storage, etc.): Learning Agreement, Confirmation of Arrival/Registration, rental agreement, etc.
• Travel documents (train, bus, and plane tickets)
• Debit card, credit card, possibly an account with online banking capabilities, cash for a few days
• Important addresses and contacts (accommodation, International Office at the host institution, etc.)
• Power plug adapters
• Clothing appropriate for the climate in the host country (please note that some southern countries may not have heating, and temperatures can drop significantly in the evenings and at night)

Please have your host organization fill out and sign your Confirmation of Arrival. Upload this document to the Mobility Online database after you arrive.

Once you arrive at your host university, do you find that certain courses aren’t being offered, conflict with your schedule, or don’t meet your expectations? No problem—you can make changes in the “during mobility” section of your Learning Agreement.

Please send an email to your International Office to discuss the procedure.

An amendment to the Grant Agreement will be made if your stay is significantly extended.

If you wish to extend your stay by up to one additional semester (funding is available for a maximum of one semester), please contact the International Office by email. 

Do you have any specific concerns during your stay?

Would you like to provide feedback on your experiences after your stay, or even share them with other students?

Then please contact your coordinator at the International Office or the contact points we recommend! We look forward to your report, comments, or suggestions for improvement!

Is your Erasmus stay coming to an end? Then it’s time to take care of some formalities, as you’ll need to submit several documents to the International Office upon your return.

• Confirmation of registration: Please use either the form provided by TU Ilmenau or one provided by your host institution. Please note that the certified period of stay must include the exam period.
• EU Survey: You will receive an invitation to participate in the survey via email.
• Experience Report: Please describe your experiences before and during your stay. The report should not exceed three A4 pages.
• Transcript of Records: Please have your host institution issue a certificate of your academic achievements abroad.

Please upload these documents to the Mobility Online database after your arrival in Germany.

Once all supporting documents have been submitted and all requirements have been met, the payment will be made.