FAQ

Students may receive funding multiple times during each degree cycle (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate). The minimum duration for study periods is three months. The maximum funding period per cycle is twelve months. Single-track degree programs (Diplom) can receive funding for 24 months. Internships are also supported by Erasmus+.

• Study Abroad (SMS) for study periods at an Erasmus partner university within Europe (KA103)
  Contact Person: Lucie Koutková (lucie.koutkova(at)hszg.de)
  
• Study Abroad (SMS) for study periods at an Erasmus partner university worldwide (KA107)
  Contact Person: Lucie Koutková (lucie.koutkova(at)hszg.de)
  
• Combined Study Abroad and Internship Abroad (SMS) at an Erasmus partner university within Europe (KA103). This program counts as a study abroad period.
  Contact Person: Lucie Koutková (lucie.koutkova(at)hszg.de)
  
• Internship Abroad (SMP) for students at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in European companies. The application process and organization are handled by the LEONARDO Office Saxony at TU Dresden.
  Contact Person: Simone Kunze (s.kunze(at)hszg.de)

The following advantages make studying at a university in Europe an attractive option:

• Academic credits earned abroad receive recognition
• Exemption from tuition fees at the host university
• Additional costs associated with studying abroad are subsidized
• You receive support in preparing for your studies
• Special financial aid for students with children
• Special support for students with disabilities
  
  ... and, of course, plenty of new experiences!

The following requirements must be met:

• Regular enrolment at HSZG
• The first year of study must be completed by the start of the study abroad program
• Study abroad is only possible at universities with which the HSZG has signed a cooperation agreement
• Both the home and host universities must hold a valid Erasmus University Charter (ECHE)

Erasmus+ is designed to promote equal opportunity and inclusion. For this reason, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are given easier access to the program (in the Erasmus+ program, this applies to single parents and people with special needs while studying abroad).

• Special Funding for Students with Children as a Lump Sum

Students who bring their child(ren) with them on an Erasmus+ study stay in a program country and are single parents there during their Erasmus+ mobility period may receive special funding in the form of a lump sum. Currently, the monthly allowance is 200 EUR, regardless of the number of children traveling with them. Please contact the International Office if you would like to apply for the grant.

• Special Support for Participants with Disabilities

Useful information on disability-accessible universities from the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education: www.european-agency.org [en].

Students with a disability rating of at least 30 or 50 who are receiving funding through Erasmus+ for study abroad may apply for additional funding through the HSZG. Depending on the degree of disability, this consists of either a monthly stipend of 200 EUR or special funding of up to 10,000 EUR per mobility period. Please contact the International Office if you would like to apply for this stipend.

The application process consists of two stages. You first apply to HSZG, and only after successfully completing the selection process do you apply to the partner university.

In your application, you can list up to three priorities for your desired study abroad program.

You can find detailed information about study opportunities abroad in our mobility database . There, in addition to the websites of the partner universities, you’ll find information on agreements for specific degree programs, application deadlines, and language requirements.

Our online application form is accessible through the mobility database . Select your desired exchange opportunity there and click on the green icon.

Please note that there are deadlines for submitting the required forms to the HSZG and for submitting an application to the partner university.

The following criteria apply to the selection of students for funding under the Erasmus+ program

• Complete information on the application form, as well as the full and timely upload of the required documents
• Eligibility for funding has not yet been fully exhausted (12 months in the first cycle of study (Bachelor’s) and an additional 12 months in the second cycle of study (Master’s), or 24 months for single-track degree programmes)
• Grade point average calculated based on a copy of the university entrance qualification and a current transcript (Bachelor’s students) or a copy of the Bachelor’s degree certificate and a current transcript (Master’s) (The transcript of records to be submitted should not have been issued before January 10 of the application year.)
• Proficiency in the language of instruction at level B1, as well as at least a basic knowledge of the local language
• Is the stay mandatory according to the study plan?

Academic credits earned abroad are recognized, in accordance with the ECTS, toward the academic credits or periods of study required to earn a degree at the home institution. A prerequisite for this is that a Learning Agreement has been signed by all three parties (the student, the home institution, and the host institution) prior to the study abroad period. This diagram illustrates the recognition process in detail.

After obtaining your degree at the host university, you will receive a Transcript of Records. You must then submit this to the HSZG’s Examination Office to obtain recognition for your academic achievements from the semester abroad.

Here you will find a table for converting your grades.

Erasmus+ Stays Under the Erasmus-Europe Program (KA103)

The program countries are divided into three groups of countries. You can find the current funding rates for the country you have selected here.

The funding period depends on the approved funds and the number of applications and will be announced around June of each year.

Financial support for a maximum of 150 days is possible but not guaranteed (one Erasmus month lasts 30 days, and the scholarship is calculated to the exact day). Your stay must not be shorter than 90 days.

Erasmus+ stays under Erasmus Worldwide (KA107)

Currently available at two universities in St. Petersburg (ITMO & UNECON)

The grant amount is specified in the Grant Agreement prior to the stay.

As part of the Erasmus+ program, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has numerous bilateral agreements with partner universities throughout Europe. You can find more detailed information about the partner universities in our mobility database.

Students eligible for BAföG (German financial aid for students) can apply for BAföG for study abroad for their Erasmus+ study period. The Erasmus+ mobility grant is not counted toward the BAföG limit up to a monthly funding amount of 300 euros.

Please note that the application for BAföG (German financial aid for students) for study abroad must be submitted to the regional BAföG office at least 6 months in advance.

You can request confirmation of the amount of your Erasmus funding for your application from the International Office.

The Learning Agreement is a key document that plays an important role before, during, and after your study abroad period. It contains information about the courses you plan to take abroad and which courses at your home institution they correspond to.

Furthermore, a complete agreement signed by all three parties—the student, the home institution, and the partner institution—before the study abroad period begins is a prerequisite for receiving Erasmus+ funding.

If changes to the originally agreed-upon study program occur upon the start of your studies abroad, these must be approved by all parties involved within one month of your arrival in the host country.

We will provide you with the necessary documents via email in a timely manner.

The Grant Agreement is a contractual document entered into between the student and the home university. Among other things, it contains all important details regarding the funding period, the amount of funding, reporting requirements, and the rights and obligations of the student and the university with respect to the semester abroad.

It is signed once a fully signed Learning Agreement has been submitted. The original copy of the Grant Agreement must be submitted to the university.

All recipients of funding are obliged to submit an EU Survey via the Mobility Tool Plus after the degree of their stay.

The HSZG also requires a detailed experience report. You will receive information and a form for this during your stay.

An important goal of the Erasmus+ program is to improve the language proficiency of its participants. Language instruction during your stay abroad focuses on the language of instruction at the host institution, which may differ from the country’s national language.

Before and after your stay at the partner university, you will take a mandatory language test. This test is used to assess your language proficiency before and after your stay. These language tests are available online. Both language tests are intended solely to assess language proficiency and have no bearing whatsoever on the approval of funding or the recognition of academic credits! The tests are available in the following languages: Bulgarian, Danish, German, English, Finnish, French, Greek, Italian, Croatian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, Slovak, Spanish, Czech, and Hungarian.

To improve foreign language proficiency, online language courses in all test languages may be offered following this test. An exception is mobility with certain partner countries, such as Russia (KA107): Online language support is currently not available for this program.

By signing the Grant Agreement, you undertake to prepare a detailed report on your stay with Erasmus+. You will receive a form during your stay, which you should use for this purpose.
This report will serve as a qualitative evaluation of your semester abroad and will also be used to improve the advice provided by the International Office. If you agree, the report will also be made available to future students who are interested in the partner institution.

The Erasmus+ mobility grant does not include any insurance cover.

Please enquire with your health insurance provider about insurance cover during your study abroad period and about the need for additional private insurance. In the Grant Agreement for the Erasmus+ mobility grant, you undertake to take out sufficient individual international health, international accident and international liability insurance for the duration of your stay abroad.

You can also insure yourself through the DAAD group insurance, which offers comprehensive insurance cover.

Please note the following: You must notify the HSZG International Office of any extension in an informal manner four weeks before the end of the originally planned duration of your stay—preferably by email:
Consult with your faculty coordinator and draw up a new Learning Agreement. As usual, this must be signed by all three parties. A new Grant Agreement will also be drawn up.
It is important to note that extending your study period does not automatically mean an extension of your funding. It must first be determined whether continued funding is possible. If your extension depends on this, please inquire at the International Office.
The extension must immediately follow your current stay; there must be no interruption (except for public holidays and university breaks).
Recognition of an extension of your stay will be made toward your 12-month Erasmus+ quota (for studies and internships) per study cycle.

If you are unable to go on your study abroad program, please notify us immediately so that we can cancel your registration with your host university and, if necessary, reallocate your exchange spot.