#1: It's easy
Almost every department has a foreign partner university. If you do it skillfully, you don't even waste time. More than 70 percent of students in Europe have their achievements from other countries fully or partially recognized. You increase your chances if you discuss your desired courses with your lecturer before your stay.
#2: It's cheap
BAföG abroad is paid for at least two semesters, and in the EU and Switzerland even for a complete course of study. The height depends on your needs. Thanks to the Erasmus+ program, students from Germany do not have to pay tuition fees in many countries and even receive up to 500 euros per month. The DAAD awards numerous scholarships for abroad, for example the annual scholarship for bachelor students. Depending on the host country, there are different amounts of financial subsidies, for example 700 euros per month for Austria, 750 euros for France, and even 950 euros for Hong Kong.
And then of course there are the diverse offerings of the foundations - from independent like the German National Academic Foundation to party-related like the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
It shouldn't fail because of the money: you can use these scholarships to finance your studies abroad.
#3: It's good for your career
So far, less than a quarter of all German students go abroad. And the numbers vary significantly depending on the subject. In engineering, for example, it is only four to eight percent, depending on how you count. Anyone who has studied mechanical engineering abroad will stand out later when applying. In addition, the most renowned universities are in England and the USA. The first German university comes in at number 29 in the current Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and only at number 60 in the QS World University Rankings. This also has to do with how these rankings measure, but especially if you later in one If you want to work for an internationally operating company, a well-known university looks good on your CV.
#4: You meet new friends
At the new university everything starts from the beginning: nobody knows you. The best way to get started and get to know people from other countries. There are 34 percent international students at Oxford. Students from countries such as India, Singapore and Malaysia are also enrolled at Cambridge University. Of course, there are foreign students at German universities, but it is often easier to strike up a conversation if you are a stranger yourself. And you'll be sure to join us at the first Erasmus party at the latest. ;) By the way: It is still unclear what will change as a result of Brexit. If you want to go to England, you should be quick.
#5: You learn something new
New university, new lecturers. Maybe there is someone abroad who is researching the exact topic that interests you. International specialist magazines or seminars will get you on his trail. If you have already chosen a university, you can look at the lecturers and their research areas on the website - and check that they are not taking a semester off when you come. In countries with tuition fees, the service is often better; after all, students can get value for money. And you don't just learn new things at university, this also includes the country, people, food, music, culture - and not forgetting the climate. Sun seekers go to Australia during the German winter semester and experience summer twice.
#6: You learn the language
Nowhere can you learn a language as quickly as in the respective country. In everyday life you will hear words that are not covered in the language course. After six months, you can rant in Dutch or flirt in Spanish. And even if you don't reach a native level in the local language, you can at least practice English. At many universities there are English-language courses or study programs, even more in the master's than in the bachelor's. In addition, Dutch, Scandinavians and Poles speak English better than Germans, according to the EF English Proficiency Index, which ranks language skills by country. English-language films are shown in their original versions and the range of English-language textbooks and novels is much larger than in Germany.
#7: You get to places you would otherwise never see
There are also universities in Budapest, Riga, Tallinn and Sofia. All cities are in Erasmus+ member countries. A total of 33 countries are involved in the program, including relatively unknown ones such as Iceland and Liechtenstein. So it's worth looking at the countries involved before deciding on the obvious one. An official (English-language) list can be found here: http://bit.ly/erasmusländer .
#8: The time is optimal
What is the probability that you will be able to spend seven months in Osaka, Japan later in your career? Or that you have time to live in California for six months? Not so great? Exactly. Hang on to the semester break and travel around the country. You are young and will never have so much free time again. A little tip: The semesters or trimesters in other countries often do not start at the same time as the German ones. The summer semester in Sweden, for example, ends in June - there are two months of free time until it starts again at the home university in September.
#9: You learn something about yourself
According to “Wissenschaft weltoffen”, a DAAD study (2016), 79 percent of students say that their time abroad has made them “more self-confident, more reflective and more independent”. “Personality development” is one of the most frequently mentioned effects of a stay abroad.
#10: You do something for the world
Stays abroad break down prejudices and give you a new perspective on the world. For this reason, a particularly large number of exchange programs emerged between the former rivals France and Germany after the Second World War. Today, other countries are stepping up to help break down prejudices. Or did you know that Greece is a strong research location and that Greek researchers are among the world's best? Even. And you can also do something very practical. Go to Greece and get involved in refugee work. Or do that in Malta (also an Erasmus+ country, by the way).
#1: It's easy
