Going abroad
Study/Internship Abroad with and without Erasmus
The Dept. of Biology has contacts to departments with related topics at universities all over Europe. Undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students in Biological Sciences or Life Science can do a regular study term (up to 2 semesters, SMS => Student Mobility Study) or do a research internship (SMP => Student Mobility Practical). At which education level students can apply depends on the partner university (PU). In general, language courses (with a small fee) are offered and in part housing at a reduced rate. The Erasmus Team (departmental and from the International Office) will help you in organizing your application and stay. Erasmus program comes with financial support depending on the respective track and/or the country of the partner university.
If you are interested, check out the 2 informatory pdfs on the right (Info-Veranstaltung Outgoing and Outgoing-student-guide) and contact the Departmental Erasmus Exchange Coordinator (Sascha Beneke). You find all necessary information in detail also on the pages of the International Office (IO). Important: There are different deadlines for the different forms of studying abroad! Please inform yourself on the IO website (always up-to-date!).
SMS: Study at an Erasmus Partner University
Student Mobility for Study is a program for exchanging students that want to pick up a normal study track at a partner university (PU), which can be either 1 or 2 semesters, dependent on the contract we have with the PU. Here, certain rules apply in regard of courses you can choose from (PU) or that you can add to your Transcript of Records (UKon). The time you have to apply to the program is fixed and the exact date can be found on the IO web pages. You can also find them in "News & Dates". Application are organized by the IO (Mobility Online). Usually, deadline is in late January, early February for the standard process. Of note & important: semester phasing (spring & fall semester / term) at PUs is different to German speaking countries! Take this into account for planning. As there are most often more applicants for a specific PU than free slots, think about alternative PUs in advance.
In order you have missed the first deadline for the standard process, you can choose the "residuals" process, which gives you the opportunity to apply for the "left-over" PUs. Use for this process the form on our “Application” website.
SMP (1): Erasmus+ Placement
Erasmus Placement is the program that addresses all of our full-time students and graduates, who want to do an internship abroad somewhere in "extended" Europe. You first have to find a potential supervisor in any Higher Educational Institution, Research Institution, or Company who agrees to host you. Once you provisionally secured your place, application for the Erasmus+ internship funding will not be via University of Konstanz. You have to apply via KOOR, which is located at the Hochschule Karlsruhe and coordinates the Erasmus Placement program in Baden-Württemberg. First, you have to register, then you apply with your filled out Learning Agreement. You can apply continuously, but you have to hand in/upload your application forms with all signatures at KOOR at the latest one month before the start of your work placement. There are now 2 Application Start Times for KOOR, one in June (winter term), one in November (summer term). Grants will be awarded by the "first come first serve" principle! If your internship should be acknowledged by the University of Konstanz, i.e. as Advanced Course or as Final Thesis (Bachelor or Master), you also have to find a supervisor at UKon. In addition to the general application form, pease fill out the supplementary form "Abschlussarbeit im Ausland". You can find this at "From Application to Approval".
SMP (2): Global Mobility
Global Mobility is a mixture of programs addressing all of our full-time students, who want to do an internship abroad. These can be based on contracts between the State of Baden-Württemberg with regions in a different country (for example Ontario in Canada) or bilateral contracts directly with a PU (for example University of North Carolina or University of Toronto). The application process varies therefore. Please contact your Erasmus coordinator or the respective person in the IO.
Internship Abroad
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) is an international, non-political, independent organization sending students on internships to over 80 countries worldwide. The IAESTE Local Committee Konstanz provides technical internships abroad for students in the region of Constance in all technical and scientific disciplines. Students must be enrolled at their home institution during the time of the internship. There are places in both the industry and at research institutes. Most IAESTE internships last 2-3 months, and often take place in the summer months. Internships for up to 12 months are less frequent but possible. The internships are usually paid, the credit is calculated according to the typical cost of living. The IAESTE local committee of the host country is responsible for the trainees to find accommodation and carry out all necessary formalities. This service is free for enrolled students in Germany. This is made possible by the inclusion of the IAESTE program in the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Interested in working abroad?
Find further information at the iaeste local committee Constance.