Folkwang University of the Arts has over 100 partner universities in Europe where you can spend a semester or year abroad as part of the Erasmus+ program.
Going abroad via Erasmus+ has a number of advantages:
• No tuition fees at the host university
• Financial support through a monthly scholarship
• Additional funding for specific groups (e.g. students with a disability) and for sustainable travel
• Recognition of academic achievements by agreement in advance
Erasmus+ students may receive a monthly scholarship during their stay abroad, the amount of which is based on the different costs of living in each destination country.
During a course of studies (e.g. for the duration of a bachelor's or master's degree), students may receive a maximum of 12 months of Erasmus+ funding.
Students with a disability or chronic illness, students with children, first-generation students and working students may also be eligible for additional financial support. Those who travel by low-emission means of transport such as bus and train can apply for additional “green travel” funding.
You can find information on the current funding rates here.
The application deadline for an exchange place at one of our partner universities in Europe, and for an Erasmus+ scholarship, is January 5 for the following academic year (October to September). Apply to the International Office using our application form.
If you have been selected for an Erasmus+ exchange place, you will be nominated by the International Office at the host university. You must also apply there yourself. Find out about the application deadlines there in good time and prepare the necessary documents. Generally speaking, those tend to include:
• Application form or online application at the partner university
• Curriculum vitae/CV
• Portfolio (for designers) or audio/video files for music, dance, theatre
• Transcript of Records in English
Make sure to request a transcript of records from the examination office in good time.
The host university will inform you of the outcome of your application. If you are accepted, they will provide you with more information about your semester abroad.
Before you leave, you will need to create an online learning agreement; you can find instructions here. The purpose of a learning agreement is to establish which courses you will take at the host university and for which modules of your studies at Folkwang these can be recognized. You should therefore clarify in advance with your lecturers, the International Office and the host university which courses you can take and whether recognition is possible. The learning agreement needs to be signed digitally by you, the International Office at Folkwang and the host university.
The International Office will inform you about the result of your internal application for an Erasmus+ scholarship. If you are awarded a scholarship, the International Office will draw up a grant agreement. This agreement must be signed by you before your departure. Once it has been signed, the first installment of your scholarship (70% of the total amount) can be transferred to you.
Once you have arrived at the host university, ask the international relations coordinator there for a “Confirmation of Arrival” and forward it to the International Office at Folkwang.
During your stay, it may be necessary to change the Learning Agreement - for example, because you want to attend different courses than originally planned. Both universities must agree to these changes by digitally signing the changed learning agreement.
At the end of your stay, you need to submit the following documents to the International Office:
• Certificate of Stay (can be issued shortly before your departure by the international office at your host university)
• Transcript of records (issued by the host university)
• Your experience report
• Online EU Survey (you will receive a link to this by e-mail after your stay: please complete the survey and submit it by the deadline stated in the e-mail)
Once you submit these documents, the second installment of your scholarship (30% of the total sum ) will be transferred to you.
After your return, you can apply for recognition of the credits gained abroad towards your course at Folkwang. To do this, complete the application for recognition and enclose your learning agreement and transcript of records. The credits will be recognized in accordance with your learning agreement. If you do not want to have them recognized, you are free not to apply for recognition.
As an Erasmus+ participant, you have entered into some obligations. These include, for example, carrying out your stay abroad as agreed, submitting all the necessary documents on time and ensuring that you have sufficient insurance. However, you also have rights: these include the waiving of tuition fees at the host university and the recognition of the academic achievements as agreed in the learning agreement. You can read about your rights and obligations in the Erasmus+ Student Charter.
By signing the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, Folkwang University of the Arts has committed itself to complying with the framework conditions of the Erasmus+ programme. For more details on this, take a look at our European Policy Statement.
If you encounter any problems during your Erasmus+ stay, you can contact the International Office at Folkwang University of the Arts or your host university abroad.
In addition, each university participating in Erasmus+ appoints a contact person for complaints about non-compliance with the principles set out in the Erasmus Charter. At Folkwang, this is the president, Holger Zebu Kluth. Please phrase your concerns and any desired changes as objectively and in as much detail as possible. Complaints will be carefully examined and dealt with in cooperation with the persons or departments involved. We will strive to find a satisfactory solution for every problem. In addition, your input will contribute to the continued improvement of our processes. Any personal data that you provide with your complaint will be treated confidentially, will not be passed on to third parties and will be deleted once the matter has been resolved.