Applying for a Study Place Abroad

Students wanting to go abroad via an exchange program of the University of Mannheim first have to undergo an internal application and selection process. The International Office assists you with all steps during this process. First please attend one of the mandatory basic information events, which give you an overview of programs, procedures and funding opportunities.

As the application details and deadlines differ depending on your host country, school or department and program of study, we urge you to carefully read the following information and pay attention to the information relevant to you.

Please be aware: In addition to the university's internal application process, there are numerous funding organizations (for example the DAAD or the Fulbright Commission), all having individual application deadlines. These deadlines may differ from the university's dates and can be found on the respective organization's website. An overview of the most important funding organizations can be found on the page on financing your stay abroad.

Applying for the university's exchange programs

Read more about the partner universities and gather information on special requirements such as proofs of language proficiency.

Read the application instructions applying to your application date.

Start your application for a stay abroad.

  • Application deadlines

    The application deadlines for the university's exchange programs differ depending on your program of study and host country. Deadlines are always scheduled a number of months before the beginning of the actual stay abroad. In some cases, you even have to apply more than one year in advance.

    We recommend visiting the Introductory Study Abroad Meetings to learn about the different exchange programs right at the beginning of your studies, in order to ensure that you don’t miss any deadlines.

    Not all semesters are suited for going abroad. In some programs, the semesters during which a stay abroad is possible are even predetermined.

    The different application deadlines and potential periods for a stay abroad according to the regular program structure for your program are listed below:

    For a general overview, please refer to the general overview of application deadlines.

    The application deadlines for individual programs are also listed in the database of partner universities.

  • Application instructions

    Please read the respective application instructions to find out which documents are required for your program of study and which application deadlines must be met.

  • Online application

    We do not require application documents in paper format – please upload the documents in the Mobility-Online application platform.

    Before starting your application, carefully read the relevant application instructions to avoid a rejection of your application due to formal errors.

    Please also read the Data Protection Information regarding the Software Mobility-Online.

    Access to the Mobility-Online application portal to start a new application:

    Start Online Application

    If you have applied for an exchange before and would like to create a new application, as a first step you need to access the application form again via the link above, fill it in and send it.

    After you have sent off your online application form, you will receive an email with a registration link to the Mobility-Online-Portal. After this registration, you can reach the Mobility-Online-Portal for all further steps: Mobility-Online-Portal

  • Selection process

    Formal check

    In a first step, all applications are checked for formal errors. Incomplete applications or applications that were not submitted on time will be excluded from the further application process. You will receive notice of the result of the formal check via e-mail within one to two weeks.

    Selection process and selection criteria

    Those applications that fulfill all formal criteria are then forwarded to the respective department for the further selection process. A special selection committee decides which applicants will be admitted to the respective exchange program. In the case of interdisciplinary programs, the International Office also forms part of the committee. As interdisciplinary programs are exchange programs open to students from different departments, the decision on who will be awarded a study place abroad has to be made jointly by the schools and/or departments concerned. 

    Generally, decisions are only made based on the application documents submitted. Yet, depending on the number of qualified applicants, you might be invited to a personal interview for some programs. This mostly concerns overseas destinations.

    Study places are awarded depending on the number of places available for the respective period.

    The following selection criteria are generally used to evaluate an application:

    • academic performance and course of study
    • academic and personal motivation for studying abroad
    • foreign language skills
    • documented social commitment, internships, special activities, etc.
    • formal correctness of the application
    • personal impression (if an interview was conducted)

    Criteria my differ depending on the respective department and exchange program. For details, please refer to your department or, in case of an interdisciplinary exchange program, to the International Office.

    First round of allocation

    For every application, you can indicate one or more preferred partner universities, so called “priorities”. Every selection committee will try to award students a study place at the partner university listed as their first priority. If this is not possible, the selection committee will assess your application with regard to your other priorities.

  • What happens if I don't receive a study place at one of my preferred universities?

    Following the first round of allocation, it is ascertained whether there are still any empty places at some of the partner universities. If this is the case, applicants who have not received a place so far, will be informed via e-mail. If interested, they can quickly apply for these spots via e-mail and a second round of allocation will be initiated.

    If your application for a study place abroad is not successful, you are welcome to inquire about the reasons at your department or (in case of an interdisciplinary exchange program) at the International Office. Provided that it is compatible with your program structure, you can apply again at a later date.

    But there are also other ways to spend time abroad. Internships abroad are a great alternative to studying abroad because you gain valuable practical experience, and even in an intercultural environment. Employers therefore appreciate it very much if you have an internship abroad included in your CV. Or you can organise a semester abroad by yourself as a free mover, outside of the University's exchange programs. A free mover semester can be credited towards the Mannheim degree in the same way as a stay abroad via the University's exchange programs.

  • What are the next steps after I have been awarded a study place abroad?

    The International Office will inform you about the results of the application process via e-mail. If you have been awarded a study place, you have to accept the place within four days via the Mobility-Online application platform. Afterwards, a cancellation is only possible in exceptional cases and with valid reasons.

    Students who have been awarded a study place by way of the internal application process will be registered at their future host institution by the University of Mannheim in due time. Afterwards, the nominated students have to again submit a number of documents for admission to the partner university. The final decision on their admission will be made by the host institution. However, provided that you submit all required documents in due time, there should not be any problems at all. We will inform you about the necessary steps.

    In order to plan your semester abroad, you should discuss your selection of courses abroad with your department as soon as possible.

    Even after having received your confirmation of placement there are some scholarship programs you can still apply for – do some research! For stays within Europe, students usually receive the Erasmus grant. The International Office will provide information on the amount of funding and the application to all eligible students in due time.

I spent a semester abroad in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in Mexico. I had the great opportunity to experience a new culture firsthand and approach my field of study from a new angle. You should be prepared for some paperwork, but the departmental exchange coordinators and the International Office will be there to help you. If you plan ahead, you will be able to enjoy your semester abroad to the fullest. To me, my semester in Mexico was one of the most exciting periods of my time as a student. I hope that I brought some of the sunny Mexican culture back to Germany.

Petra Beurer, student in the master’s program in Culture and Economy: French Studies, Universidad de Guadalajara (Mexico) / Credit: Elisa Berdica

Mexico turned out to be the perfect country for my semester abroad.

I was able to study in English as well as Spanish at an internationally renowned university (ITESM) and I discovered Latin American way of life. That meant attending lively sessions in small groups with people from all over the world on a beautiful landscaped campus with deer. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to travel around the country during project week. All in all that made my study abroad experience unforgettable.

Alina Stegmeier, student in the bachelor’s program in Business Administration, ITESM Monterrey (Mexico) / Credit: Jula Jacob

I spent my semester abroad at the Trinity College in Dublin and I am very happy about this decision. Living abroad in Ireland might not include a big culture shock but you still have to leave your comfort zone and adapt to a new environment. To someone who is not sure if going abroad fits into the study plan or if it is worth it, I only say: If you have the opportunity to go, do it. Otherwise, you will regret the missed chance afterwards. Even if your semester abroad turns out differently to what you were imagining it, you will not regret it. It is really worth the effort.

Anna Harlacher, student of B.Ed. English and Political Sciences, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) / Credit: Leah Kratschmann

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