FAQ
Application documents:
Do I have to write my application in German?
No, you can hand in all documents in German or in English. This makes no difference at all. For example, you can also submit the CV in English and the letter of motivation in German.
Do I have to hand in a language test in any case or are there exceptions, e.g. if I am a native speaker?
Yes, even if you are a native speaker, you studied an English degree programme before, or you had English as exam subject at school, you still have to hand in a language test. We need a test with results in the four categories of listening and reading comprehension as well as reading and writing skills, because we allocate points to all four categories. At the SLI (Language Teaching Centre), you have the possibility to get the language level from your Abitur diploma transferred to the DAAD form, if your diploma is not older than 2 years. Further information on language tests provided by the SLI can be found here: https://www.sli.uni-freiburg.de/english/tests/daad?set_language=en
Which language tests are accepted?
You must submit a language certificate for all working languages or languages of instruction. If there are two languages: Please upload certificates for both languages in one file!
- Language test on DAAD form “Sprachnachweis für Bewerber*innen aus Deutschland” (can also be used by non-German applicants). The test is conducted by the SLI (Language Teaching Centre), www.sli.uni-freiburg.de. You can find the form in the section Application documents.
All pages of the SLI form must be stamped or signed by the examiner! - Accepted alternatives for English-speaking countries: TOEFL (only TOEFL iBT or PBT with oral examination part, the TOEFL ITP cannot be accepted), IELTS, PTE Academic or UCLES test.
- For Spanish-speaking countries: Results of the DELE test, if you can provide us with valid login data.
- For China: HSK, please note that you have to submit the additional page regarding your oral exam.
- Other language tests: They must include the four categories of listening and reading comprehension as well as spoken and written language. In case you want to hand in another language test, please send us a scan of it by email, so that we can check whether it can be accepted, or not.
Language certificates must not be older than two years!
What should I keep in mind regarding the dates of the funding period in the online application form?
Please fill in the corresponding dates of your project (internship, thesis abroad or semester abroad) rather than the dates of your arrival/departure. You can travel there earlier or travel back later, but the indicated dates in the online application have to correspond to the project period mentioned in the letter of acceptance/confirmation of the guest institution/supervisor abroad. If you study abroad, the start date should be the day of the beginning of the welcome days or lecture period abroad and the end should be the end date of the exam period at the guest university.
In case you are awarded a scholarship, you must also hand in a confirmation that you successfully completed your stay in the indicated time period, after the end of the scholarship period. Therefore, please inform us immediately in case of any changes concerning the dates via email.
Your project abroad should be part of your studies. Thus, you have to be matriculated at the University of Freiburg during your stay abroad. Thus, the estimated date of graduation which you have to fill in in the application form must be later than the end of your funding period.
Which documents can be handed in after the end of the deadline?
Only the following documents can be handed in after the end of the deadline:
- Exclusively for semesters abroad: the letter of acceptance of the host university might be handed in a bit later, upon prior consultation. In this case, please contact us by email (promos@zv.uni-freiburg.de) some time before the respective deadline and before applying for the scholarship and tell us, where you want to study from when to when (name of the guest university and country) and when you expect to receive the letter of acceptance/confirmation of admission.
- Exclusively for theses abroad stays without a supervisor abroad: The flight/train tickets that are required (only in this case) can be handed in after the deadline, but before your departure via email (promos@zv.uni-freiburg.de).
All other documents must be handed in before the end of the deadline. Incomplete or delayed applications will be rejected due to formal reasons.
Destinations
Which destination countries can I go to?
Although the DAAD PROMOS list also includes European countries, only stays in non-European countries can be funded, as stays in ERASMUS+ programme countries can be funded via ERASMUS+. This means that stays in ERASMUS+ programme countries and in their overseas territories, EWR countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), in Turkey and Macedonia, as well as in other EU accession countries (depending on the current situation) cannot be funded via the DAAD PROMOS scholarships.
In addition, stays in Switzerland are also not eligible for funding via the DAAD PROMOS scholarships. If you are planning to study or do an internship in a European country, please contact the ERASMUS colleagues!
Please also note that funding is not possible in the case of travel warnings for the destination country. For more information on the topic of travel warnings, please see the next question "What regulations apply if my destination country is affected by a travel warning issued by the Federal Foreign Office?"
In addition, stays in your home country cannot be funded: For students without German citizenship, stays in the home country are excluded. The home country is the country in which the student has predominantly resided for at least five years or whose nationality he or she has. Therefore, please also state your nationality(ies) in your CV.
What regulations apply if my destination country is affected by a travel warning issued by the Federal Foreign Office?
Please note that funding is not possible if there is a travel warning for your destination country/region.
Travel warning is issued before departure: No funding possible. You would, of course, still be allowed to travel, as this is at your discretion. However, scholarship funds may not be paid out, even if they have already been confirmed. You would have to transfer the funds back if they have already been paid out. This is also the case if you have already booked a flight. Therefore, we strongly advise you to take out travel cancellation insurance!
Travel warning is issued during your stay abroad: If a travel warning is issued after the start of your funding period, scholarship funds already paid up to that point do not have to be repaid, but you should (of course, do not have to) leave the country. The funding could not be continued (applies to monthly scholarship rates, the travel-cost allowance would not be affected by this, insofar as the travel warning is issued after the start of your funding period).
For partial travel warnings, it depends on the region you are in. The regulation only applies if you are in a region for which the partial travel warning has been issued.
On behalf of the DAAD, we would also like to point out that if you are travelling to regions with a critical security situation, you should register on the website of the Federal Foreign Office ("Elektronische Erfassung von Deutschen im Ausland"). Please keep track of the security situation and the course of events in the destination country and inform us if a travel warning should be issued.
Financial aspects
Amount of the scholarship
What does a DAAD-PROMOS scholarship include?
The type and amount of financial support depends on the duration of the stay and the destination country.
Stays of up to 10 weeks: Here you only apply for the travel-cost allowance.
Stays of 10 weeks or more: Here you apply for the travel-cost allowance and the monthly scholarship rates.
If you are awarded a scholarship, you will receive the travel-cost allowance (which can be found in the list in the column „Teilstipendium Mobilität in Euro“) as a one-time fixed rate, regardless of your actual travel costs. The monthly rates can be found in the list in the column „Teilstipendium Aufenthalt in Euro“; please note that the monthly rate is just a partial scholarship not meant to cover all costs.
You can find the amounts for each country in the DAAD-PROMOS list in the section „Amount of financial support“, which is always valid for one calendar year.
The columns „Aufenthaltspauschale in Euro“ and „Teilstipendium Studiengebühren (Höchstsatz) in Euro“ are not relevant for you, since you cannot apply for this as a student of the University of Freiburg.
In addition, as a scholarship holder you can also take out an insurance with the DAAD (combined health, accident and personal liability insurance). Information can be found here: https://www.daad.de/en/study-research-teach-abroad/scholarships-funding/daad-insurance/destination-abroad/
Students with disabilities/chronic illnesses might also apply for special needs. You can find more information here.
In addition to travel and living costs, I will also have to pay tuition fees abroad. Can they be paid by the DAAD PROMOS scholarship, as well?
No, at the University of Freiburg, tuition fees are not funded via the DAAD PROMOS scholarships, even though there is a respective column in the DAAD list.
In case I am awarded a scholarship, will I automatically be insured with DAAD?
No, as a scholarship holder, you have the OPTION to take out this insurance. Information can be founde here.
Combination regulations:
Can I get several PROMOS scholarships?
Yes, in case the maximum period of six months within one degree programme (bachelor's degree, master's degree or state examination) is not exceeded, you can theoretically receive several scholarships for different stays abroad. Example: 1 scholarship for studies abroad for four months and 1 scholarship for an internship abroad for two months.
Can I also receive more than one scholarship for the same project?
The DAAD PROMOS scholarships can be combined with Auslands-BAFöG, as well as with most domestic financial aid programmes (e.g. Deutschlandstipendium) or private funding. In case you receive BAFöG, please inform the BAFöG office in case you are awarded a scholarship since the DAAD-PROMOS scholarships are credited against the BAFöG. The DAAD PROMOS scholarships cannot be combined with other public funding specifically intended for stays abroad. If you are unsure, please contact us: promos@zv.uni-freiburg.de
In addition, only unpaid stays abroad can be funded. Applications for other scholarships for your stay abroad have to be indicated in your application (however, this is no disadvantage for you in the selection process) and you have to inform the International Office of the success or failure of those other scholarship applications, as soon as you know. In case several scholarship applications that are not combinable are successful, you will have to choose one of them and reject the others.
General questions
What are the chances of being awarded a scholarship?
The chances depend on the annual budget provided by the DAAD (varies from calendar year to calendar year) and on the number and quality of the applications.
You will receive points for everything you submit from at least two reviewers. The more points you achieve in total, the better your chances. The better your grades, the more points you get in this category, the better your language skills, the more points you get in this category. In the letter of motivation, you will receive points for the aspects mentioned in the checklist, which you should explain. Therefore, please put in some effort when writing the motivation letter, explain all aspects mentioned in the checklist to a sufficient extent and also pay attention to the spelling. If you are going abroad for your thesis, points will also be awarded for the exposé. For the CV, points are awarded for work experience (jobs, internships, apprenticeships, student traineeships, etc.), for voluntary work and for intercultural competence (longer stays abroad, activities as a buddy for foreign students, courses on intercultural competence, etc.). Please prepare the documents according to the guidelines you will find in the corresponding checklist in the "Programme Lines" section.
Unfortunately, the budget is not sufficient to support all applicants. So you cannot rely on being awarded a scholarship.
When will I receive an acceptance or rejection letter?
The selection procedure usually takes a maximum of 2 months (after the deadline). You will then be informed of the decision by email. In case you are awarded the scholarship, you must upload a signed scholarship contract as a scan in the Mobility Online portal via which you applied online within 10 days of receiving the acceptance letter. In addition, you must then also send us your original scholarship contract (with a so-called "wet ink signature") within 10 days. Therefore, please make sure to check your e-mails weekly and to also have the opportunity to scan and send the scholarship contract from abroad.
Regulations for medical and pharmacy students
I am a medical student and want to do my PJ (practical year) overseas. Can I also apply for a DAAD PROMOS scholarship?
Yes, please apply whithin the programme line „internships abroad“.
I am a medical student and want do research for my final thesis, called 'Doktorarbeit', overseas. Can I also apply for a DAAD PROMOS scholarship?
Yes, since you are still a regularly matriculated student and not a doctoral candidate, you can apply within the programme line 'theses abroad'.
Which transcripts and degrees do I have to hand in as a medical or pharmacy student?
Please submit the 1st and, if available, also the 2nd section of the medical or pharmaceutical examination with average grade as well as, if you have only taken the first one so far, also the current transcript of records, all in one file.