When planning your stay abroad, you should not only think about tuition fees, but also about living expenses, travel costs, insurance, vaccinations and possible visa fees. Here are a few items to consider in your budget planning:

If you take part in a KU exchange program, there are usually no tuition fees at the host university. This makes exchange programs a financially attractive option. However, as a free mover, you will usually have to pay full tuition. These fees can vary greatly depending on the host university and the program you chose. We therefore recommend that you find out about the respective costs at an early stage. Please note, however, that even if there are no tuition fees in the traditional sense, there may still be other fees such as for library and internet use at the host university.

You should also keep an eye on the cost of living. These include expenses for rent, food, transportation, and recreational activities. These costs can vary greatly depending on which city and country you choose to study in. In order to get an accurate picture of the costs to be expected, we recommend that you inform yourself online and consult testimonials from former students. These often provide valuable insights into the actual costs of living and can be very helpful in budgeting.

Travel costs are an often underestimated aspect of a semester abroad. In addition to the flight ticket to the destination country, you should also consider the costs of domestic transportation and any travel during the semester. Whether it's the shuttle from the airport to the university or a spontaneous weekend trip to a nearby city - these are all expenses that you should include in your financial planning. We recommend that you draw up a realistic cost overview early on and look out for savings opportunities such as early booking or student discounts.

An important aspect of planning your stay abroad is insurance. This usually includes health insurance, accident insurance and liability insurance; other insurances might possibly also be needed. If you participate in the Erasmus+ program, certain insurances are mandatory and you will receive all necessary information regarding insurance directly from the program. For students participating in the worldwide or faculty-led exchange program, the partner university will provide all necessary information regarding required insurance. We recommend that you find out about the respective insurance requirements at an early stage and to make appropriate preparations.

Depending on your destination country, there may be additional costs for applying for a visa and other administrative tasks. This may include, for example, document authentication, medical examinations, or special certificates. These fees must be budgeted in separately. We recommend that you thoroughly inform yourself about all additional costs in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises.

It is also advisable to prepare a detailed budget plan and also include a buffer for unexpected expenses.

Luckily, there are many ways to receive financial aid for your study abroad program:

Due to the variety of funding options, it is advisable to obtain comprehensive information at an early stage in order to find the right form of financing for you. Find out about the various options in good time and bear the application deadlines in mind here as well.

The KU offers special scholarships for study abroad stays. All required information and application details can be found on the International Office’s website Funding provided by the KU.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as well as other public institutions offer a variety of scholarships for different destination countries and fields of study: DAAD - Zentrale Stpiendiendatenbank (only available in German)

Some companies offer scholarships and financial support for talented students who want to spend a semester abroad.

There are also funding opportunities that are specifically aimed at students from certain countries or disciplines.

For study stays within Europe, the Erasmus+ program is an excellent option. If you participate in the KU's Erasmus+ program, you will automatically receive funding, provided that all required steps are completed. For further information: Erasmus+

As another option, special student loans or educational funds can be used for stays abroad. For furhter information: other scholarship opportunities.

Various political foundations also offer scholarships, often with a particular focus on community involvement or special academic achievement. For further information: scholarships.

Some research institutes and centers offer special grants for research stays abroad. Make sure you find out about these opportunities, especially if your study visit has a research focus.