FAQ Study Abroad Overseas

The first steps towards a possible study abroad always takes place within your degree program. In particular with your International Academic Advisor (IAA).

You don't know who your International Academic Advisor (IAA) is? Click here for an overview.

In an initial meeting with your International Academic Advisor (IAA), the following questions, among others, can be clarified:

• Requirements and criteria for a study abroad within the respective degree program
• ECTS minimum criteria
• Suitable partner universities for your degree program
• Selection and recognition of courses

If you have a disability, a chronic illness, or if you are taking your child with you to study abroad, you might qualify for additional funding and support. In this case, you can apply for “top-up funding.” Please refer to the FHS website under Inclusion, FAQ 20 and 21, or contact the International Office.

In myFHS you will find reports from students about experiences studying abroad. The reports are sorted by country and degree program.

Please note, there are not reports from all partner universities ( perhaps you can be the first to write one? ;) ) 

If you would like, the outgoing coordinator can also put you in touch with former outgoing students who have spent a semester abroad at the partner university you are interested in.
 

Your semester or year abroad needs to be planned at least a year in advance. 

After your initial interview with your International Academic Advisor (IAA), you can only apply for the following winter semester and summer semester during the application period,  from December 15 until January 15:

For example:

• If you you want to go abroad in your 6th semester, you need to apply during the application period (December 15 until January 15) in your 3rd semester.
• If you want to go abroad in your 5th semester (summer semester), then you still need to apply during the application period (December 15 until January 15) in your 3rd semester. 

Where can I apply?
The application is completed via an online application form in the “Mobility Online Portal,” which is activated for applications starting on 15.12.

The application period for a study abroad application from the FH Salzburg is as follows:

between 15.12. and 15.01. for the following winter semester and summer semester.

Please contact your International Academic Advisor (IAA) to find out whether additional internal deadlines (before) apply to your degree program.
 

Here you can find an overview of the individual application steps and who is responsible for completing them: 

After the application deadline in Mobility Online (15.1.), your application will be reviewed by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) and he/she will decide whether to accept your application for a semester abroad according to the following cross-degree program criteria:

1. Academic success and progress (not including any pending board examination)  
2. Sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction  
3. Motivation to gain an insight into the language and culture of the host country
4. Motivation for the semester abroad and for the choice of partner university
5. Possibility of recognition of the planned courses at the partner university for the studies at the FH Salzburg
6. Commitment to the degree program (participation in projects relevant to the degree program, participation in the degree program as a student representative, support for foreign guest students as a buddy, social commitment)

Additional course-specific criteria:
In some degree programs, however, additional internal criteria apply. These are usually communicated by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) during the information event on the semester abroad.

Acceptance of your application: 
You will usually find out whether your application has been accepted by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) 2-3 weeks after the application deadline, i.e. around mid to late February (by e-mail)

Rejection of your application:
If your application is rejected by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) or the program director, you will be informed personally.

In the next step, the International Office discusses the applications received from all degree programs with the relevant IAA in a “placement meeting”. This meeting takes place approx. 2-3 weeks after the application deadline. This meeting can result in several scenarios for you:

1. Nomination to the institution of your first choice:
If a nomination to your first choice is possible, you will be notified via e-mail. In the next step, you will be nominated by the outgoing coordinator at the partner university, taking into account the respective nomination deadline.

2. Nomination to the institution of your second or third choice:
If a nomination to your first choice is not possible due to a lack of places, your IAA will contact you to discuss at which other university (2nd or 3rd choice) you can be nominated.

Nomination deadlines - important note:
Different nomination deadlines apply at each partner university.

In Scandinavian countries, the nomination period tends to start earlier than in southern countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy), as the semester at Scandinavian partner universities also starts earlier. Therefore, do not be unsettled if your fellow students have already been nominated but you have not yet been nominated. This is due to the applicable deadlines and process steps at your partner university.

The FH International Office's Outgoing Coordinator is aware of all our partners' deadlines for nominations -- you can be sure that your nomination will be completed on time.

As soon as the nomination phase starts at your partner university (in most cases this starts at the beginning of March for the following winter semester) or at the beginning of October for the following summer semester and is open for 2 months), the outgoing coordinator will nominate you to the partner university using one of these two methods:

1. Nomination email by the outgoing coordinator to the partner university (with you and your IAA as well as all other students nominated at the partner university in copy)

2. Nomination via a mobility software (such as Mobility Online), completed by the FH Salzburg Outgoing Coordinator

If you are nominated via mobility software, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from the partner university with further information on applying to the partner university.

Important:
There are no further steps for you to take between the application at Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and the nomination at the partner university.

After the nomination has been accepted by the partner university, you must apply again directly and independently to this university.

Important!
It can take up to 2 weeks or even up to a month (especially in southern countries) for the partner university to confirm the nomination, as the partner university often receives several hundred nominations from all partner institutions. Therefore, do not be put off if this takes some time.

Application process at the partner university:
You will receive all information on this directly from the partner university. Please bear in mind that the documents required and to be submitted may vary from university to university (letter of motivation, CV, proof of language proficiency, etc.). In most cases, you will receive a “factsheet” from the partner university, in which the application process and the deadlines to be observed are described in detail. In many cases, you will also find information on finding accommodation, living costs, campus life, welcome days, academic calendar (with start and end dates of the semester), etc.

Important: 
It is your sole responsibility to complete your application to the partner university on time. The application process and the applicable deadlines also vary depending on the partner university. In general, however, the deadlines tend to end earlier in Scandinavia and later in the south.

Normally, nominated students are accepted by the partner university and only very rarely rejected.

Important:
However, the final decision always lies with the partner university and cannot be influenced or evaluated by the International Office of the FH Salzburg or your IAA.

No, students of the FH Salzburg are exempt from tuition fees at the partner universities (both at Erasmus+ partner universities and at overseas partner universities).

During the semester abroad you remain a student of the FH Salzburg. The tuition fees at the FH Salzburg and the ÖH fee must still be paid.

Letter of Acceptance:
If your application was successful, you will receive a Letter of Acceptance from the partner university. This usually also contains the official start and end dates of the semester.

Important:
When you receive the Letter of Acceptance is also different at each partner university. The International Office of the FH Salzburg does not have an overview of this. In some cases, however, information can be found in the fact sheet of the partner university or on the respective website.

In most cases, the entire application process at the partner university (from application to acceptance) takes 2 - 3 months.

Rejection:
In the event that your application is not accepted, the partner university will also inform you of this in writing and also inform the Outgoing Coordinator at FH Salzburg.

After consultation with your IAA, you can be nominated at another partner university, if there are still places available and the nomination deadlines have not yet transpired.

We recommend that you start looking for accommodation and planning your trip as early as possible, but of course wait until you have received confirmation of a place (Letter of Acceptance) from your partner university before making any final confirmation or booking.

Accommodation:
Partner universities often provide accommodation in student residences or near the campus. Information on this can be found on the website of the partner university or it will be sent to you directly by the International Office of the partner university as soon as they contact you regarding your application. (Fact sheet).

If desired, the Outgoing Coordinator can also put you in touch with former outgoing students who have completed a semester abroad at the same partner university.

Insurance cover is mandatory for all stays abroad.
Important: It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate international insurance coverage (accident, liability and health insurance) for the entire duration of your stay abroad. Private supplementary insurance is recommended.

ÖH fee = accident and liability insurance

Accident and liability insurance is generally covered with the payment of the ÖH fee. The insurance coverage only applies to accidents or damage during your studies (on the host university compus and also on the way there). Accidents or damages that occur during your free time are not included.  

Further information on the ÖH contribution can be found on the ÖH website.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European Health Insurance Card offers health insurance in all EU/EEA countries (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Switzerland and Serbia). You will find this on the back of your e-card. Contact the customer service of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) to find out about insurance cover in your host country.
 

The validity of the card must be checked before the start of the stay abroad. All fields on the back of the e-card should be completed in full. If you do not have a valid health insurance card, contact your health insurance provider before you travel. Ask your host institution in advance whether special insurance is recommended for your stay abroad.

In the case of an Erasmus+ mobility, participants must hold a European Health Insurance Card and be insured against the risks associated with their trip (travel insurance, liability insurance, insurance against accidents and serious illnesses, as well as death).   

You might have additional costs for overseas stays, like for the visa application and for potentially individual administrative fees specific to the host country.

Apart from this, of course, travel costs, accommodation, meals and any additional private insurance etc. may be incurred.

Erasmus+ Funding

In some cases, Erasmus+ funding can be used for overseas destinations, but it depends on budgest availability, with budget priority given to Erasmus+ countries.

Eramus+ Funding for overseas study mobility must also meet the following criteria:

• Fulfillment of certain criteria, as listed in the document Information for the award of Erasmus+ funding
• Erasmus+ Interinstitutional Agreement confirmed by the partner university (in addition to an existing Overseas Cooperation Agreement)

These requirements are automatically obtained and checked as part of the application process. Students whose mobility is eligible for funding will then be contacted by the International Office. 

Databank / Scholarship Portals*

Scholarships and further information can be found on the following pages:

https://www.stipendium.at/stipendien/studieren-im-ausland
https://myfhs.fh-salzburg.ac.at/display/INTERNAT/Wirtschaftskammer+Leistungsstipendium
https://www.fh-salzburg.ac.at/internationales/internationales/stipendienprogramme

OeAD Outgoing Scholarship Programs:

Information on the current outgoing scholarship programs and deadlines can be found here.

Scholarship portal: 

www.european-funding-guide.eu 

Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants
www.grants.at

Scholarships Portal
www.european-funding-guide.eu

Student Grants

Going abroad to study? Apply for financial support from Student Grants here: www.student-grants.eu

The Student Grants fund is an initiative funded by CasaSwap.com, a free worldwide student accommodation service.

Further Scholarship Possibilities*
International Graduate Programs With Scholarships

Walailak University in Thailand awards scholarships to qualified international students interested in postgraduate programs. Details on the international graduate programs can be found here.

Direct questions to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phongpichit Channuie, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies: channuie@gmail.com oder grad.walailak@gmail.com.

6th Annual Art & Design Scholarship

The 1st Art Gallery awards a $1000 scholarship to students each academic year. This scholarship is intended to help students pursue a successful career in art or design. Applicants may submit their entry along with a sketch, drawing, film, artwork, short story, poem, or literally any type of art they are most proud of. The winner will be selected by the end of June.

More information can be found here.
Questions?: team@1st-art-gallery.com

Scholarships for Australia & New Zealand

Since 2003, STUDIUM-DOWNUNDER has been supporting students who are interested in studying in Australia and New Zealand with a comprehensive and free application service.

Contact: Thomas Richter richter@studium-downunder.de
Further information: Studium-Downunder Homepage

Direct questions to: info@studium-downunder.de

The INSTITUT RANKE-HEINEMANN Foundation also offers support in the form of scholarships: www.ranke-heinemann.de/australien/stipendien-irh/

Speaker: Julia Wilms wilms@ranke-heinemann.de

"Korea University Europe, Latin America Science & Technology (KU ELST) Scholarship Program"

Information on this scholarship can be found here.

"Stipendium der Japanischen Regierung"

Information on this scholarship can be found here.

IRH Förderprogramm Australien

Information on this scholarship can be found here.

MEXT Scholarship

Information on this scholarship can be found here.

Toptal Scholarships for Women

Information on this scholarship can be found here.

"Auslandsstudium mit Kind"

Information on this topic can be found here:

http://www.mawista.com/blog/mit-kind-im-ausland-studieren/

http://www.mawista.com/stipendium/

*Fachhochschule Salzburg GmbH assumes no liability for the topicality, correctness and completeness of the information provided by external providers.

The template for the Learning Agreement can be found here: Learning Agreement Übersee

For questions pertaining to the Learning Agreement, please refer to your International Academic Advisor (IAA).

1. Confirmation of Stay
The Confirmation of Stay (COS) must be turned in to the Outgoing-Coordinator in the FH International Office, per Mail.

2. Overseas Stay Report
The Overseas Stay Report must additionally be uploaded into FHsys after your return to FH Salzburg from abroad.