Information on Organisations and Funding Opportunities
A host of organisations provide students with international placements and internships abroad - often for a fee.
Extensive information on international placements can be found on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which provides lists of useful links for a large number of countries and fields of study
(Study and Research Abroad - Links).
The DAAD itself offers several internship abroad programmes, such as the Taiwan Summer Institute Programme.
The non-profi organisationt Wege ins Ausland ("Ways to Go Abroad", link in German) also provides a useful list of links, a helpful brochure as well as a quality check for international internship providers.
Funding Opportunities
DAAD Scholarships Database
The DAAD Scholarships Database (link in German) offers the most comprehensive database on all kinds of scholarships and international placements. In many cases, travel allowances are also available.
BAföG Study and Work Abroad Allowance
Students eligible for funding according to the German Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG) may, under certain conditions, receive a special allowance for internships abroad. For further information, please get in touch with the local BAföG Office / Student Services (link in German).
Educational Loan - "Bildungskredit"
Students who embark on an internship abroad at an advanced stage during their studies may apply for a low-rate loan (for up to two years) from KfW Bankengruppe. Students can apply for the Educational Loan even if they are BAföG recipients. Please note that applicants have to be of German nationaliy; under certain circumstances, EU citizens are also eligible to apply. For further information, please see: Bildungskredit (link in German)
Internships Abroad - Selected Organisations and Programmes
GIZ - German Society for International Co-Operation (formerly DED/GTZ/InWent)
GIZ is a non-profit organisation dedicated to human resources development, helping young people to gain work experience abroad and to get in touch with foreign cultures and the international job market. The exchange programmes and scholarships are to broaden young people's horizons, develop their intercultural competence, and enhance their foreign language skills.
GIZ now also offers GTZ internships programmes Students past their intermediate exam (Diplom Courses) or in their second year (Bachelor's/Master's). Applicants should preferably be students in the fields of agricultural sciences / forestry, environmental engineering / environmental economy, medical studies (practical training year students are not eligible), economics, social sciences, administrative sciences, geography and industrial / corporate pedagogy. Further information: GIZ - GTZ
ASA Programme
Students and young professionals who wish to abroad in the context of developmental work are referred to the ASA programme, which provides short-term scholarships (typically during the summer months) which allow students to participate in projects conducted in developing countries. These programmes are also open to students from developing countries who are enrolled in a degree programme at a German university.
World University Service (WUS)
Students with a special interest in North-South Cooperation may apply for unpaid internship placements arranged by the World University Service (WUS, link in German). Placements are available at external WUS branches as well as partner organisations.
Carlo Schmid Programme
Carlo Schmid-funded internships are to introduce outstanding students and graduates to problems and working strategies in the international administration sector and enhance their intercultural competence. The programme is to improve participants' career opportunities in the international sector. The Carlo Schmid programme is largely financed by funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and also receives support from the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Further Information: Carlo Schmid Programme / DAAD (the DAAD link is in German)
KOPRA Coordination Centre for Internships
The Coordination Centre for Internships, KOPRA, promotes intern exchange opportunities between Europe and Eastern Asia by providing a web-based information platform which is to bring together international companies and their prospective interns.
Heinrich Hertz Foundation
The Heinrich Hertz Foundation provides scholarships for research abroad projects. For further information, please visit the web pages of the Heinrich Hertz Foundation (link in German).
Heinrich J. Klein Foundation
The Heinrich J. Klein Foundation promotes scientific exchange between international educational and research institutions by providing scholarships for students who wish to embark on short- or medium term research abroad projects. Eligible for funding are students from all disciplines who can demonstrate that they have been promoting international exchange in the past, e.g. through extracurricular activities. For further information, please visit the website of the Heinrich J. Klein Foundation.
Heinz Nixdorf Programme
The Heinz Nixdorf Foundation offers support for German graduates with a degree in economics / business administration or in the natural and engineering sciences. The Foundation arranges internships at companies located in Asian countries, such as China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Further information is provided on the InWent website (information in German).
Vulcanus
The Vulcanus in Japan training programme provides scholarships for EU students in the natural and engineering sciences who wish to undertake an internship at a Japanese company. At the time of application, the students must be at least in their third year of studies at a University within the EU. In the period between September 2011 and August 2012, followship winners will complete
- a one-week seminar on Japan,
- a four-month intensive Japanese language course,
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and an eight-month internship at a Japanese company.
Applications must be submitted to the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation. The deadline for applications is 20 January 2011.
Medical Studies
Deutscher Famulantenaustausch (DFA) e.V.
General information on internship opportunities as well as application forms are available at website of the National Association of all Medical Students’ Representations (bvmd, link in German). The application deadline is 1 February for the second semester and 1 October for the first semester.
An English-language website is currently under construction: bvmd international
Institut für Tropenhygiene und öffentliches
Gesundheitswesen (ITHÖG) (in German) - Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health
At the ITHÖG (link in German), students of medicine from developing countries may apply for financial aid for their period of clinical internship or for their practical training year ("PJ") abroad.
Dentistry
Zahnmedizinischer Austauschdienst (ZAD)
Information and application forms are available at the students council for dentistry.
ZAD German Website
ZAD for Incomings - English Website
Students of Dentistry Aachen