1 exchange programs worldwide

In addition to the faculty-specific programmes already described, there are exchange programmes administered by the IStO, which are usually offered across faculties and are therefore open to all disciplines. (Possible restrictions can be found in the cooperation list on the IStO website). These programs offer a complete tuition fee waiver at the host university and some of them can be combined with scholarships. Important: Ask the scholarship providers whether the cumulation of scholarships is approved!

Applications for these programmes are made directly to the IStO, in electronic form and via an online application portal. Applications are possible for one semester as well as for one academic year, but for some programmes yearly stays are preferred.

1.1 Special partnerships

Within the framework of KIT direct cooperation, the KIT Faculty of Mechanical Engineering has been maintaining particularly intensive relations with

• Pennsylvania State University
• University of Georgia
• Beijing Institute of Technology
• UM - SJTU: Joint Institute/Michigan-Shanghai

Since both sides are interested in intensifying the student exchange, students of mechanical engineering at KIT who are interested in a study stay in the USA or China are particularly recommended to apply to one of these universities. For Pennstate, 1 - 2 exchange places are available annually, for Georgia University up to a maximum of 10 exchange places KIT-wide (depending on the balance of the exchange). The BIT also accepts up to 10 Karlsruhe students per year, the SJTU a maximum of 5 students.
Applications have to be sent to the IStO by 31.8., which has the final decision in the selection procedure, as with all direct cooperations. The application procedure (documents to be submitted, dates, confirmations) is therefore also in accordance with the IStO .

1.2 Baden-Württemberg programs and direct cooperation

The Baden-Württemberg programs enable a study stay at a university in a partner region of Baden-Württemberg. Currently, such state programmes exist with various universities in Canada, Mexico and the USA; a current list can be found on the IStO homepage .

Direct cooperations are bilateral agreements between KIT and various partner universities worldwide. For many of these partners, engineering sciences are not specified and therefore show a special affinity to mechanical engineering as the classical engineering science. For a complete list, please refer to the cooperation list of the IStO .

The IStO is responsible for the administrative support of the Baden-Württemberg programs and direct cooperations. The same application modalities and funding possibilities apply to the programmes as specified by the IStO:

• Funding exclusively for KIT students
• Complete waiver of tuition fees (university fees may apply)
• Selection criteria: good academic performance, very good English language skills (TOEFL test) and a good general education
• Application deadline: 31.08. of the year before the stay abroad (please allow for a long lead time!)
• Application procedure

2 Further funding opportunities/scholarships worldwide

In contrast to the overseas programmes described above, which grant tuition fee waivers only, the scholarship programmes/financing opportunities, which primarily provide a grant to
cost of living. In some cases, the funding options can be combined and a scholarship can be a welcome addition to the tuition fee waiver. A demand for scholarships from the scholarship providers is in every
case.

2.1 DAAD one-year scholarships

The "One-Year Scholarships for Students of All Subjects" fund one-year study visits worldwide by (partially) financing the cost of travel and accommodation and covering insurance costs. The tuition fees must be paid by the student himself/herself. Other scholarship programmes can only be used for this purpose if both scholarship providers approve cumulation. The DAAD provides information on application requirements on its homepage. The application deadlines vary depending on the destination country and are often up to one year before the beginning of the stay abroad. The application documents must be sent online, the professorial report by normal mail directly to the DAAD.

2.2 PROMOS

Within the framework of the DAAD PROMOS program, KIT supports study and research stays as well as internships outside Europe for a maximum duration of 6 months by means of a monthly partial scholarship and/or a travel allowance. The support is exclusively for living expenses, tuition fees cannot be covered by the scholarship payments. Applications are open to all students enrolled at KIT who have German citizenship or are Bildungsinländer. Selection criteria are academic performance, motivation, and extra-curricular commitment. It is expected that four selection rounds will take place per year throughout KIT. The expected application deadlines are 15.3., 15.6., 15.9., and 25.11. of each year.

You can find further information here .

2.3 Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg Foundation

At KIT, scholarships of the Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg foundation are granted to KIT students planning a study visit (not internship) at a partner university overseas. The scholarship is used to finance the stay in the host country. Please note: The Baden-Württemberg PROGRAMME and the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM are independent. Therefore, you can apply for this additional scholarship parallel to your application for a study place within the Baden-Württemberg Program or the direct cooperations of KIT. The application is made approximately half a year before the planned stay via the IStO at

• February 28 for stays in the following (local) winter semester
• 31 August for stays in the following (local) summer semester

2.4 Foreign BAFöG

For a study stay abroad, Auslands-BAföG can be applied for. The prerequisite for this is usually the eligibility for BAföG in Germany. In individual cases, students who are not eligible for BAföG in Germany can also be supported. The Auslands-BAföG includes the following benefits:

• Payment of the necessary tuition fees (up to EUR 4,600 per academic year)
• Aid for travel expenses
• If necessary, an additional amount for the costs of health insurance abroad
• Outside EU member states, a foreign allowance, the amount of which is determined by country (between 60 EUR and 450 EUR per month) to cover the increased cost of living

You can find more information on the pages of the BAföG office.

2.5 Fulbright

The Fulbright Commission awards one-year scholarships as well as travel scholarships for the continuation, extension or completion of studies at a US university within the framework of the German-American Fulbright Programme. This is intended to promote mutual understanding between the USA and Germany
be promoted through academic and cultural exchange.

Further information can be found on the pages of the IStO .

2.6 Scholarships/Scholarships in general

Information on other scholarship providers can be found, among other things, in the DAAD support bank and on the IStO website.

Recognition of courses taken abroad