Scholarships

The scholarships within the DAAD Easter countries program will be availabe for students from the following partner universities:

• 2024 (spring or fall): 
  2 scholarships for students from Poland (1 for Akademia Sztuk Pięknych im. Jana Matejki w Krakowie in the field of Design & 1 for Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach in the field of Business). 
  See our current call for applications for students from Poland.
• 2025 (spring or fall): 
  1 or 2 scholarships for students from Hungary (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in the field of Design)
• 2026 (spring or fall):
  1 or 2 scholarships for students from Romania (Universitatea Babes-Bolyai din Cluj-Napoca in the field of Computer Science)

To be eligible for the scholarship, you

• have to be enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program at one of these partner universities
• cannot receive another scholarship either from your home university or your home country

Scholarship holders receive 992 euros per month for five months. The awarding of scholarships is subject to the availability of funds.

The selection criteria comprise

• your academic achievements so far (grades and number of credits you have obtained so far, other academic qualifications)
• how well your exchange semester with us fits in with your academic and/or professional career
• additional qualifications (e.g. linguistic and/or intercultural preparation for your stay in Germany; existing knowledge of German), if applicable.

Please note that you need to have been admitted for your h_da exchange semester before. 

1. To apply, please turn to the International Office of your home university. Your home university is in charge of the selection process. 
2. If you've been selected for the scholarship, your home university will let us know and we will get in touch with you. Please note that our professors have to approve of your nomination as well. 

You will receive your scholarship after your arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg. Before receiving the scholarship, you need to 

• open a German (or SEPA-compliant) bank account
• sign the scholarship acceptance declaration (i.e. a scholarship contract)

The scholarship will be transferred to your German/SEPA-compliant bank account in several installments (usually three). You'll receive the first installment about four weeks after your arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg.

Scholarship holders are required to submit a final scholarship report (of at most 2 pages). In addition to your current address, the date and your signature, the report should contain the following information:

• Do you think that the exchange semester at h_da was beneficial for your studies? If so, in what way?
• Do you think that the exchange semester at h_da was beneficial for your future career?
• What other issues or experiences do you also find relevant?

Please hand in the report as a pdf file at most 2 months after finishing your exchange semester. 

You can apply for STIBET funding if you

• you're enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at one of these parter universities (PhD students are not eligible):
  • Brazil: Universidade Estadual Paulista 'Júlio de Mesquita Filho' (UNESP) ● Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC) ● Universidade de São Paulo (USP) ● Universidade Federal de Goiás ● Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Chile: Universidad de Talca
  • Colombia: Universidad ICESI
  • Indonesia: Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)
  • Malaysia: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) ● Taylor’s University
  • Mexico: Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro
  • Namibia: Namibia University of Science and Technology
  • Thailand: King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi
  • Ukraine: Uzhhorod National University
• you don't receive any other scholarships from your home university or your home country

Scholarship holders receive 465 euros per month for five months (as of 2024). The amount of the scholarship may change; we will announce this accordingly.
The awarding of scholarships is subject to the availability of funds.

The STIBET contact scholarship is a merit-based scholarship. The following criteria are used for the selection:

• your academic achievements to date
• your suitability for the courses you would like to take at the h_da
• the fit of your stay at h_da with your academic and/or professional career
• additional qualifications (e.g. linguistic and/or intercultural preparation for your stay in Germany; existing knowledge of German or references to Germany), if applicable.
• recommendation by professors or lecturers at your home university

Please note that you need to have been admitted for an exchange semester at h_da before.

Calls for the STIBET funding open in November (for spring semesters) and June (for wintrer semesters). Any student enrolled at one of the partner universities listed above will receive an email from us. This email will tell you the exact deadline to submit your documents. The deadline for the spring semester: 29 November 2024 12:00 noon local German time.

Please send the following documents to incoming.int@h-da.de

• a completed and signed application form
• your "Preliminary Course List" which you already submitted as part of your online application for the exchange semester
• a letter of motivation of one page tops 
• a letter of recommendation from a one of your university professors or lecturers (with an official seal and signature of the professor/lecturer)
• a curriculum vitae
• an official Transcript of Records from your home university (the transcript must include an explanation of the grading system used at your home university and a list of the abbreviations used in the document); can be the same as for your exchange application.

The selection of the candidates is decided by a selection committee of the h_da consisting of a member of the International Office and a professor. You'll be informed you about the outcome by email in December/January, or July/August, respectively. 

You will receive your scholarship after your arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg. Before receiving the scholarship, you need to 

• open a German (or SEPA-compliant) bank account
• sign the scholarship acceptance declaration (i.e. a scholarship contract)

The scholarship will be transferred to your German/SEPA-compliant bank account in several installments (usually three). You'll receive the first installment about four weeks after your arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg.

STIBET scholarship holders are required to submit a final scholarship report (of at most 2 pages). In addition to your current address, the date and your signature, the report should contain the following information:

• Do you think that the exchange semester at h_da was beneficial for your studies? If so, in what way?
• Do you think that the exchange semester at h_da was beneficial for your future career?
• What other issues or experiences do you also find relevant?

Please hand in the report as a pdf file to incoming.int@h-da.de at most 2 months after finishing your exchange semester. 

Every exchange student has to present proof of health insurance coverage. As an exchange student that receives STIBET funding, you have an additional health insurance option: You may opt for the DAAD insurance package instead of taking out a statutory health insurance plan through a German health insurance provider.
 

Students from these h_da partner universities are eligible for the Erasmus for partner countries (KA171) funding:

• Georgia: Caucasus University ● Georgian Institute of Public Affairs
• Ghana: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
• Israel: Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
• Jordan: German-Jordanian University ● Jordan University of Science and Technology
• Paraguay: Universidad Nacional de Asunción
• Vietnam: University of Economics - University of Danang

The Erasmus progam offers many benefits:

• broadening your subject-specific knowledge and skills, your language skills and your intercultural competence
• no tuition fees and a reduced semester contribution
• financial support during your exchange semester(s)
• the possibility to apply for a financial top-up
• guidance before, during and after your exchange semester both from your home universtiy and h_da
• the possibilty to take part in the Online Language Support (OLS) offered by the EU Commission (online language courses)

Your Erasmus grant comprises:

2022 & 2023 projects:

• a monthly grant:
  for each complete month: 850 euros
  for each day in a non-complete month: 28.33 euros
   
• a travel grant:
  Georgia: 360 euros (or 410 euros if you travel by train ("Green Travel"))
  Ghana: 820 euros
  Israel: 360 euros (or 410 euros if you travel by train ("Green Travel"))
  Japan: 1500 euros
  Jordan: 530 euros (or 610 euros if you travel by train ("Green Travel"))
  Paraguay: 1500 euros
   
• travel days:
  For travel days used for sustainable travel ("Green Travel") up to 4 additional travel days may be funded. (For non-sustainable forms of travel, no additional funding is available.).
   
• possible additional funding for students with fewer opportunities:
  Students with fewer opportunities are eligible to apply for an additional monthly grant (a so-called "top up") of 250 euros per month. You can find more details about the additional grant at our general Erasmus page. Please hand in the Declaration of Honour for the 2022 and 2023 Project document to apply for additional funding. If you have been granted additional funding (a "top up") it will consist of 250 euros for each complete month and 8.33 euros for each day in a non-complete month.Please note: Even if you qualify for more than 1 category, you can only apply for one top-up.

2024 project:

• a monthly grant:
  for each complete month: 900 euros
  for each day in a non-complete month: 30 euros
   
• a travel grant:
  Georgia: 395 euros (or 535 euros if you travel by train ("Green Travel"))
  Japan: 1735 euros
  Jordan: 580 euros (or 785 euros if you travel by train ("Green Travel"))
  Paraguay: 1735 euros
  Vietnam: 1735 euros
   
• travel days:
  For travel days used for sustainable travel ("Green Travel") up to 6 additional travel days may be funded. For non-sustainable forms of travel, up to 2 additional travel days me be funded.
   
• possible additional funding for students with fewer opportunities and economic top-up:
  Students with fewer opportunities as well as students who require a visa to study in Germany are eligible to apply for an additional monthly grant (a so-called "top up") of 250 euros per month. You can find more details about the additional grant at our general Erasmus page. Please hand in the Declaration of Honour for the 2024 Project document to apply for additional funding. If you have been granted additional funding (a "top up") it will consist of 250 euros for each complete month and 8.33 euros for each day in a non-complete month. Please note: Even if you qualify for more than 1 category, you can only apply for one top-up

Funding period:
The total grant will first be calculated based on an estimated period. Towards the end of your exchange semester, after the date of your last exam is know to us, the total amount of your monthly grant will be adjusted to include this actual end date.
Example: You're studing at h_da for a spring semester. The provisional amount of your monthly grant (excluding the travel grant and any additional funding for students with fewer opportuniteis) is 4675 euros (5.5 months x 850 euros). In this calculation, your provisional end date is 14 August. However, your final exam at h_da turns out to be in 31 July, not on 14 August. Hence, the total amount of your monthly grant is adjusted accordingly. It is now 4250 euros (5 months x 850 euros).
(This example includes the monthly grant that applies to the 2022 and 2023 projects; please note that the monthly grant for the 2024 project is higher.)

If you're not sure which project applies to you, please ask your home university.

Please take a look at the Erasmus Student Charter as well.

1. To apply, please turn to the International Office of your home university. Your home university is in charge of the selection process. 
2. If you've been selected for the scholarship, your home university will let us know and we will get in touch with you. Please note that our professors have to approve of your nomination as well. 

Within the Erasmus program, there is a lot of paperwork you need to take care of and a couple of steps you need to take. Please read this section carefully as it is very important.

Before your arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg:

1. Extra funding:
   If you would like to apply for extra funding, please send us a so-called "Declaration of Honors" (see above). Deadline: will be sent to you by email.
2. Erasmus online meeting:
   Please take part in our online meeting. You'll receive an invite by email.
3. Travel itinerary:
   Please send us your travel itinerary, so we can check whether you're entitled to receiving additional funding for it.
4. Course selection:
   Please send us a Learning Agreement Part I (Before the Mobility) - signed by all three parties. Deadline:15 August bzw. 15. February.
5. Visa:
   Please send us a copy of your visa.
6. OLS (Online Language support):
   You have the chance to complete an online language course. Taking part is optional. We'll send you the link by email.

After you have arrived in Darstmadt/Dieburg:

1. Grant Agreement for Studies ("Erasmus contract"):
   You will sign this document during our welcome event.
2. Start date: 
   We will issue a so-called Confirmation of Stay including the start date of your exchange semester for you.
3. Cash check of your 1. installment:
   After we have received the documents listed above, you'll receive a cash check from us. The check can be exchanged for cash at a bank. You'll receive more details by email.
4. Chances to your course selection:
   If you need to change your first course selection, please hand in a new Learning Agreement. Fill in the section called "Changes". The document has to have signatures by all three parties. Deadline: 1 October, and 1 April.
5. h_da enrollment certificate:
   Please download an enrollment certificate from my.h-da and send it to us by email.
6. SEPA bank account:
   Please open a SEPAt (i.e. a German or European)  bank account and tell us your bank details by email. We need them to prepare your second installment (which will be sent to your bank account).
7. End date:
   Please tell us the end date of your exchange semester. We need it to calcuate the amount of your second installment. The end date of your exchange semester is defined as the last day on which you're required to be present at h_da for study-related purposes.  Deadline: 30 days before the end date of your exchange semester.
8. EU survey (online survey): 
   Shortly before the end of your exchange semester, an online survey will be sent to you by email from the EU Commission. Please complete it. Deadine: One week after receiving the email.
9. Actual end date:
   We wil issue a so-called Confirmation of Stay including your actual end date for you.
10. Payment of second installment:
    Now you're allowed to receive your second installment. It will be sent to your bank account. Please note that it is paid under the condition that you will hand in two more documents at a later date (see below). 

After your exchange semester has ended:
 

1. h_da transcript:
   Please hand in a transcript of records or a Learning Agreement (Part III: "After the Mobility"). Deadline: one month after the end of your exchange semester.
2. Proof of recognition/credit transfer:
   Please hand in a document confirming that all or part of the credits you obtained at h_da have been sucessfully counted toward the study program you're enrolled at your home university. The document has to be in either German or English. Deadline: six months after the end of your exchange semester.

Your Erasmus grant will be paid in 2 installments:

• first installment = 75% of the provisional total amout
• second installment = 25% of the total amount

You'll receive the first installment after your arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg, i.e. at the end of September (if you're coming in the winter), or at the end of March (if you're studying with us in the spring). To receive the grant, you're required to open a German (or SEPA-compliant) bank account. Both installments will be transferred onto that bank account.
The second installment will be paid after you have completed your exchange semester with us and after we have reviewed all of your documents. You'll find all the details in your Grant Agreement for Studies.

Every student in Germany has to pay a so-called semester contribution. Exchange students get a discount of 50 euros. The current amout is 289 euros (as of September 2024), but the amount is increased by a couple of euros every so often.

We will try to cover the contribution for exchange students receiving a scholarship through the Erasmus KA171 program, provided we have sufficient funds. We'll let you know whether or not we can cover the contribution for you in good time.

Every exchange student has to present proof of health insurance coverage. As an exchange student that receives Erasmus (KA171) funding, you have an additional health insurance option: You may opt for the DAAD insurance package instead of taking out a statutory health insurance plan through a German health insurance provider.