Freemover

Write directly to the university of your choice and ask them to send you more detailed information and application documents. Make it clear from the outset that you are only planning a temporary stay at the host university and that you are not seeking a degree there. As a non-degree-seeking student, you may have to pay lower tuition fees and/or go through a simplified application process.

A direct application can take a lot of time. Therefore, it is best to obtain information from the universities of your choice one year before the start of your planned stay abroad. In most cases, an e-mail to the International Office/International Relations Office there is sufficient for the initial contact. However, you should already have informed yourself in detail about the university on its homepage.

A Transcript of Records/Record of Study is often part of the application documents.

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

In some countries you have to expect tuition fees, which can get pretty high outside of an exchange program. However, you can apply for "Auslands-BAföG" funding. "Auslands-BAföG" funding covers the tuition fees up to a fixed maximum rate; you have to pay any difference yourself.

If you are planning a stay abroad of up to six months at a partner university (worldwide), you can also apply for a PROMOS scholarship. (Exception: It is not possible to apply at an ERASMUS partner university).

Useful websites where you can find information about tuition fees in different countries have been compiled for you on the useful links page.

Proof of financing/affidavit

Some foreign universities require a proof of financing or "affidavit" (mostly American or Canadian universities). This is to convince the host university that you can actually fully (!) cover the costs of your studies abroad yourself. This is especially required if you are not financing your studies abroad through a scholarship or "Auslands BAföG" funding.

In addition to scholarship and "Auslands-BAföG" funding certificates, written confirmation from the person who is financing your studies abroad (usually your parents) is often considered proof of financing. You can then have this letter confirmed by your parents' bank.

In order to have your academic achievements recognized as a freemover, you must conclude learning agreements with the relevant departments of the University of Passau in advance. In this way, you can have your academic achievements recognized at the University of Passau.

In this case, please make sure that you receive an original Transcript of Records (with stamp/signature) at the end of your stay, otherwise there may be problems with the recognition of your achievements at the University of Passau.

One more request: If you are going abroad as a freemover, please register as a freemover via our online applicationform (German).
This way we have your data in our database in case we need to contact you (e.g. if the host university sends us your Transcript of Records to forward).

To make it easier for future students to apply directly, the International Office has compiled information for direct applicants in the information room (Room 226 NK, Innstr. 40).

There, reports on the experiences of students who have organized their own stay at a university abroad are collected and made available to interested students.

The International Office asks for your active support: if you have already successfully (or unsuccessfully) gone through a direct application process, please fill out the report form (German) and send it to us. These reports will serve as a source of information for all subsequent students and possibly also for yourself if you are planning another stay abroad at a later date.

The International Office thanks you very much for your support!