Internship abroad Financing

☝️ The most important information in brief

• You can work locally and earn money during your internship abroad.
• The BAföG foreign student grant is also a good way to finance your studies.
• We also recommend the Erasmus scholarship.

What costs can you expect? If you want to do an internship abroad and therefore take advantage of our offer, you will often need a visa. We will organize the necessary formalities and help you with the application, but there will still be processing fees for the visa itself. There are different types of visas, which can also involve different costs.

The cost of a visa for an internship abroad can vary greatly depending on the country you are traveling to, the type of visa, and the nationality of the applicant. Here are some examples of typical price ranges:

1. USA: A J-1 visa for an internship in the USA can cost between $160 and $220, depending on the specific category of J-1 visa.
2. Australia: A visa for Australia currently costs around 485 Australian dollars.
3. Canada: The Working Holiday Visa for Canada costs approximately 208 Canadian dollars.
4. New Zealand: The work visa for New Zealand currently costs around 280 New Zealand dollars.
5. European Union (Schengen Area): A Schengen visa for an internship in a Schengen country usually costs between 60 and 80 euros.
6. China: A visa for China can cost between 30 and 200 US dollars, depending on the type and length of stay.

Please note that these prices are subject to change and additional fees such as processing fees or costs for medical examinations and insurance may apply. It is strongly recommended that you check the exact requirements and costs before applying for a visa, as these may vary depending on your situation.

Another important point that should not be forgotten is international health insurance. Also factor in the cost of any medication you may have to pay for yourself, as well as the fees for necessary vaccinations in advance. Accommodation, food, leisure activities, and travel to the destination must also be paid for.

So one thing is particularly important when it comes to internships abroad: financing. Options include foreign BAföG, scholarships for studying abroad, paid internships, domestic BAföG, funding from an organization, special funding programs such as the Erasmus program, or an education loan. Let's take a closer look at these options for financing study abroad programs!

The Erasmus program is a fantastic opportunity for you to gain international experience during your studies. It was launched by the European Union and promotes the exchange of students, teachers, and staff between European universities. The program allows you to study or complete an internship at a partner university in another European country for a certain period of time – including your medical internships. Erasmus not only gives you new academic perspectives, but also strengthens your intercultural skills and allows you to make valuable contacts that can help you both personally and professionally. The financial support provided by Erasmus is also a great advantage. There are grants for tuition fees, travel expenses, and living costs, which can vary depending on the destination country and length of stay. This funding makes it possible for many students to participate in an exchange and discover new countries and cultures without being overly burdened financially.

Applying for the Erasmus program usually involves several steps:

1. Select a partner university: Decide which partner university you would like to study at or complete your internship. Consider factors such as the courses offered, the local language, and cultural conditions.
2. Note application deadlines: Pay attention to application deadlines, as these can vary depending on the university and country. Most applications are often submitted a year in advance, so plan accordingly.
3. Prepare your application documents: Put together the necessary application documents. These include a letter of motivation, your resume (CV), proof of language proficiency (often English, sometimes also the language of the destination country), and a learning agreement that defines the planned courses or internship.
4. Submit your application: Submit your complete application well before the deadline. Ensure that all required documents are correct and complete.
5. Selection process: After submitting your application, there is often a selection process in which students are selected based on their documents and letter of motivation. Sometimes interviews are also held. If you are selected, you will receive an acceptance letter from your university.

Erasmus is a special study program that focuses on student exchange. There are other scholarships available, but they are not always easy to obtain. There are many opportunities to study abroad with a scholarship that are open to students worldwide. Scholarships offer financial support for educational and research stays abroad and enable students to broaden their academic horizons and gain international experience.

Some of the most common scholarships are:

1. Government and institutional scholarships: Many governments and educational institutions worldwide offer scholarships for foreign students. These can range from partial to full coverage of tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs.
2. Private foundations and organizations: There are various private foundations and organizations that offer scholarships for students to study abroad. These scholarships may be tailored to specific disciplines, countries, or even specific universities.
3. Research scholarships: For students who want to participate in research projects abroad, there are numerous scholarship programs offered by research institutions, universities, and external organizations that provide financial support.

It can be very desirable to take advantage of a scholarship for a semester abroad, as there is no repayment required—unlike with foreign BAföG. However, many students apply for the scholarships advertised each year, so it can be difficult to be successful.

Can you complete an internship or several internships abroad and still receive domestic BAföG? Yes! Even if you are traveling abroad with travel4med, you can still receive BAföG. It doesn't matter whether you stay within the EU or venture further afield. A combination of an internship abroad and a study visit can also be funded by BAföG. The internship must be required by the study regulations—this is the case for clinical electives, for example. It must last at least 12 weeks, and you must have already studied for at least one year in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. An exception is the practical year (PJ) in medical studies. This is not legally considered an internship, so only the provisions for a study abroad program apply. Those who receive domestic BAföG usually also receive foreign BAföG and apply for this at the BAföG office. However, if you also receive a salary locally during your internship abroad, this will be taken into account.

The costs of internships abroad cannot be covered solely by scholarships or other forms of financial support. Of course, it is also possible to receive remuneration for your work on site. In this case, the internship abroad becomes a form of work and travel. Students can, for example, receive wages for working in a local clinic or finance a semester abroad by taking on a part-time job locally. At travel4med, we show you how to balance your study program in another country with your financial planning so that you can live well during your stay abroad and not suffer from a tight budget, but also get to know the culture and people.