Preparation

It is in your own interest to have sufficient command of the language spoken in the host country by the time you depart to ensure that you are able to follow the courses at the host university after a short familiarisation phase. Please refer to the scholarship advertisement or the relevant application documents to determine which language certificates are required. Depending on the host country, language examinations may be sufficient, which can be taken at the  Osnabrück University Language Center. However, in some countries, e.g. the USA, Canada, possibly Australia and New Zealand, standardized language tests are required.

The best-known language test is the  TOEFL. It is valid for two years and can be repeated an unlimited number of times. Register early on! Test dates can sometimes be fully booked and it can take some time between registering and receiving the test result.

Anyone looking to improve or refresh their language skills before going abroad can attend a course at the  Osnabrück University Language Center, at the Osnabrück Adult Education Center (VHS) or at a private language school.

Sound language skills in the language of instruction are essential (at least B1, at some partner universities B2 or C1). When applying for an exchange place at a partner university outside Europe, the respective language level must usually be verified by a DAAD language certificate or a TOEFL test (at least 80 points; required for applications for the USA and Canada, possibly Australia; alternatively Duolingo with at least 115 points or IELTS 6.5). For more information, see  Application.

Before and during your stay abroad, it is recommended to regularly check the  Website of the Federal Foreign Office or the  Travel app of the Federal Foreign Office for information on the current security situation. German citizens can also register on the  "ELEFAND" crisis preparedness list.

Please note that the Federal Foreign Office regularly publishes travel advice, safety advice and travel warnings.

Travel advice

Travel advisories contain information about a country’s entry requirements, medical advice, and criminal or customs law. They are regularly reviewed and updated.

Safety instructions

Safety instructions draw attention to special risks for travelers and Germans living abroad. They may contain recommendations to avoid or restrict travel. If necessary, it is advised to refrain from non-essential or all journeys. The safety instructions are regularly reviewed and updated.

Travel warnings

Travel warnings contain an urgent appeal from the Federal Foreign Office to refrain from traveling to a country or region of a country. They are only issued if there is an acute danger to life that requires a warning against traveling to a country or a specific region of a country. A travel warning is rarely issued. Germans living in this country may be asked to leave the country.

Initial information on entry requirements and visas can be obtained from the  Federal Foreign Office or the embassy/consulate of your host country. You must apply for the visa yourself, but the staff at the International Office can assist you where possible.

Students are obliged to properly apply for their student visa and not to enter the respective country without a valid student visa.

As a rule, the host university offers support in terms of accommodation – usually in the form of places in a student hall of residence or in the form of other support in the search for accommodation on the open housing market (e.g. providing addresses and contact persons). There are also internet portals available abroad that can be used to find a room or an apartment. In case you would like to temporarily sublet your own room during your stay abroad, the International Office may be able to refer you to incoming students.

An  Application for leave of absence should be submitted to Osnabrück University that covers the duration of the stay abroad. However, if the stay abroad is planned for a full year or if it is subsequently extended, the usual re-registration or a new application for leave of absence must be submitted to Osnabrück University for the following semester.

Further information can be obtained from the  Admissions Office.

Students must hold sufficient insurance cover during their semester abroad. Osnabrück University does not offer students any insurance coverage during their semester abroad.

Participants in the Erasmus programme are obliged to ensure that they have adequate health, accident, and liability insurance cover for the duration of their stay. Within the framework of the European Social Security Agreement, you are generally covered by health insurance in other European countries, but it may be advisable to take out supplementary insurance, as the insurance may not cover all events. Accident and liability insurance cover (which might already be in place) should also be checked to ensure that it is valid abroad. If necessary, additional insurance should be taken out. Participants in the Erasmus program, for example, have the option of taking out the  DAAD Group Insurance (health/accident/liability insurance cover) at their own expense.

In the event of a leave of absence, students remain enrolled at Osnabrück University and are therefore largely covered by health insurance in Germany. However, German health insurance is not recognized in almost all non-European countries, so that additional private health insurance must be taken out. Information about German providers can be obtained from the health insurance companies; in most cases, the foreign partner universities also offer a student insurance program, some of which are mandatory.

Studying abroad is often associated with additional or higher costs than at the home university, for example due to travel costs or higher accommodation costs and/or costs of living in other countries.

Students have various options available to receive financial support for their stay abroad through scholarships or BAföG grants (Auslands-BAföG).

For further information, see  Financing.

Students intending to study abroad should consider the course selection at the host university and the recognition of credits at the respective department at Osnabrück University well in advance of their application. To avoid setbacks, you should coordinate your study plans with those responsible for examinations at your department and, if necessary, conclude a Learning Agreement before you leave.

The Learning Agreement is a contract between the student, the home university, and the host university about the courses to be attended within the ECTS framework. The Learning Agreement ensures that the courses attended abroad can be credited to the degree program.

Nominated participants in the Erasmus program must complete an "Online Learning Agreement (OLA)" after a successful application for an exchange place and submit it to the International Office before the start of their studies. Please use the  Guidelines for creating the Online Learning Agreement (in German) (PDF, 1.44 MB). For study visits outside the Erasmus+ program, it is also strongly recommended that you conclude a Learning Agreement so that you can plan with certainty whether the coursework completed abroad will be credited upon your return to UOS. Here you will find a  Template for the Learning Agreement (DOCX, 1.66 MB) (study abroad outside the Erasmus+ program).

The responsibilities for the recognition of credits at your school can be found in the following overview of the departments’ authorized signatories for the Learning Agreement.