Not every semester abroad runs through Erasmus+. Many universities maintain their own partnerships with institutions in Europe, North America, Asia or Latin America, and some of these partnerships work without Erasmus funding. If you go outside the programme, check tuition, scholarships and BAföG separately, because the rules change with each partnership.
Short answer: According to the Leuphana University of Lüneburg, partner universities outside Europe generally charge no tuition fees, and the university marks any exceptions. For travel and living costs, scholarships such as PROMOS from the DAAD are the main option, and PROMOS funds up to six months. Auslands-BAföG depends on income and has its own assessment limits for study abroad. The Leuphana page is dated 21 August 2026. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- University partnerships exist independently of Erasmus, and each university sets the conditions for its partners.
- According to Leuphana, partner universities outside Europe generally charge no tuition fees.
- Erasmus grants do not apply to these partnerships, so travel and living costs must be financed in another way.
- PROMOS funds, according to Leuphana, up to six months at partner universities outside Europe.
- Auslands-BAföG remains income-dependent, and different assessment limits apply abroad.
What separates a partnership from Erasmus?
Erasmus+ is a funding programme of the European Union for study periods at partner universities in participating countries. A university partnership, by contrast, is a contract between two universities that sets out how students come, which courses are recognised and whether fees apply. These contracts also exist outside the programme, in some countries that Erasmus does not cover.
For you the difference is practical. Without Erasmus there is no monthly grant, which many students use as the basis of their budget. On the other hand, host tuition sometimes falls away, and the choice of destinations can be broader. The table shows what to clarify for each partnership.
| Point | What you check | Where the answer comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Does the host university charge fees? | Partner database and the university’s call |
| Funding | Which scholarships or grants can be considered? | International office and scholarship databases |
| Recognition | Are credits transferred, and how are grades converted? | Grade conversion of the partner university |
| Application | Which deadline applies and which documents are missing? | Call of your own university |
For recognition and applications the Leuphana page refers to separate subpages whose content is not shown on the overview itself. This shows why you should ask the international office of your own university directly.
Which scholarships exist outside Erasmus?
The Leuphana page names several scholarships that can play a role at partner universities. Each has conditions that differ from the others, so check every option separately before you apply.
- PROMOS from the DAAD: according to Leuphana for up to six months at partner universities outside Europe, with the call issued by the university’s International Center.
- DAAD annual scholarships: according to Leuphana for study stays abroad, but not for Erasmus programme countries and the United Kingdom.
- Fulbright travel grants: for partner universities in the USA.
- Scholarship databases: among them the DAAD database and the portal of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, which Leuphana lists as research sources.
One note from the same page is worth keeping in mind: exchange participants should check their application options carefully. Read the call of each scholarship closely, pay attention to target region, duration and eligibility, and ask whether you may apply for several programmes at the same time.
How does BAföG work during a semester abroad?
The University of Regensburg describes Auslands-BAföG as funding for up to one academic year abroad. A semester abroad usually extends the maximum period of funding by up to two semesters. The university also lists conditions such as knowledge of the language of the host country, a study abroad that is conducive to your course, usually from the third semester of study, and a stay of at least six months, or at least three months for exchange programmes.
According to the same page, supplements are available for living costs outside the EU, for tuition fees, for travel costs and, where applicable, a supplement for health insurance. Half of the supplements are grants, while tuition supplements are fully grants. The Regensburg overview carries no date and is published without guarantee, so have the amounts and conditions confirmed by the responsible Auslands-BAföG office before you plan.
The page also mentions the Bildungskredit of the Federal Office of Administration. It offers low-interest credit, is independent of BAföG, and according to Regensburg is also granted during study or an internship abroad.
Worked example: what remains of the funding?
Assumption: you go for one semester to a partner university outside Europe that charges no tuition, and a scholarship is meant to cover your living costs. Then only the tuition question falls away, while flights, accommodation and insurance remain. Calculate these items separately before you commit to a partnership. This guide does not give concrete sums, because they vary widely by destination and period.
How do you find a suitable partner university?
Start at the international office of your university. There you will usually find partner lists, calls and often the contact persons for each country. Make sure the partnership covers your course, because contracts can be limited to particular faculties. Also ask whether modules can be agreed for recognition in advance.
How do you plan recognition and deadlines together?
With a partnership outside the Erasmus framework, recognition is often the hardest point. The Leuphana page refers to a grade conversion for partner universities, but its content is not shown on the overview. Before departure, therefore, agree in writing which modules will be credited and how foreign grades will be translated into your own grading system.
The deadlines run in parallel. The scholarship, the application at the partner university and the BAföG application each have their own dates. Create a shared overview with every deadline and check it monthly, so that funding does not fail because a document arrived late.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go abroad without Erasmus if my university has no Erasmus place?
Yes, if your university has its own partnership with a university that works without Erasmus funding. The Leuphana page describes exactly this route. Check at the international office whether a partnership suits you before you submit documents.
Do I avoid tuition fees at the partner university?
That depends on the partner and the country. According to Leuphana, you generally pay no tuition at partner universities outside Europe, and the university marks exceptions in its call and database. Have this point for your partner confirmed in writing.
Can I combine PROMOS with BAföG?
The Regensburg page describes Auslands-BAföG and the Bildungskredit but does not present PROMOS as part of that combination. Ask the Auslands-BAföG office and the body that awards the scholarship whether, and to what extent, a combination is possible.
When should I start planning?
Scholarships and partnerships have fixed deadlines that often fall long before the stay. Start the research at least a year in advance, so that application, recognition and funding can be planned together.
What to do next
- Ask the international office which partnerships exist for your course without Erasmus.
- Check tuition, recognition and funding for each partnership.
- Clarify with the Auslands-BAföG office whether and to what extent funding is possible, and keep the answer in writing.
- Apply on time for the partnership and the scholarship, and plan language certificates and insurance in parallel.
Related articles
- Planning a semester abroad: application, Erasmus and funding (in German)
- Financing a study abroad: Auslands-BAföG, Erasmus and scholarships (in German)
- Erasmus Funding Rates 2026/27: Deadlines Explained
- Language certificate for a semester abroad
- Semester fee during a semester abroad
Sources: Leuphana University Lüneburg: Funding at partner universities (dated 21 August 2026); University of Regensburg: State funding for study abroad (undated).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
