A language trip during your studies sounds like a detour, but for many students it is the most direct route to a language that counts on a CV. Whether the stay can be funded depends on the programme you use and on whether your university recognises the course later. There are hardly any blanket answers, so this guide uses a documented example to show which conditions are typical.
Short answer: A language trip during your studies is only funded if a programme sets rules for it. As an example, the University of Frankfurt lists PROMOS language courses in its 2023-1 call, with a minimum of three weeks and a maximum of four months, full-time study of at least 25 hours a week and flat rates that depend on the destination country. English courses were not funded. These details come from an older call. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- A language trip is a language course abroad, and it is not automatically eligible for funding.
- The PROMOS example from the University of Frankfurt requires full-time courses of at least 25 hours per week.
- In that example, English courses, beginner courses at level A1 and courses in a language other than the host country’s language were excluded.
- Costs vary by destination, duration and provider, so flat rates are only a guide.
- Whether a course is credited within your degree is decided by your university, not by the provider.
What does a language trip during your studies include?
A language trip means a stay in which you attend a language course at a school or university abroad. Unlike a semester abroad, the focus is on reaching a language level rather than on a study programme. Often you live with a host family or in accommodation run by the language school, attend classes in the morning and keep practising in daily life.
For planning it helps to distinguish between a private course that you pay for yourself and a funded programme that requires an application, a selection process and proof. Funding usually runs through calls from universities or foundations and requires an application.
What does funding for language courses look like?
The University of Frankfurt funded language courses through PROMOS in its 2023-1 call. The application notes set out the conditions to which the funding was tied. Because this call is older, the values are an example and not a current commitment. The table summarises the key points.
| Condition in the 2023-1 call | Content |
|---|---|
| Length of course | at least three weeks, at most four months |
| Type of course | full-time courses with at least 25 hours per week only |
| Excluded courses | English courses, beginner courses at level A1, courses in a language other than the host country’s language |
| Language skills | level A1 must be shown with the application |
| Period of stay | start between January and June 2023 |
| Eligible applicants | students enrolled in the regular way and doctoral candidates, at least in the second subject semester |
This call covered a stay allowance of 350 to 550 euros per month, depending on the destination country, a one-off travel allowance and a one-off course fee allowance of 500 euros, provided sufficient funds were available. Whether a current programme is built in the same way must be checked in the current call.
What does a language trip cost, and what does funding cover?
This guide does not name concrete costs of individual schools, because they vary strongly by location and provider and change quickly. Instead, calculate course fees, accommodation, meals, insurance, flights and living costs separately. Funding rarely covers everything, and flat rates are usually not a full-cost replacement.
A flat rate only helps if you compare it with your own list. Enter each item in a table and mark which would be covered by funding. The remaining sum shows how much you have to find yourself.
Worked example: one month of a language course
Assumption: you take a four-week full-time course, and your destination falls into a stay allowance of 450 euros per month. The allowance would then be 450 euros, plus the one-off course fee allowance of 500 euros if it is granted. Whether these figures apply to your case depends on the current call. The calculation only shows the order of magnitude.
What happens with BAföG?
Section 5 of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) governs funding for training abroad. Under paragraph 2, funding requires among other things that the training is conducive to your course and that at least part of it can be credited towards the prescribed or customary training period. The stay must in principle last at least six months or one semester, and twelve weeks are enough where a cooperation has been agreed with the institution attended. For trainees in EU states the minimum duration falls away under certain conditions. Section 5 BAföG does not mention language courses. Whether a language course is funded as part of your training is therefore something to clarify with the responsible office for training support before you book.
How does a language trip during your studies work?
The process usually follows the same steps, whether you travel privately or through a programme. First choose the place and type of course, then clarify duration and dates and register. Next come the placement test on site, the lessons and a final certificate or confirmation of attendance. That confirmation is the most important document if you want the course recognised later.
Many language schools place courses according to the Common European Framework of Reference, which runs from A1 to C2. If you want to reach a particular level, set that goal when you choose the course. Then the course fits the proof that your university or a funding programme requires, and you avoid a course that produces no usable certificate.
- Define the goal, duration and course type, and keep the funding conditions in view.
- Prove your language level if the programme requires it, for example with a placement test.
- Check the deadlines of the call and of the registration, and assemble documents early.
- After the course, keep the confirmation of attendance and any certificate, and clarify with the university whether they are recognised.
Is the course credited in your degree?
Crediting is not automatic. Your university decides whether a language course counts as a study achievement, how far it counts and whether it replaces part of the degree. Clarify this in writing with the examination office before you start, so that you know which achievement you must submit later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay for a language trip during my studies entirely myself?
Yes, without funding that is possible. You then choose the place, duration and provider yourself. Make sure the confirmation of attendance contains all the details your university needs for a later credit.
Are English courses funded?
Not in the Frankfurt example. English courses were expressly excluded there, as were courses in a language other than the host country’s language. Other programmes may regulate this differently.
Do I need prior knowledge?
In the Frankfurt example a level of A1 had to be proven with the application, and beginner courses at A1 were not eligible for funding. Plan your preparation so that you reach the required level in time.
How do I find a current call?
Start with the page of the international office of your university, because funding programmes for stays abroad are usually published there. You will also find the deadlines and contact persons for your field.
What to do next
- Set the goal, duration and language, and check whether the course fits your study plan.
- Search for current calls and compare their conditions with the Frankfurt example.
- Clarify credit and BAföG with the responsible offices before you pay.
- Keep all proof after the course so that recognition works.
Related articles
- Language certificate for a semester abroad
- Study abroad without Erasmus: using partner universities
- Financing a study abroad: Auslands-BAföG, Erasmus and scholarships (in German)
- Planning a semester abroad: application, Erasmus and funding (in German)
- Learning agreement: getting abroad credits recognised
Sources: Goethe University Frankfurt: application notes for PROMOS language courses 2023-1 (deadline 11 November 2022); Section 5 BAföG, training abroad (gesetze-im-internet.de, in German, retrieved 2 November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
