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The semester abroad for FH students

Making new friends, getting to know a foreign culture and a new university system and improving your language skills at the same time - the learning effect of a semester abroad is much greater and, above all, more effective and intensive than that of a semester at your home university.

The advantages of a semester abroad

The result of a semester abroad is a skill that will be attested to in the future when you look at your CV: Intercultural competence.

A semester abroad often results in a new perspective, not only on the foreign country, but also on your own subject, as study components may be weighted differently abroad and unfamiliar teaching methods may be used.

The semester abroad has another advantage: to master it, you need various qualities that are highly valued in all professions and are in demand everywhere - flexibility, independence and self-reliance.

Start planning early

The International Office can advise you on a semester abroad

A semester abroad requires more organization and is often more expensive than studying in your home country. Preparation time should therefore not be too short.

It is advisable to start looking into the subject about 1 year before the start of the semester abroad, to obtain initial information and, if necessary, to start with the language preparation.

Organization of a semester abroad

Many students decide to participate in the Erasmus+ program

You have various options for organizing a stay abroad and finding a suitable university.

  1. via existing ERASMUS cooperation  with partner universities,
  2. via bilateral cooperation: The aim of bilateral cooperation with partner universities is to promote student mobility by generally charging no or reduced tuition fees for students at the partner universities,
  3. as a free mover, via individually organized stays abroad at a university of your choice with which there is no contractual cooperation.

Recognition of achievements abroad

Up to 30 ECTS credits are recognized for a semester abroad, provided they have been earned there to this extent. This means that the standard coursework can be fully covered by credits earned at foreign universities. In the case of recognition of individual achievements, the credits that are provided for the examination achievement in the local system are recognized.

The academic recognition of coursework completed at a foreign university must be clarified with the responsible international representative of the faculty before the start of the stay abroad and confirmed in a Learning Agreement.


Why study abroad? FH students report

"You learn so much and have so many experiences and impressions," says Sina, a student of Medical Informatics at Fachhochschule Dortmund, about her study abroad in San Sebastian, Spain.

Do you have questions about a semester abroad?

The International Office provides information on all topics relating to stays abroad in counseling sessions or at events. You will receive support from the outset in planning and preparing for your semester abroad.

Notes and references

Photo credits

  • Fachhochschule Dortmund | Mike Henning
  • European Commission
  • Carmen Körner, Louisa Stickelbruck
  • Carmen Körner, Louisa Stickelbruck
  • Carmen Körner, Louisa Stickelbruck
  • Carmen Körner, Louisa Stickelbruck
  • Carmen Körner, Louisa Stickelbruck

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