Semester Abroad From Germany (2026): Erasmus & Auslands-BAföG

Quick answer

A semester abroad from Germany is usually funded by stacking several sources: the Erasmus+ monthly grant (€600 or €540 a month for study stays, depending on the country), Auslands-BAföG (which can pay out even if you get no BAföG at home), and your own savings for the first weeks. You apply for Erasmus+ through your university’s International Office, and for Auslands-BAföG at the Auslandsamt responsible for your destination, at least six months before you leave.

• Not sure where to go? Take the 3-minute Odisea test to see which destinations fit you.
• Want to know what the semester will cost? Use the budget calculator.

German students often assume that Erasmus+ alone pays for a semester abroad. It does not: €540 a month will not cover rent in most cities, so the real question is which other funding you can combine with it. This guide goes through each source, the order to apply in and the dates to work back from.

The main funding sources at a glance

Rates and rules change by year, so confirm every figure with the sources listed at the end of this article.

Erasmus+ grant: how much you get from Germany

The Erasmus+ National Agency at the DAAD publishes the rates for students from Germany, and universities pass them on. For the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years, the monthly grant for a study stay is:

• Group 1, €600 a month (€20 a day): Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria and Sweden.
• Group 2, €540 a month (€18 a day): Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czechia and Cyprus.
• Group 3, €540 a month (€18 a day): Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye and Hungary.

So a semester in Italy, France or Sweden pays €60 a month more than one in Spain. A study stay must last between 2 and 12 months.

On top of the monthly rate:

• Top-up for fewer opportunities: €250 extra per month for first-generation students (the first in the family to study), students with children, working students, and students with a chronic illness or disability, according to the DAAD. Students with a disability or children can alternatively claim their actual extra costs.
• Travel support: the DAAD says travel costs became payable for all Erasmus+ students from the 2025 call. Ask your International Office for the amount that applies to your distance.
• Green travel: if you travel by low-emission transport, extra paid travel days (up to six) can be added to your stay.

The Erasmus grant guide explains how the rates are set, and the Erasmus scholarship guide covers the wider funding picture.

Auslands-BAföG: the part many students skip

BAföG can be paid for study abroad to anyone who is generally eligible, and the rates for study abroad are higher than at home. Because of that, some students who get no BAföG in Germany because their parents earn too much may still qualify for Auslands-BAföG. The only way to know is to apply.

What the official bafög.de pages list for study abroad:

• Within the EU and Switzerland: support is possible until you obtain the foreign degree, and for an exchange at a partner university it can cover the entire period.
• Outside the EU: support is generally limited to one year, and there are country-specific supplements for higher living costs.
• Tuition fees: up to €5,600 for a maximum of one year, if the fees are proven necessary.
• Travel: €250 for each of the outbound and return trips within Europe, €500 each outside Europe.
• Health insurance: extra monthly costs, up to the health insurance supplement.

The application is separate from your domestic BAföG application and goes to the Auslandsamt responsible for your destination country; bafög.de has a map to find it. Submit it at least six months before departure so the office can decide in time. Build this step into your plan from day one.

Destinations outside Erasmus+: PROMOS and DAAD

For the USA, Canada, Australia or Asia, Erasmus+ does not apply and the picture changes:

1. Your university’s own exchange: many universities have partner agreements worldwide. Ask your International Office which ones your faculty has.
2. Auslands-BAföG: often the biggest source outside the EU, because of the tuition and travel supplements above. See the USA exchange guide or the Canada guide for what the destination itself requires.
3. PROMOS: a DAAD programme through which universities award their own scholarships for shorter stays abroad. You apply at your International Office, not at the DAAD.
4. DAAD scholarships: the DAAD says its annual scholarship programmes do not fund single semesters. Students at universities of applied sciences can look at HAW.International. Many programmes require applying several months to a year ahead.

If you receive a DAAD scholarship and BAföG, the DAAD states that the scholarship is not offset against BAföG, but you must report it as income, and your BAföG is reduced by the part above €300.

Health insurance abroad

Within the EU, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the same access to state healthcare as people insured in the host country when you need treatment that cannot wait. It does not cover private healthcare, planned treatment or repatriation, so many students add private travel or student cover. Outside the EU the EHIC does not apply, so you need your own cover; the Auslands-BAföG health insurance supplement can help pay for it. Our health insurance guide walks through the options.

Your room at home and a semester timeline

If you keep a flat or room in Germany, you may want to sublet it while you are away. Subletting generally needs the landlord’s permission, so read your rental contract and ask in writing before you advertise the room. Terms differ by contract and landlord, so check yours rather than assuming.

Work backwards from your departure. Exact dates depend on your university:

1. About a year before: talk to your faculty’s Erasmus coordinator about partner universities and deadlines. Many German universities run one application window a year. FU Berlin, for example, accepts applications from 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2027 for stays in winter semester 2027/28 or summer semester 2028.
2. Several months before the deadline: decide whether PROMOS or another programme fits your destination.
3. At least 6 months before departure: submit Auslands-BAföG at the responsible Auslandsamt.
4. After nomination: apply to the host university and prepare your Learning Agreement.
5. 2 to 3 months before: book housing, sort health insurance and sublet your room. The housing search and the guide on when to look for student housing help.
6. Before you leave: pack with the study abroad packing list and check your budget.

Where to go next

• Study abroad budget guide for a full monthly cost breakdown.
• Cheapest Erasmus destinations if money decides your choice.
• Erasmus health insurance guide for cover inside and outside the EU.
• Study abroad packing list so nothing is forgotten.
• Student housing abroad for finding a room before you arrive.
• Join the student WhatsApp groups to ask students already in your city.

Frequently asked questions

How high is the Erasmus Förderung in 2026?

For study stays, the monthly grant for students from Germany is €600 for Group 1 countries and €540 for Group 2 and 3 countries, published by the DAAD and passed on by your university. Students with fewer opportunities can get an extra €250 a month.

How do I apply for Erasmus Förderung for an Auslandssemester?

You apply through your university’s International Office or your faculty’s Erasmus coordinator, not directly at the DAAD. Deadlines are set by each university, often about a year before you leave.

Can I get Auslands-BAföG if I get no BAföG in Germany?

Possibly. Rates for study abroad are higher than at home, so some students whose parents’ income is too high for BAföG in Germany still qualify abroad. Apply separately at the responsible Auslandsamt, at least six months before departure.

How much tuition does Auslands-BAföG cover?

Up to €5,600 for a maximum of one year, if the fees are proven necessary. Check the current cap on bafög.de before you rely on it.

Do I need extra health insurance for an Auslandssemester?

The EHIC covers treatment that cannot wait in EU countries but not repatriation or private care, so extra cover is common. Outside the EU you need your own insurance.

Can I sublet my room while I am abroad?

Usually only with the landlord’s permission. Check your rental contract and ask in writing first.