Preparation tips

One focus of the new Erasmus+ program generation is on "Green Erasmus" - for example by supporting an environmentally friendly and sustainable way of traveling. KOOR - Erasmus Services BW has already been promoting green travel to the destination country with a travel allowance since the 2020/2021 academic year.

The following applies to stays that start before February 1st, 2023:

1. When registering in Placement Online, you indicate whether you want to travel to the destination country "green" and enter this in the registration mask. Bicycles, long-distance buses, trains or carpooling* on the outward and/or return journey count as “green” means of transport.
2. Together with your application documents you also have to hand in your "Declaration of Honor on Green Travel". This document needs to be signed by you and KOOR - Erasmus Services BW. By signing this declaration, you commit on travelling green and therefore qualify for the guaranteed one-time-grant of € 50,- from the Erasmus+ funding. 
3. If your journey to or from your destination takes more than a day (> 24hrs) due to the green travel option, you can also make a remark in your application. We can grant up to 4 additional travel days (max. €20,-/day - but only if your journey actually takes up to 4 additional days. If it only takes 1 additional day, then you are only eligible for 1 additional day. This is not a lump sum!). You have to prove the duration of your journey by handing in respective documents/receipts with your closure documents. If you cannot prove* the additional days we have to reclaim the grant for these days.
4. If you can prove that your outward and return journey has been made with green means of transport, hand in the receipts with your final documents (after your stay abroad) and you will be eligible for another € 50,- from our own funds (subject to availability). 
5. This means you can get an additional grant of up to €100,- for green travel.

The following applies to stays that start on February 1st, 2023 (for study visits from summer semester 23):

1. When registering in Placement Online, you indicate whether you want to travel to the destination country "green" and enter this in the registration mask. Bicycles, long-distance buses, trains or shared rides* on the outward and/or return journey count as “green” means of transport.
2. Together with your grant agreement, send us the "Declaration of Honor on Green Travel" with your original signature (wet signature) by post. This document must be signed by you and will be countersigned by us. With the declaration, you commit to a green arrival or departure and qualify for a guaranteed one-time subsidy of €50 from the Erasmus+ funding.
3. Depending on the distance and means of transport, you will receive additional subsidized travel days (max. €25, depending on the destination country)

Here are some suggestions for your green travel:

• Train tickets - can be booked via Deutsche Bahn (e.g. Interrail tickets) or directly via the train company in your destination country (often cheaper)
• Bus travel - Long-distance bus providers also travel to destinations abroad. Bus travel takes a bit longer, but is often a very affordable option, for example with Flixbus
• Driving a car - Maybe a fellow student is spending his or her study abroad in the same destination country or city as you? Join forces and travel together in one car. This saves costs, is less boring and in the process even more sustainable than if everyone sits in their own car and drives alone.
• Carpooling - No one from your college/university is going to the same country? No problem. Alternatively, you can look for rideshare drivers on popular sites like blablacar  or find a ride yourself.*

You will travel to an island that is not reachable by a "green" option? Then you will probably choose a classical trip by plane: When comparing prices, a look at Skyscanner.com helps.

_{*(Only booked rides will be accepted as carpool proof)}

A stay abroad is of course always associated with costs. But so that the stay does not fail because of the financial hurdle, there are various ways to earn some extra money:

• ERASMUS+ funding: Information on the funding conditions can be found under the appropriate tabs on this website.
  • Funding conditions for a study abroad
  • Fellowship requirements for an internship abroad
  • Funding conditions for a staff mobility
• Auslandsbafög - more information directly on the website of BAföG 
• Children's allowance: Are you between 18 and 25 years old? Then you are still entitled to child benefit under certain conditions. You can find information on the website of the Agency for Employment
• (Mini) Jobs
  • Before the stay abroad in the home country, for example, in the supermarket, as a Hiwi, in the catering trade, in retail.... Here there are very many opportunities.
  • During the stay abroad, for example, a mini-job in the destination country (Attention, not everywhere you may work as an exchange student without a visa - please inform in advance!)
  • In internship abroad - with luck, the job is paid and finances (part of) the stay.

An ERASMUS+ mobility grant does not come with insurance coverage - you have to take care of that yourself. Because if you are funded by ERASMUS+, you are required to have health, foreign health, accident as well as liability insurance that have certain features - among others. Among other things, the foreign health insurance must also cover pandemic cases and in the foreign internship, the accident and liability insurance must also apply at the workplace. In addition, if you are doing an internship abroad, you must even submit a declaration of insurance as part of your application. 

What do you need to do now?

• If you are doing an internship abroad, clarify whether your employer will cover you and, if so, which insurance policies.
• For a semester abroad clarify whether and if so what insurance is covered, for example, through the student union or your university.
• Read the information on the required insurances (internship and semester abroad) carefully.
• If necessary, get advice from your insurance advisor and find out whether your insurances are also valid abroad.
• If your insurance does not meet the requirements, you can, for example, through the DAAD, a low-cost group insurance contract, which meets the requirements.

In some countries it is possible to find a shared room or apartment very spontaneously on site. For this you should then rent a room in a hostel or private room for the first few days. Often it offers itself to look in advance for a place to stay. You should note the following:

• From home, it is best to search for accommodation online. Proven portals for this include uniplaces  , airbnbor groups on Facebook 
• Attention: Often rooms are mediated by agencies that charge money for it (so also at uniplaces and airbnb). Inform yourself in advance about the costs!
• Don t get involved in a deposit or a horrendous deposit if you are not 100% sure that it is a serious offer.
• Let them show you the room via video chat and talk to potential landlords or roommates on the phone - make sure you're not falling for a con artist's scam.
• Exchange ideas with fellow students at your home university - perhaps there is someone who has already been to your destination country or even the same destination and can pass on tips or contacts to the former landlord.
• When studying abroad, you can also inquire at the local student residences or ask the International Office there for tips.
• In the case of an internship abroad, accommodation may also be provided by the employer - it costs nothing to ask!

Remember also that you have to take care of your room or apartment in Germany - What do you want to do: Sublet? Give notice? Continue to pay? Clarify with your landlord which options are possible for you - subletting is not always desirable.