General information on the PROMOS programme
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) uses funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to support the PROMOS programme to increase the mobility of students in German universities.
The aims of the programme are:
1: To increase the mobility of students and PhD students at German universities
2: To prioritise the universities' own international mobility
3: Prioritising and expanding the internationalisation strategy
The programme thus makes a long-term contribution to the development of efficient and cosmopolitan universities.
In accordance with the DAAD's funding guidelines, Promos can be used to fund study visits, internships, research visits for final theses, language and specialised courses as well as study and competition trips worldwide.
Eligible funding programme in the DAAD PROMOS
Study visitsOpen areaClose area
The funding period for study visits must be at least one month and may not exceed six months. The following study programmes can be funded:
- Studies at universities
- Final thesis and dissertations at companies or universities
Final thesis/study projects that are neither carried out at a university nor at a company can be funded in exceptional cases if the relevant department fully supports the project and the students submit a detailed timetable that can also be used later to monitor success.
Funding is mainly provided for study visits outside Europe or outside the EU. Projects are only possible in exceptional cases or only where there is no Erasmus co-operation.
InternshipsOpen areaClose area
Internships must be at least one and no longer than six months. Priority will be given to the specific internship programmes of the DAAD. Information on this can be found at: Internship placement - DAAD.
Internships can also be funded in the period between the Bachelor's degree and the start of the Master's programme. Pre-admission for the Master's programme or a similar document from a German university must be available.
Internships in the EU can only be funded in exceptional cases due to the overlap with the EU Erasmus+ programme.
Language coursesOpen areaClose area
Language courses must last at least three weeks (maximum 6 months) to be eligible for funding.
Language courses can be held at universities or established language institutes and must be at least 25 hours per week.
Due to the limited budget, unfortunately no language courses abroad can currently be funded via PROMOS. We recommend that you make use of the corresponding course programmes at the TH Wildau.
While it is possible to apply for Promos funding for language courses in 2027, such applications are considered a lower priority compared to other projects. Funding may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Specialised coursesOpen areaClose area
The maximum duration of funding specialised courses is six weeks.
Specialised courses includes: summer courses/schools, workshops at universities or similar events.
Study tripsOpen areaClose area
Study trips with a duration of up to twelve days can be funded by means of flat-rate subsistence allowances for the participants (university students). In addition, a maximum of one accompanying person (e.g. lecturer at the university) can be funded by means of these flat-rate subsistence allowances.
In addition to imparting subject-related knowledge and insights into the country, the focus must be on meeting international students and academics on site.
At the TH Wildau, the (pro-rata) funding of such study trips can only take place subject to the availability of sufficient funds and upon application by the relevant university lecturer and after proven qualified selection of applicants in the department.
Competition tripsOpen areaClose area
Competition trips with a maximum duration of twelve days can be funded by means of accommodation allowances for the participants (students of the university). In addition, a maximum of one accompanying person (e.g. a lecturer from the university) can be funded by means of these accommodation allowances.
Competition between students should be at the mid of the trip.
Due to the very limited budget, unfortunately no competition trips can currently be funded at the TH Wildau.
Information on applying for funding through the DAAD PROMOS programme
Application requirements and criteriaOpen areaClose area
Students enrolled at the TH Wildau are eligible to apply if they:
have German citizenship or are equivalent to Germans according to § 8 paragraph 1 number 2 ff., paragraph 2, 2a and 3 BAföG
(in this context, the wording of the law applies, which can be found at: BAföG)
or are enrolled as students and graduated without German citizenship in a degree programme at the TH Wildau with the aim of obtaining a degree here.
Students without German citizenship are not permitted to stay in their home country. The home country is the country in which the student has lived for at least five years.
Application documents:
Please submit your application for Promos funding for one of the above-mentioned projects abroad to the International Office (Dr Angelika Schubert), who will also be happy to provide you with further information or arrange a personal consultation.
Your application should include the following documents:
- Letter of application (statement of motivation, description of the project and choice of host organisation)
- Curriculum vitae in tabular form with photo (in German and/or English)
- current transcript of grades (for Master's students additionally Bachelor's certificate and Bachelor's transcript)
- Subject-specific letter of recommendation
- Proof or letter of recommendation regarding English language skills (at least B2) or corresponding current certificates (e.g. DAAD language certificate, LCCI, TOEFL)
- Current certificate of enrolment
- Any other documents (e.g. job references, certificates of social commitment, internship assessments, other language certificates, confirmation of place or certificate of acceptance from the partner university, etc.)
- Eg: For internships: Internship offer or contract
Application deadlinesOpen areaClose area
The following general application deadlines apply:
- November 15 (for study abroad programs in the first half of the year or during the summer semester of the following year; in addition, applications may also be submitted for confirmed programs during the winter semester of the following academic year)
- April 30 (for study abroad projects in the second half of the year or during the winter semester of the current year)
In addition, in individual cases—such as for study abroad projects that arise on short notice—applications for PROMOS funding may still be possible outside of these deadlines, but only after consultation with the International Office (Dr. Schubert) and subject to the availability of remaining funds.
Selection criteria for PROMOS fundingOpen areaClose area
The most important basis for a decision on Promos funding is the respective to the application and documents.
The selection is made by a selection committee, which may include representatives from the International Office and the HS management as well as other members (e.g. programme or cooperation managers from the departments).
It is based in particular on the following criteria:
- Academic achievements / academic qualification
(previous academic achievements at the TH Wildau and, if applicable, previous academic qualifications acquired at other universities; grade point average should not be lower than 2.5; if possible, no open examinations from previous semesters). Note: Please be aware that PROMOS funding is a so-called merit- and talent-based scholarship. - Motivation and references
(professional and personal reasons for the planned stay abroad) - Quality of the planned project abroad
(planning and feasibility of the study project at the host institution (e.g. any agreements already made with the responsible programme director regarding recognition, etc.); ability to integrate the internship or study period abroad into the studies at TH Wildau (i.e. the planned stay abroad should not lead to an extension of the standard period of study if possible)) - Language skills
(Advanced knowledge of English; if necessary, knowledge of the (working) language of the host country) - The applicant’s social and community involvement
(e.g., serving as a student mentor for international students, participating in StuRa or StuPa at TH Wildau, other community involvement within or outside the university)
Funding information and funding rates in the DAAD PROMOS programmeOpen areaClose area
Funding for study visits, internships, thesis and specialised courses is provided in the form of partial scholarships and/or travel allowances. The amount of the scholarship installments and travel allowances depends on the respective destination country.
Study trips are subsidised by means of lump-sum accommodation allowances.
The Promos scholarship can sometimes be combined with other funding, e.g. with the Deutschlandstipendium or scholarships from private funds. Double funding from German public funds is excluded.
If you would like to apply for BAföG abroad, you must notify the responsible BAföG office abroad of the receipt of the approved DAAD Promos scholarship.
This may then be offset against the BAföG benefits if the Promos scholarship exceeds the amount of €300 per month.
Current subsidy rates:
Please note:
Unfortunately, the TH Wildau only has a very limited budget in the DAAD PROMOS programme. Therefore, study projects abroad (study visits, internships, thesis, study trips, specialised courses) can usually only be partially funded.
This means that, as a rule, either only a (time-limited) partial scholarship for the study visit or a partial scholarship for mobility (travel allowance) can be granted.
Students who are entitled to BAföG abroad do not receive a travel grant, as the corresponding lump sum is already granted via the BAföG abroad.
Tuition fees at the host university usually cannot be subsidised due to the limited funds available.
Support for Students with Disabilities or Chronic IllnessesOpen areaClose area
Students with a degree of disability (GdB) of at least 50 or a chronic illness who wish to participate in a mobility program through DAAD–PROMOS may apply to the DAAD for a grant to cover additional expenses incurred while abroad (including expenses for a possible accompanying person).
For more information, please contact Dr. Schubert at the International Office, who is the project coordinator.
The project coordinator must submit the corresponding grant application directly through the DAAD portal at least 2 months before the start of the planned study abroad program.
Travel and insurance adviceOpen areaClose area
When planning and carrying out activities abroad, you are strongly advised to observe the travel and safety instructions and in particular the ( part of) the travel warnings issued by the Federal Foreign Office: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit
Please check your insurance cover in preparation for your trip abroad and ensure that you have adequate health insurance abroad (with the option of repatriation in the event of a medical emergency or medically necessary specialised treatment) as well as private liability insurance and, if necessary, accident insurance.
It is possible to take out appropriate international insurance (combined health, accident and personal liability insurance) via the DAAD group tariff.
Tariff information can be found at: https://www.daad.de/versicherung/de/
The insurance can only be taken out online: https://portal.daad.de
If you have any questions about international insurance, please contact the DAAD insurance office by e-mail: Versicherungsstelle(at)daad.de
In addition, the required insurance cover abroad can also be arranged through other insurance providers.
Please note that you are responsible for any insurance benefits.
