FAQ Erasmus+ Mobility

The first steps towards a possible study abroad always takes place within your degree program. In particular with your International Academic Advisor (IAA).

You don't know who your International Academic Advisor (IAA) is? Click here for an overview.

In an initial meeting with your International Academic Advisor (IAA), the following questions, among others, can be clarified:

• Requirements and criteria for a study abroad within the respective degree program
• ECTS minimum criteria
• Suitable partner universities for your degree program
• Selection and recognition of courses

If you have a disability, a chronic illness, or if you are taking your child with you to study abroad, you might qualify for additional funding and support. In this case, you can apply for “top-up funding.” Please refer to the FHS website under Inclusion, FAQ 20 and 21, or contact the International Office.

In myFHS you will find reports from students about experiences studying abroad. The reports are sorted by country and degree program.

Please note, there are not reports from all partner universities ( perhaps you can be the first to write one? ;) ) 

If you would like, the outgoing coordinator can also put you in touch with former outgoing students who have spent a semester abroad at the partner university you are interested in.
 

Your semester or year abroad needs to be planned at least a year in advance. 

After your initial interview with your International Academic Advisor (IAA), you can only apply for the following winter semester and summer semester during the application period,  from December 15 until January 15:

For example:

• If you you want to go abroad in your 6th semester, you need to apply during the application period (December 15 until January 15) in your 3rd semester.
• If you want to go abroad in your 5th semester (summer semester), then you still need to apply during the application period (December 15 until January 15) in your 3rd semester. 

Where can I apply?
The application is completed via an online application form in the “Mobility Online Portal,” which is activated for applications starting on 15.12.

The application period for a study abroad application from the FH Salzburg is as follows:

between 15.12. and 15.01. for the following winter semester and summer semester.

Please contact your International Academic Advisor (IAA) to find out whether additional internal deadlines (before) apply to your degree program.
 

Here you can find an overview of the individual application steps and who is responsible for completing them: 

After the application deadline in Mobility Online (15.1.), your application will be reviewed by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) and he/she will decide whether to accept your application for a semester abroad according to the following cross-degree program criteria:

1. Academic success and progress (not including any pending board examination)  
2. Sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction  
3. Motivation to gain an insight into the language and culture of the host country
4. Motivation for the semester abroad and for the choice of partner university
5. Possibility of recognition of the planned courses at the partner university for the studies at the FH Salzburg
6. Commitment to the degree program (participation in projects relevant to the degree program, participation in the degree program as a student representative, support for foreign guest students as a buddy, social commitment)

Additional course-specific criteria:
In some degree programs, however, additional internal criteria apply. These are usually communicated by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) during the information event on the semester abroad.

Acceptance of your application: 
You will usually find out whether your application has been accepted by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) 2-3 weeks after the application deadline, i.e. around mid to late February (by e-mail)

Rejection of your application:
If your application is rejected by your International Academic Advisor (IAA) or the program director, you will be informed personally.

In the next step, the International Office discusses the applications received from all degree programs with the relevant IAA in a “placement meeting”. This meeting takes place approx. 2-3 weeks after the application deadline. This meeting can result in several scenarios for you:

1. Nomination to the institution of your first choice:
If a nomination to your first choice is possible, you will be notified via e-mail. In the next step, you will be nominated by the outgoing coordinator at the partner university, taking into account the respective nomination deadline.

2. Nomination to the institution of your second or third choice:
If a nomination to your first choice is not possible due to a lack of places, your IAA will contact you to discuss at which other university (2nd or 3rd choice) you can be nominated.

Nomination deadlines - important note:
Different nomination deadlines apply at each partner university.

In Scandinavian countries, the nomination period tends to start earlier than in southern countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy), as the semester at Scandinavian partner universities also starts earlier. Therefore, do not be unsettled if your fellow students have already been nominated but you have not yet been nominated. This is due to the applicable deadlines and process steps at your partner university.

The FH International Office's Outgoing Coordinator is aware of all our partners' deadlines for nominations -- you can be sure that your nomination will be completed on time.

As soon as the nomination phase starts at your partner university (in most cases this starts at the beginning of March for the following winter semester) or at the beginning of October for the following summer semester and is open for 2 months), the outgoing coordinator will nominate you to the partner university using one of these two methods:

1. Nomination email by the outgoing coordinator to the partner university (with you and your IAA as well as all other students nominated at the partner university in copy)

2. Nomination via a mobility software (such as Mobility Online), completed by the FH Salzburg Outgoing Coordinator

If you are nominated via mobility software, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from the partner university with further information on applying to the partner university.

Important:
There are no further steps for you to take between the application at Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and the nomination at the partner university.

After the nomination has been accepted by the partner university, you must apply again directly and independently to this university.

Important!
It can take up to 2 weeks or even up to a month (especially in southern countries) for the partner university to confirm the nomination, as the partner university often receives several hundred nominations from all partner institutions. Therefore, do not be put off if this takes some time.

Application process at the partner university:
You will receive all information on this directly from the partner university. Please bear in mind that the documents required and to be submitted may vary from university to university (letter of motivation, CV, proof of language proficiency, etc.). In most cases, you will receive a “factsheet” from the partner university, in which the application process and the deadlines to be observed are described in detail. In many cases, you will also find information on finding accommodation, living costs, campus life, welcome days, academic calendar (with start and end dates of the semester), etc.

Important: 
It is your sole responsibility to complete your application to the partner university on time. The application process and the applicable deadlines also vary depending on the partner university. In general, however, the deadlines tend to end earlier in Scandinavia and later in the south.

Normally, nominated students are accepted by the partner university and only very rarely rejected.

Important:
However, the final decision always lies with the partner university and cannot be influenced or evaluated by the International Office of the FH Salzburg or your IAA.

Letter of Acceptance:
If your application was successful, you will receive a Letter of Acceptance from the partner university. This usually also contains the official start and end dates of the semester.

Important:
When you receive the Letter of Acceptance is also different at each partner university. The International Office of the FH Salzburg does not have an overview of this. In some cases, however, information can be found in the fact sheet of the partner university or on the respective website.

In most cases, the entire application process at the partner university (from application to acceptance) takes 2 - 3 months.

Rejection:
In the event that your application is not accepted, the partner university will also inform you of this in writing and also inform the Outgoing Coordinator at FH Salzburg.

After consultation with your IAA, you can be nominated at another partner university, if there are still places available and the nomination deadlines have not yet transpired.

We recommend that you start looking for accommodation and planning your trip as early as possible, but of course wait until you have received confirmation of a place (Letter of Acceptance) from your partner university before making any final confirmation or booking.

Accommodation:
Partner universities often provide accommodation in student residences or near the campus. Information on this can be found on the website of the partner university or it will be sent to you directly by the International Office of the partner university as soon as they contact you regarding your application. (Fact sheet).

If desired, the Outgoing Coordinator can also put you in touch with former outgoing students who have completed a semester abroad at the same partner university.

No, students of the FH Salzburg are exempt from tuition fees at the partner universities (both at Erasmus+ partner universities and at overseas partner universities).

During the semester abroad you remain a student of the FH Salzburg. The tuition fees at the FH Salzburg and the ÖH fee must still be paid.

Insurance cover is mandatory for all stays abroad.
Important: It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate international insurance coverage (accident, liability and health insurance) for the entire duration of your stay abroad. Private supplementary insurance is recommended.

ÖH fee = accident and liability insurance

Accident and liability insurance is generally covered with the payment of the ÖH fee. The insurance coverage only applies to accidents or damage during your studies (on the host university compus and also on the way there). Accidents or damages that occur during your free time are not included.  

Further information on the ÖH contribution can be found on the ÖH website.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European Health Insurance Card offers health insurance in all EU/EEA countries (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Switzerland and Serbia). You will find this on the back of your e-card. Contact the customer service of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) to find out about insurance cover in your host country.
 

The validity of the card must be checked before the start of the stay abroad. All fields on the back of the e-card should be completed in full. If you do not have a valid health insurance card, contact your health insurance provider before you travel. Ask your host institution in advance whether special insurance is recommended for your stay abroad.   

Since 2021, Learning Agreements must be created and managed digitally via the Online Learning Agreement (OLA) platform.

OLA instructions:
The FH Salzburg provides instructions for this purpose, in which all steps necessary for the successful creation and conclusion of an OLA are described in detail, from registration and entry of courses to the signature process. It also contains important instructions for use.

Important:
Please read these instructions carefully and use them to create your OLA. We ask for your understanding that your IAA or outgoing coordinator can only answer individual questions that have not already been answered in these instructions.

Click here for the OLA instructions.

No loss of progress principle of the EU Commission: During an Erasmus+ stay, courses amounting to 30 ECTS credits per semester should be proven.

If courses are completed and graded at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences (e.g. internship, accompanying seminar for Bachelor's/Master's thesis): Internship, accompanying seminar for the Bachelor's/Master's thesis, the Bachelor's/Master's thesis), the number of ECTS credits to be completed abroad is reduced accordingly.

If you have any questions about this, please contact your International Academic Advisor (IAA).

Important: 
In order to receive Erasmus+ funding, the minimum requirement is three ECTS credits per month. The Austrian National Agency (OeaD) also specifies a minimum duration of two full months.

The process for receiving Erasmus+ funding in Mobility Online can only be started after you have received a definite Letter of Acceptance from your partner university. You will receive detailed information on the Erasmus+ funding process from the FH Salzburg Outgoing Coordinator as soon as possible.
 

Erasmus+ funding is used to cover the increased cost of living in the host country. The calculation is made on a daily rate, based upon the start and end date of your stay.

The Erasmus+ program countries are divided into three country groups as defined in the European Commission's program guide, for which the following grant amounts have been set in Austria:
NEW: Funding rates for the 2024/25 academic year:

Note: According to Erasmus+ guidelines, a month is calculated as a lump sum of 30 days

The grants can only be used for the physical part of a mobility activity!

ATTENTION: It is not possible to apply for funding retroactively!

Important: 
In order to receive Erasmus+ funding, the minimum requirement is to complete three ECTS credits per month at the partner university. The Austrian National Agency (OeaD) also specifies a minimum duration of two full months.

There is no legal entitlement to Erasmus+ funding! The award is subject to budget availability per academic year.

The new travel grant is a subsidy towards the costs incurred by participants for traveling from their place of origin to the location of the respective activity and back.

The amount of the travel allowance depends on the distance traveled, which is calculated using the Distance Calculator (Start: address of the home university, End: address of the partner university) and the means of transport (see table below).

As a general rule, participants traveling less than 500 km should use low-emission means of transport.
 

In the case of environmentally friendly travel (e.g. train, bus, carpooling for two or more people, bicycle), additional support is granted in the form of travel days.
 

In the new Erasmus+ program period 2021/27, there is an additional grant - a so-called top-up - for students with child(ren) who take their child(ren) with them on the Erasmus+ stay.

If this applies to you, you can apply for the top-up “Fewer Opportunities” in the amount of EUR 250 additional Erasmus+ funding per month.

The following documents can be used as proof for the top-up: Birth certificate, proof of custody (if applicable), proof of the child/children's stay in the host country.

ATTENTION: It is not possible to apply for the top-up retroactively!

In addition, inclusion support can be applied for, to cover the additional financial costs actually incurred in connection with a specific personal situation during the Erasmus+ stay.

Important: When preparing your Erasmus+ stay, we ask you to inform us of your situation and to estimate the additional costs that are likely to be incurred during your Erasmus+ mobility or in the host country. Please contact the International Office as early as possible. An application for inclusion support with a detailed cost breakdown must be sent to the National Agency at least eight weeks before the start of the mobility.

Further information can also be found here and at the OEAD.
 

For Erasmus+ participants with fewer opportunities, in particular people with physical, mental or health impairments, an Erasmus+ stay should be possible without any additional financial burden. In the new Erasmus+ program period 2021/27, there is therefore an additional grant - a so-called top-up - for students with disabilities or chronic illness:

Top-up “Fewer Opportunities”:

• Students with a disability
• Students with a chronic illness (physical or mental), if this results in increased financial expenses during their stay abroad (compared to their stay in their home country).

can apply for the top-up (additional EUR 250 per month) “Fewer Opportunities”.

The following documents can be used as proof for the top-up:

• in the case of disability: disability pass or other proof
• in case of chronic illness: medical certificate and proof of the additional costs incurred compared to the stay in the sending country, e.g. sworn declaration by the student or other documents proving the additional costs

ATTENTION: It is not possible to apply for the top-up retroactively!

In addition, inclusion support can be applied for to cover the additional financial costs actually incurred in connection with a specific personal situation during the Erasmus+ stay (especially for participants with physical, mental or health impairments)

Which costs can be applied for inclusion support?

Some examples (selection):

• Travel costs for necessary medical check-ups in the home country, etc.
• Travel and accommodation costs for personal assistance or accompanying person
• Costs for sign language interpreters and co-tutors
• Shipping costs, transportation costs, etc.

Important: When preparing your Erasmus+ stay, we ask you to inform us of your situation and to estimate the additional costs that are likely to be incurred during your Erasmus+ mobility or in the host country. Please contact the International Office as early as possible. An application for inclusion support with a detailed cost breakdown must be sent to the National Agency at least eight weeks before the start of the mobility.

Further information can also be found here and at the OEAD.

The grant agreement between the participant and FH Salzburg forms the contractual basis for receiving Erasmus+ funding and must be signed with a qualified digital signature (sproof).

After you have uploaded the signed grant agreement in the mobility software Mobility Online, the Erasmus+ grant can be paid out.

You will receive 80% of the funding before or at the beginning of your stay abroad and the remaining 20% after successful completion.

OLS offers Erasmus+ students the opportunity to take advantage of language support before and during their mobility phase and to have their language skills in the language of instruction or working language evaluated.

All Erasmus+ outgoing students (study visits and internships) must undergo a mandatory assessment before starting their mobility. The assessment is a prerequisite for mobility (except for native speakers) and must be completed in the language of instruction (teaching language) specified by you. You will receive an e-mail with the access data for the OLS portal in good time .

The second assessment and participation in the language courses are voluntary. The assessments are available in all official languages of the EU.

We are also happy to inform you about the possibility of applying for an additional grant for studying abroad, if you are already receiving an Austrian study grant or a self-supporting scholarship via the scholarship office: International grant for study abroad.

However, you are responsible for organizing this application yourself.

We are happy to refer you to the website of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund for insurance-related questions: Studying & working abroad

The process steps 1 and 2 above also apply to a semester abroad in Switzerland.

However, you will receive funding from Switzerland and in particular via the SEMP - Swiss-European Mobility Program. You will receive further information directly from your Swiss partner university as soon as they contact you regarding your application.