Travelling

Study abroad: The world's your oyster

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” (Augustine of Hippo)
Travelling
Image: unsplash.com

Dear students,

Despite all the current concerns, participating in courses at one of our partner universities is still perfectly possible, and we would like to encourage you to set out on this journey or plan it for one of your semesters ahead.

The International Office of our university provides you with plenty of information on going abroad during your studies, including opportunities beyond studying abroad (e.g. internships, foreign language assistant posts, etc.). Please click here de for orientation.

Erasmus-plus programme (Studying abroad): News

The winter term marks the application period for the academic year 2026/27. We invite all interested students to get informed about our partner universities and the application process, using the materials below.

  • Erasmus: Deadline for applications
  • Contact and guidance

    Erasmus coordinator of the department for outgoing students: PD Dr Florian Haas

    For all Erasmus-related correspondence, please only use our institutional Erasmus account (international.iaa@uni-jena.de) rather than Dr Haas's usual email address.

    Your primary contact for all general information on going abroad, including some first-hand reports from previous students, is the FSU's International Office de.

    Our student assistant Lucie Lange (lucie.ulrike.lange@uni-jena.de) is the right person to contact for specific questions relating to the application form, the letter of motivation or the application process more generally.

  • Where to go?

    Going abroad offers you a unique chance to broaden your professional and personal horizons and to gain first-hand experience of the English language in everyday use. For students of English, therefore, we consider spending some time abroad as absolutely essential. Credit points obtained at universities abroad can be transferred to your studies in Jena on the basis of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

    European partner universities of our department

    The Department of English and American Studies maintains direct Erasmus+ relationships with the following universities (number of places available in parentheses):

    Further information on these universities can be found in a PDF towards the bottom of this page.

    In addition, the Department of German as a Foreign Language sometimes offers remaining places at the University of Nottingham (UK), especially to students of English who also study German. Moreover, the FSU as a whole has recently forged new partnerships in the "European Campus of City Universities" (EC2U) with the following European universities:

    • Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
    • Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
    • Université de Poitiers (France)
    • Universitatea din Iasi (Romania)
    • Universita degli studi di Pavia (Italy)
    • Universität Turku (Finland)

    More information on this new partnership project can be found here de. Your application for these universities will have to be submitted to your institutional coordinator as well, but the selection process will take place at the FSU's International Office.

    Partner universities of our institut beyond Europe

    Our department maintains so-called bilaterial exchange relationships with the University of Northern British ColumbiaExternal link (Canada) and the University of Sioux FallsExternal link (USA). Beyond those, the FSU has a number of such bilateral agreements with further universities beyond Europe at which modules in English and American Studies might be on offer for exchange students. Please click here de for further information supplied by the International Office.

  • Planning your time abroad

    We recommend that studies abroad are not undertaken before your fourth semester, as you need to have passed all foundational modules in all domains of English Studies. Typically, students spend some time abroad at around the "middle" of their studies. The decision as to whether one or two semesters can be spent at a particular partner university depend on our specific contract with that university as well as the number of applicants for the year in question.

    Studying at a European university (= Erasmus+ programme)

    Applications for the Erasmus programme can be submitted in each winter term and relate to the following academic year: in the winter term 2025/26, for example, we will allocate the places abroad for 2026/27. You can find the application form as a PDF towards the bottom of this page. Please use only this form for applications at our department!

    Studying at a non-European university (especially USA/Canada)

    All transatlantic and other long-distance stays go beyond the realm of the Erasmus programme. These exchanges take place on the basis of so-called bilateral partnerships of the FSU with universities in Canada, the USA and beyond, as well as specific exchange programmes offered by the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)External link. As you can imagine, these projects require particularly timely and intensive preparations. Your primary contact for assistance is the FSU's International Office (Ms. Blumenstein de).

    Applications for the University of Northern British Columbia (Canada) are handled directly at the chair of American Studies (contact: Prof. Dr. Rosenthal); for applications at the University of Sioux Falls, please contact Dr. John Thomson in language practice.

    Please note that all bilaterial exchange programmes with the USA and Canada require your application to be submitted by 30 November (for the following academic year). Your coordinator in these cases is usually Jana Blumenstein at the International Office.

    Further interesting options

    Teacher-training candidates have a chance to do their practical semester abroad. See here de for further information.

    The so-called Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD)External link offers a rather unique programme for more advanced teacher-training students: being a foreign language assistant at a school abroad (e.g. for small conversation classes in German) allows you to gain practical teaching experience in an English-speaking country on a regular payroll. The position lasts for one school year (8-10 months), in which you start by sitting in on classes before you conduct your own lessons in smaller groups. Applications for this option need to be submitted directly to the PAD.

    Internships and language classes abroad are not procured by your Erasmus coordinator, but organized on one's own initiative. However, internships in particular can be supported financially by the Erasmus programme. For further information on such internships and options, please see here de.

  • Application process

    Application documents

    In order to apply for the Erasmus exchange with a direct partner university of our department (see above for the list), you will need ...

    • our application form (see PDF below), which is specific to our department and not to be confused with the general application form available at the International Office
    • a letter of motivation composed in English: it is supposed to explicate why you would like to undertake studies abroad and why specifically at the university you have chosen (or universities if you have also provided a second choice).

    As you can see in the application form, our department does not require a CV, a letter of recommendation or separate proof of your language proficiency! These documents, as well as the more general application form distributed by the International Office, are only necessary if you are applying to a university which is not a direct partner of the department but rather of the FSU at large (such as the new cooperations with Salamanca, Coimbra, Poitiers, Iasi, Pavia and Turku).

    Submitting your application

    • The new round of applications (i.e. for the academic year 2026/27) closes on 15 January 2026. Please submit your application exclusively in electronic form; do not submit printed files at the department or by snail mail.
    • Applications need to be sent to the institutional Erasmus account (international.iaa@uni-jena.de) rather than Dr Haas's usual email address.
    • Please compile your application in a single PDF. Do not submit multiple documents.
    • Please bear in mind that applications for non-European exchange programmes are to be submitted as early as 30 November 2025, and that these are not handled via the Erasmus programme (and your Erasmus coordinator) but via the International Office (see "Planning your time abroad" above).

    Selection criteria

    It is a common misconception that the Erasmus programme is reserved for students whose academic performance and language proficiency are excellent in the first place. We would like to give all students a chance to broaden their academic horizon, forster their intercultural competence and improve their level of proficiency in English. At the same time, however, we also need to have a selection process to ensure that students stand a realistic chance of completing their studies abroad (including all forms of assessment involved) and of representing our department abroad in an appropriate way. For this reason, our decision on your application takes the following selection criteria into account (in the given order):

    • your progression in English and American Studies (completion of all introductory modules required for advanced classes abroad, speedy and reliable completion of previous obligatory modules, performance (= marks)) (60%)
    • quality of your letter of motivation (in English) (20%)
    • your progression in your second subject (following the same criteria as above) (20%)
  • FAQs

    Based on the questions most frequently asked by email, this list is continuously being expanded.

    General conditions

    Q: “I would really like to go abroad, but the sample study plan is weighing on me and I can't afford it on my own.”

    A: Study abroad programs (e.g., guest studies and internships) do not count toward your semester credits: You can take a leave of absence from FSU and “time will stand still for you in Jena”: For example, you go abroad after the 5th semester and then continue in the 6th semester. At the same time, it is possible to have academic achievements completed abroad credited at the FSU. So it's a double win. Both studies and internships abroad are financially supported through the Erasmus program or other partnership agreements (e.g., through the complete coverage of tuition fees and the payment of an Erasmus scholarship on top of that). In addition, you can apply for BAFöG funding for studying abroad. Everything is possible!

    Course enrollment and credit transfer

    Q: Do you have to take a certain number of courses and have them credited when studying abroad

    A: The Erasmus agreements require students to take courses totaling 30 ECTS per semester or trimester and to complete them with the corresponding examination. However, there is no obligation to have the grades credited in Jena. This is a bonus option and should never be the primary criterion for choosing a place to study. It is about your personal and professional development, not primarily about replacing modules that you do not want to attend at the FSU.

    Current Questions

    Q: Is it still possible to study at universities in Great Britain and receive funding?

    A: Yes. Following the transition to a new program in Great Britain that is independent of Erasmus but equivalent, studying there is possible. The Erasmus scholarship can now also be awarded again. Beyond financial considerations, since Brexit, a visa is required for stays longer than six months. The International Office provides information on this as well.

     

  • Experience reports

Useful documents