Mandatory internship semester

Keep your ears open

Use your personal connections (family, acquaintances, former employers, etc.) and talk to other students. Some faculties also have information about past internships abroad - ask the person responsible for internships in your faculty and at the Faculty Office. 

HFU Job Exchange

Use your FELIX log-in to check out the HFU Job Exchange under "Internship abroad".

Unsolicited applications
You can also send unsolicited speculative applications to selected companies. A well-worded email enquiry stating your degree programme and giving some information about your skills and the planned period of internship is enough to start with. Once the company has responded you should send the complete application documents which they request. The External link opens in a new window:Global Business Database may be helpful in the search for suitable companies.

Trade fairs

Attend (international) trade fairs and take your application documents with you. You can make contacts and collect company materials and business cards which could be useful later on.

Internship exchanges

On the DAAD website there is a comprehensive listing of job exchanges and programmes for internships abroad. The job exchange of the government job centre (ZAV) also sometimes lists internship positions abroad.

Starting in 2023, Download file:HAW.International, part of the DAAD programme now also offers specific internship opportunities with companies.

German Chambers of Commerce Worldwide Network (AHK)
Some of the German worldwide Chambers of Commerce offer an internship placement service. Whether the service is offered in the country you wish to work in and how much it costs can be checked here.

LinkedIn and Xing

You can find suitable companies by using the search function "Unternehmen".

"ErasmusIntern.org" platform

This platform offers students the opportunity to do internships through the ERASMUS+ Student Mobility - Foreign Internships (SMP) Programme. It aims to make it easier for them to find internships with European companies. Students can post information about themselves and their key competences as an ERASMUS+ intern, and at the same time organisations and companies can also post a profile and offer internships. In this way, students and organisations can contact each other directly on the ErasmusIntern.org platform.

Onsite search
You can also look for a suitable internship position when you are in the country, e.g. during your study semester abroad at one of our partner universities.

Internship Placement Agencies
Commercial agencies can vary greatly in quality and what they offer, so you should check very carefully before entering into any legally-binding agreement.

The application for an internship abroad sometimes looks a little different from German applications. It is important to be aware of the application requirements of the country you are applying to. The following will give you tips as to where you can get the information you need:

• On FELIX you can find guidelines on international applications (English, Spanish and French).
• Further information (in German) on writing an application in various different European countries can be found here.
• The so-called "External link opens in a new window:Europass CV"  is a standard format for a CV which is widely accepted in Europe. This can be completed online then downloaded. 

Further tips:

• Write in your application that it is a mandatory internship and that you retain your student status. This is an important criterion for some companies.

• Send your application by email (saves time and money). Nevertheless it should be addressed to a particular person if at all possible.

• For applications to the USA we recommend you also tell them that you will organize the  J-1 Visa yourself. To be able to apply for a J-1 Visa, you have to receive a valid DS-2019 from an exchange organization. More information can be found on the websites of the following organisations TravelWorks and College Council.

Interview/telephone interview

If you are invited to an interview or telephone interview, it is very important to prepare yourself properly in advance.

You can find a lot of information online and in books about how to prepare yourself. We recommend you do a lot of reading on the subject and decide yourself what the best way is to prepare for your personal situation.

The following are the basic financing options for your internship abroad:

• Payment/salary through the internship
• Financial support by means of a funding programme/scholarship
• Personal financing (parents/savings)

The best option is of course payment for your employment in your internship company. Don't be afraid to ask your contact there whether the position is paid or not -  after all you are working at the organisation and can request reimbursement for your efforts without having a guilty conscience.

However if the internship position is not paid or does not pay enough, you also have the possibility to apply to one or more of the funding programmes listed below. Read them through carefully to decide which of them are suitable for your internship.

The last resort is your own personal financing to cover the expenses of your stay abroad (e.g. travel costs or possibly higher costs of living in certain countries and cities).

What are the best-known funding programmes for internships?

Information about other financing programmes and further information about the programmes above can be found here:

• DAAD
• External link opens in a new window:Association of German Foundations

Before leaving

Once your have found a placement, the following organisational procedures must be followed:

Re-enrollment:

Re-enrollment should be carried out at our university as usual.

Notification of internship semester: 

The relevant form must be submitted to the Students Affairs Office (Studentische Abteilung)/Examinations Office (Prüfungsamt) or Academic Service Centre (Servicezentrum für Studium und Lehre) at latest by 1 March (summer semester) and 1 September (winter semester).

Visa/Work permit:

Applies only to non-EU States. Further information can be found on the consulate website of the particular country. For the USA and Canada there are various organisations which may be helpful, for example: Travelworks, College Council, Intrax.

Internship contract:

If the company wishes to have an internship contract with you, this should be carried out between the company and the intern, without any involvement of HFU. If the company nevertheless demands a signature from the university, please contact the internship coordinator of your degree programme.

Health, Private Liability and Accident Insurance insurance:

Please read the following information listed under Semester Abroad: Internal link opens in the same window:Things to do before you leave for your semester abroad.

Certificate of Mandatory Internship:

If you require confirmation that your internship is mandatory, please contact the personal responsible for your degree programme in the Examinations Office.

Language preparation:

Please prepare yourself in plenty of time for the language requirements of your foreign internship and register at least one semester in advance for a language course at the HFU School of Language and Cultures if necessary.

Current travel information:

Current travel information for individual countries can be found on the website of the German Foreign Office. German citizens are recommended to register in the Elefand crisis prevention list of the Foreign Office.

After you return - recognition of credits

The internship coordinator of your degree programme is responsible for recognition of credits gained during your internship semester abroad. Please follow the instructions given by the faculty on their webpages and in FELIX!