To participate in the Erasmus+ Programme KA171 at the UoC, you must first apply through your home university in an internal competitive selection process. 

If successful, the Erasmus coordinator at your home university will send an official nomination to the UoC. This nomination will be forwarded to the Erasmus coordinators within the faculties as well as to the International Office.

After we have received your nomination from your home university, we will send to you an email in May (for the winter semester) or November (for the summer semester) with all important information regarding the application process and your study at the University of Cologne.

The Erasmus+ program is divided into projects years.

Students receive financial support according to the project year in which the cooperation between the University of Cologne and the partner university is established. The academic year of your exchange semester may thus differ from the project year.

The amount of the monthly funding rate is determined at the national level by the National Agency DAAD and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

This funding rate may be supplemented by additional grants, such as a travel allowance, Green Travel support, and/or a Social Top-Up (see the corresponding sections below for more details).

Project 2023

Incoming students receive a monthly financial support of 850 EUR.

Project 2024 and 2025

Incoming students receive a monthly financial support of 900 EUR.
 

Erasmus+ Financial Support

Please note that Erasmus+ provides only a partial grant, not a full scholarship, and therefore does not cover all expenses related to your stay. The first instalment is transferred only after your arrival in Cologne (see below). You should therefore ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover at least your first month.

Financial Proof for Visa Application

When applying for a Visa, you must submit a financial proof to the German authorities, which may be higher than the Erasmus+ financial support. You will need to cover the remaining amount from your own private funds. Please find detailed information on Immigration and financial proof here ("Visa Regulations").

Payment Schedule & SEPA Requirements

Payment Schedule
The payment of your Erasmus+ financial support will be made in two stages:
1. Payment of 70% of the Erasmus+ financial support plus travel allowance upon receipt of the Letter of Confirmation issued by the International Office confirming your arrival at the UzK. 
2. Payment of 30% of the remaining funding after upload of the submitted EU-Survey in MoveOn. 
Please note that the payment may take up to four business days to be processed and credited to your account.

Bank Account Requirements
Scholarship payments will solely be made to an SEPA bank account, using an European IBAN. The location of the bank's registered office is not determining. 
Depending on the provider, a SEPA account may also be opened remotely. If you prefer to open a bank account in Germany, further information is available here.
 

The Erasmus+ a financial support is limited to one semester. An extension is not possible.

Your mobility period starts and ends with the date that you need to be physically present at the UoC for academic reasons (official start of the semester until your last exam).

Your Erasmus+ financial support will be calculated based on your estimated mobility period, but the final amount will depend on your actual stay at the UoC.

If your stay is shorter than expected, your financial support will be reduced. In the event of a significantly shorter stay, you may be required to repay part of the Erasmus+ grant.
 

All Erasmus+ KA171 participants are entitled to receive a travel allowance.

The travel support depends on the distance (one-way) between the place of origin and the venue of the mobility activity (Cologne) according to the EU Distance Calculator.

If you are planning on using low-emission means of transport for your trip, such as bus, train, bicycle, or carpooling, you may apply for Green Travel. The entire journey—both the outbound and return trip to and from your international destination—must be undertaken using environmentally friendly transportation.

Project 2023

Project 2024 and 2025

Travel Days

In addition, participants may receive funding for travel days (1 travel day = daily grant rate = €60/day).

Applying for Green Travel is only possible during the "Online Application for the Scholarship via MoveOn". You are required to sign a Declaration of Honour, confirming that you meet the eligibility criteria, possess the necessary proof, and agree to repay the UoC if any information provided is found to be false.

The following additional funding options are available upon application:

Social Top-Up

Social Top-up for (1) Students with Chronic Illness/Disability Degree of at least 20; (2) Students Undertaking a Stay Abroad with Children; (3) First-Generation University Students; (4) Working Students.
 

The social groups mentioned above can apply for an additional grant of 250 EUR per month on top of the regular Erasmus+ scholarship. The Social Top-up is calculated according to the duration of the funding period.

Social Top-ups cannot be combined. If you belong to more than one of the social groups listed below, the Top-up can be granted only once.

Criteria for Social Top-ups:

1) Students with a Chronic Illness/Disability Degree (GdB) of at least 20
• The chronic illness or impairment (on which the disability degree is based) must lead to additional costs abroad (e.g., purchasing medication abroad).
• Neither the type of illness nor the exact degree of disability needs to be specified.
• Possible proof (e.g., a medical certificate confirming the additional financial need) must be submitted only upon request by Department 93.

2) Students Undertaking a Stay Abroad with Minor Children
• Students must be accompanied by at least one minor child during their stay abroad.
• The amount of the Social Top-up remains the same regardless of the number of children. For example, if two children accompany the student abroad, only 250 EUR per month will still be granted.
• Even if the student is accompanied by a partner, they can apply for the Social Top-up. However, if the partner also receives an Erasmus+ grant, the Social Top-up can only be awarded to one person.
• Possible proof (e.g., birth certificates or travel documents of the child) must be submitted only upon request by Department 93.

3) First-Generation University Students
• Neither parent/legal guardian has obtained a degree from a university or university of applied sciences.
• Degrees earned abroad are considered academic degrees, even if they are not recognized in Germany. If this is the case, students are not eligible for the Social Top-up.
• Possible proof (e.g., information about parents' education, Declaration of Honour signed by the parents) must be submitted only upon request by Department 93.

4) Working Students
• Students must have been continuously employed for at least six months before the start of their mobility.
• The employment must be suspended during the stay abroad, meaning the work is not continued remotely from the host country. A formal termination of the employment is not required.
• Possible proof (e.g., payslips, tax returns) must be submitted only upon request by Department 93.

Applying for a Social Top-Up is only possible during the "Online Application for the Scholarship via MoveOn". You are required to sign a Declaration of Honour, confirming that you meet the eligibility criteria, possess the necessary proof, and agree to repay the UoC if any information provided is found to be false.

Grant Agreement (GA):
The Grant Agreement informs you about your rights and obligations as well as the expected amount of your Erasmus+ financial support, based on the estimated start and end dates of your Erasmus+ mobility.

Availability: Issued by the International Office (IO) after you submit your "Online Application for the Scholarship via MoveOn"

Signed by: The grantee and the IO at the University of Cologne (UoC)

Learning Agreement (LA):
The Learning Agreement is part of the Grant Agreement. It may be submitted separately but must be provided before the start of your mobility. It outlines your planned courses at the UoC and ensures recognition at your home university. No payments can be made without this document.

Availability: Your Faculty is responsible for the content. See documents in the downloads section above.

Signed by: The grantee, the sending university, and the ZiB of the respective faculty at the UoC

Declaration of Honour, Social Top-Up (DoH STU):
In this document, you confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria, possess the necessary proof, and agree to repay the UoC if any information provided is found to be false.

Availability: Only required in case of application for a Social Top-Up during the “Online Application for the Scholarship via MoveOn”:

Signed by: The grantee

Declaration of Honour, Green Travel (DoH GT):
In this document, you confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for Green Travel, hold the necessary proof, and agree to repay the UoC if any information is incorrect.

Availability: Only required in case of application for a Green Travel Top-Up during the “Online Application for the Scholarship via MoveOn”.

Signed by: The grantee

Letter of Confirmation (LoC)
An official document confirming the actual duration of your Erasmus+ mobility at the UoC, adjusting the estimated dates in your Grant Agreement if necessary and determining the final grant amount.

It consists of two parts:

– Confirmation of Arrival: Serves as proof of your arrival at the UoC. No payments can be made without this document.

– Confirmation of Departure: Issued shortly before your departure (max. five days in advance) to confirm your presence at the UoC until the end of your stay. 

Availability: Issued by the International Office upon your personal appearance at the beginning and end of your mobility.

Signed by: The International Office at the UoC.

EU Survey:
The EU Survey of the European Commission is mandatory for all Erasmus+ students. Failure to complete the survey may result in a reclaim of your scholarship.

Availability: The EU system automatically sends the link via email 30 days before the end of your stay.

Note: If you indicate that the recognition process is not yet completed, you will receive a second participant report (Recognition Report) 45 days after the end of your mobility.

Transcript of Records (ToR):
An official document listing the courses you attended at the UoC, including grades and ECTS credits.

Availability: Issued after completion of your exchange semester

Signed by: The ZiB of the respective faculty at the UoC

Erasmus Student Charter:
The Erasmus Student Charter outlines participants' rights and obligations and supports the successful completion of their mobility.

Availability: Can be downloaded here ("Erasmus+ Documents Download Section").

Funding & Visa Information Sheet:
The Funding & Visa Information Sheet explains how your funding is calculated and includes important information on the financial requirements for the visa. 

Availability: Can be downloaded here (“Erasmus+ Documents Download Section”).

Documents Download Section
 

• Learning Agreement SMS_KA171
• Learning Agreement SMP_KA171
• Declaration of Honour, Social Top-Up (DoH STU)
• Declaration of Honour, Green Travel (DoH GT)
• Erasmus Student Charter
• Funding Visa Info