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Technical University of Munich
A student of TUM during her stay abroad in China.
TUM Global & Alumni Office supports students with various scholarships to go abroad during their studies. Photo: Franziska Zhu / TUM

Scholarships and grants for stays abroad

The TUM Global & Alumni Office (TUM G&A) offers numerous scholarship programs, which enable study visits and internships within Europe and worldwide. Here you can find information about TUM scholarships and funding opportunities through external providers.

Scholarships from TUM (Global & Alumni Office)

The Erasmus+ program also offers funding for study visits to partner universities outside Europe. TUM students therefore have the opportunity to receive an Erasmus+ scholarship for their stay at one of the eligible TUMexchange partner universities.

Eligible TUMexchange partner universities (from academic year 2026/27)

  • Australia: University of Queensland (UQ)
  • China: Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS)
  • Japan: University of Tokyo (UTokyo)
  • Mexico: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM)
  • Singapore: National University of Singapore (NUS)
  • Singapore: Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
  • South Africa: Stellenbosch University (SU)

Application

  • Timing: Applications are submitted in January/February for the winter semester and in July/August for the summer semester.
  • Please note that our budget only allows for a limited number of scholarships. Unfortunately, funding cannot be guaranteed.
  • TUMexchange students will be informed about the scholarship announcement and application period by the scholarship coordination office after they have been accepted by the host university.

Combination with other funding

No other funding is possible in conjunction with the Erasmus+ scholarship for TUMexchange.

Assessment

The assessment is carried out according to a list of criteria using the dual control principle. The evaluation is based on the following key areas:

  • Previous academic performance (excellence)
  • Individual social situation (equal opportunities)
  • Contribution to global development (sustainability)
  • Social commitment (social engagement)

Please note that we do not provide detailed information on the list of criteria.

Scope of funding

  • Duration: max. 140 days (extension to fund a second semester is not possible)
  • Individual support: 700 euros/month
  • Green Grant for climate-friendly travel: max. 2 travel days per stay
  • Travel allowance: the amount of the allowance varies depending on the destination country

Additional funding for students with fewer opportunities

Top-up

With the top-up, you will receive an additional €250 per month on top of your scholarship amount during the funded period of your stay. The top-up can be applied for as part of the scholarship application. The following are eligible to apply:

  • Working students
  • First-time university students
  • Students traveling abroad with their child/children
  • Students with a chronic illness or disability that incurs additional costs abroad
  • Students with a physical or mental impairment (GdB of 20 or more)

Real cost application for students with disabilities with a degree of disability of 20 or higher

The real cost application is a special grant for students with disabilities with a degree of disability of 20 or higher, chronic illnesses, and students who are going abroad with their child(ren). This grant serves as financial support to cover the actual costs incurred abroad due to the relevant criterion. Detailed information can be found in the Kriterienkatalog des DAAD (PDF, 342 KB). To apply, please send an email to the Scholarships Team (scholarships-abroad@tum.de) at TUM G&A at least three months before the start of your stay.

The PROMOS program supports students with grants for the completion of final theses and seminar papers outside of Erasmus+ zone for up to six months (the thesis may only be conducted outside the EU, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland).

Target group 

  • German students enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program at TUM
  • International students, enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program at TUM and NOT planning to study in their home country
  • Self-organized stays abroad, not intended for participants in existing programs such as TUMexchange or for study abroad programs through partnerships between departments or Erasmus

Fundable stays abroad

  • Unpaid stays abroad for final theses and compulsory seminar papers (research papers with credits) at universities, companies or scientific institutes. New: To deepen the cooperation with strategic partners, we especially support stays for final theses at Imperial College (UK), University of Queensland (Australia), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and Tsinghua University (China)
  • PROMOS grants can only be obtained for stays outside the Erasmus+ area
  • Minimum stay abroad: 4 weeks for final thesis
  • Please note: Due to the reduced PROMOS budget, funding for PJ medical students will unfortunately no longer be possible as from 2025.

2025/ 2026 application deadlines

  • Till May 31st, 2025 (12:00 AM), if the stay abroad takes place primarily after June 1, 2025 (e.g. for stays abroad between May and October)
  • Till November 30th, 2025 (12:00 AM), if the stay abroad takes place primarily after December 1, 2025 (e.g. for stays abroad between December and May). Then the support for your stay abroad is available only from the beginning of 2026. The scholarship is effective on January 1, 2026
  • You can only apply once, i.e. you cannot apply twice for the same stay.

Grant amounts

  • Monthly stipends (see “Teilstipendium Aufenthalt” on the list of DAAD 2025) over the actual duration of the stay, up to six months till the end of February of the following year
  • Possibly travel cost support provided for the respective country, (see “Teilstipendium Mobilität” on the list of DAAD 2025) (PDF, 157 KB), depending on the number of applicants.
  • Further distribution of residual funds to the successors in exceptional cases, e.g. distribution of monthly rates for half of the duration of the stay abroad
  • Transferal of the funds as a lump sum payment once the outcome of the application has been announced. Please note that the payout can currently take 2 to 3 months!

Combination with other grants

  • Combination possible with grants from private associations and industry grants, as well as the “Deutschland-Stipendium”
  • Combination with federally funded study abroad aid (Auslands-BAföG) also allowed (in that case, scholarship holder must inform the BAföG-Agency about the PROMOS scholarship)
  • Holding of an additional public grant is not allowed (e.g. Max Weber Program)

Application

Weighting

  • grades / ranking: 40%
  • letter of motivation, CV, personal engagement, references: 50%
  • language skills relevant to the thesis: 10%

Announcement of the outcome of the selection process

  • Via e-mail approximately 12 weeks after the application deadline (End of February)
  • If approved, acceptance of the grant by a filled Scholarship Agreement (Stipendienvereinbarung, received alongside the letter of acceptance via e-mail).
  • Please refrain from inquiring about the status of your application, since this only leads to delays in the selection process

Confirmation of Stay

  • Mandatory submitting of a Confirmation of Stay (PDF, 15 KB) after the stay abroad, signed/stamped by the advisor/contact person abroad
  • Requirement, so that the stay abroad is listed on diploma supplement
     

FAQ´s - Frequently asked questions about PROMOS individual scholarships

 

Funding Source

The PROMOS program for promoting student mobility outside the Erasmus area was developed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and is funded by the BMBF. TUM G&A assigns these funds based on a quality-oriented selection process which is subject to final approval by the DAAD.

The PROMOS program provides grants for participation in subject-specific study related travel (group travel) to countries inside and outside Europe. 

In line with the TUM sustainability strategy, which includes a "significant reduction in mobility-related CO2 emissions", we welcome applications for trips that are made using sustainable means of transport.

Target Group

German and international students enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program at TUM intending to complete their degree program at TUM (no ERASMUS or TUMexchange students)

A university representative (lecturer, research assistant) of TUM

Fundable Stays Abroad

Travel abroad of at least two students for subject-specific learning purposes include, for example

  • visits, tours and information meetings at universities abroad as well as participation in block seminars and workshops
  • exchanges with local students and/or researchers in order to develop and maintain relationships between German and foreign universities
  • gaining insight into the economic, political or cultural life of the host country

Especially for shorter stays abroad, the ratio of CO2 emissions to the time spent abroad is very high. We therefore refrain from promoting air travel and concentrate our funds on trips that are made by 

  • train, bus, carpooling or other low-emission means of transportation.

Convention and conference travel as well as summer- winterschools are NOT supported

Application

  • Ongoing throughout the year, after personal or telephone consultation
  • Before the beginning of the trip
  • To be submitted by a university representative / lecturer for the entire group (no individual applications)
  • Limitations on applications per faculty (a maximum of 30% of all applications can come from one faculty per year)
  • No continuous project funding possible, i.e. excursions that are regularly repeated can be funded a maximum of twice
  • Please follow this application guide (Instructions 245 KB)

Grant amounts

In accordance with the daily rate determined by the DAAD, grants are as follows

  • 45 € per day per participant within the EU
  • 45 € per day per participant outside the EU

Funding available for a maximum of twelve days

Payment

  • Upon return from the travel
  • After the required documentation has been submitted in full
  • Via electronic transfer to the TUM account of the chair

Funding Source

The PROMOS program for promoting student mobility outside the Erasmus area was developed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and is funded by the BMBF. The TUM G&A assigns these funds based on a quality-oriented selection process which is subject to final DAAD approval.

Documents for the application:

In terms of equity and diversity, participants in the TUMexchange program may also apply for funding. Personal and socio-economic criteria will have priority when selecting the scholarship holders.

Target Group/ Fundable stays abroad

  • TUMexchange candidates with special cultural or social background as well as exceptional circumstances of a family, psychological or physical nature
  • The place was confirmed by the TUMexchange team and by the applicant
  • Separate call and application for each winter and summer semester
  • The funding of the scholarship for equity is not compatible with the scholarship within the Erasmus+ program
  • A stay abroad in the home country cannot be supported

Grant amounts

  • Monthly support of €400 paid for the actual duration of the stay, up to a maximum of six months till the end of January of the following year
  • Please note that our budget only allows for a limited number of scholarships. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that you will receive funding.

Combination with other grants

  • Holding of an additional public grant is not allowed (e.g. Max Weber Program or Deutschlandsstipendim)
  • Combination possible with grants from private associations and industry grants (not salaries!)
  • Combination with federally funded study abroad aid (Auslands-BAföG) also allowed (in that case, scholarship holder must inform the BAföG-Agency about the scholarship)

Application

  • TUMexchange students reiceive information about the scholarship within the call from the scholarships coordination
  • For stays in winter semester, the application takes place in March/April, for stays in summer semester, the application takes place in September/October of the previous year.
  • Application takes place via our mobility tool

Weighting 

  • individual, social situation (equity)
  • previous academic achievements (excellence)
  • social commitment (social engagement)
  • motivation (TUMexchange application)

Please note that we do not provide detailed information on the criteria catalog.

Announcement of the outcomes of the selection process

Scholarship offers will only be sent out after the budget has been announced by the funding agency. This is usually in June/July.

Funding source

The funds for the grant are provided by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Arts. The grant aims to promote the international exchange between young individuals with exceptional qualifications.

 

Scholarship grants provided for studying abroad, internship or graduation theses as well as term papers  in Switzerland.

Travel cost support is available from the TUM Global & Alumni Office for academic activities in developing countries.

Description

With this grant, the TUM wishes to provide its students and employees with an opportunity to perform academic activities in developing countries and to make both new contacts and to strengthen already existing contacts and projects.

In detail, the objectives are:

  • Promotion of the developing country mobility of TUM students and employees
  • Strengthening the developing country competence of TUM students and employees
  • Establishment and expansion of the research and project cooperation between TUM and universities in developing countries

 

Requirements

Employees and/or full-time students at TUM are eligible for funding. For each trip, up to three persons can be sponsored by these funds. Students must have a strong recommendation from the university department chair to carry out the trip to the developing country.

Exclusion of double funding

TUM employees may not receive any additional financial funding and may not claim the travel cost from TUM or from any other institution.

Funded measures

Travel costs (normally flight costs) of TUM students and/or employees for

  • short stays in developing countries, e.g. for coordination or initiation of projects
  • stays in developing countries in order to perform projects
  • research stays related to the improvement of the living conditions of the local population

Projects in close cooperation with an institution in the developing country will be given preference for funding (in contrast to field research without closer contacts in the developing country). Both the promotion of new projects and the expansion of existing cooperations are possible.

Funding scope

The maximum is 1,000 Euros of the travel costs actually incurred (normally flight costs) per person and application. Costs of visa, rental cars, accommodation and costs of the stay will not be assumed.

Application and selection

A prerequisite for a valid application is a personal initial consultation or presentation of the project at the G&A Office. If the eligibility is given, the application is made by e-mail using the corresponding forms. Applications can be submitted continuously during the year until all the funds are used up. Early application is recommended.

Application documents

Prior to commencement of travel

  • application form including declaration of acceptance and liability form (PDF, 1090 KB)
  • authorization for business travel (only in the case of employees)
  • letter of recommendation from the chair (only for students)
  • letter of invitation from the hosting institution (in case of cooperation with an institution in a developing country)

After return

  • filled in report form (PDF, 135 KB)
  • Flight invoice in Euro (if not already submitted)
  • list of travel costs in Euro (only necessary if several invoices are submitted) (XLS, 11 KB) 

Please use exclusively the forms provided on this website. Thank you very much!

Funding for PROMOS scholarships

The PROMOS program for promoting student mobility outside the Erasmus area was developed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and is funded by the BMBF. TUM G&A assigns these funds based on a quality-oriented selection process which is subject to final approval by the DAAD.

Scholarships From External Providers

Transnational

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers various exchange programs and internships for specific disciplines in selected countries and/or institutions,  e.g. “RISE weltweit” (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) or the "IFI" program for international research stays for computer scientists. Please visit the following websites for an overview of the many scholarship programs offered by the DAAD.

 

Stipendiumplus - Scholarships for the promotion of young talents in institutions of higher education

The various organizations of "Stipendiumplus" also offer their scholarship recipients funding for stays abroad.

The objective of the Rotary Foundation is to promote peace and understanding between nations across the globe. Suitable candidates may apply for funding of their study abroad.

A free foundation search engine, which contains around 10.000 foundations with their own websites, that are currently active in Germany.

Source: Association of German Foundations

Federally funded student financial aid abroad (Auslands-BAföG) is a unique funding option provided by the German government for entire degree programs, parts of a degree program, internships or student exchanges abroad, both in Europe and outside of Europe. If you are already receiving BAföG in Germany (Inlands-BAföG), you are guaranteed to receive Auslands-BAföG. If you are not receiving Inlands-BAföG, you may still be eligible to receive Auslands-BAföG. Due to the higher cost of living abroad, a much greater number of students are eligible for state-funded financial aid in this case.  

Regional

Working in Australia: International students are allowed to work in Australia up to 20h/week.

  • Institut Ranke-Heinemann supports every student (Freemover) financially during their stay abroad in Australia, New Zealand or Canada within a scholarship programme.

 

  •  Institut Ranke-Heinemann

Institut Ranke-Heinemann supports every student (Freemover) financially during their stay abroad in Australia, New Zealand or Canada within a scholarship programme.

The programme consists of two components: one is the financial support and the other is the mentoring during the application process, the stay abroad and even after the return. All Australian and New Zealand universities are included in the programme, as well as 70 universities/colleges in Canada.

  • Community for student exchange in Central and Eastern Europe

Every semester, the GFPS partner associations in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic award scholarships for students and doctoral candidates to complete a study visit or a semester language course. German students can apply for a semester in Poland or the Czech Republic.

  • Bavarian-Czech cooperation

Funding and scholarship programs for Bavarian-Czech cooperation in the field of higher education:

  • Academic projects (workshops, summer/winter schools, excursions, project preparation),
  • Mobility grants for study, lecture and research trips,
  • Mobility grants for internships in the Czech Republic,
  • scholarships for research stays and specialist courses, scholarships for language courses in both countries.

Students, teachers and researchers at state and state-funded universities and colleges in Bavaria and the Czech Republic can apply.

  • BAYHOST provides mobility grants for internships and the exchange of students as well as young researchers in east Europe (e.g. Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary).
  • The German National Academic Foundation awards scholarships and grants for tuition fees for study or research stays in Eastern Europe.

  • Swiss-European-Mobility-Programme (SEMP)

    The Swiss-European Mobility Program (SEMP) offers TUM students monthly funding of up to CHF 440 for an internship or a practice-related thesis in Switzerland.

    In principle, internships can be funded for all fields of study, but the allocation varies depending on the institution. As the funds are awarded by the Swiss universities, funding is often only available for internships and dissertations at the universities themselves - for example in their university laboratories and university clinics. However, some universities also support internships at partner companies and organizations.

    Please contact the Swiss university directly to find out whether your internship or practice-related thesis is eligible for funding and, if so, apply directly to the university in Switzerland for the SEMP scholarship.

    You can also find general information about SEMP on the movetia website. The Swiss agency has been responsible for managing the program since 2017.

  • Fulbright scholarships for studying at universities in the USA

The Fulbright Commission awards travel grants for semesters abroad at a partner university in the USA. The prerequisites for a successful application are German citizenship and a willingness to actively promote German-American understanding. Applications should first be sent to the TUM Global & Alumni Office. The committee then selects its scholarship recipients from the forwarded applications and notifies them of the outcome of their application.

The Fulbright Commission also awards highly endowed study scholarships for one semester or academic year for students at Master's level.

Application information and application forms can be found on the Fulbright Commission website.

  • Fulbright Schuman Program

The Fulbright Schuman Program awards scholarships to European citizens for research in the United States with a focus on EU affairs/policy, or the US-EU transatlantic agenda.

  • Bavarian-Californian University Center BaCaTec

With the Bavarian-Californian University Center (BaCaTeC) at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, the Free State of Bavaria supports cooperation between researchers from Bavaria and California with a focus on the high-tech areas of life sciences, information and communication technologies, new materials, environmental technologies and mechatronics.

  • Federation of German-American Clubs

The VDAC Student Exchange is a large privately organized exchange program between Germany and the USA. Each year, over 50 German and American students are awarded a scholarship by the American partner university.

  • The ERP Scholarship Program

The ERP program finances excellent students during a one- to two-year study or research stay as part of a Master's or PhD program at top US universities. Graduates of all disciplines can apply.

  • Getty Bachelor Internship Programme

Haven’t found the right scholarship program?

The following online services provide a good overview of funding opportunities:

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