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FAQ about the Application Process

Erasmus+ places are announced each year in November. The application deadline is 1 February of each year and applies for the whole academic year, i.e. the winter semester of the current year and the summer semester of the following year. If 1 February falls on a Saturday or Sunday, this is irrelevant because applications are submitted in paperless form by uploading the full application to Mobility-Online.

When submitting an application at the Faculty of Social Sciences, there are two special things to consider:

  • You must submit two motivation letters: one in German and one in the local language of the respective partner university or in English. These two motivation letters can – but do not have to – be identical in terms of content. If you have chosen three German-speaking universities, one motivation letter in German is sufficient.
  • If you do not yet have proof of language proficiency at the time of applying, you can substitute it with a signed declaration affirming that you will present proof of your language skills before the start of your mobility. This signed declaration must be accompanied by a supporting document that clearly shows how you will prove your language skills by the start of your mobility. This proof can be provided, for example, in the shape of a confirmed date for a language exam or proof of a language course completed at the required level by the start of your mobility.
Enquire first about our portfolio of partner universities. Make sure that your preferred university matches your degree programme and your study cycle (bachelor's/master's/doctoratal degree). Enquire too about its specialisations and course contents, which should fit your degree programme, as well as language requirements. You should also please be conscious of your motives for going abroad. If, for example, you want to use your stay abroad as a means of career orientation at the end of your studies, you should include this factor in your choice of universities. In addition, you can find many of your fellow students' personal impressions in the Experience Reports by former Erasmus+ participants, which will be helpful in choosing the partner university which is right for you.
There is no universal answer to this question, as the timing depends on your personal motives for a semester abroad. In general, however, we recommend that you do not undertake it in your first semester. Furthermore, if you are studying for a bachelor's degree, you can only start an Erasmus+ mobility after completing your first year of study. Ideal times are the third to fifth semesters in a bachelor's programme and the third semester in a master's programme. However, you can also use your semester abroad to prepare your bachelor's or master's dissertation and go abroad at the end of your studies.
To complete an Erasmus+ mobility, you must be enrolled at Goethe University Frankfurt as a regular student during both the application phase and your mobility. An exception is an internship, for which you can still receive funding even after you have completed your studies. You can find further information about this on the Global Office's website.
Please submit your full application to the Global Office via your Mobility-Online participant account. After the closing date, the Global Office forwards all applications to International Relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The language skills you need depend on the partner university's requirements. You can find an overview of language requirements here. Even if the partner university does not require knowledge of the local language, we recommend that you acquire at least basic skills. This will make it easier for you to communicate with your fellow students, find accommodation and take part in intercultural activities in your host country. It will also help you to find your way around more quickly.
Good grades are an advantage in the application procedure, but not the sole deciding factor. You can find the criteria for the evaluation of your documents in the application process on our website under Application Requirements and Criteria.
Yes. You can apply for additional funding for a semester abroad with a child within the Erasmus+ programme. Please contact the Global Office. You can find initial information and further links at www.auslandsstudium-mit-kind.de and www.studieren-mit-kind.org/auslandsstudium-mit-kind.
Yes. It is possible to apply and participate several times. In each study cycle (bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree), a mobility lasting a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 12 months can be funded, i.e. up to 36 months in total. Teaching degree students (state examination candidates) can be funded for up to 24 months during their studies. Included in this time frame is a possible Erasmus+ internship grant.
Yes. Contracts have been concluded with the partner universities for specific groups of applicants (bachelor's or master's students or doctoral candidates). You can only apply for places foreseen for your study cycle. The respective groups are indicated in the list of partner universities. Furthermore, different selection criteria apply for the individual study cycles. You can find more detailed information about this on our website under Application Requirements and Criteria.
Yes. Applications from other departments will also be considered, but only in second order. In addition, it must be clarified with the preferred university whether the applicant is allowed to study the respective subject there. International Relations will contact you about this after you have submitted your application.
Yes. You can submit your application either via your main or your minor subject. For example, if you are studying political science and sociology, you are at an advantage regarding the allocation of places, as you are eligible for consideration in both degree programmes.
Yes. If you are enrolled at Goethe University Frankfurt, you can complete an Erasmus+ mobility without having EU citizenship. It is important that you check the entry requirements of your destination country with the authorities responsible. This applies especially to non-EU countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme. You can find further information on the Global Office's website.
For host countries that are not EU member states, you might require a residence permit (e.g. Turkey). Enquire about this with the relevant authorities in good time.
Yes. For such applications, please contact the coordinator at the respective faculty.
Yes. You can apply to your preferred university as what is known as a “freemover". You can find further information about this on our website.
For technical problems with Mobility-Online, please contact the Global Office.
As a rule, you will be notified by email between the beginning and middle of April by International Relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The selection criteria can be found on our website under Selection and Acceptance.
You can find guidelines for this on our website under Motivation Letter.

Your letter of motivation should primarily focus on your first choice university. You may briefly mention your second and third choice in a few sentences at the end of the letter.

  • International Relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences is on hand to advise you about your Erasmus+ mobilities, signs the Learning Agreement and other documents and is responsible for extending or cancelling stays abroad. You also submit your Experience Report to them.
  • Goethe University's Global Office is responsible for the financing of your Erasmus+ mobility (Erasmus+ grant, grants under the Federal Training Assistance Act for studying abroad, Erasmus+ mobility with a child). It must also be notified of any extension or cancellation. In addition, you must submit your Experience Report via Mobility-Online to the Global Office.
  • The Erasmus+ team at the partner university is responsible for confirming your place. They will inform you about the courses offered at the partner university and, if necessary, help you to find accommodation. They too must sign your Learning Agreement.
  • Please submit your prior application for the recognition of learning outcomes to be achieved abroad or, after your stay abroad, an application for the recognition of learning outcomes achieved abroad to the Examination Office of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
We are happy to advise you in person. Information on our office hours can be found in the menu on the right under Contact.
You can find Experience Reports by your fellow students on the Global Office's website under Goethe Globe. If you are interested, you can contact International Relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences for more recent Experience Reports.
Students are responsible for translating their own documents. You can find more detailed information on the Global Office's website.
No, usually not. However, students who handed in a complete application in time during the first application procedure but were not allocated an Erasmus+ place can contact us via international@soz.uni-frankfurt.de about possible remaining options.