Applying for an internship semester abroad requires a lot of inniative and dedication!

At the beginning of each semester, the International Centre offers an information event with tips for finding an internship.

The FELIX learning platform offers a Leitfaden für die Bewerbung im Ausland (guideline for applying abroad; available in English, Spanish and French) as well as a list of companies which have offered internship spaces abroad to HFU students in the past.

Please also check with your own faculty for such addresses!

Your study programme’s Praktikantenamt (internship office) is in charge of the recognition of an internship.

Get started early by compiling company addresses and preparing your application documents (cover letter, CV and grade sheet). 

Include in your application that you are applying for a mandatory internship and that you will thus be retaining your student status.

Make use of personal contacts (e.g. visits to trade fairs) and do not allow rejection letters to discourage you.

You can send a large number of applications using email. Please make sure that you address these to individuals wherever possible.

Prepare well for a telephone interview!

You can find further information (in German) in the DAAD brochure Wege ins Auslandspraktikum (roads to an internship abroad).

Once you have secured a position, you need to take care of the following issues:

Visa/work permit: applies only to non-EU States ; you can find further information on the webpage of the country in question. For the USA and Canada there are organisations which may assist you, for example: Travelworks, College Council.

Health insurance: Make very sure that you check with your health insurer whether and on what conditions their coverage will extend to your stay abroad. Within the EU and some other countries such coverage is regulated by a social insurance agreement, giving you such coverage as is usual in your host country. For this to apply, you will need the Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte (European Health Insurance Card = EHIC), which can be obtained free of charge from your health insurer. For other countries you will need to obtain private international health insurance coverage.

Private Liability and Accident Insurance (Haftpflicht- und Unfallversicherung): Find further information on the webpage of the Studentenwerks Freiburg as well as our own information leaflet.

Current travel information on individual countries can be found on the webpage of the Auswärtigen Amtes (German foreign office).