PROMOS

PROMOS - Funding opportunities through the Clausthal International Center

The Clausthal International Center (IZC) awards grants within the framework of the program PROMOS ("Program to Increase the Mobility of Students at German Universities") of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The Clausthal International Center (IZC) awards funding for academic stays abroad with a total funding period of up to six months. PROMOS funds can be used to support academic mobility abroad outside of the Erasmus+ program. You can find an explanation of this program here.

Enrolled students and doctoral candidates at Clausthal University of Technology are eligible to apply if they:

  • have German citizenship or
  • are equivalent to Germans according to § 8 paragraph 1 number 2 ff., paragraph 2, 2a and 3 BAföG or
  • are enrolled as students or doctoral candidates without German citizenship at Clausthal University of Technology with the aim of obtaining a degree at Clausthal University of Technology or doing a doctorate at Clausthal University of Technology.

For students and doctoral candidates without German citizenship, stays in their home country are excluded.

In order to enable as many people as possible to receive funding, funding is primarily provided with the help of the so-called mobility allowance. You can find a country-specific list of the funding rates here.

PROMOS can be used to fund study visits for a minimum of one month and a maximum of six months. Internships (funding period of at least 6 weeks to 6 months), summer schools or other generally eligible measures (see PROMOS funding framework 2023 pages 1-3) can only be funded secondarily due to the limited funds available. If you are interested in funding for more than six months, you can apply for funding within another program (e.g. for an annual scholarship from the DAAD).

Doctoral students at Clausthal University of Technology can apply for PROMOS funding if they wish to take part in language courses, specialist courses (summer schools, workshops, etc.) or study or competition trips outside Europe. Doctoral students are not eligible for PROMOS funding for study visits and internships.

The IZC has a funding amount specified by the DAAD per financial year. In the case of an application for PROMOS support, there is no legal entitlement to the granting of PROMOS funds. The funds will only be disbursed to the selected scholarship holders once the DAAD has approved the funds in principle, the funds have been made available, the host university has admitted the applicant and the scholarship holders have submitted to the IZC a signed safety instruction signed by them.

Furthermore, funds can only be disbursed if there is no travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office for the destination country or region in question at the start of the mobility abroad. Deviating from this, a payment can be made if there is a travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the destination country because it is a high-risk country (but not a virus variant area) and at the same time the scholarship holder can prove to the IZC that he/she is fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines accepted by the RKI.

Selection of scholarship holders

There are two fixed application periods per year:

  •  
    • 1st application period: September 15 to October 31 for an international mobility starting January 01 of the following year
    • 2nd application period: March 15 to April 30 for a mobility abroad starting July 1 of the same year

After each application period there are up to 2 application stages

  •  
    • 1st stage "Prerequisite"

The requirements for documents and achievements (see below for details) must be fulfilled.

  •  
    • 2nd stage "Selection"

If the submitted applications exceed the amount of funding provided by the DAAD, a selection will be made within the group of applicants. Previous academic achievements, the purpose of the planned stay and language skills will determine who is awarded the scholarship.

The selection of scholarship holders at the IZC is based on the "4-eyes principle".

Your next step

Send the following documents electronically by e-mail within the respective application period to the Outgoing Mobility Advisor, Markus Heidemann, by e-mail (markus.heidemann@tu-clausthal.de):

  1. Your current transcript of records: The transcript of records must have an unweighted grade point average of max. 2.5 or better. You can generate the transcript of records in your study portal account.
  2. A letter of motivation: In the letter of motivation, you explain the significance of the stay abroad for your further academic development. The letter of motivation must contain at least 400 words and be written in English.
  3. Two letters of recommendation: At least one of the letters of recommendation must be from a professor who should be active in your respective field. The second letter of recommendation can also come from a person with a doctorate.

Both letters of recommendation must be current (not older than one year) and have been written by persons with a professional connection to your degree program. You can download a template for the letter of recommendation here.

  1. Proof of language proficiency in the language of instruction to at least B2 level. You can have your English language skills tested and certified at the IZC Language Center. Please contact Ms. Jessica Schulze-Bentrop (e-mail: jessica.schulze-bentrop@tu-clausthal.de; phone: +49 5323 72-3320) or Dr. Hakan Gür (e-mail: hakan.guer@tu-clausthal.de; phone: +49 5323 72-3917) and register with this document for the language test.

The Clausthal International Center makes every effort to reach a prompt decision on all applications for funding under the PROMOS program. If you have successfully applied for PROMOS funding, you must sign a DAAD scholarship agreement.

Note on DAAD group insurance

If you are a student or doctoral candidate funded by DAAD programs, you can take out DAAD group insurance for the duration of your academic stay abroad. This also applies to the PROMOS program. DAAD group insurance is a combined health, accident and personal liability insurance.

You can find more information on the rates here.

Please note that you can only take out the insurance online: https://portal.daad.de.

If you have any questions about international insurance, please contact the DAAD insurance office by e-mail: insurance office@daad.de.

Any insurance premiums incurred are to be paid by the sponsorship recipients themselves.

If you have any questions about PROMOS, please contact Markus Heidemann, Outgoing Mobility Advisor at the IZC:

Phone: +49 5323 72-5025

E-Mail: markus.heidemann@tu-clausthal.de