Studying abroad with the IfKW

The IfKW offers over 80 semester places per academic year at more than 30 partner universities with which it has subject-specific exchange agreements. You can apply through the IfKW for both intra-European and extra-European exchanges (ERASMUS+, SEMP, and LMUexchange).

• ERASMUS+: EU funding program for stays abroad within the EU (funding available for every stage of study, i.e., BA, MA, PhD); advantages: exemption from tuition fees at the partner university, financial grant (depending on destination country and budget), possibility of recognition of academic achievements abroad; further information about the program is available from the LMU International Office (click here)
• SEMP: Swiss-European Mobility Program; further information about the program is available from the LMU International Office (click here)
• LMUexchange: Exchange programs outside the EU and EEA countries; advantages: LMU exchange scholarships (exemption from tuition fees at the partner university), possibility of recognition of academic achievements abroad (click here)

The first point of contact is the IfKW's international coordinator. You will also find a wealth of information on the website (about partner universities, application procedures, etc.).

If you would like to go abroad via IfKW exchange spots in the next winter semester or the following summer semester, please apply by January 15 using the online application tool (which is always activated in mid-December).

Für die Bewerbung über das International Office gibt es zwei Möglichkeiten:

LMUexchange: LMU has numerous international contacts and offers interdisciplinary exchange spots at LMU's partner universities. If you would like to apply for such a spot, the LMU International Office is your first point of contact. Applications are submitted via the LMU International Office. However, it is not possible to apply there for partner universities that also offer exchanges through the IfKW (e.g., NTU Singapore, UBC Vancouver, University of Melbourne).

Applications are submitted via the LMU International Office. Please note: The application deadlines differ from those at the IfKW (click here).

ERASMUS+ Replacement procedure for free spots in all departments: LMU does not have its own exchange spots within the EU. All places belong to individual departments/institutes at LMU (all places can be viewed in the online database “LMU MoveOn”).

If your application to the IfKW has been unsuccessful, your documents will be forwarded to the LMU International Office for the replacement procedure after consultation.
If you only wish to participate in the replacement procedure, you must submit a complete application to the LMU International Office (including confirmation of supervision from the IfKW). Further information can be found online (International Office).

If you have another target university in mind, you can of course organize your stay abroad yourself, independently of any cooperation agreements.

In this case, you will need to find out for yourself whether your desired university accepts visiting students without a partnership with LMU (so-called free movers), what documents are required for the application, and any costs that may be incurred, such as tuition fees, etc. Initial information can be found, for example, by searching the Internet, visiting the LMU International Office's information center, or contacting the cultural institutes of the respective countries. You then apply directly to your desired university.

The LMU International Office also provides information on alternative programs.

Gain relevant practical experience, improve your language skills, and develop numerous competencies during your internship abroad! This can be done in a wide variety of institutions and in almost any country in the world.

Take advantage of this great opportunity and get support from the LMU Career Service. They will assist you with individual counseling services, hundreds of experience reports, comprehensive information materials, and attractive scholarships for stays around the world. Whether Erasmus+ for Europe or PROMOS for more distant destinations: secure financial support for your international internship.

The point of contact is the LMU Career Service. On its website, you will find comprehensive information about internships abroad and a database with numerous experience reports.

In addition, you should take care of visa applications, semester breaks, and other organizational matters, especially if you are planning to study outside Europe.

More on this in step 6.

Prepare the next steps immediately—some processes take time. Preparations for enrollment at the host university include, for example:

• Please make sure to research in good time which test and, if applicable, which language level is required at your desired university (take lead times into account).
• The required language level is often at least B2 (but sometimes also B1 or C1!), and not only in English.
• The DAAD language test at LMU is sufficient in many cases, BUT: some host universities require a specific language certificate, e.g., TOEFL.
• The level required by the host university does not necessarily have to be achieved at the time of application to the IfKW (but it is recommended).
• However, the required proof must be available by the time you register at the host university (around April/October) at the latest.

Check the website of your host university for information on the courses offered (if necessary, refer to previous semesters). Enter your planned courses in the (online) learning agreements (guideline: approx. 30 ECTS per semester). List the LMU modules for which you are seeking recognition.

This is a good time to have an initial discussion about the recognition of academic achievements. Please contact your program coordinator at the IfKW. You can find more information about credit transfer in step 7.

You can adjust your Learning Agreement within the first four weeks at the host university if necessary. To do so, use the online resources for the Learning Agreement and notify the International Office of any changes.

Make an appointment with your program coordinator for the recognition interview. Together, you will convert the grades from the host university into the German grading system and, if necessary, carry out the recognition process.

For more information about the recognition interview and how to prepare for it, see Step 7.

If you would like to go abroad through the IfKW exchange program in the winter semester 2025/26 and/or summer semester 2026, please apply to the International Office and the contact person for international cooperation by January 15, 2025.

Deadline: January 15, 2025
for ALL PARTNERS of the IfKW for a stay in the 2025/26 winter semester AND 2026 summer semester
(There is no separate application deadline for the summer semester!)

Applications for subject-specific spots at the IfKW are submitted online via our online application portal. The link to register for the application process will be published on this IfKW website in mid-December (see below). After registering for the process, you will receive a personalized link, which means that you can interrupt the application process and return to it at a later date to complete it.

The entire application process is conducted digitally. In the portal, you enter all important information about yourself, your current studies, and your desired exchange program. You can also upload all required documents there.

Please address your letter of motivation to the IfKW's international coordinator and upload it to the online application tool.

You can save your application and continue working on it later before submitting it.

The online application tool is linked in step 2.

All applicants may apply to a total of four institutions.

Those who apply to at least one partner university within the EU (i.e., for an Erasmus spot) are asked to apply for Erasmus funding via the moveon portal of the LMU International Office at the same time as applying to the IfKW and to upload the application form generated there when applying to the IfKW (to be found under “Online Application Form” on this website). The prioritization of partner universities is not relevant in this case.

For semesters abroad within the EU, you will automatically receive the Erasmus scholarship once you have been accepted. Scholarships are also guaranteed in Switzerland (Swiss-European Mobility Program). These are slightly higher and must be applied for after you have been accepted. In addition, you can (and should!) look for further scholarships and funding opportunities for stays abroad of any kind and apply in good time.

You can list up to six preferences on your IfKW application. The universities you list must be partner universities for your major or minor.

It doesn't matter...

• whether you are applying for KW as a major or minor subject
• whether you are studying for a bachelor's or master's degree
• whether you are applying for the winter semester and/or the summer semester.

BUT please note...

• that you can apply to a maximum of four partner universities within Europe (ERASMUS+/SEMP).
• that you can apply to a maximum of four partner universities outside Europe (LMUexchange).

Interdisciplinary exchange via the LMUexchange office of the International Office: In addition, you can apply for exchange spots outside the EU (LMUexchange) through the LMU International Office. To do so, you must apply independently of your application to the IfKW. We are happy to assist you with your application. Please note that the application deadlines and documents differ from those of the IfKW. Applications are submitted online.

Please upload the following documents in PDF format to the IfKW online application portal:

• Letter of motivation for your first priority (1x in German AND 1x in the (main) language of instruction at your host university where YOU plan to study; contents: personal, academic, professional, linguistic, and cultural reasons, connection to the host country, city, university, etc.)
• Tabular resume (in German, max. 2 pages)
• Transcript of Records for KW (the most recent extract from LSF is sufficient; if you do not yet have any grades, submit the ToR anyway and you will not be disadvantaged)
• Language certificate: some universities – especially outside Europe – require recognized language certificates (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, DELF/DALF, DELE). An overview of the required documents and deadlines can be found on the websites of the partner universities. There is often a separate section for “incoming students.” The language certificate must be submitted at the latest when registering at the host university (see step 4). For the application to the IfKW, proof of English (B2) and all other languages (B1) is sufficient.
• Subject-related internship certificates and job references (if available)
• Erasmus+ cover sheet and ERASMUS+ online application form, if you are applying for at least one Erasmus place
  

If you are studying communication science as a minor, you can apply for an exchange through the IfKW partnerships without restriction.

If you are majoring in communication studies and would like to apply for a semester abroad through a partnership in your minor subject, please find out about the requirements for your minor subject in good time and, if necessary, contact the relevant international affairs officer or ERASMUS coordinator.

If you plan to apply for partnerships in your major and minor, please remember to indicate the same priorities (with the corresponding name of the Erasmus program coordinator at LMU) and submit your application documents to both institutes. Please note the different requirements for your application documents. Application documents will not be forwarded.

For your application to the IfKW ...

• Only proof of language proficiency for your first-choice host university is required.
• Proof of language proficiency must be submitted for the main language of instruction in which you will be studying.
• The following language certificates are accepted: high school diploma (only with a specified level: English: at least B2 CEFR; all other languages: B1 CEFR), DAAD language certificate, TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge certificate, and others (e.g., language courses listed as “additional achievements” in your transcript).

Once you have received confirmation of acceptance from your chosen university, your future host university will ask you to register online and upload documents. At this point, most partner universities require proof of your language skills. The minimum level required varies from university to university and must be researched individually.

Within the framework of the ERASMUS program, the DAAD language certificate is often sufficient, sometimes even the high school diploma or an individual placement test by the host university. Outside the EU, TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge certificates are often mandatory. The tests cost over 200 euros and are taken at external test centers, which are often booked up months in advance. Please take this into account when applying for the relevant programs. If your desired university requires TOEFL or IELTS, any other language certificate will still suffice for your application to the IfKW. You are responsible for providing the language certificate required by the partner university.

Please note: As a rule, it follows the nomination proposals of the IfKW, but may reject applications if its own requirements are not met.

Once the application deadline has passed, all applicants' documents will be reviewed. If there are more applicants than places available at a university, your personal suitability (motivation, language level, current grade point average in KW, study progress, and the benefits of studying abroad for your studies and career) will be taken into account. If you have not yet achieved any grades in KW, this will not put you at a disadvantage.

By the end of February at the latest, we will notify you by email whether we can offer you one of your preferred spots. Once you have been selected, we will first send the partner university a nomination email with your name and email address.

You will then receive a written request from your partner university (usually by email) to register online (rarely by post). This may take until May. If you are not going abroad until the summer semester, your nomination and registration may not take place until August to October, depending on the host university.
Please note: The documents you submitted in the local application process will remain with the IfKW or LMU International Office and will not be sent to the partner universities. The rest of the application process is therefore your responsibility. The partner university can no longer reject you as a student once you have been nominated by your home university and you have met all deadlines. The only exception is our partner university DMJX, based in Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark, which still has an additional application process for some of its study programs.

Before your departure, you will also receive an Erasmus information package with additional documents from the LMU International Office (does not apply to exchange programs outside the EU). These documents must be completed and submitted before your departure (including the Grant Agreement and Learning Agreement Part I, see next questions).

If you have been accepted for a stay abroad outside the EU, you will receive an invitation from the International Office to participate in an intercultural support program designed to sensitize you to cultural differences. If you have obtained your place through the IfKW, this course is mandatory. As an Erasmus scholarship holder, you also have the opportunity to participate in intercultural training courses in advance or in follow-up courses offered by the International Office. The IfKW strongly recommends that all outgoing students participate in these workshops, regardless of how much international experience you have. Please always keep in mind that experience abroad does not automatically lead to intercultural competence.

Even in this extremely rare case, you will receive a message from us by email by the end of February at the latest.

If we are unable to find a suitable alternative for you in our internal replacement procedure, we will forward your application documents to the LMU International Office on your behalf for participation in the Erasmus replacement procedure (provided you have indicated this in the online application tool). In April, any remaining Erasmus spots from all faculties will be allocated there.

The IfKW recommends the selected students to the partner universities, after which an additional application (registration) must be submitted directly to the host university. The required documentation (e.g., language certificate) must be submitted by this point at the latest.

Information on the required documents and deadlines can be found on the websites of the respective host universities, often in the “Incoming Students” section.

Depending on the partner university, nominations take place between March and May (for stays during the winter semester or academic year) or between August and October (for stays during the summer semester).

After the nomination period has ended, you will receive information about the next steps directly from your partner university. You will then need to submit an additional application to the partner university. Information about this can be found on the partner university's website, usually in the Incoming Students section.

Once the nomination period has ended, you will receive information about the next steps directly from your partner university. With this information, you can begin the additional application process at the partner university.

At this point at the latest, you must submit the language certificate required by the host university. Some universities—especially those outside Europe—require recognized language certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, DELF/DALF, or DELE. An overview of the required documents and deadlines can be found on the websites of the partner universities, often in the “Incoming Students” section. The final decision on your admission is made by the partner university. As a rule, it follows the nomination proposals of the IfKW, but may reject applications if its own requirements are not met.

Prepare early for registration at the host university and for organizational matters such as visas, accommodation, and insurance. Submit your documents to the partner university as early as possible to avoid delays and allow sufficient time for clarification in case of queries. It is also worthwhile to contact other IfKW outgoings at your partner university in advance.

For ERASMUS+ students, the LMU International Office sends out initial information packages by email and via Moodle in April. LMUexchange participants receive corresponding information emails and invitations to the International Office's intercultural seminar, which is mandatory for them. Participation is optional for Erasmus+ students.

Prepare early for registration at the host university and for organizational matters such as visas, accommodation, and insurance. It is also worthwhile to contact other IfKW outgoings at your partner university in advance.

Detailed information is available on our website and at the information evenings “Mit dem IfKW ins Ausland” (Going abroad with the IfKW), which take place as a series of events every winter semester and as a compact event in the summer semester (current dates here). You can also sign up for the newsletter Ausland (Abroad).

The Learning Agreement is one of the most important tools for your semester abroad. It is mandatory under the ERASMUS+ and SEMP programs. LMUexchange partner universities often require a Learning Agreement (or a similar document) as well.

The processing of ERASMUS+ scholarships and the crediting of credits for ERASMUS+ stays are strictly regulated. The most important instrument here is the so-called Learning Agreement (LA). It forms the “study contract” between you, LMU, and the host university, in which the planned courses and their recognition options are specified. The Learning Agreement documents the courses you wish to attend at the host university and the possibilities for recognition.

The Learning Agreement must be approved and signed by your home university (LMU), yourself, and the host university. As the responsible person, enter the international coordinator (Jessica Kühn, International Coordinator, international@ifkw.lmu.de).

Most ERASMUS+ partner universities now handle the Learning Agreement online. You can find more information about the Online Learning Agreement (OLA) in the International Office's Moodle course (accessible from around April).

The LA consists of the following three parts:

• Part 1 - During the first weeks of your stay abroad: Determining the course program and credit transfer options.
• Table A lists the courses to be taken at the partner university.
• Table B lists the LMU modules for which credits will be transferred to LMU. Part 1 of the LA must be signed by all parties involved (students, host university, and IfKW international coordinator).
• Part 2 – During the stay: Any changes to the study program.
• This part only needs to be completed, submitted, and signed by all parties involved if there are changes to Part 1. Otherwise, Part 2 can be omitted. Part 2 is therefore only used if the program from Part 1 cannot be realized (e.g., if certain courses are not offered after all).
• Part 3 - After returning: Confirmation of the credits earned at the host university (transcript) and proof of credit transfer.

You must earn 30 ECTS credits per semester at your host university, regardless of whether you are traveling within or outside the EU and regardless of whether you still need ECTS credits for your studies or not. If you are unable to earn this number of ECTS credits, please contact the international coordinator with an explanation.

At the end of your stay abroad, you will write a report on your experiences and forward it to the International Office and the IfKW.

Please note that financial support from ERASMUS and/or any other scholarships may be subject to additional requirements.

At host universities within the EU, you do not pay any tuition fees under the Erasmus program and receive a monthly scholarship (depending on the destination country). Semesters abroad in Switzerland are financially supported by the Swiss-European Mobility Program.
In order to receive the Erasmus grant, you must submit the Grant Agreement and your certificate of enrollment to the International Office, along with the Learning Agreement in the LMU version or as an Online Learning Agreement (OLA), as this document contains all the necessary information (especially for later recognition).

You also do not pay tuition fees at host universities outside Europe. There is no further financial support available here, which is why we strongly recommend that you apply for a scholarship at the time of your application, for example through PROSA LMU, DAAD, Fulbright (only for the USA) or other funding opportunities. You can find general information on applying for scholarships on the International Office website on financing your stay abroad. It is also worth checking whether you are eligible for BAföG funding for studying abroad.

For all exchange programs, you will receive personal advice from the IfKW's international affairs officers and will also have a personal contact person at the host university, so that individual support is usually guaranteed.

You will also benefit from the experiences of your predecessors: The International Office maintains a collection of experience reports both online in the MoveOn database and in the information center in the main building of LMU. Upon request, the international affairs officers will also provide you with reports from former IfKW outgoings.

Please coordinate your course selection in advance with the coordinators of your degree program. Credits will only be recognized after the coursework has been completed.

The golden rule for recognition: You must apply for credit transfer in the semester immediately following the semester in which you completed the course (i.e., the semester after your stay if you are only spending one semester abroad, or after your first of two semesters).

We want as many of your achievements as possible to be recognized for your studies at the IfKW.

The respective program coordinators are responsible for the technical review and decision on recognition. Make an appointment with your program coordinator for the recognition interview. Together, you will convert the grades from the host university into the German grading system and, if necessary, carry out the recognition process.

Your contact persons:

• BA Communication Studies (major)
• BA Communication Studies (minor)
• Master's in KMF, Journalism, Strategic Communication, and Mundus (same contact person)
• Master's in CSS

As a rule, many courses in the fields of PR, marketing, and journalism are easily recognized and are also offered at almost all partner universities. However, there must be a certain degree of correspondence between the chosen course and the course to be recognized. It is therefore important that you find out as much as you can about your courses in advance and, if necessary, consult with the international affairs officer at the host university responsible for you and then also consult with your program coordinator at the IfKW.

Please bring the following documents relating to the courses you have taken to your meeting with your program coordinator:

• Course title
• Course description
• Examination modalities (type, scope, ECTS)
• Syllabus, as complete as possible
• Transcript of records from the host university (after your stay abroad)

If you are required to complete a learning agreement (always as an Erasmus scholarship holder, often also for LMUexchange), enter the result in the first part of your learning agreement. If there are any changes to your course selection during your semester abroad, these should be entered in the second part of the Learning Agreement and discussed with your program coordinator, especially if they affect courses that you want to have recognized. When you return to Munich, please report to your program coordinator during office hours with the original transcript of records from your host university and a translation of your course descriptions.

The IfKW contact persons are available to answer individual questions about semesters abroad.

Please check the website first and attend the information event “Going abroad with IfKW.” The FAQ at the bottom of this page (here) may also be helpful in answering your question.

Your contact persons if you cannot find what you are looking for online::

• For general questions about exchanges, partner universities, application formalities, etc., please contact the International Office (exclusively!) using this contact information if you cannot find the information on this website or in the FAQs.
• For questions about credit recognition and academic planning, please contact your program coordinator (listed here under Contacts for your program).

The Grant Agreement only applies to Erasmus scholarship recipients and constitutes the funding agreement between you and LMU, specifying the duration and amount of financial support as well as the general conditions for your Erasmus stay. It will be sent to you automatically by the International Office or uploaded to the ERASMUS Moodle course. The original must be submitted there.

The scholarship funds are usually paid out in two installments. For the first payment of the scholarship, you must submit the original Grant Agreement and your enrollment certificate to the International Office, along with the completed and signed Learning Agreement (Part 1) in the LMU version or as an online Learning Agreement. This must be done no later than the beginning of your semester abroad.
After completing the semester and returning to Munich, you must also submit a transcript of records in which the host university confirms that you have successfully completed the courses agreed upon in the Learning Agreement. The transcript also serves as proof for the International Office that you have earned the 20 to 30 ECTS credits required to receive the grant.

For further details on the ERASMUS+ scholarship, please refer to the International Office's Moodle course after your place has been confirmed. You will receive access to this course in April.

On this website, you will find all the necessary information regarding leave of absence. Leave of absence is processed centrally by the Student Office.

During a leave of absence, the academic terms of your degree programme do not continue to count. This is particularly relevant for BAföG recipients.

Please note that you cannot undertake any academic work at LMU whilst on leave of absence (please note: you MUST attend any resit dates offered for exams you have failed!). Internships or courses undertaken abroad can, of course, still be recognised upon your return. Therefore, if you plan to sit exams at LMU in the same semester, you should not take a leave of absence.

Please note: a leave of absence cannot be revoked (unless the reason for the leave, i.e. the stay abroad, no longer applies).

At the start of each winter semester, the IfKW offers interested students a series of events entitled"Mit dem IfKW ins Ausland". You will receive information about the opportunities available for a period of study abroad and the application process for subject-specific exchange programmes at the IfKW (including partner universities) – with plenty of time to ask any questions you may have. A number of speakers will share their experiences of studying abroad.

You can find the dates on the overview page or in LSF under „Mit dem IfKW ins Ausland“.

The International Officer holds regular consultation hours during which individual queries can be addressed (booking system).

You will also be kept informed about news from the IfKW, scholarships and opportunities offered by our partner universities via an international mailing list. You can sign up for this at any time (and unsubscribe at any time).

The International Office has a wide range of further information available for you: via its website, at the information desk in the main building, and during its study abroad advisory sessions.