Funding for internships and research projects (final theses)

Funding for internships and final theses

Ideally, you will receive payment or at least a contribution towards your expenses for an internship or research visit completed abroad. It is always worth asking your employer about the availability of financial support and ensuring that any agreements reached are documented in the internship contract.

You may also seek funding from other sources for your internship or research project and we have listed some further opportunities on this page.

Funding that you can apply for at FAU

FAU cannot organize an internship abroad for you. You are entirely responsible for organizing an internship in another country. However, you can apply for financial assistance from FAU for your stay abroad.

The largest funding program for traineeships in Europe is the Erasmus+ program.

All students who are enrolled at FAU can apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship. Traineeships can be funded after a student has completed their degree, if the application was submitted in their final semester.

If are planning an internship in an area not covered by the Erasmus+ program outside Europe, you may be able to apply for a DAAD PROMOS scholarship at your faculty. Please refer to the call for applications. PROMOS scholarships may not be available for certain mobility options, depending on the faculty. All students that are enrolled at FAU can apply for PROMOS scholarships at their faculties.

Students at the School of Business, Economics and Society cannot apply for a PROMOS scholarship for internships or research projects abroad, as PROMOS scholarships at the School of Business, Economics and Society can only be awarded to students who study abroad at selected partner universities.

Each year, the Ilse and Dr. Alexander Mayer-Stiftung awards travel expense grants for research visits to FAU partner universities outside Europe. Internships and research projects can also be funded if they will be completed at an FAU partner university outside Europe. German citizenship is required to apply (preferably individuals who were born in Franconia).

Each year, FAU awards travel expense grants from funding provided by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts to students of all nationalities who meet the qualifying criteria for stays abroad worldwide. Internships in other countries that are relevant to the applicant’s degree and stays abroad to complete research projects may also meet the funding criteria.

Funding from external organizations (not coordinated by FAU)

External organizations such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), associations or foundations offer many funding opportunities for internships and research projects abroad. Scholarships are often offered as part of structured programs that combine placements and scholarships. It may be the case that scholarships are restricted to certain mobility options, for example research projects with a specific topic. The following section includes some examples of external funding opportunities.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) awards scholarships for international internships as part of individual funding programs that are aimed at specific target groups.

Funding is available for:

You can find further details in the DAAD Scholarship Database

Bavarian University Centers offer Bavarian universities advice and support in establishing new scientific partnerships and international research projects in specific target regions. They also offer students funding opportunities for internships and research projects in China, France, India, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

The ASA program offers research projects in development cooperation and sustainability. Research placements are offered in African, Asian, Latin American and European countries. All program participants receive a scholarship.

The Vulcanus program offers industrial internships in Japan for students in natural sciences and engineering. Students who take part in the program are awarded a scholarship for a stay abroad in Japan.

Deutsch-Französisches Jugendwerk (DFJW) fund subject-specific placements in France that are part of a degree program at the student’s home university.

The Bayer Foundations offer several international scholarships in the Bayer Fellowship Program. Studying abroad and research projects are both eligible for funding.

There are currently four programs:

  • Otto Bayer Scholarship
  • Carl Duisburg Scholarship
  • Jeff Schell Scholarship
  • Kurt Hansen Scholarship

The Heinrich J. Klein Foundation awards scholarships to graduates for completing a stay abroad as part of their further scientific qualification. This may include a research visit that is part of a final thesis.

The Prof. Dr.-Ing. Erich Müller Foundation awards scholarships to exceptional students in engineering and natural sciences who wish to complete their Master’s thesis abroad.

The Ernest-Solvay Foundation offers funding opportunities for students in chemical and biological engineering who would like to write their final thesis in another country.

Students who are writing a final thesis on a topic related to German-Czech-Slovakian relations or Czech and Slovakian history can apply to the Deutsch-Tschechischen und Deutsch-Slowakischen Historikerkommission for a travel grant for their research project.

Each year, Gesellschaft für Kanada-Studien e.V. offers a travel grant for students who are writing a final thesis on a topic related to Canada. Studying abroad and research projects are both eligible for funding.

The association also awards the Jürgen Saße Prize for final theses on the First Nations of Canada.

Students at Bavarian universities can apply to the Scientific Coordination Office Bavaria-Québec for the Bavarian Minister Presidents’ Scholarship, if they are writing a final thesis that is significantly relevant to Québec.