Information on Studying Abroad in the MMM

Information on Studying Abroad in the MMM

Agenda 1. General Options, contact persons, partner universities 2. Application Application instructions Application documents Application deadline 3. Selection process Procedure and timeline 4. After the selection process If accepted If not accepted Learning Agreements & Transfer of credits 5. Organisational matters Non-German citizens Financial aid opportunities 6. Questions 2

Options for Studying Abroad 1. Exchange Student You study at one of the partner universities of the Business School Application and nomination by the University of Mannheim (submit documents to the AAA, selection by the Business School) Exchange semester in fall 2018 or spring 2019 2. Double Degree Programs Application deadline: 30. September 2017 (Charlotte Reith, Dean s Office of the Business School) 3. Freemover Studying at a university of your choice* You need to organize your application independently and pay tuition fees Recommendation: Wait for the results of the application for exchange programs *We strongly recommend choosing either a) one of our partner universities (but please note: not all partners will accept students from their partners as freemovers), or b) partners of partners or c) institutions that are either AACSB- or EQUIS accredited. Please contact Cathrin Rieger if you have questions. 3

Contact for Studying Abroad Ansprechpartner Auslandssemester Do not confuse the Dean s Office and the AAA (central international office)! Find out who is the right contact person and where you have to hand in the documents! University of Mannheim Academic matters Cathrin Rieger: Outgoing Student Advisor Business School Rectorate Student Services AAA Organizational matters Dean s Office Dean s Office Dean s Office Dean s Office Dean s Office School of Humanities School of Social Sciences School of Law and Economics School of Business Informatics and Mathematics Partner universities database Experience reports Application documents Erasmus+ Examination Board Business School: Learning Agreements & credit transfer 4

General Information: Exchange Programs Apply for Exchange one of almost Student: 100 partner 1. universities Allgemeines for Master s students Advantages: Tuition fees at the partner university will be waived ( freemover) Study abroad in EU countries: Erasmus-funding of about 150-250 /month (depending on country and for most; (however, there may be exceptions, see final list of programs). After you ve accepted a place as an exchange student at a partner university within the EU, the AAA will provide you with more detailed information Please consider: Choose your priorities from the Final list of exchange programs for MMM students For which semesters are they available? (most in both semesters, but some in spring, or only in fall) Language(s) of instruction (you will need valid proof of language skills) 5

List of Exchange Programs 6

Application: Application Instructions Most important tool: Application instructions Detailed information regarding application for studying abroad Print or save the document! Please read the instructions carefully and check your application by following the guidelines! 7

Application: Application Documents Application documents 1. Online application form 2. Priority list 3. CV 4. Letter of motivation 5. Certificate of completed Bachelor s Degree 6. Proof of language skills 7. GMAT test results 8. Other certificates 8

Online Application Portal for online registration on the homepage of the AAA Check the application instructions!!! Login with your university account For all communication you need your university e-mail-address Keep the e-mail you will receive with your personal portal access! Please also give a current e-mail address you will also use in the future - this will be used for future communication after your stay! (there have been problems with hotmail, outlook, icloud and live addresses) Hand in the printed online application form with your signature and all necessary documents: online- and paper versions need to be identical) 9

Application: Priority List(1) 2. Priority List Can be found on the AAA website You can list up to 5 universities (minimum 1, maximum 5) Please only choose universities from the following list : Final list of exchange programs for MMM students Fill it in on the PC, upload it to Mobility Online, but also print it and submit it along with the other application documents All priorities must also be included in the online application 10

Application: Priority List (2) Please do not forget to fill in this upper part! 11

Application: Advice A word of advice: Please consider your preferences carefully! (Academic expectations, personal expectations). One semester more or less will not be decisive for your future life. You do not have to choose 5 priorities. Only select universities at which you really would like to study. Only trust our statements, do not listen to any rumors. 12

Application: Letter of Motivation 3. Letter of motivation 3 pages at the maximum: First page for your first priority, second and third pages for priorities 2 to 5 (max.) Content: Personal and academic reasons for studying abroad at the respective partner university Think carefully about your priorities and take the time to research them (the university / possible courses / language of instruction / country / city etc.)! In your letter of motivation, we would like to see that you have thoroughly considered your decision! 13

Application: Proof of Language Skills 4. Proof of language skills Information on what kind of proof you need is available in the AAA s partner universities database (partners in Europe often accept a Language Certificate, while overseas partners often require a TOEFL or IELTS). The application must contain valid proof of language skills: Not older than two years at the time of the the application deadline Please check the AAA s website for information on the accepted language tests! It is your responsibility to make sure that you have the necessary (advanced) language skills required by the partner universities on your priority list. 14

Application: Application Deadline Application Deadline: Tuesday, 31 October 2017 (public holiday) Submit the complete application in due time (late submissions will not be considered!) online on 31 October 2017 (at the latest! Recommended: by 30 th October 12 pm) AND in hard copy Either in person at the Express-Service (by Monday, the 30th of October, 3 pm) Or via mail (postmarked before or on October 31st) Or use one of the university s mailboxes in front of L1, 1 (31st of October at the latest!) 15

Selection: Procedure and Timeline After the application deadline: Documents will be checked and sorted by the AAA. Assessment and selection is done by the business school. Possibly selection interviews (in November) for certain universities; if applicable, you will be invited by e-mail. Final decision is taken before Christmas Acceptance or rejection via e-mail through the AAA Please be patient and wait for the e-mail. We will not answer any questions in this regard (whether by e-mail, nor by phone, nor personally). Candidates who do not receive a place in the first round will be informed about the second selection round by e-mail in January 18. 16

Selection: Philosophy and Strategy Exchange Student: 1. Allgemeines Support for those candidates who can credibly display Personal aptitude Motivation Academic/professional expertise And who fulfill all requirements of the respective study course at the partner university (e.g. practical experience for an MBA program) Please be aware: Our partners place high demands on students in their Master level exchange programs Students need to fulfill particular requirements and fit the partner university s portfolio The Business School is happy to make use of all available slots (> 130), but will only do so if there are enough qualified candidates. 17

After the Application Process: If Accepted Exchange Student: 4. Nach der Zusage Acceptance of exchange slot: Accept the exchange slot in the Mobility Online portal within seven days Do take the decision to apply seriously. Not accepting or cancelling your place is unfair towards other applicants, creates additional workload and may have a negative impact on exchange relations. You will be nominated at the partner university by the AAA during the semester before your stay abroad You will then need to hand in further documents The AAA or the partner university will contact you directly Please do not contact the partner university before they contact you! 18

After the Application Process: If Refused Your options if you have received a refusal In case you could not be given a place in the first round of applications, you will receive an invitation to the second selection round (January 2018) by e-mail from Cathrin Rieger. List of all remaining slots Please send your new priority list to Cathrin Rieger via e-mail Decision in February 2018 at the latest Feedback on why your application was rejected in the first round can be given in a personal meeting or in written (please contact Cathrin Rieger by e-mail first) Individual counseling regarding freemover options 19

Your Study Plan Please consider your study plans carefully: Anticipated course choice might work out or not The actual course offer at the host university is never completely predictable; There may be other reasons why you might be unable to attend a course (e.g. places are allocated by lottery, timetable clash etc.). Credit buffer : You can try and do more credits in Mannheim before your semester abroad than you were originally planning to (but please be realistic!). 20

Learning Agreements and Transfer of Credits Guidelines Learning Agreements: Website of the examination board of the faculty Up to 30 ECTS in total can be transferred Learning Agreements must be discussed with chairs! International Course Courses in business that are not available in Mannheim Up to 18 ECTS possible Equivalent Course Over 70% accordance with a Mannheim course of the current module catalogue. Erasmus+ Learning Agreement: In addition to the internal Learning Agreements with the individual chairs. Does not replace the individual LAs per course/chair! 21

Non-German citizens Visa requirements: Students with a Non-EU nationality need to check the visa requirements of their potential host country as early as possible! A visa for Germany does not automatically include the right of residence in other (e.g. European) countries. Please contact the embassy of your (potential) host country or check the embassy s homepage. Studying abroad in your home country: We strongly recommend not to choose universities of your home country as exchange destinations, as many universities do not accept students of their own nationality as exchange students. If you still wish to do so, you need to contact the International Office immediately to check if an application is possible. 22

Financial Aid Opportunities (1) Europe Overseas (including Russia) Erasmus funding for all university programmes in Erasmus countries. Monthly rate will be around 150-250 Euro (depending on country). It is possible to get a second Erasmus funding during your master s degree! Baden-Württemberg-Scholarship: Application deadline at the International Office: - 31 March 2018 for funding in fall term 2018-15 October 2018 for funding in spring term 2019 (expected) Current grant amount: 600 Euro for four months Further information: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Funding 23

Financial Aid Opportunities (2) Bafög Abroad www.bafoeg.bmbf.de Only available for German nationals or those legally equal Bildungskredit www.bildungskredit.de available for German nationals and, dep. on circumstances, foreigners - Better chances than for local Bafög - Payment of tuition fees abroad of up to 4,600 Euro (Freemover) - Travel expense contribution; if necessary, additional payment for health insurance and top-up depending on country (may depend on the amount of your parents income) - Max. 12 months during Bachelor studies and max. 12 months during Master studies - Combination with scholarships is usually possible for an amount not exceeding 300 Euro - Low-interest loan independent from parents income - Available for studying and internships - 300 Euro per month, total amount max. 7200 Euro - One-off payment of up to 3600 Euro available - Combination with Bafög is possible 24

Financial Aid Opportunities (3) USA: Fulbright Travel Grants www.fulbright.de Only available for German nationals - Application deadline in January for studying abroad in the fall semester of the same year - 1.350 Euro for travel expenses and 650 Euro for additional costs (Visa etc.) Details of these and further funding opportunities can be found on our website: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Funding For example: Information on foundations and country-specific funding opportunities Looking for an alternative? Why not do an internship abroad?! Tips & information on financial aid opportunities: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/english / Outgoing Students / Work placements abroad 25

Sources of Information Application instructions List of exchange programs for MMM students Guidelines regarding Learning Agreements and recognition of course work Websites of the business school and the International Office 26

Contacts Contacts for questions: international@bwl.uni-mannheim.de (Dean s Office, Business School) Cathrin Rieger (Outgoing Advisor; Open office hours (Tuesday 10-12) or e-mail: rieger@bwl.uni-mannheim.de) Regional advisors at the AAA: www.uni-mannheim.de/aaa/contact The Business School wishes you: Lots of success and fun during your stay abroad! 27