COVID-19 and Erasmus

In view of the developments of the Corona pandemic, it is now possible for the first time within the Erasmus programme that study or internship stays abroad can be started and supported as virtual or "blended mobility" learning experiences. However, the financial support for the mobility with the Erasmus Mobility Grant only starts with the departure to the host country, whether for face-to-face or online study. This means that students will not receive any financial support for the time attending courses at the foreign host university online from Germany/their home country, as no additional costs are incurred.

If possible, a virtual mobility phase completed in the home country at the host institution abroad should be followed by physical mobility abroad with the specified minimum duration of 60 days. However, if there are still restrictions due to the Corona pandemic, the physical mobility phase can be shortened or cancelled and replaced by (an extension of) the virtual mobility phase(s). Interruption periods between the virtual and physical mobility phases are also possible.

Virtual mobility phases in the home country as part of a blended mobility do not count towards the Erasmus minimum duration of 12 months per study cycle. This does not apply to virtual, financially supported mobilities following a physical mobility that had to be cancelled or to a virtual mobility in the host country. As soon as the physical mobility starts (first day on which you start your activity in the host country), students are eligible to receive the regular grant for the stay abroad.

If it is not possible due to Covid 19-related reasons to conduct a minimum stay of 60 days, please contact us as soon as it is indicated that your stay abroad will be shorter than the minimum requirements and describe the situation. Exceptions can be made if the conditions on site have deteriorated, e.g. due to complete lockdowns.

It is possible that there will be travel restrictions within Europe again when new virus variants appear or in autumn and winter. You can find out whether your host university is located in a place that is currently officially designated as a Corona risk area by the Federal Foreign Office on the website of the Robert Koch Institute.

Please check the Federal Foreign Office's website regularly, in order to be up to date with the current situation in the host country before the start of your stay abroad. In the event that you actually depart, we would like to ask you to register in the the Elefand List of the Federal Foreign Office (unfortunately this is only possible for German citizens). Should you need consular assistance and support from German missions abroad in an emergency during your stay abroad, the respective consulate/embassy can quickly contact you and, if necessary, relatives in Germany.

In the event of the departure to the host country, please keep all travel documents until the end of the mobility period. If you have to interrupt your stay at short notice and have to return to Germany and it may be difficult to obtain a Confirmation of Stay/Transcript of Records from the host university, you can prove to us with the travel documents that you were actually abroad.

We advise you to take care of sufficient insurance coverage for your stay abroad. In particular, you should make sure that your insurance provides cover for areas with a travel warning in place and in the event of a pandemic.

On 1 June 2022, the obligation to provide proof - vaccinated, recovered or tested negative - when entering Germany ended. Persons entering from a virus variant area are exempt.

Should new virus variants appear within Europe or the Corona situation in Europe worsen in the autumn and winter months, it is likely that the obligation to provide proof for those entering the country will be resumed. In this case, it is conceivable that persons aged 12 years and older must have a negative test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery upon entry, regardless of the mode of transport and regardless of whether a previous stay in a high-risk or virus-variant area has taken place. In addition, special registration, proof and quarantine obligations may have to be observed when entering the Federal Republic of Germany after a stay in a foreign high-risk area or virus variant area.

How the regulations for entry into Germany are evolving, you can follow on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health.

21 June 2022