Studying abroad with a child

With good planning in advance, studying abroad with a child will be a great success. But how should I organize the trip and what financial support is available? Here you can find out everything you need to know about BAföG, scholarships, and more.

General information

Studying abroad not only offers the opportunity to improve your language skills, but also to acquire valuable intercultural competencies and broaden your personal horizon of experience. Students and doctoral candidates with children often do not take advantage of this opportunity, as bringing children with them involves more effort and additional expenses. In addition, child allowances are often not paid or are insufficient.

In these cases, students and doctoral candidates with children can apply for a financial grant through the Office of Family Services. The goal is to increase the mobility of students with children in accordance with the internationalization strategy of the University of Bonn.

Read experience reports from other students (German only)

People holding hands – different national flags are painted on their hands

Pens lying next to a notepad on which “Studying Abroad” is written.

Going abroad – but how?

An Erasmus exchange
A period abroad through the Global Exchange Program
Institutional exchange program
Internship
Language course
A practical year within a medical degree
Self-organized study (free mover)

Find out about the possibilities in detail

Finance

International BAföG

Those who receive only a low level of BAföG funding should still apply for international BAföG, as it pays more. Students not eligible for domestic BAföG may be eligible for international BAföG – it is worth applying!

Both domestic and international BAföG pay a childcare supplement. This currently amounts to €160 per child per month.

Further information is available in the International BAföG website (German only).

The Erasmus supplement for students with children

The Erasmus+ program pays a supplement to students with children. In addition to the usual country-dependent mobility grant, single parents and couples with children receive an extra €250 per month to facilitate participation in the Erasmus program (whether study or an internship).

Further information about the Erasmus program and the application process is available at the International Office.

Scholarships

A scholarship can help with the financing of study abroad. Whether you are able to apply for multiple scholarships depends on the terms of each scholarship.

Deutschlandstipendium scholarship

Every year in spring you can apply for the Deutschlandstipendium at the University of Bonn. The scholarship holders regularly receive a monthly sum of 300€ for the duration of one year - also abroad.

Further information about the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship and eligibility is provided here.

Other scholarships

Family allowance and parental benefit

Parental benefit

Although residence in Germany is a precondition for the payment of parental benefit, if you are able to demonstrate to the “Familienkasse” of the Employment Agency, that your presence in a country outside Germany is only temporary and serves training purposes, its payment could be continued. To this end, you need to contact the “Familienkasse” of the Employment Agency as early as possible.

Family allowance

Although residence in Germany is a precondition for the payment of family allowance, if you are able to demonstrate that you have not sublet your accommodation (i.e. it remains available to your family at all times) you may be able to remain in receipt of family allowance.

Financial grant from the University of Bonn

In order to support students and doctoral candidates who want to spend time abroad with their children and thus increase the mobility of students with children, the Office of Family Services and the Equal Opportunity Office provide a financial grant.

The grant is paid for a maximum period of six months and consists of 100€ per month. An extra amount of 50€ per approved month can be paid for an additional sibling.

For details on how to apply for the grant, please contact us by e-mail (asmk@uni-bonn.de).

Funding opportunities abroad

Find out well in advance what funding options are available locally. In some countries, for example, funding similar to the German housing allowance can be applied for.

Five steps to studying abroad

1 First steps

Find a convenient time within your studies
Do your own research on partner universities and countries
Read reports from people who have studied abroad with children

2 Obtain advice

3 Organize finance

Draw up an overview of the costs involved
Apply for funding various sources such as international BAföG or scholarships
Find out what other sources of funding are available (family, University of Bonn Foundation etc.)

4 Look for accommodation

5 Organize childcare

Studying abroad with a child - guidelines for students

What should be considered when going abroad with a child? Which funding possibilities exist? These guidelines will make it easier for you to plan your time abroad.

To the guidelines (PDF; last updated: January 2023)

Information for University employees

Where does the mobility of students with children stand? Why is it so important to create equal opportunities between them and students without families and what does the internationalization strategy of the University of Bonn have to do with it?
The guide "Studying abroad with a child" provides basic information for university employees. It might be of interest to the following people (excerpt):