Studying abroad with child(ren)
Studying abroad despite family commitments? Not Mission Impossible - but a higher organisational effort.
There are now a large number of contact points, so our tip:
Find support & accept help!
- International Office
- Department-specific advice: Department of Internationalisation of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Ms Riebau), Institute of English and Romance Studies/ PLAZ: each has its own contact person on the subject of "studying abroad".
- Noelle Maicher-Hoff advises in the Family Service Office
Testimonials
The information portal " Studying abroad with a child " of the network "Familie in der Hochschule e.V." offers student parents numerous experience reports from parents who have already completed a stay abroad with child(ren). They encourage parents to travel, point out difficulties and provide valuable tips.
Costs
Calculate the costs as accurately as possiblebefore submitting your application .
In addition to the standard costs for a semester abroad, such as travel documents/visas, international health insurance, travel and transport costs, tuition fees, cost of living, calculate the costs for childcare/school as accurately as possible.
Childcare costs can play an important role when researching a suitable destination country. There are considerable differences here.
If possible, include a budget for excursions and activities in the host country so that you can have an unforgettable time abroad with your child.
Financing
It should be clarified in advance exactly what financial resources can be expected.
Erasmus+: Regardless of the number of children travelling with you, the monthly grant currently amounts to 250 euros. This top-up applies to students with children, regardless of whether they are single parents or travelling with a partner. In the future (from the 2022 project), it will probably be possible to have these costs reimbursed on the basis of a real cost application (including kindergarten costs, etc.). Furthermore, it is now also possible for students with child(ren) to submit an application for preparatory trips in order to organise everything on site that cannot be organised from home. More information & contact, contact person for special funding at UPB: Ms Melek Boubaker. Information on top-ups and documents to be submitted by the International Office can be found here.
DAAD scholarships: Special additional benefits for scholarship holders with families: monthly child allowances, a "married person's allowance", an allowance for childcare costs as well as allowances for travel and insurance costs for children and spouses or registered partners. More information
MAWISTA: Diversity enriches the educational landscape. This is also the motto of MAWISTA's next scholarship programme. They would like to contribute to the scholarship by sponsoring studying abroad with children. More information
Auslandsbaf?g with child supplement: Even if you are not regularly eligible, it may be worth applying for Auslands-BAf?G, as the need is calculated differently here. In addition to the standard rate, students with child(ren) receive a child supplement for each child. Detailed information can be found at www.bafoeg-aktuell.de.
Use state support abroad too: It is essential that you contact the family benefits office and the parental and housing benefit office in good time and inform them of your temporary stay abroad. This is necessary in order to maintain entitlements to child benefit, housing and parental allowance as well as social assistance for children living in the household.
Selection of host country & host university
Experience reports from campus parents with mobility experience can help with orientation.
Take advantage of all the support available at Paderborn University: International Office, department-specific counselling and individual advice from the Family Service Office.
It is also highly recommended that you contact the service centres of your host university abroad at an early stage! (The Family Service Office will be happy to help you with this)
Important questions are e.g:
- Is there a family office/equal opportunities office?
- What is the local childcare situation like and how much does it cost?
- Are there childcare facilities for student families near the campus?
- Which residential areas are recommended for families?
- Are there study rooms that can be used with children?