Semester stays as a free mover
Your stay as a free mover
Are you planning a stay abroad as a free mover or have you already completed a stay recently? Please click on the map above and leave us more details about your stay. In addition to statistical purposes, the main reason for this is so that your mobility can be assigned to your Institute and the latter can benefit from it for future internationalisation activities.
Semester stays as a free mover
If you wish to study for one or two semesters at a university abroad with which the University of Oldenburg does not have a cooperation agreement, you can apply on an individual basis as a so-called ‘free mover’. In this case, this means that you will organise and fund your own studies (lasting 1–2 semesters) at the university of your choice.
However, the organisational effort involved is greater than when taking part in a regular exchange programme run by the International Office.
In principle, you should first contact the International Office of the host university to obtain information on the following aspects:
- Application procedure for free movers
- Costs of studying
- Course options for Free Movers
Be sure to make it clear that you only wish to study at the university for one or two semesters, and do not intend to complete a degree there.
If you have any general questions, the staff at the International Office of the University of Oldenburg are, of course, also available to help (see the grey box on the left for contact details).
Some countries, such as the UK, Portugal and France, also provide an official website with useful study information for international applicants. When searching for information, please bear in mind that the term ‘free mover’ is sometimes referred to differently depending on the higher education region, for example as ‘exchange free mover’, ‘visiting student’, ‘non-degree student’ or even ‘occasional student’.
Here is some basic information and tips for a stay abroad as a free mover
Recognition of credits from abroad
A study abroad programme as a free mover can be recognised at the University of Oldenburg in the same way as a regular exchange programme via the IO. The prerequisite is that you have discussed the choice of university and courses abroad with your School in advance. You can find more information on the recognition of credits earned abroad here.
Application / registration of your stay
Under Section 4 of the Higher Education Statistics Act (HStatG), the University of Oldenburg is obliged to record and document both organised and self-organised mobility. Please therefore use Mobility Online to report your planned stay. We collect data in this way, which is used solely for statistical purposes.
Important: Application procedures and deadlines vary considerably from country to country and from university to university. You can obtain detailed information from the relevant university. In most countries, the German Abitur is generally recognised without issue as a basic qualification for university entry. Depending on the degree programme and university, factors such as your average grade, CV, credits to date, certificates or reference letters may play an important role in the selection of applicants.
In addition, you will usually need to demonstrate a good command of the national language or the language of instruction. It can be helpful to find a lecturer at the university of your choice who can advise you or is willing to supervise your study plans. This not only simplifies your preparations for study but can also be a decisive factor in the success of your application to the university.
During and after mobility
It is advisable to conclude a Learning Agreement for the stay as a free mover. This makes it easier for credits earned abroad to be recognised after your stay. Please also have your stay abroad confirmed by the host university. As a rule, you will receive a certificate for your stay, which is sufficient proof.
Financing
Most foreign universities charge tuition fees, which can be very high depending on the country, the degree programme and the university’s reputation. It therefore makes sense, as a ‘free mover’, not only to apply for a place at university but also to apply for a scholarship, for example from the DAAD, a foundation or a scholarship organisation for gifted students. This application must be submitted at around the same time as your application for a place at university, as the application deadlines set by scholarship donors are usually very early. You cannot, therefore, wait for confirmation of your place from the university, particularly as many foreign universities will only grant you admission once you can demonstrate how you will finance your stay. You can find an overview of the various funding options here: