The Department of History at JGU has strong international connections. Depending on our research interests and areas of focus, we maintain contacts with numerous research institutions abroad and currently collaborate with universities in 18 European countries in teaching and instruction. These connections also directly benefit our students by giving them access to the department’s international network and a wide range of opportunities to experience both academic life and everyday life abroad. This includes, in particular, the opportunity to study or complete an internship abroad. We are also committed to continuously expanding our foreign-language and intercultural course offerings in Mainz.
Below you will find information on the various opportunities for studying abroad during your degree program, as well as information on the relevant funding and scholarship programs. From studying or completing an internship abroad with Erasmus+ or support from the DAAD to the Cursus intégré Mainz–Dijon, we offer a wide range of options for students at the Department of History at JGU to gain international experience. If you have any questions or uncertainties, please feel free to contact us.
The Department of History also aims to offer courses in foreign languages. All courses can be found in the public course catalogue in JOGU-StINe.
If you wish to register for one of the courses offered by the Department of History during the course registration periods, you may not find it through the regular course registration process under “Module/Course Registration.” In this case, registration is carried out via “Auditor Registration.”
If you have any questions about our course offerings in foreign languages, please do not hesitate to contact us!
The International Center History (ICH) brings together and coordinates all international activities, initiatives, and broader areas of engagement within the Department of History at JGU. These include, above all, advising and supporting students in our department in planning and completing a period of study abroad, as well as providing support for our visiting students during their studies in Mainz.
Many students in our department have successfully completed a study abroad period or internship as part of their history studies and report very positive experiences. We encourage all our students to be inspired by these exciting experiences and to take the opportunity to spend some time abroad during their studies.
A stay abroad is a valuable enhancement to your degree program and offers a unique opportunity to broaden your personal horizons while studying. You will gain insight into the university system, teaching formats, and study conditions, as well as into everyday life in the host country. You can also further develop your language proficiency or acquire new skills and benefit from this in your future studies and professional career.
Since language skills and a basic level of subject knowledge are required for a successful stay abroad, it is recommended that you have sufficient proficiency in the language of the host country or in the language of instruction required at the host university (usually English), so that you can easily follow classes, independently write term papers and complete examinations, and also take part in the social life of fellow students. Strong language proficiency is essential for this.
When looking for a suitable destination, you are also encouraged to think beyond the obvious: not all students need to go to an English-speaking country, and a study period in Riga (Latvia), Turku (Finland), or Iași (Romania), for example, can leave a deeper impression than expected, especially since many study destinations also offer courses taught in English. And you can be sure you’ll encounter many new and unexpected things, especially in more far-flung destinations – in the best possible sense.
In our degree programs, it is recommended to plan an academic stay abroad for the second half of your bachelor’s studies, usually starting in the winter semester, and to begin planning as early as possible (at least one year in advance). For bachelor’s students, it usually makes the most sense to complete a period abroad in the fifth semester, or in the fifth and sixth semesters.
However, you can of course also study abroad in one of our master’s programs from the very first semester; this is also possible at the doctoral level. Student status is important for academic study abroad periods, as scholarships and placements are often linked to it. As the academic year in most European countries begins in September and runs through the end of May, there are only a few countries (e.g., Austria or Spain) where a stay abroad in the summer semester is advisable.
Depending on the type of your stay abroad and the available funding program (program of study or internship abroad via Erasmus+, the DAAD or another scholarship program), the financing options may also vary. You can find more information on this page.
It is advisable to check whether you are eligible to apply for student financial aid for study abroad (Auslands-BAföG): It is not uncommon for students to benefit from Auslands-BAföG even if they do not receive BAföG in Germany, as different eligibility thresholds apply for study abroad. However, the approval process often takes a long time, so it is worth applying early. Further information and links on BAföG for study abroad and other funding options can be found here:
as well as on the DAAD website:
If you have any further questions about financing your stay abroad, please do not hesitate to contact us.
There are many questions to consider before embarking on a study or internship abroad: What requirements do I need to meet for a successful stay abroad? How do I apply for a program of study abroad? What do I need to consider when preparing my stay abroad? How can I fit a study abroad period into my degree plan, and which credits earned abroad can be recognized?
At the International Center History of the Department of History, we aim to support and advise you in the best possible way before, during, and after your stay abroad with all questions and issues related to studying or completing an internship abroad. Please feel free to get in touch with us! We also offer regular open office hours for our students; we kindly ask that you register in advance.
In addition, the staff at JGU’s International Office will be happy to assist you:
The contact details of the individual staff members in the International Office can be found here:
Are you interested in studying history in Mainz and curious about the international courses we offer? Are you studying history in Mainz and planning a temporary study abroad period, or are you currently studying abroad and about to return to Mainz? Are you coming from abroad and planning to continue your history studies in Mainz on a temporary basis, or are you currently taking courses at the Department of History? Below you will find information on studying abroad and our programs for international history students.
An internship in another European country? Definitely! As companies become increasingly global, more and more employers value university graduates who gain professional experience during their studies. By completing an internship abroad, students demonstrate that they are flexible and able to navigate a foreign cultural environment with confidence and strong language skills. An internship abroad offers the opportunity to gain this valuable international experience without losing much time, sometimes even during the semester break.
The EU ServicePoint at JGU Mainz supervises internships in other European countries for students enrolled at higher education institutions in Rhineland-Palatinate. Find out more at:
In addition, the DAAD offers a range of programs and funding opportunities for internships abroad. Further information is available in the relevant DAAD online brochure.
In addition, the Office for Careers in International Organizations (BFIO) supports students in finding internship opportunities with international organizations. The BFIO’s services are designed to support both qualified managers and early-career managers in pursuing careers in international organizations.
The following programs provide a brief overview of the most important funding opportunities for internships abroad. Further information and brochures to download on funding opportunities for internships, as well as tips and links on how to find an internship, can be found below:
As part of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme, students can complete an internship abroad in Europe through the Erasmus+ programme. The Erasmus+ internship gives you the opportunity to apply and further develop your personal and professional knowledge and skills in a real working environment. The EU ServicePoint at JGU Mainz supports Erasmus+ internships for students enrolled at higher education institutions in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Further information on internships abroad via the Erasmus+ programme can also be found in the presentation from the Department of History’s 2022 Erasmus+ Info Evening:
Launched in 2001, the “Carlo Schmid Programme for Internships at International Organizations and EU Institutions” gives highly qualified students and graduates the opportunity to gain firsthand experience of international public administration through an internship. The program, which owes its name to the international law expert Professor Dr. Carlo Schmid, one of the fathers of the German Basic Law, is part of a broad initiative to increase German representation in international organizations. Applicants can either find a suitable internship on their own initiative, supported by a fellowship, or apply for one of the numerous internship opportunities advertised through the program. Participants in the program receive a monthly living stipend and a travel allowance. In addition to financial support, participants are offered an accompanying program of summer seminars and meetings abroad. The Carlo Schmid Program is implemented in cooperation with the DAAD and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Mercator Foundation. The program is also supported by the Federal Foreign Office and the Tönissteiner Kreis.
There are several different ways to gain practical teaching experience abroad. The DAAD supports teaching degree students of all subjects and school types – from the first semester of an undergraduate teacher education program (bachelor’s degree or state examination) through graduate degree programs (master’s degree) – with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the “Lehramt.International: Internships abroad for teaching degree students” program, offering fellowships for internships of one (minimum 30 days) to six months at school institutions abroad.
Further information on school internships as well as language assistantships abroad can also be found here:
As part of the internationalization of teacher education at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, English teacher education students can also spend six months teaching in Scottish schools.
