Student mobility program Internships abroad
Requirements for recognition of the internship for Module 10 in the Bachelor's degree program ‘Gerontology, Health and Care’
The internships must be completed full-time in the field of direct nursing/care and in at least four consecutive weeks, each concluding with a written assignment which is assessed. The internships must be completed in six specialised areas of care:
- long-term inpatient care for the elderly
- outpatient care
- inpatient and outpatient palliative care
- inpatient geriatric rehabilitation or acute geriatrics
- Inpatient acute or geriatric psychiatry
- acute inpatient care
The current examination regulations of Heidelberg University for the Bachelor's degree program in Gerontology, Health and Care regulate the recognition of study and examination achievements as well as degrees. You can view the examination regulations online. Please also familiarise yourself with the module guide and the recognition guidelines in the download area before submitting your enquiry.
Before an agreement is made between the student and an institution abroad, it is essential to consult with Mr. Lester Gerdung to determine whether the requirements for recognition of the planned internship are met. If this is not the case, we cannot guarantee that the internship will be recognised for your studies. Please read and complete these documents from the download area in preparation for the interview:
- Gesprächsvorbereitung
- Ablauf Praktikum und Formalia Praktikumsbericht
We also recommend that you attend language courses if you do not speak the language of the country in question. The Language Centre at Heidelberg University offers inexpensive language courses.
Internship placement
Finding a suitable internship requires a lot of initiative and individual planning, as there are no standardised application procedures for internships abroad. It is therefore important that you clearly define your own ideas and expectations at the beginning of the planning process before you start looking for a suitable internship. When choosing a destination country, it is essential that you follow the travel and safety advice issued by the Federal Foreign Office. If necessary, we recommend that you register in the ELEFAND crisis prevention list of the Federal Foreign Office. Please also check whether the requirements for recognition of the internship as part of your studies at the Institute of Gerontology are met and be sure to consult Mr. Lester Gerdung. Please note that the term ‘internship’ has different meanings in different countries.
An internship contract/agreement between you (the student) and the institution in which you wish to undertake an internship is not mandatory. However, we highly recommend that you conclude such an agreement/contract, as it provides security for both parties. The internship contract in the download area, created by the Institute of Gerontology, can, but does not have to be used. In other European countries (especially in France, Belgium and Spain), internship employers often require the conclusion of an internship agreement (Convention de Stage).
Financial support options
Only in rare cases are internships so well paid that all associated costs can be covered; often there is only an expense allowance or the internships are completely unpaid. You should therefore clarify early on whether you can receive a scholarship for your internship.
European Union - ERASMUS PLACEMENT / Leonardo da Vinci
This program is aimed at students who have already found an internship and would like to complete it as part of their studies. Applications can be submitted up to one month before the start of the internship at the latest. The duration of the internship must be between two and twelve months (see ‘Good To Know’ below). You can apply for a grant to cover travel and accommodation costs and, if applicable, a grant for a language course. Eligible target countries are the countries of the EU, the EEA and Turkey. You can find more information under ‘Erasmus Placement Heidelberg University’ and ‘Erasmus Internship HKA’.
4EU+ European University Alliance
As part of the DAAD support program ‘European University Networks’, short-term stays such as internships for Heidelberg students at the 4EU+ partner universities, including the University Hospitals, can be funded. The program funds short stays of up to 30 days (funding line B) and of more than 30 days up to two months (funding line A). Please note the application deadline!
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Travel allowances for internships abroad can be granted by the DAAD if the internship was arranged via the exchange organisations IAESTE, AIESEC, bvmd, ZAD and DCGM. Further information on internships abroad, internship and scholarship programs can be found on the Heidelberg University website.
Good to know: In order for specialised internships to count towards your studies, you must complete them full-time and in at least four consecutive weeks. Some internship programs, such as the ERASMUS PLACEMENT program, only fund internships lasting eight weeks or more. In order to fulfil both requirements, you can look for an internship position in an institution where several four-week internships are possible in various of the above-mentioned areas of nursing and care. A written assignment must still be completed for each internship.