The Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School supports its members (doctoral candidates, postdocs, and faculty) both administratively and financially in planning and carrying out visits abroad. Members of the school have a travel budget that they may use for research stays abroad and conference travel, in consultation with their supervisory team. Associated postdocs and principal investigators (PIs) who do not have their own funding may submit a request to the board.

For doctoral candidates, a stay abroad is part of the curriculum, but it is not mandatory. Together with their supervisory team, doctoral candidates decide whether and in what form a stay abroad would benefit their dissertation project and career development. It is recommended to undertake the stay abroad during the summer of the second academic year. Planning should begin approximately one year in advance.

At which universities may I study for a semester or two, or conduct research as a postdoc?

In general, you may choose any university recognized in Germany (see (Anabin [German]) for your stay abroad. If there is no existing agreement between Freie Universität Berlin or the FSGS and the chosen university, doctoral candidates or their supervisors should have an established connection with the relevant department, as an invitation is required in order to waive tuition fees. Our office will be happy to assist in initiating contact.

As a doctoral candidate or researcher at Freie Universität Berlin, you have access to a widee range of opportunities for stays abroad that are already covered by formal agreements. These agreements ensure that no tuition fees are charged and that you will receive administrative support from the host department. Doctoral candidates must apply for the available positions within these programs and observe the respective deadlines. Please contact our office in good time so that we can advise you. We will support you and work closely with Department IV (International Services) at Freie Universität Berlin.

As a member of the FSGS, you may also take advantage of the school’s partnerships for your stay abroad. Through these agreements, doctoral candidates have access to two exchange positions per year at the institutes listed below. Our office will circulate a call for expressions of interest at the beginning of the year.

Teaching staff may undertake a one-week teaching visit (eight hours of teaching) through our partnerships. This applies in particular to our collaborations with the universities of Cambridge and Oxford. Please contact our office for advice. All relevant information regarding Erasmus Staff Mobility for Teaching can be found on the website of Dept. IV.

Due to Brexit, we have not been able to extend the Erasmus programme with Oxford and Cambridge beyond 2023. We are currently working to continue these partnerships so that stays at these universities will again be possible in the future, albeit without Erasmus mobility funding.

Post-Erasmus (UK)

Direct exchange         Freie Universität Berlin

International offices

International partnerships at the FSGS

• Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of Cambridge (Great Britain)
• Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, University of Oxford (Great Britain)
• Department of Germanic Studies and Department of Comparative Literature, University of Chicago (USA)
• Department of Germanic Studies, Indiana University, College of Arts and Sciences Bloomington [German] (USA)
• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / The College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology / Faculty of Letters at the University of Tokyo (Japan)