Freemover: Organize Your Own Studies Abroad

First, make a shortlist of universities at which you could imagine spending one or two semesters abroad. Then find out whether these universities accept exchange students who have not yet completed their degree for a limited period of time. Depending on the country and university, this is referred to by different names, such as visiting student, freemover, or guest student. Please note that not all universities allow such study visits.

Find out in detail how the application process works at your university of choice. You are responsible for preparing all necessary documents and submitting them on time. Application deadlines often end eight to nine months before the planned start of studies, but may vary depending on the university.

Depending on the country and the program, you may have to pay tuition fees at your host university. This is why you should find out about any potential scholarships early on and, ideally, apply to several funding institutions at the same time. For many scholarships (e.g., DAAD, BAföG (Federal Law on Support in Education) grants for studies abroad), you do not need to have a letter of admission at the time of application. It can be submitted later.

A list of scholarships and funding opportunities is available from the TUM Global & Alumni Office.

Check with your host university to find out which language certificates you need to provide and whether you may need to take any other admission tests.

Remember to have your freemover stay recorded in your Diploma Supplement. The TUM Global & Alumni Office can provide you with the relevant information.