Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Institut für Sozialwissenschaften

Erasmus+ Mobility

Last update on June 26, 2023

Mobility grants for students and staff offered by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA (2023-2025)

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), USA are glad to announce a call for mobility scholarships. The TransAtlantic Masters Program (TAM Program) offers mobility grants for master students from UNC as well as for staff from both universities.

The Call is financed by the European Union Program ERASMUS+ Key Action 1, Learning Mobility of Individuals, Higher Education student and staff mobility between Program and Partner Countries which fosters co-operation in the field of higher education between the European Union and Partner countries all over the world through a mobility scheme addressing student and academic individual exchanges.

Program Description - Who can apply?

Within the framework of academic collaboration of the TAM Program between the two Partner universities, master students from UNC with excellent study results are invited to apply for mobility scholarships to study at HU Berlin (7 mobility grants are available: 2x5 months in Winter Semester 2023-2024, 2x5 months in Winter Semester 2024-2025, 2x4 months in Summer Semester 2025, and 1x3 months internship).

Non-teaching staff members of the TAM Program at HU can apply for training activities at UNC (1 mobility grant: 5 days + 2 travel days). These activities support the professional development of staff in the form of training events abroad (excluding conferences) and job shadowing/observation periods/training at the partner university and aim to deepen and extend the existing cooperation.

At UNC teaching-staff members can apply for a teaching period at HU in the TAM Program (1 mobility grant: 5 days + 2 travel days, 8 teaching hours per week). The staff must be willing to teach students of the TAM Program and should furthermore co-supervise the work of students during the time of exchanges. Additional activities may include the further elaboration of joint activities between the partner universities.

What are the prerequisites?

Students have to give proof of good and very good study results in relevant fields of studies and should have a good command of German at least on the B1 level.

Staff must have demonstrated interest in the HU-UNC cooperation and the TAM Program. A good command of oral and written English is also required.

What does the mobility scholarship include?

The financial support consists of 850 EUR/month to the students. The financial support to HU staff consists of a per diem of 180 EUR/day and to UNC staff of a per diem of 160 EUR/day.

Both, staff and students receive a flat rate travel allowance USA -Germany of 820 EUR.

When will the mobility take place?

Winter Semester 2023-2024, Winter Semester 2024-2025 and Summer Semester 2025

How to apply?

To participate in the project and to apply for the mobility funding, kindly send the documents listed below via email or as a hardcopy to the contact person listed at the end of this call.

All:

  • Application Form
  • CV in Europass format,
  • Copy passport or identity card,
  • Higher education certificates  (i.e. B.A./ B.Sc.for MA studies, MA for PhD),
  • Proof of UNC registration (enrollment as an MA student, staff affiliation)

MA Students:

  • Letter of motivation with information on the applicant's area of interest ("Focal Topic") and an explanation of why a course of study at Humboldt-Universität is important to the applicant and in which direction the applicant's own course of study is thematically oriented (Maximum 4000 characters)
  • Transcript of records with averaged study results,
  • Language Assessment Sheet confirmed by home university or internationally recognized (Language certificate),
  • Learning agreement, draft (not necessarily confirmed by home and host)

Staff:

  • Motivation letter, containing details about the possible contribution to the TAM Program and a sketch of the most important elements of the trainings and classes to be offered in the frame of the mobility
  • Proof of experience in teaching the required subjects and/or supervision of student team research projects
  • Draft of mobility agreement

What is the deadline for application?

For mobilities in Winter Semester 2024-2025: July 15, 2024

Selection Process

The Coordinator previews the applications and the requested documents. All applications that are considered eligible are forwarded to both the Home and Host Universities. Home and Host Universities further assess the eligibility of applicants.

The Selection Criteria:

  • Academic performance of the applicants
  • Relevance of the proposed mobility to the subject field
  • Study motivation
  • Language skills

Gender balance is respected.

The Selection Committee consists of representatives from each Partner University. The Selection Committee makes the final nomination within each category and mobility flow, based on the selection criteria above and the following administrative criteria:

The Host University is willing to accept the applicant for the time she/he has applied for or can suggest another time for mobility. Rejections are justified based on academic reasons (e.g. language requirements, eligibility to attend the selected courses, places available).

Relevance of the mobility to both the Home and Host University (reviewed by these institutions, preference indicated by the applicant)

Disabled or economically disadvantaged applicants get preference in case of equal academic merits.

The nomination decisions of the Selection Committee concerning the acceptance of a grantee are subject to the Host University's approval.

Next Actions

  1. Decisions on the awarded applicants are made in August 2024.
  2. The Coordinator at Humboldt-Universität will notify all the applicants on the result of the selection by email before August 31, 2024. Application numbers of selected applicants and reserve candidates are also published on the HU website (www.sowi.hu-berlin.de/tam and www.international.hu-berlin.de) The result of your application can be:
    1. Grantee. You are awarded a grant according your application; please note the time and duration of mobility might be different from what you have applied for. You will receive information from the Coordinator on what to do next.
    2. Reserve list. You are not granted funding, but your application is on the reserve list. You might still get a grant if selected grantees decline their mobility. You will be notified if a possibility for a grant emerges.
    3. Rejected. You were not accepted by any of your Host University choices. If you want to know the exact reasons for rejection of your application, please contact the Coordinator.

Contact Person

To submit your application and for any related questions, please contact:

 

Dipl.-Sozialwiss. Christian Wilhelm

Manager International Master Programs

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Institut für Sozialwissenschaften

Unter den Linden 6

10099 Berlin, Germany

Tel: +49 30 2093 66547

christian.wilhelm@hu-berlin.de