Academic Year 2020/21: Covid-19 and ERASMUS
On 15 June 2020 Germany’s Federal Foreign Office lifted the travel warning for Europe in favour of country-specific travel advice. This goes hand in hand with an extensive reopening of intra-European borders. However, neither in Germany nor in the ERASMUS programme countries are all universities returning to normal operation. Many of our European partner universities decided to offer a mix of face-to-face classroom and online courses in the academic year 2020/21 - if the Corona pandemic allows it.
- Physical and/or Virtual Mobility
In view of this development, it is now possible for the first time within the ERASMUS programme that study or internship stays abroad can be started and supported as virtual or "blended mobility" learning experiences. However, the financial support for your mobility with the ERASMUS Mobility Grant only starts with your departure to the host country, whether for face-to-face or online study. This means that you will not receive any financial support for the time attending courses at the foreign host university online from Germany/your home country, as no additional costs are incurred.
If possible, a period of virtual mobility at the host institution abroad should be followed by physical mobility abroad for the ERASMUS programme’s minimum duration of 90 days. However, if restrictions due to the Corona pandemic continue to exist, the physical mobility period may be shortened or cancelled at all and replaced by an extension of the virtual mobility period. Interruption periods between the virtual and physical mobility phases are permitted as well.
Virtual mobility phases in the home country as part of a blended mobility do not count towards the ERASMUS minimum duration of 12 months per study cycle. This does not apply to virtual, financially supported mobilities following a physical mobility that had to be cancelled or to a virtual mobility in the host country. As soon as the physical mobility starts (first day on which you start your activity in the host country), you are eligible to receive the regular grant for the stay abroad.
If it is not possible due to Covid 19-related reasons to conduct a minimum stay of 90 days, please contact us as soon as it is indicated that your stay abroad will be shorter than the minimum requirements and describe the situation. Exceptions can be made if the conditions on site have deteriorated significantly, e.g. due to complete lockdowns.
- ERASMUS in a Corona Risk Area
Many partner universities of the RUB are located in places that are currently officially designated by the Federal Foreign Office as Corona risk areas.
Therefore consider very carefully whether you wish to continue your stay abroad as planned. Please check the Federal Foreign Offices website regularly, in order to be up to date with the current situation in the host country before the start of your stay abroad. In the event that you actually depart, we would like to ask you to register in the Elefand list of the Federal Foreign Office (unfortunately this is only possible for German citizens): The Elefand List Should you need consular assistance and support from German missions abroad in an emergency during your stay abroad, the respective consulate/embassy can quickly contact you and, if necessary, relatives in Germany.
In the event of the departure to the host country, please keep all travel documents until the end of the mobility period. If you have to interrupt your stay at short notice and have to return to Germany and it may be difficult to obtain a Confirmation of Stay/Transcript of Records from the host university, you can prove to us with the travel documents that you were actually abroad.
- Insurance Coverage
We advise you to make sure that you have sufficient insurance cover for your stay abroad. In particular, you should make sure that your insurance provides cover for travel to areas with a travel warning in place and in the event of a pandemic.
- Return to Germany
Please bear in mind that you will probably have to prove that you are not infected with the coronavirus within 48 hours after returning to Germany, should the travel warning of the Federal Foreign Office still be in place for your whereabouts on the day of your return. The responsible health authorities may require you to provide a test result up to ten days after entry. Evidence is either a negative test result or a medical certificate regarding the absence of an infection with the coronavirus. In addition, you must register via a digital entry application if you have been in a risk area the ten days prior to your return. Finally, please contact your local health authorities to clarify further procedures.
Please note the special entry rules after stays in areas with particularly high infection risks. These include regions with particularly high numbers of cases (high incidence areas) or regions where certain virus mutations have spread (virus variant areas). Travelers from these areas must be tested before departure and must present a negative test result to the carrier, such as the airline. Proof may also be required at the entry control in Germany by the federal police.
You can follow the development of the regulations on tests and quarantine requirements here.
28 January 2021