The "Free-Mover-Scholarship-Programme (FMS)" (website in German) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) bridges a gap within the EU sectoral programme ERASMUS for the field of higher education:

ERASMUS' funding activities for the support of student exchanges in Europe are exclusively based on bilateral agreements between institutions of higher education or university departments participating in the programme. The universities' institutional network is actually still lacking the high level of density necessary to render students the opportunity to take a study term at a European university of their choice. Moreover some bilateral ERASMUS agreements do not comprise funding of activities of student mobility.

"Free-Mover-Scholarship"-fundings for students taking a study term in another European country (student mobility) have been awarded by German universities since 2004:

Starting by March 31.st each year for the winter semester and by 31 October for the summer semester the German universities apply at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the allocation of "Free-Mover"-mobility funds. 

On the basis of the applications received and the budget disposable the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) fixes the amount of grants per university. To the universities that have successfully applied the DAAD gives an endowment contract that lists the amount of funds. Per year € 1 Mio. out of the DAAD's total budget are provided for the "Free-Mover"-Programme. By this amount approximately 500 students per semester can be supported.

The choice of the "Free mover"-stipendiaries and the awarding of scholarships is incumbent on the universities.

The office in charge of the programme is the National Agency for EU-Universities' Cooperation, department 603.

Contact person:

Mrs. Danuta Zielezny (Mo.-Thu.)

Tel.: 0228/882 718

E-mail: zielezny@daad.de

See also: ERASMUS