A practical semester abroad is the ideal opportunity to combine international and practical experience and to familiarise yourself with social work as well as the culture and everyday life in another country.
Familiarising yourself with social conditions and the function of social work in different countries broadens your understanding and view of the profession of social work in your own country.
The Practice Department of the Faculty of Social Work and the International Office of Landshut University of Applied Sciences are happy to help with the organisation.
Reasons for an internship abroad
- Improvement of language skills
- Promotion of intercultural competences
- Practical experience of social work in another country
- Expansion of specialised knowledge
- International acquaintances that often last a lifetime
- Optimum preparation for fields of work in which international experience is required
- Sharpening your own training profile
Faculty-specific requirements for an internship semester abroad
Before starting the concrete preparations for a practical semester abroad, it makes sense to reflect on your own expectations and ideas for an internship abroad in advance. In the personal counselling interview, the necessary framework conditions and important planning steps are also discussed and individual questions clarified.
In order to ensure that you can start planning in good time, you must register for a personal counselling interview with the internship department by the following deadlines at the latest using the registration form below.
Planned internship abroad in the summer semester | 01.06. of the previous year |
Planned internship abroad in the winter semester | 01.12. of the previous year |
Practical social work can hardly do without language. In order to be able to speak to clients in the target country without an interpreter, language skills in the language primarily spoken in the host country (at least at the level of a basic course) must be successfully demonstrated or a refresher course must be taken before the start of the internship abroad. Language courses at Landshut University of Applied Sciences can be recognised as a Studium Generale subject.
The seminar serves to develop skills in dealing with unfamiliar situations and with people from different cultural backgrounds before starting the internship semester abroad. Successful participation replaces participation in the seminar accompanying the internship, which would have to be completed during the internship period in Germany. Registration is carried out by the internship department.
In order to be able to start a practical semester at the Faculty of Social Work in the Bachelor's degree programmes, a minimum number of ECTS points must be achieved depending on the degree programme in accordance with the study and examination regulations.
Bachelor's degree programme "Social Work" | at least 102 ECTS points |
Bachelor's degree programme "Social Work in Child and Youth Welfare" | at least 77 ECTS credits |
An internship semester abroad is generally not included in a dual Bachelor's degree programme with in-depth practice at the Faculty of Social Work. The practical semester must be completed at the cooperation partner.
Organisational and time-related information
The actual organisation of an internship semester abroad should begin at least one year in advance. In addition to the faculty-specific requirements, financial and health care issues and entry requirements must be clarified depending on the destination country. Another key element of preparation is the search for a suitable internship abroad. In principle, an internship abroad is subject to the same requirements and quality criteria as an internship in Germany. The Practice Department of the Faculty of Social Work and the International Office of Landshut University of Applied Sciences will be happy to help you clarify these questions.
For the approval procedure, the internship contract for the internship semester abroad must be submitted in triplicate to the Practice Department of the Faculty of Social Work for review by 15 June ( for the winter semester) or 15 December ( for the summer semester) at the latest. Proof of language competence and participation in intercultural training must be submitted by the end of the semester before the internship abroad at the latest.