International experience is becoming more and more important for many professions and academic careers. The doctoral studies offer many possibilities to integrate a stay abroad, e.g. as a teaching stay, for archive or library research or for gaining special expertise abroad.

We are happy to support you with information and a consultation service on the possibilities of international mobility.

Notes for doctoral students with an employment contract at Paderborn University

Stays abroad of up to three months must be reported as business trips. They will be charged via the state travel expenses law as long as the direct supervisor agrees to this business trip. In some cases, the costs for the stay abroad need to be additionally (co-)financed within the framework of the research project or e.g. via a scholarship.

For the stay abroad, an international health insurance (important - no travel health insurance) must be taken out by the respective employee themselves. For stays abroad in Europe, the German health insurance covers this insurance benefit (via European Health Insurance Card). During the business trip (as far as correctly indicated) as well as during the arrival and departure there exists accident insurance coverage via the responsible employers' liability insurance association.

For stays abroad of more than 3 months, additional agreements must be made regarding your employment contract. Please contact the Human Resources Department of Paderborn University directly and talk to your direct supervisor beforehand.

For studies abroad in the context of your doctoral studies, the possibilities also need to be checked in each individual case. Whether a study abroad is possible has to be checked individually, since you have certain service obligations within the scope of your employment contract at Paderborn University, which can be in conflict with a study abroad (e.g. teaching obligations, attendance times at the workplace, etc.). Please contact Paderborn University's Human Resources Department directly and talk to your direct supervisor beforehand.

Notes for doctoral students with alternative funding

A scholarship does not establish an employment relationship, i.e. neither the university nor the scholarship provider become your employer. The scholarship is tax-free and is not subject to social security contributions. Therefore, as a scholarship holder, you do not have any pension, nursing care, or unemployment insurance, nor do you have any health or accident insurance. Some scholarship providers offer the possibility of taking out accident insurance through the scholarship provider's supplementary/group insurance policies. Please contact your scholarship provider for more information.

Doctoral students who are enrolled as doctoral students at Paderborn University will also receive accident insurance coverage for their scholarship-related stay abroad through the university or the responsible employers' liability insurance association. In this context, it is particularly important to confirm that there is an organizational connection to the work within the university. In the case of temporary work in another company (e.g. in the form of an internship), accident insurance must be ensured via this employer.

The information shown here does not raise any legal claim but serves as orientation.