Want to gain first-hand work experience in a German company?
Come to Mittelhessen – the strong industrial region just north of Frankfurt/Main.
The partner companies of our dual study programme offer exchange students placements in Business Administration, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Civil Engineering/ Architecture. The work placements are accredited modules of StudiumPlus and participants will be enrolled as exchange students of StudiumPlus and THM (Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences). Following an intensive German language course, that will also help settle into life in Germany, participants will work full-time in our partner companies.
Key Facts
What you do
- Work full-time within a team on projects in one of our partner companies. A university professor and a company supervisor support you.
- Intensive German language course to get you started
When you do it
- Regular programme: September to December with
- September = language course
- October – December = full-time placement - Extended Placements: Your degree demands a longer obligatory placement? Ask us! Extensions for degree-embedded placements are possible.
- Alternative times: You can’t do September to December? These are the alternatives:
- March/April = language course, placement thereafter
- Other starting dates: You have a good German level? Ask us! We can’t promise, but we are happy to check for you if placements are available (without language course, THM enrollment and public transport ticket).
What you earn and gain
- Minimum salary of € 600 per placement month (plus possibly Erasmus funding)
- 24 ECTS for regular programme (placement: write a project report and present it 20 ECTS; language course 4 ECTS)
- 32 ECTS for extended obligatory placements of 20 weeks or more plus 3-4 ECTS language course
- 10 ECTS for placements of 8 weeks or more but under 3 months
What else
- Enrolment as a full-time exchange student of THM
- Join the Buddy Programme to facilitate intercultural exchange and to get support for your start in Germany
- Enjoy free public transport in the greater Rhine-Main region (RMV)
Want more
- Combine EIEM before or after your placement with an international semester at THM for a full year abroad. For more information visit go.thm.de/thinc. During your full-time intership classes cannot be attended at the same time.
Requirements
Before applying, please check you fulfill the following aspects:
- Enrolment as a full-time student at a (future) partner university of StudiumPlus/THM during the EIEM programme. Please note, that due to German legislation participation is NOT POSSIBLE without student status at your home university for the entire time of your stay! While at THM you will additionally be enrolled as an exchange student of THM.
- Participants from non-EU/Erasmus+ -universities need to get confirmation of the compulsory character of the placement by the sending institution within the work permit application process (coordinated by EIEM). Similar regulations may apply to students with non-EU-nationalities. We are happy to check for you.
- German language level A2 or higher
- English language level B2 or higher
- Participation in the International Summer Course Gießen (an intensive German language course - see below) is highly recommended.
How to Apply
Application for winter semester 2021/22 (continuously updated):
Please find profiles of our partner companies and the placements they offer below:
| Placements offered | ||||||
| Partner Company Profiles | Business Admin. |
Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
Computer Science | Civil Engineering | |
| Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik GmbH |  |
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| Christmann & Pfeifer Construction GmbH & Co. KG | |
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| Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH | |
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| ILLE-Papierservice GmbH | |
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| ISI Bautechnik GmbH | |
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| Peikko Deutschland GmbH | |
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| Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH | |
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| RITTAL GmbH & Co. KG | |
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| Roth Werke GmbH | |
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| Schunk Group | |
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| Viessmann Werke GmbH & Co. KG | |
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Application (Deadline 31st March 2021) must include:
- Application form
- Letter of motivation in English and German
- CV in English and German
- Transcript of records
- Language certificates for English and German (Please ask a lecturer of your home university to fill in the form provided here)
- Copy of passports for non-EU nationals
Please e-mail your application in a single PDF document with a max. size of 3 MB to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For placements outside the regular programme start in September, please hand in your application 5 months before you would like to start.
Language Course
We highly recommend that you take part in the International Summer Course of Justus-Liebig-University in Gießen in September:
- Support and guidance from student mentors and the THM International Office
- Assistance with all necessary administration and registrations (registration office, residence permit, health insurance, bank account, enrollment, ...)
- Accommodation in student halls of residence (rates vary) with many other students
» goto the International Summer Course in Gießen
- Costs for students of partner universities: € 570 (rate for exchange students)
- 4 ECTS can be gained
Alternatively you can join the International Spring Course at Justus-Liebig-Universität in Gießen. The placement will start following the language course.
» goto the International Spring Course
- Costs for students of partner universities: € 370 (rate for exchange students)
- 3 ECTS can be gained
Accommodation
Depending on the location of the company you will be assigned to, you can
- stay in student halls of residence in Gießen or Friedberg and travel on local transport (free ticket on THM student ID)
- receive help from your placement company to find appropriate accommodation nearby
Financial Aspects
Please be aware of the following costs and income linked to the programme
- Minimum salary of € 600 per placement month (Please note, voluntary placements which are not embedded in the curriculum of your degree are subject to German social insurance contribution)
- German health insurance (obligatory): up to € 105 per month
- Semester social fee: approx. € 230 (due prior to enrolment)
- Language Course (highly recommended):
- International Summer Course: € 570
- International Spring Course: € 370 - Cost of living including accomodation
Do check if your home university will support you with an Erasmus+ scholarship for Traineeship or Study – both are possible due to the EIEM double role of intern and enrolled exchange student.
Cost of Living: Mittelhessen is less expensive than cities such as Frankfurt. Estimates and information on costs of living in Germany can be found on the website of the THM International Office, the Deutsches Studentenwerk (German Student Services Organization) or on the website of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Visa
Disclaimer: The purpose of these pages is to provide you with information on important legal questions. However, the authors make no claim to completeness. Although this information has been prepared with the greatest of care, we assume no liability for the correctness of the content provided here.
Students joining EIEM from a university that is not part of the ERASMUS+ programme, need a work placement admission to apply for their visa. The process will be taken care of by EIEM coordinators. However, it can only be successful with the confirmation of the compulsory character of the internship on a certificate of enrolment which we will provide you with. With the work placement admission you can then apply for your visa depending on the regulations valid for your country.
Please note that you might need to prove sufficient funding for your stay in Germany to apply for your work permit or visa.
The International Office of THM has put together some general information in visa regulations. Please visit https://www.thm.de/site/en/international-en/incoming-englisch/residence-status.html
Project Examples
Please find below some examples of former EIEM projects. Please note, that you agree on the language of the report together with your two supervisors at the beginning of your project. It can be written in English or German.
Business Administration
- Kundenpotentialanalyse im Geschäftsfeld D der Elkamet Kunststofftechnik
- Neue Medien bei Viessmann Werke GmbH & Co. KG
- Marketing Rollout Plan für Service
- Konkurrenzanalyse
- Benchmarking E-commerce with Configurator Products in the Industrial Environment
- Customer Centric Focus Topics for the Innovation Management Department
Civil Engineering
- Entwurf und Berechnung einer Logistik-Halle Civil
- GlobalHome und Infrastruktur Civil
Engineering
- Entwicklung eines Automatisierungskonzepts des Ille Zentrallagers
- Vergleich der Qualitätsmerkmale von zwei CNC-Bedienoberfläche
- Simulation von Sensoren und Aktoren in einem Mini Chiller
- Zählen und Verpackung für Schichtkohlmaschine mit doppelter Spannung in Schunk Group GmbH
- Analyse, Prüfung und Vergleich verschiedener kondensatfreier Luftführungen am Kühlgerät 3329.540
- Teilautomatisierung einer Profilbiegemaschine
- Technical and economic efficiency implementation of CHP plant and PV modules
IT
- Implementation of an Internal Communication System
- Medical Ontology Conversion and Enrichment
Testimonials
"I can only recommend the EIEM programme to everone - it is an incredible experience!"
Luis, Civil Engineering, Spain
read more here (in German only)
"I developed so many new skills and competencies in that short time."
Dieu Anh, Business Administration, Vietnam
"It was excellent to gain work experience in a coporation with such a global presence."
Pavel, Business Administration, Russia
"All colleagues were very friendly and helpful. The task was interesting and fitted well to what I hope for my later career. All administrative things were well explained and easy to understand."
Deividas, Engineering, Lithuania
"For my later career the placement was very important. I could see what the clients need and how the company can improve, how machines and software get linked up – you see right there in real how everything works."
Piotr, Engineering, Poland
read more here (in German only)
"I learned so much and everyone was very, very friendly and so patient with me! I would like to stay in Germany for my master degree. This was the best chance to start."
José, Civil Engineering, Spain
read more here (in German only)
"Joining EIEM StudiumPlus in Germany has been one of the best decisions in my life, I have acquired a lot of professional skills, I have improved my German and English a lot and I have made a lot of friends there. EIEM is certainly one of the best options to live new experiences in your life at the same time you learn."
Francisco, Business Administration Spain
read more here
„If you no longer enjoy living in Istanbul, you are very welcome to come back and work for us!”
Christmann + Pfeiffer about EIEM-participant Berat,
Civil Engineering, Turkey read more here
"I am glad to have joined EIEM. The experience was so important and helpful for me. I faced new challenges every day, but the coordinted team work solved all tasks."
Max, Engineering, Ukraine
read more here (in German only)
"It's a lot easier to gain international experience while you are still studying. This experience can be very helpful later in your professional life."
Francisco Jesús, Engineering Spain
read more here (in German only)
"I'm one hundred percent sure that it was the best decision to come to Hessen for my semester abroad."
Karolina, Business, Poland
read more here (in German only)
"The EIEM program was a fantastic experience and I would recommend it to anyone interested in trying to grow out of their comfort zone. The language course [...] paved the way for the rest of the program."
Eduardo, Electrical Engineering, USA
read more here
"I was initially quite hesitant about studying abroad, but now I’ve finished it, I can say it was worth every second. Giessen has a great student atmosphere and is a beautiful city."
Sean, Computer Science, UK
read more here