Studying Abroad: Other Opportunities
Language Courses
The DAAD publishes an annual brochure about summer language courses at European universities that is also available on its website. In addition, there are nonprofit and commercial language course providers, but the International Office cannot say how good they are. You will find a list of these providers at the Infothek. Guides to language holidays abroad are available from a variety of organizations that are included in the link list.
Funding for language courses is also available from the DAAD and other scholarship providers. Frequently, however, it is pegged to admission to specified language courses. Please also bear application deadlines in mind!
Work Camps / Voluntary Services
Voluntary service is another way of gaining experience abroad, both in the semester holidays and over a longer period. It ranges from several weeks at an ecological work camp to long-term development cooperation project work. As a rule, time spent abroad in this way costs money, but the providers are seldom profit-oriented and tend to keep their prices low. With a little luck international organizations may offer grants (on application by the program organizer).
Summer Jobs
Summer jobs require initiative of you, but a number of organizations will help you to find one. The Zentralstelle für Arbeitsvermittlung publishes an annual brochure entitled Jobs und Praktika im Ausland with jobs looking after children, running camps, etc. So-called work and travel agencies will also help you to find jobs abroad and apply for visas. But unless you work hard in advance you are unlikely to find more than strawberry-picking jobs.