IAESTE - International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience

Within IAESTE, there are two different allocation procedures for internships:

• Within the main award cycles (Exchange-Offer) or
• via a short-term offer (global offer)

The basic application process is very similar for both procedures and runs via the Exchange platform.  

From October, we as the TH OWL IAESTE support office accept applications for the IAESTE program for the following year (“preliminary application”). The application deadline is usually January 15th of each year.

Before you can take part in the application process, you need a verified IAESTE account. You upload the required documents on the IAESTE Exchange Platform and you will be activated after your documents have been reviewed.

Please write all documents in English or attach an informal translation. 

Required documents:

• Tabular curriculum vitae
• Letter of motivation
• Certificate of enrollment (you must be enrolled at the time of the internship)
• Transcript of records (at least 90 ECTS BA - not required for MA)
• current language certificate
  • the high school diploma is not sufficient as a certificate
  • not older than 2 years
  • Tip:The Language Learning Center of the TH OWL offers a free DAAD language certificate, which is sufficient as a certificate.

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent to the address you provided.
You must click on the link in this email to activate your account.
You can then create a new application under “My application”.
Select TH OWL here and then enter your study details and all application documents, etc.
First after this step will you be assigned to our committee and your application forwarded to us.
Please note that we can only verify your account once we have received all documents in full. 

You will be informed about your applicant status in the Exchange Platform (EP).
The first step is to apply for your potential employer.

Within the Exchange Platform, you will find the Active Nominations tab. This is where you enter all the necessary information about yourself and your studies. All progress can be saved under Safe Draft.

The following documents must be filed under Student Documents:

• the “Student Nominated” form
• cover letter
• CV
• Transcript of Records
• Language certificate
• Certificate of enrollment
• Copy of passport
• Other documents

• the so-called O-form contains all the necessary information about the internship: 

  • the name and address of the employer,
  • the required qualifications of the applicant,
  • travel period etc...

all documents must be written in English ! Outgoer checklist

The TH OWL also requires the complete application. Please create a PDF file and send it to: maryse.niemeier@th-owl.de

Complete the application within the Exchange Platform by clicking on Submit.

• The status of the application will now change from Draftto Documents Submitted.
• The National Committee will now check your details for accuracy and inform you if any documents are missing.
• Once the application has been verified, it will be sent to the IAESTE committee of the target country and forwarded to the potential employer.
• The applicant status changes to Confirmed.

The acceptance phase may take longer. Please do not contact the potential employer independently.
Experience shows that acceptance takes place within the main application phase until April/May.
For COBE/FCFS offers, the departure date is more decisive.

Unfortunately, the application can be rejected by the employer - this rarely happens.

If the application is accepted, the status of the application changes to Student Accepted.
You will receive the “Acceptance Note (N/5a)” in writing.

This document must be completed, signed and uploaded to the Exchange Platform in order to agree to the general conditions of the internship.

The applicant status will be changed from Awaiting Student Confirmation to Awaiting Travel Confirmation.

Fill in the arrival information in the Exchange Platform under the Acceptance Documents tab.

Visa
At this point you need to take care of the visa for the destination country. The IAESTE committee in the host country will help you with the work permit. The flight can now be booked  

Travel allowance
You can apply for a travel allowance:
IAESTE interns can apply to the DAAD for a travel allowance if the internship takes place outside the EU.

International health and accident insurance
You are obliged to take out international health and accident insurance. You can consider taking out DAAD insurance.

Arrival Note
Once the arrival information has been collected, the Arrival Note must be generated under Acceptance Documents, which you must sign and upload to the Exchange Platform. The status of the application changes to Travel Confirmation Submitted.

The IAESTE local committee in the host country will help you to find your own accommodation and support you on site. For example, they will pick you up from the airport and take you to your accommodation, etc...