You have been admitted to a course or a seasonal school at one of the EELISA partner universities of FAU? Congratulations! You can now apply for funding from FAU to sponsor your journey! If you are selected, FAU will cover your travel costs (train or plane ticket) and your accommodation costs. Each student can only be selected for funding twice during their whole study time at FAU. For each EELISA activity, three students get their costs covered, so be quick to apply! Below, you can find out how to apply and how to get your travel expenses reimbursed after being selected.
Tip: You can find interesting courses and seasonal schools on the EELISA Community platform or in the EELISA course catalogue!
Apply for funding from FAU
As soon as you receive an admission letter for an EELISA activity at one of the alliance partner universities, you can apply for funding. For each activity, three FAU students get the chance to have their costs covered. The first three applications will receive the funding, so be quick to apply!
To apply, send us the following documents:
- admission letter for the activity
- programme of the activity
- your CV
- a motivational letter (max. 300 words)
In case you have questions, please read through the FAQs below, or contact the EELISA team at FAU via our e-mail address at the bottom of the page.
To do before your EELISA journey
- Read the information sheet for reimbursement of travel expenses.
- Read through the FAQ below.
- Download document R0024 below and fill out the highlighted fields in the German version. The English version is merely a translation support and is not legally binding.
- Print the document, sign it (with a pen!), and send it to our postal address: EELISA S-Projekt, Schlossplatz 4, 91054 Erlangen.
To do after your EELISA journey
- Download document R0020 below and fill out the highlighted fields in the German version. The English version is merely a translation support and is not legally binding.
- Print the document, sign it (with a pen!), and send it together with your hotel and transportation invoices and the corresponding payment receipts to our postal address: FAU, EELISA S-Projekt (Mobility), Schlossplatz 4, 91054 Erlangen. Please note that we need BOTH, the invoice AND a proof of payment (screenshot of the bank statement, PayPal payment details or other documentation that proves that you have paid the expense).
Please note that reimbursement may take several weeks to several months depending on the workload of the travel reimbursement department. If you need to get the money back quickly, please contact us and ask for another funding option!
Frequently Asked Questions
We have collected some frequently asked questions for you. In case you have any remaining questions, please contact us via the e-mail address at the bottom of the page.
Cost reimbursement
How much time do I have to submit the expense report after my trip?
The entitlement to travel expense reimbursement expires if you do not submit your travel expense report and the required documents within three weeks from the day of the completion of the trip.
When will I receive reimbursement for my travel expenses?
After you have submitted all the required documents, the travel expenses department will handle your reimbursement. This may take several weeks depending on the department’s workload. Please refrain from inquiries, as the EELISA team cannot provide information on the status of your reimbursement. In case of problems, the travel expenses department will contact us or you directly, ensuring that you are informed in any case.
Funding for your EELISA trip
How can I receive funding for traveling to the EELISA activity?
1. Once you have received approval for an EELISA activity at a partner university, you can apply to get your travel and accommodation costs covered. You can find more information on how to apply here.
2. Once we agreed to reimburse your travel and accommodation costs for traveling to an EELISA activity, you will need to follow the steps explained here.
3. After the EELISA activity, once you’re back at FAU, you will need to follow the steps explained here. The FAU travel expenses department will then process your reimbursement and you will get the money transferred onto your bank account.
I got accepted to an EELISA activity at one of the EELISA partner universities. Can FAU support me financially?
Yes, all FAU students can apply to receive financial support when traveling to one of the EELISA universities for an activitiy. This does not apply for semesters abroad. If you are selected for financial support, FAU can reimburse your travel and accommodation costs. This means that you book and pay for your journey and after your trip, FAU can transfer the money you spend on travel and accommodation to your bank account.
Who is eligible for travel expense reimbursement?
All FAU students can apply for reimbursement of their travel expenses through FAU’s EELISA team if they have been admitted for an EELISA activity at one of the EELISA partner universities. You can receive this financial support for a maximum of two activities during your whole study time at FAU. For each activity, we can cover the travel and accommodation costs for three FAU students, so be quick to apply.
Planning your trip
Can I take a taxi from the train station/airport to the hotel?
Taxi rides must be justified on an additional sheet of the travel expense settlement and will only be covered if the use of public transportation is not possible.
Can I travel a few days earlier to Pisa/Paris/Madrid or extend my stay there once the EELISA activity is over?
You can extend your stay at your own expense, but you must provide comparative prices (screenshots of flight or train connections) on the day of the activity’s end, and you may need to cover the additional costs if your later return is more expensive. Hotel costs will only be covered for the duration of the EELISA activity, and all further nights must be paid by you. Traveling there a few days ahead is not possible.
Can I travel to the partner university the day before the activity starts?
If you can get to the activity on time by starting your journey at 6 a.m. on the same day, then you should travel on the day of the activity. However, if you can’t make it on time even though you leave the house at 6 a.m., you’re allowed to travel the day before.
Can the costs of travel cancellation insurance or foreign health insurance be covered?
No, insurance costs will not be reimbursed. In the event of non-commencement of the trip, a medical certificate must be provided to still reimburse the incurred costs.
Do I have to depart on the last day of the activity, even if it goes until 6 p.m.?
No, you can get reimbursed for an additional overnight stay if your activity extends into the afternoon.
Do I have to take the train or can I also go by airplane?
When traveling to our partner universities in Paris, Budapest or Zurich going by train is mandatory – plane tickets will not be reimbursed. When traveling to Pisa, going by train is recommended. To our partner university in Istanbul, Madrid, or Bucharest, students usually go by airplane. In general: The use of an airplane must be justified on an additional sheet of the travel expense settlement, and it is up to the travel expenses department to approve the justification.
What is the maximum allowable cost for my hotel stay?
You must compare hotel prices and choose the cheapest hotel close to the activity location. The general principle of economic efficiency applies.
Will FAU book my train/flight and hotel, or do I have to book it myself?
You need to organize your entire trip yourself. You will book and pay for your journey and accommodation yourself first, only after your trip FAU can reimburse you for the expenses, provided that all forms, invoices, and receipts have been properly submitted to us in time (3 weeks after the end of the program). If you are unable to advance the costs, contact us at eelisa-mobility@fau.de, and we will try to find a solution together.
Will the costs of my breakfast at the hotel and meals during my trip be covered?
No, FAU can only reimburse students for travel expenses for arrival and departure, as well as accommodation costs without meals.
Will the costs of my public transportation during the EELISA activity be covered?
No, only travel costs on the arrival and departure days will be covered. Your bus rides within Paris, for example, must be paid for by yourself.
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