International partner schools / BIDS

In 2008, the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany launched the partner school initiative "Schools: Partners for the Future" (PASCH) with the aim of intensifying cooperation with schools abroad and establishing German as a foreign language as an integral part of the curricula in the respective countries. The "Support Initiative for German Schools Abroad and Partner Schools" (BIDS), which is organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), forms an essential part of the PASCH initiative.

The BIDS project strengthens the cooperation of the universities with German schools abroad and language diploma schools. Among other things, the DAAD also supports our university's own BIDS project "Perspective Viadrina". As part of this, we cooperate in particular with schools abroad and language diploma schools in Armenia, Bulgaria, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

In the new funding period 2022-2024, we are working closely with our partners from the Brandenburg Technical University (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg in the development phase of the joint project BB-BIDS, which has existed since 2019.

What does “Perspektive Viadrina” offer me?

Trial studies

As part of the "Perspective Viadrina" we do not only visit schools in Armenia, Bulgaria, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan and present the European University Viadrina there - we also invite pupils to Frankfurt (Oder) once a year, so that they can personally inspect the Viadrina.

Since 2008 we have been welcoming around 20 students to our university every year, who are in their last years at PASCH schools. During a varied introductory week, the prospective high school graduates have the opportunity to personally experience everyday life at our university and to find out about the diverse range of courses offered by the Viadrina on site.

We offer students the opportunity to:

• discover the university campus and the two cities of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice
• attend academic courses
• meet Viadrina students
• meet students from all over the world at International Day
• participate in an intercultural workshop or writing workshop
• take a day trip to Berlin.

For the duration of the trial study week, the prospective students are accommodated in the student residence. The European University Viadrina bears the travel, subsistence and accommodation costs of the introductory course.

The next digital trial course will take place from November 7^th - 11^th, 2022. You can simply register HERE until 31^st of October 2022, 23:59h (CET).

• Perspective Viadrina | Flyer 2022
• we have put together impressions of the first digital trial course in 2021 for you
• you can find impressions of the trial studies in 2022 in the field reports
• we have put together some impressions of the trial studies in 2019 here
• you can find impressions of the trial studies in 2018 in the field reports
• Click here for the photo gallery of the trial study weeks at the Viadrina over the years

Impressions from the trial studies 2022

In June 2022, after more than two and a half years, we finally received visits from students from German schools abroad and partner schools.

The 12 students from Armenia (Gyumri and Yerevan), Bulgaria (Burgas, Pernik, Ruse, Stara Zagora) and Poland (Wroclaw and Leszno) were able to get to know the European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder)/Słubice, Brandenburg and Germany as part of the BIDS trial study week "Perspektive Viadrina" and find out about studying in Germany.

Some students have written great testimonials about the trial study week at the Viadrina – you can read them here.

We would like to thank you for the wonderful week together and hope to welcome you soon as students at the European University Viadrina. A heartfelt thank you also goes to the two accompanying teachers from Burgas (Bulgaria) and Yerevan (Armenia).

Also in 2023 we are looking forward to motivated students from PASCH schools from Armenia, Bulgaria, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan who would like to experience the trial study week at the Viadrina live.

Scholarships (during studies)

With the help of BIDS, graduates of PASCH schools are supported in their transition to studying in Germany. An important basic requirement for graduates from PASCH schools from the targeted program countries to start their studies and successfully complete their university education is the ability to finance their studies and life in Germany. In order to make it easier for particularly high-performing PASCH graduates to start their studies in Germany, the instrument of motivational grants is used.

These motivational grants are awarded to graduates of language schools and German schools abroad and are aimed at students in their first year at university.

The European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) offers numerous other scholarships. You can find more detailed information about the Viadrina scholarships and the application requirements on our scholarship page.

Fact-finding trips

In order to provide extensive information about the European University, we and our students, the so-called international Viadrina ambassadors, travel to the schools and present our Viadrina. Since September 2008 we have visited numerous partner schools in Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, we are represented at various education fairs, where you can meet us personally and ask your individual questions about studying at the Viadrina.

Information for teachers

Are you a study and career counseling teacher and need information material for your school? Please contact us and we will send you what you want. Or would you like to see the Viadrina for yourself during a stay in Germany? We are happy to welcome you.

Are you planning a class trip to the Berlin/Brandenburg region and would like to show your students a German university? You and your students are always welcome at the Viadrina. Please contact us.

Have you heard about the partner school project "Perspective Viadrina" and would like to know how your school can participate? Please contact us.

Advice and support

In addition to general study advice, there is also a special contact person at the Viadrina for students from German schools abroad and language diploma schools. She will help with all questions about degree programs, applications, scholarships, etc.

Contact: Maria Krug-Firstbrook

We also provide intensive support to foreign students during their studies. If you have any questions or difficulties, you can always contact us.

BIDS Newsletter

In 2021 we launched a BIDS newsletter, which is sent out monthly and provides information on important topics such as application, financing and accomodation, as well as presenting our study programs.

You are welcome to sign up for our BIDS newsletter here.

All issues will also be gradually posted here for retrieval

• #16: August 2022: Du willst Viadrina live erleben? Dann nimm an unserem zweiten digitalen Schnupperstudium 2022 teil
• #15: Juli 2022: Du denkst jetzt schon an nach dem Studium? Wir unterstützen Dich bei Deiner Zukunfts- und Karriereplanung
• #14: Juni 2022: Wohnen in Polen, studieren in Deutschland – das gibt es nur an der Viadrina
• #13: Mai 2022: Dein Weg an die Europa-Universität Viadrina. "Nie war Europa wichtiger als heute"
• #12: April 2022: Kannst Du Dir Viadrina leisten? Na klar, wir zeigen es Dir mit einer Beispielrechnung
• #11: März 2022: Du willst Viadrina live erleben? Dann nimm an unserem Schnupperstudium vom 6.6. - 7.7.2022 teil
• #10: Februar 2022: Du willst Europa studieren? Dann komm zu uns an die Europa-Universität Viadrina nach Frankfurt (Oder)
• #9: Januar 2022: An der Viadrina und in Frankfurt (Oder) bauen wir Brücken zwischen Menschen mit unterschiedlichen Perspektiven und Erfahrungen.

The issues from 2021 can be found in our archive here