International Office
Erasmus+ Green Travel
Make the journey itself an unforgettable part of your adventure by slowly and consciously diving into your new home! Take in the majesty of the snow-capped mountains of the Alps from the train window. Feel the air slowly warming up at each stop in a bus parking lot as you get closer to your destination. Learn your first insider tips from your carpool and let lavender fields, olive groves, or castles pass you by....
The International Office is pleased to be able to support this project financially! As part of the Erasmus+ program, trips that are primarily made by low-emission means of transportation such as bus, train or carpooling are now being funded. Students receive a top-up of 50€, members of the university an increased travel allowance. Starting with the winter semester 23/24, students will receive an additional funding of 150€, if the host university is located at least 500km away from the H-BRS and a short report including a photo is submitted. All applicants will receive the application forms from their contact person in the International Office during the application process.
For students receiving an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobillity (KA171) scholarship to Erasmus partner countries the rate of Green travel support varies depending on the distance travelled.
The aim of the new measures is to optimize the ecological footprint of the Erasmus+ program and to promote so-called "green skills", i.e. skills that are important in a sustainable and resource-efficient society. As further measures the European Commission plans for example the training of participants of the program as ambassadors for sustainable development and the support for the exchange of best practices of environmental protection.
Experiences
I took the Flixbus from Cologne to Madrid at the beginning of September. I admit it, it wasn't the most comfortable option - but I would do it again. The journey was incomparably cheap at around €85 including 2 large pieces of luggage, especially when you consider how much an additional piece of luggage costs with most airlines. You should take into account that changing trains with several heavy pieces of luggage can be complicated and exhausting, which is why I decided against taking the train for this route. With the bus, I only had to change trains once in Paris, which was not very complicated. In total, the journey took about 25 hours.
My tips for a pleasant bus journey: Earplugs, neck pillow, a face mask that doesn't hurt behind the ears even after several hours, a warm jumper and socks, a book, download films/series beforehand. You need to make yourself as comfortable as possible! It wasn't boring, I actually enjoyed just having nothing to do for a while and just looking out of the window. This also gives you enough time to think about the exciting time ahead!
- Winter semester 22/23 in Jaén
I used the option "Green Travel" and started my Erasmus semester with a small trip around Europe. I had reserved a week for this, so I spent 1-2 days at each of the four stopovers. First I went to Paris by train, from there to Toulouse, on to Carcassonne and my fourth stop, Barcelona, I reached by bus before arriving at my final destination, València. The medieval fortress of Carcassonne, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was definitely my highlight of the trip. I really enjoyed the train rides and little stops, also because it allowed me to slowly adjust to my semester abroad. The train journey requires a bit of planning, as it is much cheaper to buy the tickets in advance. Accommodation should also be booked in advance. If you plan to travel by train, I recommend comparing the prices of the trains (individual train lines or e.g. Interrail) and staying in hostels or Airbnbs, as it is much cheaper than hotels and you have the possibility to cook. However, you should be aware beforehand that such a trip is not the cheapest alternative and the "Green Travel" funding does not cover all costs. Since a train trip through Europe has always been on my bucket list, this was still a good opportunity for me and the perfect start to my semester abroad.
- Sarah Ziegert, winter semester 22/23 in València
You must be crazy! – That was the reaction of most people I told about our plan to travel to the one-week Summer School in Prishtina, Kosovo by bus and train. Nevertheless, I set off with two fellow students late on Friday afternoon from Bonn main station on the long journey to the Western Balkans. First, we took the ICE to Augsburg, where we boarded the night train to Budapest. We didn't get much sleep in the seat cabin though, but next time we´ll be smarter: book early enough to get an affordable bed in the couchette!
In Budapest, we had half a day to get an impression of the city. The weather invited us for a short walk along the Danube, leading us to a small festival in the city centre with traditional Hungarian dance and music. In the afternoon we took the bus to Belgrade, where we slept one night in a hostel (and finally had a shower!). Also in Belgrade, there was still enough time the next morning to stroll through the streets and refresh in a café. Because of the conflict in northern Kosovo, we headed by bus to Skopje in North Macedonia, where we were picked up by car and driven to Prishtina.
Especially, the bus ride through Serbia was beautiful because you drive for hours through lush green mountains and the breathtaking nature glides past you. Even though we arrived at our destination more exhausted than if we had flown the three hours from Düsseldorf, the eventful journey was one of the highlights of the Summer School and definitely an adventure I will remember for life!
- Summer School 2023 in Prishtina, Kosovo