Apply for an exchange placement for the next academic year by 15 November

From 15 October to 15 November, you can apply for all university-wide exchange placements. These placements are available to all students at Umeå University for the autumn semester of 2027 and the spring semester of 2028.

Please note that there are three different application routes, depending on whether you wish to study:

1. within Europe,
2. outside Europe, or
3. through the North2North programme (universities within the University of the Arctic).

Why study abroad?

Adel spent his exchange semester at Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan. Here he is pictured with one of the 1,000 deer that live in Nara Park, Japan.

ImageAdel Badreldin

Exchange studies are a perfect way to experience what it might be like to live in another country. Instead of being a temporary tourist, you have a unique opportunity to settle in, build a new daily life, and create a second home.

- I really wanted to get to know people and become part of the local community. Being able to call Tokyo my home for six months felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, says Adel, who is studying Computer Science.

New friendships and memories to last a lifetime

Most students who study abroad agree that the best part is the friendships they make and the memories they create along the way. Julia, who is on the Study Programme for Human Resource Management, went on exchange to Canada. One of her fondest memories is from a hike in Gros Morne National Park.

- In the evening, I was sitting in the hot tub outside the cabin with my friends, watching the sunset and the stars. They had cooked a wonderful meal, and I felt so incredibly cared for, almost as if I were with my family, Julia recalls.

Julia spent her exchange semester at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. The island was a perfect match for her active lifestyle.

ImageLina Chu

Improve your language skills

Julia chose Canada to strengthen her English and gain the confidence to use it professionally in her future career.

- The experience gave me much more than just the course content. I was constantly learning new words, she says.

Before leaving for Japan, Adel had been studying Japanese using language-learning apps. Although he was concerned about not being able to communicate effectively, his worries soon proved unfounded.

- The classes were in English, and I had no difficulty connecting with local people, even though I wasn’t fluent in Japanese, says Adel.

Grow in confidence and discover what you are capable of

Lovisa completed her exchange at Keele University in England, where she enjoyed the peaceful rural setting of one of the country's largest university campuses.

ImageLovisa Gavelin

Studying abroad is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and realise that you're capable of more than you might think.

- I had never travelled with friends before, only with my family. The experience helped me grow as a person and take on more responsibility, says Lovisa, who studies standalone courses.

Adel agrees that spending several months studying on the other side of the world can feel daunting, but believes that stepping outside your comfort zone is part of the experience.

- Honestly, I'm impressed with myself and proud that I went. I’d really encourage you to do it too, even if you're feeling a little nervous or uncertain, Adel concludes.

Contact International Office

outgoing.io@umu.se

090-786 50 00