Exchange studies in Europe

Study in Europe/EEA through Erasmus+

As an Erasmus student, you study full-time at a college or university in another European country, for a period of 3–12 months, on the same conditions as local students. You can study or do a traineeship within Erasmus+ on a total of 12 months for each bachelor, master and doctoral level.

You can get a grant from the programme for your studies abroad.

Eligibility

You must be able to transfer the credits from your studies abroad, to Umeå University.

Eligibility for applicants

• Be registered as a student at Umeå University.
  
  
• Have completed at least one year of full-time studies at higher education institution, before departure.
  
  
• pursue studies leading to a recognised degree or other recognised tertiary level qualification.
  
  
• Live at the study destination during the exchange period.
  
  
• Study abroad for at least 90 days and a maximum of 12 months (you must study in the host country for at least 90 days to get a grant).

You can read more about the requirements for traineeship here:
Traineeship abroad

Where can I go?

In the database Solemove you can see which exchange agreements exist with European universities.

Department and Faculty linked exchange places

If you want to go on an exchange to a partner university that your department or faculty has an agreement with, contact your international contact person to get information on how to apply and when the deadline is. Usually the application deadline is in the spring, from January to March, but it varies between departments.

University-wide exchange places (Germany)

There are a few exchange places within Europe which are university-wide and which are open to all students regardless of the institution you belong to. The places are at:

• University of Würzburg in Germany (German Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg)
  Please note that you must be able to speak German to apply to this university as they have few courses in English.

The application period for studies at University of Würzburg and Keele University during Spring 2024 is 22 May to 19 June.

Read the manual how to apply for exchange studies

Submit your application through Solemove

Mandatory enclosures required with your application:

• Study plan. Please write four courses for each university you are interested in applying to. Present your course selection to your study counselor. Note that the course selection is preliminary, nominated students may need to make new courses in a later application to the host university. Use this template
  
  
• Documented language skills in the language of instruction (for Swedish speaking students, Scandinavian languages are exempt), such as upper secondary school diploma. For English and German, the requirements are the equivalent of three years of study at upper secondary school. You should either have:
  
  
• minimum grade of VG (pass with credit) in upper secondary course A, or a minimum grade of B in upper secondary course 5
  
  
• or minimum grade of G (pass) in upper secondary course B, or a minimum grade of C from upper secondary course 6
  
  
• or minimum grade of E from upper secondary course 7
• or a valid language test which meets with the CEFR B2 level
  
  
• For international students at programmes instructed in English at Umu, a copy of the proof of English proficiency submitted with the application to the programme is sufficient.
  
  

University-wide exchange places (UK)

The university-wide exchange places are open to all students regardless of the institution you belong to. The exchange place within the UK is at Keele University.

The application period for studies at University of Würzburg and Keele University during Spring 2024 is 22 May to 19 June.

Read the manual how to apply for exchange studies

Submit your application through Solemove

Mandatory enclosures required with your application:

Study plan. Please write four courses for each university you are interested in applying to. Present your course selection to your study counselor. Note that the course selection is preliminary, nominated students may need to make new courses in a later application to the host university. Use this template

Documented language skills in the language of instruction (for Swedish speaking students, Scandinavian languages are exempt), such as upper secondary school diploma. For English and German, the requirements are the equivalent of three years of study at upper secondary school. You should either have:

• minimum grade of VG (pass with credit) in upper secondary course A, or a minimum grade of B in upper secondary course 5
  
  
• or minimum grade of G (pass) in upper secondary course B, or a minimum grade of C from upper secondary course 6
  
  
• or minimum grade of E from upper secondary course 7
  
  
• or a valid language test which meets with the CEFR B2 level
  
  
• For international students at programmes instructed in English at Umu, a copy of the proof of English proficiency submitted with the application to the programme is sufficient.

As the UK no longer participates in Erasmus+, it is not possible to get an Erasmus scholarship if you go there as an exchange student.

Opportunities for extra funding, Erasmus+

For applicants with disabilities

All individuals, regardless of circumstances, shall be able to participate and develop themselves through Erasmus+. If you have a permanent or long-term disability including disability caused by physical or mental illness, you can apply for an extra top-up in addition to the regular scholarship amount to cover costs such as transportation, adapted housing, preparatory sign language course, adaption of teaching materials or such. Top-up is 250 EUR/month.

Certificate: from the coordinator for pedagogical support at the university or from e.g. the municipality that provides support to the student today.

For more information and to submit certificates (at the same time as traineeship application), contact erasmusstipendium@umu.se

Students who have both a disability and children are only granted one top-up.

For applicants with children

Students with children, regardless of whether the child accompanies mobility or not can apply for top-up. Top-up is 250 EUR/month.

Certificate: Family Certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) showing that the student has children or equivalent for international students.

For more information and to submit certificates (at the same time as traineeship application), contact erasmusstipendium@umu.se

Green travel

You can receive a single contribution of 50 euro for green travel and up to 4 days of additional grant to cover travel days for a return trip. Green travel is defined as travel that uses low-emissions means of transport for the main part (more than half) of the trip, such as bus, train, car-pooling, boat or other sustainable transportation. The application for Green Travel must be made at the same time as the application for the grant before the exchange starts.

 

Apply for scholarship

If you apply for an Erasmus+ grant you cannot uphold another scholarship during your studies abroad from EU or the Swedish Council for Higher Education. You can also not be awarded a grant if you have been on Erasmus exchange or training for 12 months in the same level of study, including the study period you are applying for.

Apply for Erasmus+ scholarship

If you are assigned an Erasmus+ exchange place, you can apply for a grant through the International Office. 

The international contact person at your department or study programme must inform the International Office that you have been assigned an exchange place.

You will then receive an invitation by e-mail to Umeå University's Canvas page for Erasmus grants. On the Canvas page you will find more information about how to submit your grant application.

Your application must be complete before you begin your exchange. For students who are going on an exchange during the autumn semester, the application for an Erasmus scholarship usually opens at the beginning of June, while for students who are going on an exchange during a spring semester, the application usually opens in the end of November/beginning of December.

Grant amount and payment

The grant amount differs depending on which country you are doing your exchange in. The grant amounts to a sum between 510-560 EUR/month.

About 70 percent of the total amount will be disbursed in the beginning of the exchange period. The remaining funds is paid out after you have completed your exchange and fulfilled the requirements as stated in Canvas.

The payments are made on the 25th of every month and are in accordance with the exchange rate that existed when the university received the funds.

If you choose to cancel your exchange or if you do not fulfil the requirements you may have to pay back the full amount, or part, of your scholarship.