Studying abroad

There are several ways to study abroad through Uppsala University, and exchange agreements are managed at different levels within the university. We have agreements centrally for the entire university, at the faculty level such as the Faculty of Arts, or at the departmental level, for example Political Science.

The university-wide exchange agreements are managed by the International Mobility Unit. These agreements are open to all Uppsala University students, which means strong competition for places at popular destinations. Applications are submitted about a year in advance and include proof of grades and a personal statement. The International Mobility Unit has agreements with universities around the world and is the office to contact if you wish to study in, for example, North America or Asia.

https://www.uu.se/en/students/international-opportunities/exchange-studies-via-university-wide-agreements

The Erasmus Office at the Faculty of Arts manages exchange agreements for humanities students at Uppsala University. We have agreements with universities across Europe, and all our agreements are within the Erasmus programme. Our partner universities have been selected because they offer courses suitable for humanities students. Since all our partner institutions participate in Erasmus, you will automatically be eligible for an Erasmus grant during your exchange period.

https://www.uu.se/en/students/international-opportunities/the-erasmus-grant/erasmus-studies

You may combine the Erasmus grant with student financial aid (CSN) and other scholarships. Applications are submitted one semester in advance, but we have a separate deadline compared to regular university courses.

Things to Keep in Mind

An exchange semester is an exciting and rewarding experience. Almost all of our students who have gone abroad have had very positive experiences. However, your experience largely depends on you. It will require increased independence, patience when facing new situations, and actively attempting to solve problems. For example, you shall seek information yourself rather than immediately contacting university staff.

Once you have been offered a place, you cannot expect us to assist with the host university’s application process. Studying abroad is therefore both enjoyable and challenging. This is also why it is valued on a CV: it demonstrates your ability to handle new and stressful situations and to solve problems independently.

Where to Go?

Start by reviewing our list of exchange agreements to get an idea of which universities are available. You should consider what is most important to you: studying in a particular country or city, or taking advantage of the courses offered by a university.

Different universities offer varying numbers of courses in English. You should review their course catalogues to determine what you are able to study there. If you have specific questions about which universities best match your interests, feel free to contact us. However, we expect you to have researched the universities beforehand.

Sweden is unusual in offering courses that correspond to an entire semester. At most universities, several smaller courses together make up a full semester. You should select courses equivalent to 30 ECTS credits (1 ECTS credit equals 1 Swedish higher education credit).

Some universities divide the semester into different teaching periods. For example, at Utrecht University, students may take two courses during the first part of the semester and two more later. However, at most universities you will take four or five courses simultaneously throughout the semester.

Universities have different rules regarding course selection. If your exchange agreement is in History, the university may require that 50-100% of your courses are in History. Most commonly, at least half of your courses must be taken within the relevant subject area or faculty.

Please note: From our perspective, you may study whichever courses you wish. You do not need our approval for your course choices.

You will list your intended courses in your Learning Agreement once you have been admitted by the host university.

Credit Transfer/Conversion to Högskolepoäng

There are two ways to transfer credits from your exchange semester.

Option 1: Elective Semester

The most common and simplest option is to undertake your exchange during an elective semester within your programme. In this case, the exchange semester is simply counted as 30 HP within your degree programme.

Option 2: Credit Transfer a Specific Course

You may also transfer credits as an equivalent to a specific course, for example a second semester Literature course. This is possible but much more complicated.

If you wish to do this, you should first consult the Director of Studies at the department where you intend to transfer the credits. The Director of Studies ultimately decides whether the credits can be recognised.

The courses you take abroad must correspond to the components of the course you would otherwise take at Uppsala University. The Director of Studies can provide guidelines regarding suitable course types. Once you have these guidelines, the Erasmus Coordinator can advise you on suitable universities.

Not all courses are eligible for transfer. Undergraduate thesis-level courses ("C-courses") cannot be completed abroad.

To be eligible to apply for exchange studies, you must:

• have completed at least 60 credits (ECTS credits equivalent) of higher education studies;
• be registered, during the application semester, with one of the departments within the Faculty;
• have a sufficient command of the language of instruction at the host university;
• ensure that the proposed studies abroad are compatible with the degree you intend to complete at Uppsala University.

Uppsala University has central exchange agreements for all disciplines:

https://www.uu.se/en/students/international-opportunities/exchange-studies-via-university-wide-agreements