Prior to your exchange studies

Contact with the host university

Once the Department of Government has approved your application for exchange studies, you will be personally responsible for the practical preparations, such as applying for accommodations, registering for courses, and obtaining any required visa or bank guarantees. The host university will send the relevant information to you directly, and any questions you have should first be posed to them.

Learning Agreement and course selection

Those who are involved in an exchange within the Erasmus Programme must arrange for a Learning Agreement. In this document, you, your home university and the host university will have reached agreement as to which courses you are to take during your exchange period. This document will be sent to you once you have been accepted for your exchange studies at the host university.

Choosing courses

Bear in mind that the courses must be at an appropriate level, suit your academic path, and constitute full-time studies. Be prepared for it to take some time for you to immerse yourself in the partner university's academic system and to search in their course catalogues.

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is used at many European universities. One ECTS credit is equal to one Swedish college credit.

No standardised credits system is available outside of the European ECTS. Therefore, before starting studies in, for example, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia, you should ascertain what constitutes full-time studies there.

Studying abroad with a disability

If you have a disability, you can receive funding from the university for your studies, including studies abroad, and you can also apply for additional scholarship funding from the Erasmus Programme. Students with disabilities share their experiences from studying abroad at Study abroad without limits.

See Study abroad without limits

Accommodations

Access to student accommodations varies from country to country and university to university. Many host universities offer to arrange accommodations for their incoming exchange students. However, a few host universities are unable to guarantee dorm rooms, and it will then be up to you to find accommodations. In such cases it may be helpful to talk to students who have previously done exchange studies at the university to get tips and advice. You will have to pay the rent for your accommodations yourself.

Funding your studies

Exchange students are exempt from any course fees and tuition fees at the recipient university. However, this does not apply to fees for initiation activities, memberships in students' unions or the like. You may be entitled to various scholarships during the time you are studying abroad.

Language test

All students who participate in exchange studies within Erasmus+ must take two language tests, one before the exchange period and one after. These tests are administered online and are a required part of the exchange studies. If you do not take the language test prior to the exchange period, you will not be able to go. There is a risk that you will not receive the last portion of your scholarship funding if you do not take the language test after the exchange period. The tests are given in the primary language used in the instruction at the host university. The language tests are distributed through Erasmus+.

You will be offered an online language course if the test results indicate that this is needed. The online course is voluntary, but if you do start it, you will be expected to complete it within a set period of time. You will receive no additional scholarship funding for the language course, but it does offer an excellent opportunity to improve your language skills.

Insurance coverage

During your exchange period, you will be insured by the Kammarkollegiet [Financial and Administrative Services Agency] through Uppsala University. The coverage will be in effect in the country in which you are to study from two weeks prior to the start of the term until two weeks after the term ends. If necessary, the department will issue a Medical Insurance Card which certifies that the student is covered by this insurance. You can find information about the insurance on the Kammarkollegiet website.

The insurance is called "Student OUT" and is described here

Some exchange universities require that exchange students take out insurance and pay for local coverage. If you are studying in Europe you must carry a European Health Insurance Card. You can order the card from Försäkringskassan [Swedish Social Insurance Agency].

Visa and passport

You must apply for a visa for studies outside of Europe. You should contact the embassy of the country in which you are to study as soon as possible after accepting your study placement to determine how the process of obtaining a visa works. Certain fees may apply.

No visa is required for studies within Europe if you are a European citizen. However, in most European countries you must, upon arrival, give notice that you intend to remain in the country for more than three months.