Application handbook for exchange studies

Review all of the centrally administered exchange agreements to find important information about:

• the subjects covered by the agreement and whether the agreement applies to courses at undergraduate, master or doctoral level.
• links to course catalogues
• language of instruction and whether any form of certificate of language skills is required.
• academic calendar
• ancillary services such as accommodation, welcome arrangements, etc.
• reports from previous exchange students. The reports can be found on each university's page by clicking "Read Exchange Reports".

Different universities to apply to each application round

Not all partner universities may be applied to at every application round. Which universities will be available for application in each application round is published on the page about avaliable universities when the application opens.

At the start of the application period, a link to the application form is published on the page about exchange studies. When the application opens, a list of applicable universities is published. You must complete your application with the following information:

1. Choice of university
2. Proposing courses for all universities applied for
3. Academic Purpose Statement
4. Results certificate
5. Registration certificate
6. Language test results where applicable
7. Any certificate showing involvement in mentor programmes, buddy programmes or welcome activities at Uppsala University.
8. Any certificates regarding certain student representative posts

1. Choice of university

You may apply to a maximum of six universities. Select universities in the online application. A list of applicable universities for a specific application round is published when the application is opened. By selecting multiple universities, you stand a better chance of being assigned an exchange place. However, only apply to universities you can truly consider studying at.

2. Proposing courses

For each university you apply to, you must also propose a specific course corresponding to full-time studies for one (1) semester. The purpose of proposing a specific course is to give you an idea of the courses available at the universities you are applying to. Use of the page displaying all centrally administered exchange agreements to find information about the following:

• The scope of the agreement: The subjects covered by the agreement.
• Permitted academic level for studies: Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD level.
• Converting credits: At Uppsala University, full-time studies for one semester gives 30 credits. Universities abroad use different units. Help is available here with translating their point systems to Swedish credits to help you find courses corresponding to 30 credits.
• Language of instruction: The language(s) of instruction at the university.
• Links to course Information: There are also links to help you find information about courses on our partner universities' websites.
• Previous student experiences: Students from earlier exchanges describe how they experienced their studies. See the Read Exchange Reports button.

Good to know when you are looking for courses:

• Because your course proposal is a request, you may change it. Precisely when you make your final choice depends on the university you will attend. At some universities your choice of course is determined before you go, others apply first-come, first-served systems at the beginning of the semester. The partner university also decides whether you are qualified to study a particular course.
• During your exchange, you may study courses that can be accredited to your intended degree at the end of your studies. For the credit transfer to work as well as possible, it's important to maintain contact with the study advisor in your department for advice and tips on what to bear in mind when selecting courses during your exchange. Read more about transfer of credits.
• Some partner universities have course catalogues; others do not, so you must look for courses by finding the education programmes and looking at the programme structure. Often, up-to-date course catalogues will be lacking for the particular semester you are applying for, in which case base your choice on the latest course catalogue.
• Sometimes a course will have prerequisites. Find the course specified as a prerequisite and make your own assessment of whether you have studied the requisite content or not.

3. Academic Purpose Statement (APS)

In your Academic Purpose Statement, describe the knowledge and development opportunities you have identified at the university/location you wish to travel to. Your exchange is an academic exchange and your APS should therefore have such a focus.

The purpose of writing an APS is therefore:

• To explain why your choice of country and or city is relevant for your exchange.To explain why your choice of universities are relevant for your exchange.
  
• To explain your choice of courses that you wish to study.
  
• To take the opportunity to consider how your exchange fits in with your future plans.
  
• To think long-term and identify the requirements for knowledge and skills in the labour market you dream of working in.
  
• Practice writing descriptions of the knowledge and skills/soft skills you need to develop, and how this should take place.
  
• In addition to courses, there are abundant opportunities at universities you can use to gain knowledge and develop skills. Here are just a few of the many opportunities to explore: Is there a research group that holds open lectures on a subject you are interested in? Are there student organisations in your areas of interest that you can participate in? Does the University offer opportunities for study visits to interesting destinations or organisations?

Assessment of APS

Your APS is assessed based on how well you justify and discuss how your choice of country, city, university and courses in order to indicate a desired development of academic and personal skills as well as extra curricula activities relevant to your education and future career plans.

Read more about the points in the APS assessment under "Selection" on this page.

APS guidelines

• Language: You must write an APS in each language of instruction no matter how many universities you apply to. If you have only applied to a university that teaches in e.g. English, you should write one (1) APS in English. If you have applied to some universities that teach in English and others that teach in Spanish, you must write two APSs, one in English and one in Spanish.
• Word limit: Use no more than 600 words.
• First choice: We recommend that you focus your APS on your first choice of university if your other choices follow similar reasoning. If any choice differs, mention it briefly.
  

Your APS will be read by the Unit for International Mobility and form the basis for the selection in your application for exchange studies.

4. Results certificate

Attach a results certificate from Ladok. If you have studied at other Swedish universities, attach a national results certificate. Make sure that any subsidiary courses with top grades are shown on the extract. If they are not visible, they can't be counted.

If you have completed a full degree course such as a Bachelor's degree at a foreign university and all of the examination documents are available in antagning.se, we can evaluate your top grades in your application for exchange studies.

5. Registration certificate

If you're applying for an exchange through the Unit for International Mobility, you must have 30 registered credits, i.e. be an active student at the time of application. Support this with a registration extract from Ladok, which you can download yourself. You may also contact your department or Student Services for assistance.

6. Language test results where applicable

If you are applying to a university that requires language test by the time of application to the Unit for International Mobility, attach the certificate to your application. Any necessary information can be found in the relevant university information, which is linked on the page about available universities.

7. Any certificate showing involvement in mentor programmes, buddy programmes or welcome activities

If you have been involved in mentor programmes, buddy programmes or welcome activities for new students at Uppsala university, you may ask the organisation responsible for the activity to provide you with a certificate of a completed assignment.

8. Any certificates regarding certain student representative posts

Student representative positions held for any semester as of autumn 2017. This must be supported by certificates signed by authorised signatories.

After the final application date has passed, the following will take place:

We will confirm receipt of your application by email 2-3 days after the final application date. If you do not hear anything from us, check your spam as the confirmation may have ended up there. If it is not there either, contact the Unit for International Mobility at mobility@uu.se.

Should any questions arise concerning your application, you will be contacted by the Unit for International Mobility within 1-2 weeks of the final application date by email or telephone. It is important that you monitor your email and telephone during that period.

1. You will be contacted by the Unit for International Mobility with information on how to apply to your particular host university. You have been selected by Uppsala University, which is a prerequisite for applying as an exchange student to all of our partner universities. Application processes may look a little different, so be sure to read all of the instructions you receive. If you have any questions about the application, contact your coordinator at the Unit for International Mobility first, unless you are advised otherwise.

2. Before applying to your host university, review your course choices again. If you plan to accredit your studies as part of your education, contact the study advisor in your department to see which courses you may study.

3. If your exchange is under an agreement that entitles you to a scholarship, you will also receive information on how to proceed with this process.

4. After the host university has received and processed your application, you will receive an admission notification. In some cases, admission notification is sent electronically to you, and in cases where it is sent to the Unit for International Mobility, we will contact you. Please note that the processing time for applications varies greatly between host universities. It may therefore take some time before you receive your admission notification. We offer an opportunity for an education, which in turn takes place on the terms of the partner university. Please note that it is always the host university that decides whether or not to admit you.

5. When your admission notice has arrived, it is time to apply for a visa, accommodation etc. Read our pre-departure checklist for more tips.

6. You will be invited to attend a pre-departure meeting with the Unit for International Mobility, where you can meet other outbound students and get more practical information about your exchange.

Insurance

All students who go on exchange studies via Uppsala University are covered by the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency Kammarkollegiet's Student OUT insurance.

More information

• About the Student OUT insurance on Kammarkollegiet's website
• About the European Health Insurance card on the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's website