Checklist before applying for exchange studies
When is the best time to go and where can you go?
- Contact your international contact person or your study councellor to find out when is the best time to go on exchange.
- You can apply for exchange studies at a university that Umeå University has an exchange agreement with. Explore Where can you go? on our website and in the Solemove database what options you have. You can choose between an institutional, faculty, or university-wide application round. So, for example, you can start by checking which countries and universities your department has agreements with and which countries and universities have university-wide agreements (exchange places that all students can apply for).
- Deadlines may vary.
- Check the eligibility requirements of the application round.
Choose which university you want to go to
You can find all universities in Solemove.
To see which universities you can go to, search for your department, your faculty or university-wide agreements (uniwide).
Check the course catalogue of the chosen universities
- Are there courses offered in your subject?
- Are there any restricted courses at the chosen university?
- Can the courses be transferred to your degree at Umeå University?
Contact your International Contact Person or study councellor
Present your proposed course choices.
When you apply for an exchange
Make your application in Solemove!
- Start the process early!
- Read all the information on Application and eligibility for exchange studies and the manual.
- Upload the required documents with your application.
- Please note that the required documents may vary depending on in which application round you apply. Be sure to follow the instructions in the manual carefully.
- Send in your application on Solemove before the deadline!
Frequently asked questions
Where can I go?
Where you can go on exchange depends on what you are studying here at Umeå University. There are places available through university-wide agreements that are open to all students to apply for, and there are exchange agreements that are linked to a specific department, faculty or programme.
Visit the Where can you go? page to find out more.
The agreements available at Umeå University can be found in the Solemove database. You cannot go to all the universities listed there, as most are only open to students from a specific faculty or department.
What are my chances of getting my first-choice destination?
The most popular destinations may vary from year to year.
Here you can see how how the places for the university-wide agreements outside Europe have been allocated in recent academic years.
Statistics for exchange places for the academic year 2024/2025
Statistics for exchange places for the academic year 2023/2024
For exchange places offered by your department, please speak to your international contact person.
My programme includes courses from different departments. Which department's agreement can I apply for an exchange through?
It depends on what you intend to study during your exchange semester, or which department you will belong to during the semester you plan to study abroad. Turn to the international contact persons at the relevant departments and ask them about your opportunities to study abroad through their exchange agreements.
My department does not have any exchange agreements. Can I still apply for exchange studies?
You can always apply for an exchange place through the university-wide agreements that are open to all students. You can also try talking to the international contact persons at other departments within the same or related subject areas to see if you can go on exchange under one of their agreements
Do I have to pay a tuition fee to the university I will go to?
No, when you study abroad under one of our exchange agreements, you do not pay any tuition fees. However, you might be required to pay student union fees, health insurance or other fees at the host university.
Which courses can I take when I am on exchange?
When you study abroad as an exchange student, you need to transfer the credits you take to your Umeå University degree. Therefore, the courses you intend to study abroad must be approved by your department or programme. If your programme has a mobility window, you may be able to study other subjects than those you are studying here. Talk to the study counsellor or international contact person at your programme or department before you select your courses.
What does it mean to transfer the credits I study abroad?
Make sure you have full grades from the partner university. Also to include syllabus, bibliographies and any copies of the work, assignments and exam results that you have collected during your exchange studies.
Learn about transfer of credits
How do I know which universities offers the subject or course I want to study?
If you are studying abroad through one of your department's agreements, you can assume that the corresponding subject is available at the partner university. If you are going on an exchange through a university-wide agreement or another department's agreement, you must check what courses are offered on the partner university's website, which you can access via the Solemove database. If you have any questions, you can turn to the contact person for the specific university. Who that is, is also stated in Solemove.
When do I have to decide which courses I want to study?
In some cases you must make a preliminary study plan stating which courses you intend to study at the partner university, when you apply for an exchange place.
Is there any support for me with a disability for studies abroad?
If you have been granted support for a disability while attending Umeå University, you can also receive similar support to study abroad, for example extra funding.
Studying abroad with a disability
Which exchange opportunities offer a scholarship?
You can apply for a scholarship if you go on an exchange under Erasmus+, Nordplus and north2north. For other exchange places within university-wide agreements and faculty agreements, in addition to those within Erasmus+, Nordplus and north2north, there are generally no scholarships available through the university. This applies, for example, to places outside Europe.
