You can receive support to study abroad. If you are travelling on an exchange or internship through the Erasmus+ programme (studies in Europe), you may be eligible for extra support and funding if you have a permanent or long-term disability caused by an injury, illness or mental health problem.
Important information
- Contact the international contact person at your department for more information about study abroad opportunities.
- Also contact the coordinator for students with disabilities at Umeå University (4–6 months prior to your departure date).
- If you would like to study abroad at a university with which Umeå University does not have an exchange agreement, known as being a freemover, you need to organise support on your own.
- You are responsible for organising any other support you may need. This includes transport, physiotherapy, psychological support, a wheelchair, or a personal computer with appropriate software.
Extra funding opportunities under Erasmus+
Extra funds for individuals with a disability
Erasmus+ should enable all participants to achieve personal development, regardless of their personal circumstances. If you have a permanent or long-term disability, including bodily impairments caused by physical or mental illness, you can apply for extra funding beyond the regular scholarship amount to cover extra costs for special transports, adapted accommodation, preparatory sign language course, adaptation of learning materials and similar. There are different types of funding that can be applied for: top-up and actual costs.
Top-up
The top-up is currently EUR 250 per month.
Required certificates
Examples of certificates you may need to provide include NAIS decisions from the educational support coordinator at your department or from the municipality that is currently supporting you as a student, or other types of documentation that confirm your needs.
For more information and to submit a certificate (in connection with the scholarship application before the exchange studies or traineeship), please contact erasmusstipendium@umu.se.
Actual costs
In addition to the grant described above, you can apply for an inclusion grant for actual costs if they exceed the additional allowance of EUR 250 per month. This is intended to cover major costs that you may incur during your stay abroad.
If you need to apply for an additional inclusion grant, we recommend that you start your application well in advance. Begin by speaking with the responsible person at your department as soon as possible, preferably six months before you plan to leave on your exchange. The department contacts erasmusstipendium@umu.se to start the process of applying for funding for actual costs. You will receive information on what you need to do before applying.
The application for an inclusion grant for actual costs must be approved before you begin your exchange studies or internship. The grant cannot be applied for retroactively. The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) assesses the application and decides which costs can be reimbursed.
Checklist ahead of beginning Erasmus studies
Important information
- Plan your exchange studies well in advance (preferably 4–6 months in advance).
- Contact the person at your department responsible for international contacts if you would like to apply for an extra Erasmus scholarship for a disability. Find your international contact.
Note: Before contacting the person at your department responsible for international contacts, you need to have completed a survey of your support needs together with a coordinator for targeted student support at the Student Services Office.
- Request any necessary supporting documents, such as a medical certificate and any measures from the municipality regarding your disability (certificates in English).
- If necessary, you will be invited to a meeting where we (the coordinator, your international contact and a representative from the International Office) will work together to assess your opportunities for applying for an extra grant as an Erasmus+ student.
- You are responsible for arranging other support that you may need, including accompaniment, transportation, physiotherapy, a psychologist, a wheelchair and a personal computer with software specific for your needs.
Medical contact
- Bring a medical certificate or equivalent that confirms your disability. The certificate needs to be in English.
- If you plan to bring large quantities of medication, ask your doctor for a certificate confirming that the medication is for private use. You also need to check if there are any medication import or export restrictions that apply to Sweden and the country you will be studying in.
- If you will need to have contact with a local doctor during your studies abroad, make these arrangements ahead of time.
Housing
- Find out if the housing is appropriate for your needs. If your housing needs to be adapted to your disability, state this when applying for housing.
- Find out if there is someone who can meet you at the airport and accompany you to your housing.
Insurance
- You are automatically insured through the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency’s “Student UT”. Read the insurance terms and conditions and assess whether you need to purchase additional insurance: Student OUT
- Order your European Health Insurance Card from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency: EU cards and healthcare abroad (In Swedish)
