Application and eligibility for exchange studies through Nordlys

If your department does not have an agreement with a university in the Nordic countries that you want to go on exchange to, you can apply for an exchange place via the university-wide network Nordlys. It is open to all students at Umeå University and is managed by the International Office.

You can apply for exchange studies through Nordlys (university-wide places) between 1 February and 1 March for the upcoming academic year.

Eligibility for applicants to an exchange place within Nordlys

To be eligible for exchange studies through Nordlys, you must:

• be a registered student at Umeå University;
• study at undergraduate or Master's level;
• have completed at least one year of your education at Umeå University before departure (the exception is students studying in a joint Master's programme);
• have completed at least 15 credits (hp) at Umeå University when you make your application;
• have a study performance over 75% at Umeå University, i.e. no more than 25% unfinished courses;
• stay at the place of study during the exchange period; and
• meet the language requirements, see below.

Language requirements

Documented language skills

You neeed to have documented language skills in the language of instruction (for Swedish speaking students, Scandinavian languages are exempt), such as an upper-secondary school diploma. For English and German, the requirements are the equivalent of three years of study at upper-secondary school. The International Office checks the upper-secondary school grades, you do not need to upload them in the application.

If you have passed another valid language test with B2 level according to CEFR, it needs to be uploaded with the application.

Please note that if you are nominated to a university, that university may request that you submit certificates such as upper-secondary school grades.

If grades are missing

If you do not have grades that meet the language requirements, you can upload one of the following with your application in Solemove:

A passed valid language test with B2 level according to CEFR. We only approve the tests referred to by University Admissions.

For international students in English-language programmes at Umeå University, a copy of the certificate of English language skills that was used to apply to the programme is also accepted.

Requirements for different languages ​​of instruction

English

To fulfill the language requirements in English, the corresponding three-year upper-secondary school applies. You should either have:

• a minimum grade of VG (pass with credit) on upper-secondary course A; or
• a minimum grade of B on upper-secondary course 5, or
• a minimum grade of G (pass) on upper-secondary course B, or
• a minimum grade of C on upper-secondary course 6, or
• a minimum grade of E on upper-secondary course 7, or
• a valid language test which meets with the CEFR B2 level.

For international students at programmes instructed in English at Umeå University, a copy of the proof of English proficiency submitted with the application to the programme is sufficient.

Other languages than English

In order to fulfill the language requirements in the language of instruction at the host university at B2 level, the same requirements as stated above for English apply. To achieve B1 level, it corresponds to upper-secondary course 5, grade E.

How to apply for an exchange place through Nordlys

Step 1: Choose which universities you want to apply to

To see which university-wide places you can apply to through Nordlys:

1. Go to Solemove.
2. Select "Umeå University" as "Your home unit".
3. Then press "Advanced search" and select "Nordplus" and "UNIWIDE" under "Exchange programme".
4. Click on "search" to see available universities.

Step 2: Select courses

You are expected to study abroad full-time (equivalent to 30 credits). Choose four courses per university to which you intend to apply. You must do this to demonstrate that there are courses for you to study at each chosen university. 

Step 3: Present your course choice to your study or programme study counsellor

Before you fill in the courses in the study plan (see step 4), you must present the courses you intend to study to your study counsellor. They must then confirm that the course choices can be credited to your studies after the exchange.

Step 4: Mandatory enclosures

Study plan. Enter four courses per university you are applying to. Please note that the course selections are preliminary. If you are offered an exchange place, you will possibly make new course choices in a later application to the university where you will study. 

Use this template to complete your study plan

Step 5: Make an online application

Do not forget to attach the study plan (see step 4).

Home institution
In the application, you must state the Home Institution, then state the International Office.

The last received application applies
If you have submitted several applications, the most recently received one applies, unless you have notified us otherwise. Contact the International Office.

Scholarship

If you are offered an exchange place within Nordlys, you also have the opportunity to apply for the Nordplus scholarship plus a sum for travel expenses. The size of the travel allowance varies depending on which country you are going to. If you needdue to disability need special support to be able to participate in the exchange can get extra funds to cover the costs for it. Read more about scholarships on Financing and scholarships. 

What happens after the application deadline?

Selection

The result of the selection is communicated to all applicants mid-January via a message from Solemove. If you are offered a nomination for an exchange place at a university, you have one week to accept or decline your assigned nomination.

If we do not receive an answer from you, it is considered that you have answered no. If you are not offered a nomination, you will receive an email directly from the International Office.

After the selection 

When the selection is complete, a compilation is made of the students who have accepted a nomination to the partner university and a decision is made by the Head of Office at the International Office.

When the selection is finished and any cancellations are received, a reserve processing takes place. This means that when a student chooses to withdraw their assigned nomination, the International Office calls in a reserve as long as the nomination or application deadline at the partner university has not passed. Students who already have an assigned nomination cannot be on the reserve list, but students who have declined their nomination are added to the reserve list. The reserve process takes place continuously and is based on the same principles as the regular selection. Offer of nomination comes via Solemove in connection with an email from the International Office.

I have accepted an exchange place, what happens next? 

All students who have been offered a nomination for an exchange place and who have accepted it will receive an invitation to a nomination meeting. At the meeting, you will get more information about the next step in the process as well as other important information before your upcoming exchange studies.