How to become an exchange student

A semester or year spent abroad as an exchange student is becoming a regular part of one’s university studies. It is also gaining more popularity to start professional career by doing traineeship abroad.

Students can also study and do internship abroad using the opportunities their home university has on hand. The following information will provide a brief overview of the possibilities that students at the University of Tartu (UT) have for enhancing their studies with time spent abroad.

How to become an exchange student

Study abroad!

Erasmus+ mobility between programme countries Erasmus+ mobility between programme countries is a higher education sub-activity of the Erasmus+ programme proposed by the European Commission, within the framework of which it is possible to study as an exchange student (3–12 months) and to do a traineeship (a minimum period of two months) in countries that participate in the programme (all EU Member States as well as Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey). A student may participate in the programme several times, totalling up to 12 months maximum per level of study.

The specialization-based cooperation agreements signed between the UT academic units and partner universities serve as a basis for studying as an exchange student. The application process for the forthcoming academic year takes place in February/March, and an additional competition may

be organised in early autumn for the spring semester. The compe tition is held at the academic unit of the corresponding specializa tion. After being selected here, the admission requirements of a foreign university must be complied with. The participation in the learning mobility guar antees free tuition at the partner university and subsistence al lowance the amount of which is determined separately for each academic year (in the 2015/2016 academic year 435–695 euros a month).

The traineeship grant can be applied if the traineeship is credited in the completion of the curriculum here or if the traineeship is done within 12 months after graduating. The practice base may be a higher education institution, company or organisation (except the EU institutions). Applications can be submitted in the spring and au tumn semester via the Interna tional Student Service (ISS). The amount of subsistence allowance is 535–595 euros a month.

In addition to the ISS, informa tion is also provided by Erasmus Departmental Coordinators in academic units.

More information: www.ut.ee/en/studies/studyabroad/erasmus

Erasmus+ international credit mobility Within the framework of the international credit mobility, it is possible to study as an exchange student for five months at higher education institutions of countries not participating in the Erasmus programme, i.e. those of third countries. The specialization-based cooperation agreements with foreign universities serve as a basis for the learning mobility. The application process for the forthcoming academic year takes place in February. For the academic year 2016/17 it was possible to apply for universities in India, Taiwan, Georgia, Armenia, China and Russia and the list of countries gets longer every academic year.

The participation in the learning mobility guarantees free tuition at the partner university, travel allow ance depending on the distance and subsistence allowance of 650 euros a month.

More information: www.ut.ee/en/current-students/erasmus-internationalcredit-mobility-programme

Täpsem info: www.ut.ee/valismaa/erasmus Täpsem info: www.ut.ee/valismaa/erasmus

Student Exchange with Partner Universities Currently UT has student exchange agreements with more than 30 partner universities in 13 different countries: Australia, Chile, China, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, South-Korea and USA. In most cases, students from all faculties can apply, unless a particular study field is not taught at the partner university. Students can study abroad without paying tuition fee and in many cases free accommodation in the dormitory, scholarship or free board is provided.

Applying for a student exchange is done through ISS; the application deadlines vary across universities. Most of the competitions take place during the spring semester (January-April) and students can apply for the next academic year (either for one or two semesters). If necessary, additional competitions for spring semester are organised in early autumn.

More information: www.ut.ee/en/studies/studyabroad/student-exchangewith-partner-universities

ISEP – International Student Exchange Programs ISEP is a world-wide network of 300 universities, with approximately half of them located in the United States.

ISEP offers two different programmes: on a fee paying basis and with scholarship (free tuition, room and board). ISEP scholarship competition takes place in

January and it is announced and coordinated by ISS. If necessary, additional competition for spring semester is organised in May/June.

More information: www.ut.ee/en/studies/studyabroad/isep

Utrecht Network and Coimbra Group Student exchange opportunities within Utrecht Network: AEN programme: 7 Australian universities; MAUI programme: 14 US universities.

Exchange students are provided with free tuition at foreign universities. The competition takes place once a year in January and it is coordinated

by ISS.

Coimbra Group Student Exchange Network (SEN) Students can apply to 21 participating universities from following countries: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland. Exchange students are provided with free tuition at foreign universities. The competition usually takes place in March and it is coordinated

by ISS. If necessary, additional competition for spring semester is organised in early autumn.

More information: www.ut.ee/en/studies/studyabroad/student-exchangewith-partner-universities

Swiss-European Mobility Programme application round for spring It is possible to apply for student semester is organised in early exchange in Swiss universiautumn. Exchange students do ties on the basis of bilateral agreements of specific study not have to pay for tuition; the fields. The competition takes host university also provides place once a year in February/ T채psem info:scholarship.

March, if necessary, additional More information: www.ut.ee/en/current-students/swiss-europeanmobility-programme

Intergovernmental Scholarships The Archimedes Foundation mediates various scholarship

programmes (e.g. DAAD, Fulbright, etc.) and learning mo-

bility under cooperation agreements entered into between Estonia and the following countries: China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium, France, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,

Switzerland and Turkey. Free tuition is guaranteed at a national foreign university freely chosen and, depending on the agreement a student may also receive the scholarship, free accommodation and/or travel allowance.

More information: www.archimedes.ee/stipendiumid (in Estonian)

Kristjan Jaak scholarships The Kristjan Jaak scholarship programme is a grant programme coordinated by the Archimedes Foundation, which aims to support the studies abroad of master’s and doctoral students and short-term assignments abroad at the university selected by the student.

The Kristjan Jaak programme provides master’s and doctoral students with three different scholarships: formal studies (studying abroad for a maximum of one year), partial studies (studying abroad for 1–5 months) and short-term assignments abroad (for 3–21 days). Applications must be submitted through the Archimedes Foundation.

More information: www.ut.ee/en/studies/studyabroad/other-programmesand-scholarships

International Student Service:

Ülikooli St. 18-132 and 134, Tartu Office hours: Mon-Thurs 13.00–16.00 Info and contacts: www.ut.ee/studyabroad The foundation for success is early planning and careful preparation. Please consult your Programme Manager before you apply for study abroad and check the related study regulations.

It’s important to note that exchange programmes do not provide a chance to graduate with a degree from a foreign university.