Funding for the student exchange

International Exchange Services pays you a mobility grant if you participate in an exchange based on a University of Helsinki exchange agreement and you are not employed by the University of Helsinki during your exchange. Exceptions include exchange opportunities in the Nordplus programme as well as Switzerland, in which case the network or the host organisation pays for the grant. 

The mobility grant is paid in one installment before the exchange begins. You can receive only one mobility grant for each exchange. 

The grant amounts are decided annually. Grant amounts for the academic year beginning in the following autumn are always made prior to the application period. For Erasmus+ grants, national guidelines and schedules are followed. 

As the mobility grant is tax exempt, Kela does not consider it when monitoring the recipient’s income from the student financial aid perspective. 

Erasmus+ mobility grant is determined by the duration of the exchange in days, as well as the destination. The European Union has defined the country groups based on their costs of living and the Finnish National Agency for Education decides the grant sums per country group annually. 

Starting from the academic year 2024-2025, an additional travel grant dependent on the distance to the exchange destination will also be provided (NB! The travel grant does not apply to the United Kingdom). 

Below you can find more detailed information about Erasmus+ travel grant, semester exchange grant, short-term blended mobility grant, fewer opportunities top-up and special needs and inclusion support.

Starting from the academic year 2024-2025, a travel grant will be provided for Erasmus+ student exchanges (both semester exchanges and short-term blended mobilities*), excluding the United Kingdom. The amount of the travel grant depends on the distance to the destination and whether it qualifies as green mobility. In green mobility, the majority of traveled kilometers via the most direct route or at least one way of the trip must be completed using environmentally friendly means of transportation, such as biking, train, bus, or carpooling. Please note that traveling by ferry is not considered green mobility. 

In addition to the travel grant, you may also receive a daily grant for a maximum of 2 travel days. When traveling green, you can receive a grant for a total of 3 travel days per direction, thus a maximum of 6 travel days in total if both the outbound and return trips are made in an environmentally friendly way. 

The amount of the travel grant is determined according to the table below. The distance is calculated using a distance calculator from Helsinki directly to the exchange destination. 

Matkatuki/ Resestöd / Travel grant 2024–2025 

 *For short-term blended mobilities and Erasmus+ traineeships, the travel grant is paid for mobilities starting at the earliest 1 October, 2024. 

The travel grant is not available to those going on an exchange to the United Kingdom, but it is possible to receive an additional 50 euros for green travel, as well as daily grant for a maximum of 2 travel days per direction when the travel is made in an environmentally friendly way. 

NB! The minimum duration of a long-term Erasmus+ exchange is two months. If the actual duration of the exchange is less than the minimum, it is considered cancelled, and the whole grant amount must be recovered. The grant is paid for the time the student must be physically present at the host university. The duration of the exchange includes the orientation organised by the host university, course teaching, and the first examinations that immediately follow the teaching. Language courses organised at the host university before the semester starts are not usually considered a part of the exchange period in those languages in which an OLS language course is offered. Here you can find more information on OLS language course.  

The actual duration of the exchange is confirmed from the Letter of Confirmation once the exchange has ended. If the duration is shorter than planned, any excess grant amount will be reclaimed after the exchange has ended. 

Erasmus+ semester mobility grant for 2024-2025 

 Table for the academic year 2023-2024 can be found here (pdf in Finnish). 

A condition for receiving the Erasmus+ grant requires the completion of five credits per month. Shorter months do not affect the required number of credits, i.e., if the duration of the exchange is 160 days (5 months and 10 days), the condition for receiving the grant requires the completion of 5 * 5 = 25 credits at the target university. You can find more information on the other grant terms further down on this same page.

It is possible to receive a grant for short-term mobility (5-30 days) in Erasmus programme countries (listed above, not including UK) The short-term mobility must include an obligatory virtual component (except for PhD students). Mobility grant is paid only for the duration of the physical mobility. 

Erasmus+ blended mobility/short mobility grant is the same for all programme countries: 79 € / day for the first 14 days and thereafter 56 € / day for days 15-30. The above-mentioned travel grant applies to short mobility as well. In addition to the travel grant, you can receive a daily grant for a maximum of 2 travel days if needed. When traveling green, you can receive grant for a total of up to 3 travel days each way, thus totaling a maximum of 6 travel days if both outbound and return trips are made green.  

Blended mobility, incl. a traineeship, must award a minimum of 3 ECTS credits including the virtual and physical component. 

Erasmus+ programme supports students who have fewer opportunities to participate in mobility. Participants with fewer opportunities are entitled to an additional grant of 250 € per month. 

For short-term mobility, the top-up is 100 € for mobilities between 5 to 14 days and 150 € for mobilities between 15 to 30 days. 

In Finland the fewer opportunities category includes the groups below: 

Social obstacles: 

-students with families (student has an underaged child or children) 

-students who are family carers (student has an agreement of informal care with the municipality) 

Disabilities: 

-students with EU’s disability card or who have a right for the card 

-disabled students (at least moderate functional deficiency) 

Health obstacles: 

-students having severe and/or chronic health problems (at least moderate functional deficiency) 

Migrant background: 

-students who have received international protection (refugees, asylum seekers, students who have been granted international, subsidiary or temporary protection, or the student has a refugee’s passport) 

Special needs and inclusion grants are intended to enable international exchange and internship in circumstances when a special need causes additional costs that are not covered by other sources. Special needs can be an injury, impairment, physical or psychological illness, learning difficulty, personal situation, or other similar reason. The grant can be awarded to accessible accommodation, assisted mobility or such study-related special arrangements as learning materials, preparatory visits, and personal assistants. The inclusion support is paid in addition to a regular mobility grant and is based on actual costs. The essential point is that the exchange results in additional costs for the reasons mentioned above, which are not covered by other sources, such as Kela.  The application process is completely confidential, and the application is made together with the International Exchange Services. The decision on the grant is made by the Finnish National Agency for Education. The need for support and its quality varies individually so all applications will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 

It is important to start the preparations early on, at the latest 6 months before the mobility. Not only do you need to apply for support, but it also takes time before you have all the necessary information from the host institution, including details of any special arrangements. 

For more information on special needs and inclusion grant, participants' experiences, a checklist for the planning, application instructions and forms, see the Finnish National Agency for Education's inclusion page. If you need more information or want to apply for inclusion support, you can contact us at studentexchange@helsinki.fi. 

Erasmus+ global mobility ICM grants are available to a few exchange destinations outside EU depending on the funding received from the European Commission. In the October 2023 call there were Erasmus+ global mobility ICM grants to the following destinations: Kenya, Benin, Egypt and Canada (Canada: Queen's University: 2 Erasmus+ global mobility ICM grants). Grant availability is confirmed annually prior to the application period. Please check the grant information for each exchange destination to see if there is an Erasmus+ global mobility ICM grant. There can be bilateral exchange destinations in the same country. 

The Erasmus+ Global mobility grant is determined by the duration (in days) of the exchange. Grants are paid for the time the student is present at the host university. The duration of the exchange includes the orientation organised by the target university, contact teaching and the first examinations that take place immediately after the lessons. Please note that the minimum duration of an Erasmus Global mobility exchange is one term. 

The Erasmus+ global mobility grant consists of a travel grant as well as a monthly grant. For student exchanges in 2023-2024, the monthly grant is 700 € / full month and approximately 23 € / day for extra days. 

In Erasmus+ global mobility ICM, the amount of the travel grant depends on the distance to the exchange destination. For example, 

-Egypt: 530 € 

-Kenya, Canada (Canada: Queen's University: 2 Erasmus global mobility ICM grants): 820 € 

The actual duration of the exchange is confirmed from the Letter of Confirmation once the exchange has ended. If the duration is shorter than planned, any excess grant amount will be reclaimed after the exchange has ended. 

To qualify for the Erasmus+ grant, you must complete at least five ECTS per month (i.e. 30 days). Shorter months do not affect the required number of credits, i.e., if the duration of the exchange is 160 days (5 months and 10 days), the condition for receiving the grant requires the completion of 25 credits at the target university. 

Switzerland does not participate in the Erasmus programme. Consequently, the Swiss government pays a mobility grant also for inbound exchange students and the grant is paid via the host university.

Nordplus networks apply for funding and make grant decisions independently. The grant consists of a scholarship and a travel allowance. The networks can decide on the amount of the grant. The amounts listed below are the maximum amounts.

The Nordplus network pays for the student’s grant from the coordinating university. Instructions for applying for a grant can be obtained from International Exchange Services. However, all Nordplus students must accept the University of Helsinki’s terms of exchange in Mobility Online prior to their exchange.

Short mobility grant for a mobility under 1 month (express) can be 250€ / 1. week (5-7 days), 100€ 2. week, 100€ 3. week + travel allowance

Grant amounts in the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 academic years

Bilateral exchange opportunities (University and unit bilateral agreements) outside Europe

Bilateral exchange opportunities (University and unit bilateral agreements) to Russia, Ukraine and Georgia. 

Exchanges to Russia and Ukraine have been suspended for the time being. 

Every year, University of Helsinki receives funding from the National Board of Education to send a few students on North2North exchange. The sum is confirmed annually, only after the exchange application period. In recent years it has been 2 000 €/semester.

The Freemover grant is intended for students who make their own exchange arrangements outside Finland.

For the academic year 2023-2024 and 2024-2025:

Exchanges to Russia and Ukraine have been suspended for the time being. 

The receipt of a grant for a short course requires that the course is completed with a passing grade.

You can apply for a mobility grant through Mobility Online after the University of Helsinki has selected you for an exchange by filling in your personal details and by reading and accepting the terms of the mobility. 

NB! If you make independent exchange arrangements outside exchange programmes, you can apply for a free mover grant according to the relevant instructions. 

Follow these instructions to receive a mobility grant from the University of Helsinki: 

• Log in to Mobility Online with your University username and complete your personal and banking information under Complete Personal Data. 

• Erasmus exchange: If necessary, edit the dates of your exchange (if they have been specified since you created your application) under “Change stay from/stay until” on your Mobility Online account. 

• Carefully read the terms of the grant (“Read student exchange terms and conditions”). You can either print out or save the terms on your computer. 

• Accept the grant terms electronically by clicking on “Accept student exchange terms and conditions”. 

You must accept the terms at least two months before the start of your exchange so that the mobility grant can be paid to you in time. The date of payment for the mobility grant is the last banking day of the month preceding the exchange. You can apply for a mobility grant through Mobility Online after the University of Helsinki has selected you for an exchange.

Technical questions about Mobility Online: studentexchange@helsinki.fi or +358 2941 22953. 

Where can you see that the grant has been paid? 

• You will see a mark on your Mobility Online account saying, 'Scholarship payment processed,' which means that your scholarship has been processed and will be paid to you on the last banking day of the month preceding your exchange. 

• If the text “Scholarship payment processed” is not displayed a month before the start of your exchange even though you have accepted the terms electronically in time, contact International Exchange Services. 

• NB! During vacation periods (summer, December, and the turn of the year), the processing of grants may take longer. Be sure to accept the terms in time. 

I agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the student exchange stated below. Paragraphs 2-3 and 5-6 also concern students who do not receive a mobility grant. The grant shall not be paid should the student not accept the terms and conditions of the grant on his or her Mobility Online application account. Student exchange grants are awarded by the International Exchange Services on annually verified grounds. The general terms and conditions concerning the grants are published in "Instructions for Students" subsection "Funding for student exchange."   

1. I will use the grant only for the travel, insurance, accommodation, living and studying expenses incurred as a result of the student exchange. 

2. I will study on a full-time basis during the exchange period and will aim to follow the learning agreement (study plan) I have drawn up in advance. I will complete at least five credits of academic studies per month at the target university. If my target university does not use ECTS credits, the equivalent required number has been specified in the target university’s credits on the Instructions for students' site. As an exception to the minimum of 5 ECTS/month, some universities require the student to complete more than (the equivalent of) 5 ECTS/month. If going on exchange to such a university, I will complete the number of credits required by the host university. I will incorporate the studies completed during the exchange into my degree at the University of Helsinki. A summer course grant requires that the course is completed with a passing grade even in the case of exchange periods of less than one month. Sport and hobby courses are not valid exchange studies even if the host university awards credit points for them. The suitability of traditional arts and crafts courses into the University of Helsinki degree is decided by the teacher responsible for each course at the University of Helsinki. If the teacher approves the course to be recognized as part of your degree, it is also counted as part of the completed courses on exchange. 

3. I will immediately notify International Exchange Services about an extension, suspension, shortening or cancellation of my student exchange. I understand that the additional component of the grant is not awarded if I apply for it after my original exchange period. 

4. I agree to return the grant in full or part if my exchange period is shortened so that it affects the grant amount. I understand I may also have to return my grant if I fail to complete enough credits during my exchange. 

5. I will purchase the necessary insurance (sickness and travel insurance) because the University of Helsinki does not provide insurance coverage for outgoing students. 

6. I will submit the exchange documents (letter of confirmation* and transcript of studies) and complete the exchange feedback form for International Exchange Services on my Mobility Online account within two months of my return. If I participate in an Erasmus exchange, I will also submit a signed copy of my learning agreement to International Exchange Services and complete the EU Survey within two months of my return. 

*Only Erasmus, Nordplus and Nordlys exchange students must submit the Letter of Confirmation. 

Please note that it is not possible to receive both a salary and a mobility grant from the University of Helsinki simultaneously. Employment at UH prior to your exchange may affect the payment date of your scholarship. Please contact International Exchange Services at studentexchange@helsinki.fi, if you are employed by the University of Helsinki in the two months prior to your exchange. 

Changes to the duration of your exchange affect your grant amount and must always be reported to International Exchange Services. Immediately inform International Exchange Services about the cancellation, suspension, shortening or extension of your exchange and follow the instructions available on page Changes during the exchange. 

Depending on the situation, we will either provide you with an additional grant and an extension to your exchange or send you instructions for repaying your grant (or a part of it). If your exchange period is shortened or suspended, you must usually repay at least part of the grant paid to you. If your exchange is suspended for particularly compelling reasons, you must provide a written explanation. 

Note that the minimum duration of an Erasmus exchange is two months. If the actual duration of the exchange is less than the minimum duration, the exchange is considered cancelled, and the whole grant amount must be recovered.  

In the case of students whose exchange period is extended, the condition for receiving an additional grant is that the exchange agreement includes months of exchange that have not yet been used. The receipt of the additional grant requires that the student delivers a Notification of changes form and a certificate from the target university’s coordinator to International Exchange Services concerning the extension of the exchange and drafts a learning agreement for the extended period. The required documents must be delivered at least one month before the end of the original exchange period. Should the documents not be submitted in time, an additional grant cannot be paid. If information about an extended exchange is provided after the exchange, the grant amount is not affected. 

Students entitled to Kela benefits usually fund their studies abroad with student financial aid, a housing supplement and a student loan. Read more about student financial aid for studies outside Finland on the Kela site.

Applying for grants and scholarships from outside the University requires your own initiative. Other grants do not affect the receipt of a mobility grant.

For tips on other providers of grants, see Scholarships and grants.