Short and blended mobility and summer courses abroad

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.

Is a traditional student exchange of several months too long time for you to be away but you would still like to study abroad? Would you like to proceed with your studies during the summer and gain some international experience at the same time? Short courses give you the opportunity to internationalize in a shorter time.

Erasmus+-programme allows you to participate in a blended short mobility. Blended mobility means that a mobility includes both a physical short mobility (5-30 days) and a virtual component before and/or after the physical mobility. Erasmus+ blended short mobilities are often completed at a Blended Intensive Programme, BIP, organised by our partner university together with University of Helsinki and at least one other European Higher Education Institute, Then typically several students from UH and other organising universities participate in the same course, often joined also a by a teacher from UH.

If the short mobility cannot be funded by Erasmus+ or Nordplus funds, you can apply for a 500 euro grant for attending a course at another university abroad. The grant will be paid towards the acceptance letter of the receiving institution. You can apply for the grant if you don't get any other grant or scholarship for the course. The application period is ongoing (1.9.–31.5.) and the application for the grant is made in Mobility Online.

In addition, the International Exchange Service organizes an application round to some Summer Schools with which we have made an agreement. A certain amount of students will be chosen for these universities based on the agreements and general selection criteria of International Exchange Services will be used. 

Erasmus+ blended short mobility and applying for a grant

Erasmus+ blended short mobility means that a mobility contains both a short (5-30 days) physical mobility together with a virtual component before and/or after the physical mobility.  Erasmus+ blended short mobilities are often completed as a part of a Blended Intensive Programme, BIP, organised by our partner university together with University of Helsinki and at least one other European Higher Education Institute, Then typically several students from UH and other organising universities participate in the same course, often joined also a by a teacher from UH.. Information on Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes are for the moment provided primarily by teachers of your own study programme, that are participating in organising BIPs.

Erasmus+ blended short mobilities include a daily grant. More information on the grant can be found in the Funding for the student exchange in the Erasmus+ mobility grants section.

Terms for Erasmus+ blended short mobilities

  • University organising the course must be UH's Erasmus+ partner university and our inter-institutional agreement must include blended mobility
  • The course contains a virtual component and a  5-30 days physical mobility. This means that the course must have online meetings before and/or after the physical mobility NB! The virtual component is not a compulsory requirement for PhD students.
  • The course is minimum 3 ECTS.
  • No tuition can be charged for the course. It is, however, possible to have a fee for leisure activities related to the course, such as trips and activities.

How can you apply for a Erasmus+ blended short mobility grant? The application period is ongoing (1.9.–31.5.) and the application for the grant is made in Mobility Online. Below you can find application instructions and a link to the application form.

Freemover short course

What is meant by a short course?

With a short course we mean any courses taught at another university abroad. The course must be of high quality and support your studies at the University of Helsinki. The duration of the course may vary from 1 week to 3 months.

The student applies independently to the course at the host university's home page. The student must pay any course fees and travelling and housing costs himself.

University of Helsinki gives a grant for attending the course. The grant can be applied by all Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels. The application period is ongoing (1.9.–31.5.) and the application is made at an online application portal Mobility Online. If you are entitled to a general student grant from Kela, you may apply for that also for attending the short course if you meet their criteria. 

Please note that there is a certain amount of grants available and if they run out, we must end the application period in advance. In that case, we would inform about it on this page and directly to prospective students who have already started their application by email.

International Exchange Services will open an application round in February for grants for courses held in Summer. The summer school places to apply for in February are listed below.

How can I find a suitable short course?

The simplest way to find courses abroad is to see partner universities' home pages and course catalogues.

Many universities organize for example courses during summertime (Summer School, Summer Academy) but it might be possible to attend courses during the semester as well. All universities have different guidelines for accepting students for a shorter time than a semester.

You may apply to any university of high quality (preferably a partner of the University of Helsinki), teaching is at university level (Bachelor, Master, Doctoral) and you get the course credits transferred as a whole to your program/degree at the University of Helsinki. The course must last at least one week (5 days) and at most 3 months.

Some short courses can be found on these pages (also other times than summer):

Northern relevant courses and programs offered by institutions in the Arctic region (UArctic)

How to apply for a grant for a self-discovered short course

These application instructions are on applying for a grant for attending a short course that you've found independently and that doesn’t qualify as Erasmus or Nordplus. Instructions for applying for Erasmus+ grants you can find on this page under Erasmus+ blended short term mobility. Information on the application round for summer schools in February can be found under summer school application round.

The application period for attending a short course whereto you have applied independently is ongoing (1.9.–31.5.). You may apply for the grant once you’ve received confirmation for your attendance on the course. You may of course already start your application before receiving the acceptance letter from the course.

The application period for agreement-based places in Summer Schools 2024 is open 1.2. - 15.2.2024.

Here is how you apply

1. Register as an applicant the Mobility Online portal (Microsoft Edge works best with the portal)

These are instructions for independent attendance on a short course (freemover short course):

  • Click on the banner "Erasmus SMP, Erasmus STT, Visiting student, Freemover and Freemover short courses...".
  • Choose Freemover short courses
  • Log in with your university username and password
  • Check once again that it says “Freemover short courses” as programme
  • Check that it says 2023/2024 as "Academic year"
  • Fill in the lacking information, including the name of the course and information on the credit transfer to your degree. Press “Send application".
  • If you are about to convert the credits of the course to a certain obligatory course in your program, seek for approval from your faculty. You’ll find the instructions on “Returning home” and “Credit transfer”. If you are planning on including the course in your selective studies, it is sufficient to write, for example, "To my selective studies in Master's degree." on the registration form. No signatures are needed.

2. You’ll receive an email with a link to the application system where you can finish your application. Log in to your application through the link.

3. Check your information in “Download Application Form.”

4. Prepare the following supplements to your application and upload them on your application on “Upload application documents”:

Motivation letter

  • You can write the motivation letter in Finnish, Swedish, or English
  • Length max 1 page (400 words)
  • Upload the letter on your application either as a doc or Docx –format.
  • Motivate why attending this particular course is relevant for your study program / your degree
  • Tell where you are planning on including the course in your program/degree
  • More tips on how to write a motivation letter can be found on the page about the application process under “Motivation letter for you exchange application

Unofficial transcript of records of the University of Helsinki

  • You can order this via Sisu, save it on your computer and add it to your application.

A copy of the acceptance letter from the host university

  • Once you’ve received information on your acceptance to the course, please upload the acceptance letter to Mobility online. Note that the acceptance letter can also be an email in which your acceptance of the course is detailed.

5. After all the supplements have been uploaded, go to "Submit application with attachments".

Your application is now submitted and handed in for International Exchange Services for processing.

Your questions will be answered by:

International Exchange Services

studentexchange@helsinki.fi

Summer school application round in February

The International Exchange Service organizes an application round to some Summer Schools with which we have made an agreement. A certain amount of students will be chosen for these universities based on the agreements and general selection criteria of International Exchange Services will be used. Below you can find the destinations open in this application round, technical instructions for applying as well as the necessary attachments to the application.

The application round will be 1st to 15th of February 2024 (by 15.00 local Finnish time).

The selections of grant recipients will be made as soon as possible after the application period ending.

Nordic Center summer courses in India and China

University of Helsinki takes part in Nordic co-operation in India and China and gets to choose a couple of students yearly to attend summer courses offered by Nordic Centers there. These paid courses in English are held yearly in June - August, and are applied to in February, through an application round by the International Exchange Services. The selected students are then enrolled for the course by the International Exchange Services. For the Indian course, application is done directly according to instructions received from the Centre, and for the course in China, through International Exchange Services. Note that the course fee is paid by the student. University of Helsinki gives a grant to the selected students, more exact sums can be found in the information about each destination.

The courses have students and lecturers from other Nordic countries.

Please note that Nordic Center summer courses can be found in Mobility Online under 'Summer courses' and the following codes: IND HYDERA01 - Nordic Center in India - University of Hyderabad and CN SHANGHAI01 - Fudan University. Write the name of the course(s) to the text field in your preferred order. The same student can only receive a grant for one course per summer, even if they do not overlap time-wise. Also note the level of the course - students should preferably be on the same (BA / MA) level as the course they're applying for.

Nordic Center in China - Business and Innovation in China

Organiser Nordic Center, Fudan University
Time of exchange 1 - 12 July 2024
Level of studies Master's level 
Course descriptions Course information
To be noted Host university in Mobility Online SHANGHAI01 - Fudan University. On the application form, please write “Nordic Center” in the field for the course as well, when applying to this destination (Field: Which course/courses you are applying to attend).
Approximate costs The course participation fee is 1000 RMB (about 140 EUR). The fee does not include accommodation, traveling, visa, or insurances.
Grant sum 500 EUR
Credits 5 ECTS
Places to apply for summer 2024 3

Nordic Center in India - no application round for summer 2024

Summer courses in the Nordic countries

University of Helsinki has agreed on sending a certain amount of students after pre-selection to the summer schools offered by our partner universities. 

The nominated students don't have to pay course fees but there might be other costs for attending the course. International Exchange Services pays a grant of 500 euros for nominated students to help with the costs such as accommodation and social expenses. 

Some of the courses might have been filled before the decision about the grant. Remember to check the deadline and to apply to the Summer School in time! Nomination to the Summer School is not yet a guarantee for admission.

Aarhus Summer School, Aarhus, Denmark

Time of exchange Term 1: 2 - 19 July 2024, Term 2: 22 July - 9 August 2024
Level of studies

Bachelor's and Master's level

When applying for Master level courses, you must hold a Bachelor's degree (or as a minimum have obtained 180 ECTS in your study programme) by the time of application deadline to Aarhus (15.3.2024).

You may apply for a grant for one course.

Costs

Nominated students from the University of Helsinki are waived from the tuition fees. 

Cost of living: Estimated budget for a one-month stay in Aarhus: approx. 1000 EUR. This estimate includes housing, living costs, transport, books and social programme. Find the budget here

In addition is the student responsible for travel, insurance and possible visa expenses.

Credits 5 or 10 ECTS 
Places to apply for summer 2024 3
 
Summer School's own deadline 15.3.2024

University of Gothenburg Summer School for Sustainability, Gothenburg, Sweden

Time of exchange 27 June - 2 August 2024
Level of studies Bachelor's level
To be noted You must have completed at least 30 ECTS at the University of Helsinki when applying to the host university.
Costs

Nominated students from the University of Helsinki are waived from the tuition fees, but the following costs are to be paid by the student:

  • Accommodation in student housing
  • Short site-visits
  • Social programme

In addition is the student is responsible for travel, insurance and possible visa expenses.

Credits 7,5 ECTS
Places to apply for summer 2024 2
Summer School's own deadline 31.3.2024

Linköping University Summer Academy, Linköping, Sweden

Time of exchange 28 June - 27 July 2024
Level of studies Bachelor's level
To be noted You must have completed at least 60 ECTS at the University of Helsinki when applying to the host university.
Costs

Nominated students from the University of Helsinki are waived from the tuition fees, but the following costs are to be paid by the student:

  • Accommodation in student housing
  • Short site-visits
  • Social programme

In addition is the student is responsible for travel, insurance and possible visa expenses.

Credits 7,5 ECTS
Places to apply for summer 2024

4

 

Summer School's own deadline 25.3.2024
Fudan University International Summer Session 2024

University of Helsinki has agreed on sending a certain amount of students after pre-selection to the summer schools offered by our partner universities. 

The nominated students don't have to pay course fees but there might be other costs for attending the course. International Exchange Services pays a grant of 500 euros for nominated students to help with the costs such as accommodation and social expenses. 

Some of the courses might have been filled before the decision about the grant. Remember to check the deadline and to apply to the Summer School in time! Nomination to the Summer School is not yet a guarantee for admission.

Fudan University International Summer Session, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Time of exchange 8 July – 2 August 2024
Level of studies Bachelor's and Master's level. Applicants are responsible to check the prerequisites and the level of studies of the courses themselves. Please also check that the course is taught Face-to-Face.
To be noted When applying to this destination, please indicate the name of the summer session as well in the field "Which course/courses you are applying to attend" on the application form. 
Costs

Nominated students from the University of Helsinki are waived from the tuition fees, but the following costs are to be paid by the student: 

  • Accommodation in student housing
  • Short site-visits
  • Social programme

In addition is the student is responsible for travel, insurance and possible visa expenses.

Credits 1 or 2 credits (1 Fudan credit = 2 ECTS)
Places to apply for summer 2024 2
Summer Session's own deadline 31.5.2024

 

Technical instructions for applying and the necessary attachments

1. Register as an applicant the Mobility Online portal (Internet Explorer works best with the portal)

Application for attendance on an agreement-based Summer School:

  • Summer courses have their own application form.
  • Log in with your university username and password
  • Check once again that it says “Summer courses” as programme
  • Check that it says 2023/2024 as "Academic year"
  • Fill in the lacking information. Press “Send application".
  • If you are about to convert the credits of the course to a certain obligatory course in your program, seek for approval from your faculty. You’ll find the instructions on “Returning home” and “Credit transfer”. If you are planning on including the course in your selective studies, it is sufficient to write for example "To my selective studies in Master's degree." on the registration form. No signatures are needed.

2. You’ll receive an email with a link to the application system where you can finish your application. Log in to your application through the link.

3. Check your information in “Download Application Form.” 

4. Prepare the following supplements to your application and upload them on your application on “Upload application documents”:

Motivation letter

  • You can write the motivation letter in Finnish, Swedish, or English
  • Length max 1 page (400 words)
  • Upload the letter on your application either as a doc or Docx –format.
  • Motivate why attending this particular course is relevant for your study program / your degree
  • Tell where you are planning on including the course in your program/degree
  • More tips on how to write a motivation letter can be found on the page about the application process under “Motivation letter for you exchange application

Unofficial transcript of records of the University of Helsinki

  • You can order this via Sisu, save it on your computer and add it to your application.

5. After all the supplements have been uploaded, go to "Submit application with attachments".

Your application is now submitted and handed in for International Exchange Services for processing.

If you are selected in the summer school application round you must still after being nominated apply for the summer school course itself according to the instructions of the receiving institution. Once you receive it you must also upload the acceptance letter from your host university so that the grant can be paid.

Your questions will be answered by:

International Exchange Services

studentexchange@helsinki.fi