Going abroad independently (as a free mover/visiting student)

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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.

If you are going abroad without it being based on an exchange agreement, you are going abroad as a free mover or as a visiting student. Free movers and visiting students are responsible for paying for the host university's possible tuition fees themselves. 

On this page, you can find instructions regarding what students going abroad independently as free movers or visiting students need to take care of before going abroad. In addition to students going abroad independently, these instructions are also meant for students whose exchange is not based on an exchange programme coordinated by UH's International Education Services. If needed, you can get a certificate from the International Education Services about your study period abroad being a part of your degree. Instructions for that are available on this page. 

Do this
For a free mover grant applicant
Going abroad with other funding
Returning home

Do this

  1. Apply to a university of your choice following its application instructions and by its application deadline. You can find the application instructions for free movers on the host university’s website (look for the words ‘free movers’, ‘visiting students’, ‘guest students’, or ‘non-degree students’). If you have questions, please contact the university to which you wish to apply, typically the international affairs unit or the admissions unit.
  2. Check your degree requirements before you apply to confirm that the studies completed abroad can be included in your degree at the University of Helsinki. For this purpose, you should draw up a tentative learning agreement (i.e., a study plan) for the studies you intend to complete during your exchange and for the credits which you wish to transfer to the University of Helsinki. You can get a certificate from the International Education Services about your study period abroad being a part of your degree when you have followed the instructions on this page.
  3. Register as an attending student at the University of Helsinki for the duration of your free mover studies. You must be registered as attending also at the time of the grant application for technical reasons.
  4. Submit to Kela a notice of change concerning student financial aid. More information about Kela's study grant is available on Kela's webpage studying abroad. You will need a certificate about your study period abroad being a part of your degree from UH's International Education Services for your study grant application.
  5. Read Kela’s instructions on moving abroad, and acquire a European Health Insurance Card if your destination is in the EU/EEA or Switzerland. Purchase comprehensive insurance cover if you are going outside the EU/EEA.
  6. Read the instructions of the Finnish Digital Agency on moving outside Finland.
  7. Read the instructions concerning crisis situations provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

For a free mover grant applicant

NB! The freemover grant application has closed 16.6.2026 and will not be opened again starting from the academic year 2026-2027.

If you are planning on attending a short course at a university abroad independently, you can apply for a freemover short course grant. The grant is meant for courses that last between one week and three months. 

Going abroad with other funding

If you are going abroad as a part of your degree either for a study period or an intensive course, but do not receive any funding for it from UH's International Education Services, follow these instructions when you have received an acceptance letter from your host university:

  1. Complete an electronic Mobility Online application. Log in using your UH user permit and check that the exchange programme is listed as Tailor-made programmes. Fill in the missing data and choose Send application.
    The application form includes a question about the studies you will complete abroad. List the courses you will take at the host university, how many credits they are, which language you will use for your studies, and how the credits will be transferred to your degree at UH.
  2. The electronic form is divided into two parts: you must first register as an applicant, after which you are emailed a link to finish your application.
  3. Upload two attachments: your transcript from the University of Helsinki and the acceptance letter from your host university.

Attachments are uploaded by choosing ”Upload documents”.

When your application has been reviewed, you will receive an e-mail from the International Education Services. The e-mail will include a Certificate of Stay Abroad as an attachment. You can use it when you apply for Kela's study grant for studying abroad. The e-mail will also include instructions about practical issues related to going abroad.

Returning home