Applying for student Exchange will become easier

The University of Helsinki aims to make student exchange opportunities accessible to as many students as possible. However, the current selection process, which places significant emphasis on grade point averages and motivation letters, may create unequal opportunities for students due to factors that can hinder their studies and academic progress. 

To facilitate the application process for everyone, starting from the October 2025 application round, we are transitioning to a selection process where we first verify that applicants meet the eligibility criteria (e.g., language proficiency, level of studies, and minimum GPA for certain destinations). Eligible students will be placed in their desired destinations if there are enough spots available. If there are more applicants than spots, students will be assigned to destinations based on a randomly generated ranking number. We strive to place applicants according to their chosen priority order. If an applicant is not selected for any of their preferred destinations, they can be offered another suitable destination. This way, a suitable destination should be found for all applicants. 

We hope that this inclusive and streamlined selection method ensures a fairer selection process and promotes diversity and equal opportunities among students participating in exchange programs. 

The eligibility and selection criteria for student exchanges will be updated in more detail during this spring. If you are considering applying for an exchange for the academic year 2026-27, please keep an eye on the Eligibility and Selection Criteria webpage. This change does not affect those going for exchanges in the academic year 2025-2026 or the supplementary application round for Europe in fall 2025 for spring 2026.