Described here is how the exchange process works in general. Please make sure to go through more detailed instructions before starting your application.
NB! This is a general description of long-term student exchange (semester/academic year) processes. Short-term exchanges may include similar steps, but in a shorter time frame.
1 Planning the exchange
When is the best time for your exchange (which semester during your studies)
Where do you wish to study during your exchange (exchange programme, host university)
What do you wish to study during your exchange?
research the current course catalogues and study guides of host universities you are interested in and search for studies available for exchange students
Why do you want to study abroad?
Discuss your plans with your departmental coordinator of international affairs
2 Starting the application process (1. stage application)
Submit your application to UEF in the framework of UEF’s application periods during the academic year prior to the planned exchange (excl. autumn supplementary application period, when it is possible to apply for the next immediate spring semester)
For example, if you plan to go for exchange during AY 2026/2027, you should apply during the application periods open in 20265/2026. It is not possible to apply for exchange many years prior to the exchange, only during the year prior to the planned exchange.
The application (with the required attachments) is submitted in the SoleMOVE system
3 Application processing
Student can be selected for one (1) preliminary exchange placement to one (1) host university or exchange programme
Notification of results is done by email
Accepted application: accept or decline the offered placement
Rejected application: you will be offered the chance to change the application’s host universities to still available hosts, or reapply for exchange in the next application periods
4 Nomination to the host university
International Mobility Services nominates the student as UEF’s candidate for exchange to the host university
During the semester prior to the exchange
The student receives instruction and deadlines for the 2nd stage application
5 Submitting an application to the host university (2. stage application)
During the semester prior to the planned exchange (i.e., during spring for autumn exchange, during autumn for spring exchange)
Instructions and deadlines specific to the host university
Student receives application instructions from either directly from the host university or from International Mobility Services at UEF
Follow the instructions and submit the application to the host university complete with all required documents
6 Host university reviews student’s application
Host university reviews the application and asks for clarification or more documents if necessary
Host university sends the student or International Mobility Services an acceptance letter and other information about practical arrangements (e.g. accommodation, arrival etc.)
If the host university rejects the application, the situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis
7 Grant application to UEF
After acceptance, the student should submit the necessary documents for the grant payment to International Mobility Services
Instructions and forms will be sent by email
The grant is paid approx. one month prior to the exchange, provided that the student has submitted all the required documents in time
NB! During the holiday seasons (late June – early August, end-of-year holidays), grant payments may be delayed
8 Practical arrangements
Travel arrangements (tickets etc.)
Accommodation arrangements (if the host university has not instructed this matter earlier)
Insurance
9 Exchange starts!
Exact dates and duration according to the host university’s academic calendar
10 After exchange reporting
Mandatory part of the entire process and a requirement for the grant
Instructions and forms will be sent by email
Contact the departmental coordinator of international affairs to have the studies completed during the exchange included into the degree at UEF
Calls for exchange applications are programme-specific information notices, that include information about each exchange programme’s placements and host universities, application deadlines, and other important information related to the application. Calls for applications are published at the beginning of the application period in the Calls for applications for student exchange section. The first calls for applications are for exchange studies in the following autumn semester, in the following academic year, or the spring semester of the following academic year. The second calls for applications are usually for exchange studies taking place in the spring semester of the following academic year. For more information about UEF’s annual application periods, please see Application Periods on Kamu.
NB! As a general rule, the application period ends on the last day of the application period at 3 PM (15:00). After the application period has closed, it is not possible to submit an application, even if it has been started prior to the deadline. The deadline is set for the afternoon so we will be able to advise applicants until the last minutes in case of technical issues.
Exceptions to the 3 PM deadline may occur if the last day of the application period is during the weekend. In these cases, the application period may be extended until the next business day. It is important to carefully read through the calls for applications, as they include more information about the deadlines.
Application instructions
You should start planning your studies abroad well in advance, preferably a year or so before you intend to start your exchange.
The application process for studies abroad always consists of two stages. First, UEF candidates for exchange will be selected in an internal call for applications. The number of candidates selected is equal to the placements at the host university or in the exchange programme. The students selected in the internal call for applications then apply for the actual exchange placement at the host universities. Application instructions for the host university and exchange programme are sent to the student by UEF or by the host university. The final decision on accepting the student is always made by the host university.
NB! The UEF has multiple calls for applications during the academic year. If a student has been accepted for exchange, they cannot reapply for another placement for the same time period without cancelling the previously awarded placement. I.e., a student cannot have two exchange placements for the same time period “just in case”, if they have already been selected for a placement. In the event that the student has not been accepted for a placement, they are welcome to apply again for another placement.
Stage one of the application process (application to UEF)
The application for exchange for the internal call for applications via the online application system SoleMOVE (new tab) during UEF’s annual application periods.
Instructions for the application (with screenshots) can be found on the Study Abroad section in Kamu, with the heading SoleMOVE online application system. Be diligent about reading the instructions while compiling your application!
You can enter one or two host universities from the same exchange programme on the application form. Enter your first priority of host university first on the form. First-choice applications are given precedence if the number of applications exceeds the available places. Students may apply to two different exchange programmes with the same application form. You should specify which host university is your first and which your second priority, either in the letter of motivation or the additional information field of the application.
If the student is not selected as a candidate for the first-priority organisation, the second priority indicated in the application will be processed. In other words, a student can only be selected as a candidate for one host university for the same period of time.
Please make sure you only add institutions you are ready to travel to and study at into your application.
Students who wish to apply for two host universities for different periods of time (such as one host university for the autumn semester and another for the spring semester) should state this in their letter of motivation and complete two separate applications in the system, as only one exchange period can be entered in an application. The student is responsible for ensuring in advance that the semesters of the two host universities do not overlap.
The student should discuss the study plan for the exchange with their departmental coordinators of international matters in order to agree on the recognition of the studies and their suitability for the student’s degree at UEF. The study plan is made on the Learning Agreement form in the second stage of application or as instructed by the home university.
NB! Students from outside the EU/EEA should also discuss with their departmental coordinator or study programme coordinator if the exchange period will affect their degree studies at UEF and their tuition.
This application is used to apply for exchange (the first stage = to be accepted as a UEF candidate for exchange) and for an internship grant under the Erasmus+ programme. Please make sure to select the correct application period for your application.
A transcript of records and a description of the reasons for applying for student exchange (Letter of Motivation) must be enclosed with the student exchange application. A confirmation of the internship must be attached to an Erasmus+ internship grant application.
The Transcript of Records can be obtained from Peppi. In the first stage of the application process (application to UEF), you can download your transcript from Peppi either from the Studies tab, or from Atomi. Transcripts from Atomi are electronically verified.
The Letter of Motivation should be 1-2 pages (A4) in length. The letter of motivation is written in English or in the language of the host university/country. The letter of motivation will be read by the student’s departmental coordinator and International Mobility Services at UEF, and it will not be sent to the host university.
The letter of motivation is a free-form application in which the student presents their reasons for why they should be selected for exchange at their host institution of choice. Students can describe, for example, what they could study at the host university or how the university’s course offering for exchange students suits their studies, and why they have selected this particular university. If applying for two host universities, the student should discuss both the first and second priority in the same letter of motivation – please make sure to be clear about which institution is your first priority. Those applying for ISEP Exchange should describe why they want to apply for the ISEP programme and to which country/countries they wish to apply for via ISEP.
The contents of the letter of motivation are at the student’s own discretion, and it is possible to highlight the points that the student considers most important regarding the exchange. If applying for exchange with a friend, both students must write their own letters, in their own words, and each application must include information about whom the student is applying with.
If applying applying for two host universities in different exchange programmes, you may use the same letter of motivation for both applications.
NB! Do not use AI (ChatGPT etc.) to write your motivation letter. Motivation letters are used as selection criteria and it is very important that the letter is by the student themselves.
Application processing
The student’s application is first processed by the student’s departmental coordinator for international matters. The departmental coordinator accepts or rejects the student’s application on behalf of the department. After the departmental coordinator has processed the application, the application then moves to International Mobility Services for processing.
Overall, the estimated time for application processing is 4-6 weeks. In general, all applications should be processed by the end of the next month after the application period. Students are notified of the results by email once all applications from the same application period have been processed.
Selection criteria
Students who meet the following basic criteria can be selected as UEF candidates for exchange:
the student is enrolled as a present degree student at UEF throughout the exchange period
the student has completed a minimum of one year’s academic studies prior to the exchange period
the duration of the exchange is 3 months in minimum and no degree shall be awarded by the host university
the studies completed abroad will be included in the degree at UEF
the department/school of the applicant gives an approval for the exchange
the student will be a full-time student during the exchange
The following criteria is considered in the candidate selection and placement distribution process (updated 09/2025):
Exchange study plan
The student should research the host university’s study offer that is available to exchange students and make sure the host university offers suitable studies for exchange students. The student should use the current academic year’s course catalogues and study guides (on the host university’s website) to compile a preliminary study plan for the exchange period.
Progress and current phase of the studies
The number of completed credits in relation to the duration of studies or scope of the degree; what degree level is the student currently studying (i.e., bachelors, master’s etc.)
Possible earlier studies abroad
For example, Erasmus+ has a cap of 12 months per student per degree cycle of funding available, including exchanges or traineeships completed during previous studies
For competitive placements, the student’s possible earlier exchange applications may be considered
Host university specific criteria (if needed)
for example: language proficiency requirements or grade requirements, other possible requirements from the host university
Letter of motivation
other relevant criteria supporting the selection.
Applicants can also be interviewed. If there is competition for placements, the aim is to find concrete, reasonable differences between applicants using the above criteria, including the motivation letter and possible interview, comments may also be sought from the departments. If deciding distinction between applicants is not possible based on the aforementioned criteria, lottery may be utilised as a last resort.
Second stage of the application process (application to the host university)
Once the student has been selected as UEF’s candidate, they will proceed to the second stage of the application process. Depending on the exchange programme, the student will submit an application to the host university directly or to the exchange programme (ISEP).
The application is done during the semester prior to the exchange. Because the second-stage application is completely dependent on the host university in both details and schedules, the student will receive instructions by email. It is critical that students regularly check their email during the entire exchange process, because both home and host university will communicate primarily through email. NB! It’s also very important to check the junk folder, as important messages may be redirected there.
The host university will make the final decision on admission – the exchange is confirmed only when the host university officially accepts the student.
NB! If you have a contract of employment at UEF (for example trainee, researcher, research assistant etc.), login to SoleMove with your HAKA credentials and contact International Mobility Services at [email protected] so we can check your status. We may need to change your status from Staff to Student in order for you to have access to the correct application form. Checking the status requires that the user has logged into the system at least once.
Please note that you are not eligible for student exchange if you have a valid contract of employment at UEF during the entire duration of your exchange. Any and all employment contracts with UEF must be invalid/expired before and during the exchange.
SoleMOVE is an English-language system.
Please note that applications cannot be submitted after the application period has ended, even if the application has been started before the deadline.
The application must be complete and submitted by the application deadline. We strongly recommend that students start filling out their application well before the deadline. The last few hours of the application period may have increased traffic in the system and result in delays – consider this when making your application and start early!
NB! If you are applying for exchange with your friend (to the same host university), both applications must specify with whom you are applying. International Mobility Services cannot guarantee placements in the same host university, as this depends on the number of available placements per host and the number of applications.
Select University of Eastern Finland from the drop-down list
Select HAKA-Shibboleth as the login method
Select University of Eastern Finland in the HAKA page that opens
Use your UEF credentials to log in (same as for using O365 and Peppi)
Homepage of the SoleMOVE system. List of universities is in a drop-down menu on the left.
It is good to familiarise yourself with SoleMOVE in advance. You can log in and log out of the system freely, and you can make changes to the application draft (before submitting it).
Please note that you should use Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 or newer, or Mozilla Firefox 4.0 or newer as the internet browser when using SoleMOVE. Cookies and javascript support are required.
Important to know about the online system and its functions
Always use SoleMOVE’s own navigation buttons. Do not use back and forward arrows of your internet browser, because this might cause data to be lost.
Please remember to save your application by clicking “Save” on each tab.
Save button.
Submit your application by clicking “Send”.
Send button.
Some fields will automatically open text boxes with instructions. Read the instructions before filling in the field – these instructions give more information about what to fill in to each field and how to format the information.
You can find SoleMOVE using any one of these options:
How to create the application (video instructions)
The system provider has updated the application forms in SoleMOVE. Video instructions will be made available soon!
How to create the application (written instructions)
After logging in, the front page will have the headings Home, Applications, Learning Agreements, and Destination search on the left. To start a new application, go to the Applications tab or click Create new application on the home page, under My Applications.
NB! Always use this option for Normal student exchange, even if you are applying for a short-term mobility (such as Nordic Centre courses or Erasmus+ BIP courses) or traineeships. UEF does not currently use different application forms for short student exchange so do not select this.
SoleMOVE will first show you all prior applications from you. If you have an unfinished application, you can edit it by selecting the application.
To create a new application, click Create new application.
SoleMOVE home page after logging in.
When opening a new application form, you must first select Application type, Mobility Type and Application period.
Starting a new application.
Application type: always select Normal student exchange, even if you are applying for traineeships or short-term exchanges.
Mobility type: when applying for student exchange, select S – Study. If applying for traineeship grants, select P – Traineeship.
Application period: select the appropriate application period for what you are applying (exchange, traineeship grant etc.). Please note that there may be more than one application period open at a given time for different purposes:
Application for Student Exchange: Application form for exchange studies – select this, when you are applying for exchange studies during UEF’s annual application periods regardless of the exact exchange programme
Erasmus+ traineeship grant: Application form for Erasmus+ traineeship grants
Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Courses: Application form for Erasmus+ short-term grants (NB! You must have a specific short-term course you are applying the grant for)
Freemover exchange grants: Application form for Freemover/Visiting student grants
After making these selections, the rest of the application form will open for you to fill out.
Application form in SoleMOVE.
The following tabs on the application must be completed: Personal data, i.e. your personal information, Home institution information i.e. your unit and departmental contact person at UEF, Current studies i.e. information about your studies at UEF, Exchange information i.e. your selected host universities, Enclosures, and Check and send application.
You can navigate and move between tabs by either clicking the name of each tab or with the arrow buttons at the bottom of the page.
Personal data
Add your personal information on the Personal data tab, including your date of birth, contact information, and study right number.
The study right number should be for the degree you are currently studying for and/or during which the exchange will actually take place. For example, if you will complete the exchange during your bachelor’s studies, use the study right number for your bachelor’s degree study right. If the exchange takes place during your master’s studies, use the number for your master’s degree study right.
Why does the study right number matter? Accepted students will have basic information from their exchange (duration, destination) automatically transferred from SoleMOVE to Peppi based on the study right number. This International Mobility information will be in your degree certificate’s Diploma Supplement. Mobility information should be on the study right that is active when the exchange starts and during which the exchange will actually take place. Information about the same mobility cannot be on two separate study rights.
Phone number should be added in the international format and without spaces, e.g. +358505555555.
We recommend using your UEF email as the email address needed on the form (with the full @student.uef.fi domain). However, it is important that you can be reached from the address: use the email address that you use most frequently and regularly! All information from the home and host universities will be sent by email, so it is crucial that you actively check your email throughout the exchange process.
Home institution information
This tab is for detailing the departmental information for your home university, i.e. which department is your study programme in. Include also the name of your departmental coordinator to the application. If you aren’t sure who the departmental coordinator is at your department, see the list on Kamu.
Home Institution tab.
Select your department from the list (make sure the organisation level is unit). If you aren’t sure which department your major is in, select the unit closest to your major. International Mobility Services is able to check and edit the information if necessary. NB! UEF’s Erasmus institutional code is SF KUOPIO12. The code is the same for all units on both campuses, so departments/units in Joensuu also have the code SF KUOPIO12.
List of departments/units at UEF.
Current studies
This tab is for information about your current studies at UEF. This includes your study programme and major, number of completed study years and completed credits. You can add information from all your studies specifically at UEF: if you are a master’s student and have completed a bachelor’s at UEF, include your bachelor’s degree years and credits into the total number. Previous studies at other higher education institutions should not be included here.
For the question Degree/diploma you will be studying for during the exchange, select the study level that you are studying for during the exchange. Example: if you will graduate as a Bachelor before your exchange and will be a Master’s level student during the exchange, select 2 – Master. If you will not complete your Bachelor before your exchange, select 1 – Bachelor. This selection will be visible in the Online Learning Agreement (OLA) that is done in Erasmus+ funded exchanges.
Top half of the current studies tab.
You will also add information about your language skills (self-assessment on the CEFR scale, new tab) and information about any previous exchange study periods.
Bottom half of the current studies tab.
Exchange information
Add the exchange host universities you are applying for in this tab. You will also add a preliminary study plan in this tab.
Please make sure you note the following things when adding host institutions to your application:
You may apply for a total of two (2) host universities or exchange programmes. You may apply for host institutions in two different exchange programmes in the same application form. Be diligent when adding your selections.
Do not add any host universities to your application that you are not actually prepared to go to. We aim to place as many applicants as possible to their first priority host university, but in case of competition, applicants may also be selected for their second-place option.
The priority order of your selected universities matters. If you are applying for two universities in the same programme (for example, for two Erasmus+ universities), place your selections in order of 1. and 2. You can change the order with arrow buttons before sending the application if needed. Also include information about which is your priority 1 host university in your motivation letter – especially if you are applying for two universities in different programmes.
NB! When applying to ISEP or north2north programmes, add your host institution information like this:
Select the country you are applying to.
Select the exchange programme as the institution: individual partner institutions in the ISEP and north2north programmes have not been added to SoleMOVE as individual options, so you must select the programme. The programmes are titled “International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP)” or “north2north”. You may also use the search function.
Once you have selected both country and institution, the exchange programme will fill automatically for ISEP, and for north2north, you should select north2north as the exchange programme.
Adding host university information to the application.
When adding host universities to your application, select Normal as the type of exchange.
Select country first: the list shows only the countries that have available host universities. After selecting the country, the list of institutions will only show the universities that are available for applying in the selected country. Exchange programme can be selected based on which programme the selected institution is a part of. Students applying for Norplus and Nordlys exchanges are recommended to select Erasmus+ as the exchange programme here, as these exchanges are funded by the Erasmus+ programme.
After adding the host university/universities, add your preliminary study plan to the application.
Preliminary study plan during the exchange
Field for study plan.
In the application, you are required to describe your preliminary study plan for the exchange. Include the study field and the level of studies (e.g. bachelor or master) that you plan on doing during the exchange.
You should also include examples of courses from the host university’s course catalogue for exchange students that you are interested in – make sure you check what courses are available for exchange students at the host university before you apply! More information about studies during the exchange is available in Kamu. Applicants may be asked to provide more information about their study plan when the application is being processed.
Students should use the host university’s current course catalogues in compiling their study plan, as catalogues for future semesters are often not published until closer to the start of the exchange.
Enclosures
Mandatory attachments to your application are added to the Enclosures tab. The required attachments are a letter of motivation and an up-to-date transcript of records (PDF from Peppi). More information and guidelines for the motivation letter is available in Kamu’s page General instructions for applying.
At this stage in the process, other attachments (e.g. language proficiency documents or recommendation letters) are not required.
When applying for Erasmus+ traineeship grants, a document confirming the traineeship placement is required.
Check and send application
On the last tab of the application form, you can check your application and submit it.
If there is information missing from your application, you will see it on the tab:
Missing information.
On each tab, the field with missing information is lined in red, and there is a error message that required information is missing from a mandatory field. All required information must be filled out so the application can be sent.
Once your application is complete and there are no error messages about missing information, click Send application to submit it.
Ready and sent application form looks like this:
Sent application.
If the application period has closed before your application has been submitted, the application cannot be submitted. If the application period has closed, the system will show you an error message regarding the application period when trying to send the application:
Error message.
Late applications will not be accepted.
Tips and useful bits
Remember to save your application regularly.
The application cannot be submitted if there are any missing fields or error messages. Be thorough when filling out the application.
Applications cannot be sent after the application period has ended even if the application has been started earlier.
Applications cannot be edited once they have been submitted – be thorough. If you notice that you need to edit your application after sending it, contact International Mobility Services at [email protected]. Minor edits can be made for two weeks after the application period has ended.
Once your application is complete and submitted
When you send your application, you will not receive an automatic email message about successful delivery. The system will show that the application has been sent, and the home page will show you the submitted application.
Application has been sent.
Home page when there is an application submitted.
You will receive an email notice once the processing officer receives your application. Once your application has been processed, you will be notified by email if your application is accepted or rejected. The processing time for applications is 4–6 weeks.
Confirming the offered placement
If your application is accepted, you will receive an email confirming your acceptance. In the email, the university or exchange programme you have been accepted to will be stated. You can only be accepted for one placement.
After receiving confirmation, you are required to log in and accept the offered placement. NB! You do not have to accept the offered placement: if your plans have changed, you can reject the offer. If you decide to reject the offer, please contact International Mobility Services.
Log into SoleMOVE by using the link in the message or directly from https://saas.solenovo.fi/solemove/ (new tab). You will find your application under the My applications header. Select the accepted application by clicking the pen icon. Once the application opens, click “I confirm” to accept the offered placement, or “I cancel my application” to reject the offer.
Accepting or rejecting the offer in SoleMOVE.
Unfortunately applications may also be rejected. In the event of a rejection, we aim to offer rejected candidates alternate placements whenever possible.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding the application form or if you need assistance, please contact [email protected].
NB! Students must be registered present in a degree programme at UEF throughout the exchange period. It is not possible to graduate during the exchange and studies completed during the exchange must be included into degree studies at UEF. It is also not possible to go abroad for student exchange after graduating. This rule applies to all exchanges, i.e. long term (semester/full academic year) exchanges and short term exchanges in all exchange programmes. Students should take this into consideration when planning their exchange studies.
Exception: Erasmus+ traineeships for recent graduates are possible after graduation, as long as the traineeship grant is applied for a minimum of one (1) month before graduation and that the traineeship both starts and ends within a year of graduation.
November application period has closed!
Applicants will be notified of the results by the end of December.
Next application period: February 1-16, 2026
More information about the February application period will be announced in late January. During the February application period, students may apply for exchange for one semester (autumn 2026 or spring 2027) or full academic year (2026/2027). NB! Calendar year exchanges are not possible.
Some exchange programmes and host institutions may have restrictions regarding exchange durations. Make sure to read the calls for applications carefully.
During the application period, bachelor, master and doctoral students at the University of Eastern Finland may apply for student exchange in the framework of different exchange programmes. Exchange programmes that will become available in February are Erasmus+, Nordplus and Nordlys, and YUFE Alliance (Open YUFE and YUFE Minor). There will also be a supplementary call for applications for bilateral exchange. Some host universities through bilateral exchange are only available for spring semester 2027.
Be sure to read through the calls for applications carefully. NB! The exact dates of the exchange will be according to the host university’s schedule. Students are expected to be abroad for the full extent of the host university’s semester.
Remember to discuss with your departmental coordinator to make sure exchange studies can be included into your degree. Students from outside the EU/EEA should also discuss with their degree programme coordinator if exchange studies would delay their graduation and/or affect their tuition fees.
During the application period, students may apply for a total of 1 or 2 exchange programmes/host institutions between programmes. Students can only be selected for one exchange programme/host institution at a given time.
All exchange programmes that are available for applying will be on the same application form. If you are applying to universities in two different exchange programmes (for example, ISEP and bilateral exchange), only submit one form.
Application period
1-16 February 2026. The application period ends on Monday, 16 February, at 3:00 PM sharp Finnish time.
Late applications will not be accepted, so students are encouraged to make sure they complete and submit their applications by the deadline. The application must be entirely complete with the required attachments in order for it to be ready to submit in the application system.
We encourage students to complete and submit their applications by the day prior to the deadline to avoid potential last-minute problems.
Programme-specific calls for applications
Please make sure to carefully read through the programme-specific calls for applications before starting your application! The calls for applications include information about e.g. application deadlines, available placements and available grants.
Erasmus+ exchanges (call will be posted in late January).
Nordplus and Nordlys exchanges (call will be posted in late January).
YUFE Alliance exchanges (Open YUFE and YUFE Minor; call will be posted in late January).
Supplementary application period: Bilateral exchanges (call will be posted in late January).
Applying
Applications are submitted in the SoleMOVE system. Log in to the system with UEF credentials using HAKA/Shibboleth login.
Instructions for how to make your application are available on Kamu: SoleMOVE online application system. Fill out and submit only one application form, even if you are applying for two different exchange programmes. The maximum number of allowed host options in the form is two.
When starting a new application, select “Normal student exchange” as the application type and the application period named ”Application for Student Exchange”.
How to add the host options on the application form:
Select country > Select the host institution(s) you are interested in.
Applicants for Nordplus and Nordlys exchanges should select Erasmus+ as the exchange programme (exchanges funded by the Erasmus+ programme).
NB! If you have had an employment contract at UEF (traineeship etc.) or you are currently in an employment contract at UEF, please contact International Mobility Services before applying. Your SoleMOVE account may have mistakenly converted to a staff account. Please note that your employment contract must be expired before the exchange period begins.
A transcript of records (from Peppi) and a motivation letter are required as attachments to the application. For more information about the motivation letter, please see Kamu, Applying for student exchange and traineeship abroad.
Students should also add a preliminary study plan for the exchange in their application. The study plan does not need to be added as a separate attachment, students can write the study plan in the field on the Exchange study information tab.
In order to make a preliminary study plan, students should research the host university’s course offerings for exchange students and give examples of courses they would like to take during the exchange. Students may use the current academic year’s course catalogues to make the preliminary study plan, as catalogues for next year are often not available at the time of application.
Late applications will not be accepted. It is not possible to complete and submit an application after the application period has closed – applications must be complete and submitted before the deadline in order to be considered.
NB! The contents of the application
The student is responsible for making sure all information is correct in the application and for submitting the application by the deadline. It is not possible to make changes into the application once it has been submitted. The student can request small revisions (for example, changes in the order of the host institutions) to be made within a week of submitting the application. Once it has been a week since the student has submitted their application, changes will not be made to the application. Requests for revisions should be made by email to [email protected].
More information
More information is available from International Mobility Services, [email protected].
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Nordplus grants for short-term exchanges at Nordlys network partner universities
Bachelor and Master’s students at UEF may apply for Nordplus grants for short-term exchanges (5 days to 2 months) at Nordlys network partner universities. The short-term exchange must be a specific course or period for which the student will receive credits from the host university. Grants are not available for traineeships. Read more information about the grant from the call for applications:
1 Sept – 15 Dec 2025. Application period closes on 15 Dec at 3:00 PM sharp.
Grant applications must be submitted one (1) month before the exchange period begins at minimum. Grants may not be awarded if the application is submitted less than a month before the exchange period begins.
Applications are submitted in the SoleMOVE system.
When starting a new application, select “Normal student exchange” as the Application type. For Application period, select “Short-Term Nordlys Grants Autumn 2025”.
As attachments, you will need your transcript of records (PDF from Peppi) and one of the following:
A copy of the host university’s confirmation/acceptance letter to the course or summer school
A motivation letter (length 1 A4), where you describe the course contents and discuss why you wish to participate to the course. It is also good to mention if you have already submitted an application for the course if you are still waiting for the host university’s decision on admission.
NB! When applying, the student must know for which course/period they are applying the grant.
This grant can be awarded only once to an individual student. If a student has already received a Nordplus grant for a short-term exchange, they are not eligible to receive another grant. The number of grants is limited – if grants run out before the application period ends, subsequent grant applications may be rejected.
Please note that this grant can be awarded to an individual student only once per degree cycle.
When starting a new application, select “Normal student exchange” as the Application type. For Application period, select “Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Courses 2025-2026”.
The application period runs as long as grants are available. Grants are awarded to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may apply for an Erasmus grant once a traineeship is confirmed by the host organisation.
For further information, please see the Call for Applications:
When starting a new application, select “Normal student exchange” as the Application type. For Application period, select “Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant 2025-2026”.
Degree students at UEF may apply for mobility grants for short-term exchanges outside of Europe. Grants are available for, for example, Nordic Centre summer courses, or short-term stays organised by UEF’s bilateral partner universities, such as summer and winter schools. Grants may be awarded for fee-based courses as well.
Application period: 1 Jan 2025 – 30 June 2026. Short-term exchanges must begin by 31 July 2026. Grants may be awarded once per student.
See more information in the call for applications:
When starting a new application, select “Normal student exchange” as the Application type. For Application period, select “Short-Term Bilateral Exchange Grant 2025-2026 (incl. Nordic Centre)”.
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Freemover grants 2025-2026
Students can apply for exchange studies outside exchange programmes, with a freemover or visiting student status. UEF degree students (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral level) are invited to apply for mobility grants for Freemover/visiting student exchanges.
Application period for Freemover grants is open from 1 July 2025 – 30 April 2026.
The application period runs as long as grants are available. The application must be submitted a minimum of one (1) month before the exchange period begins. Decisions on the grants will be made throughout the year as applications arrive.
The exchange must take place during AY 2025/26. When starting a new application, select “Normal student exchange” as the Application type. For Application period, select “Freemover exchange grants 2025-2026”.
For further information, please see the Call for Applications:
1.Employment contracts at UEF and student exchange
(Updated 28 Feb 2025)
The bulletin applies to students on all degree levels (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students).
If the student has an employment contract at the University of Eastern Finland, the contract must end before the start of the exchange period. It is not possible to go on a student exchange during a valid employment contract.
An employment contract can refer to any employment contract a student may have at the University of Eastern Finland. These include, for example, the following (there may be others, but here are just a few of the more common job titles):
Assistant (e.g., research, education, conference, or project assistant)
Trainee/intern
Doctoral researcher (e.g. 10% employment)
Student Ambassador
The number of hours specified in the employment contract (full-time, part-time, etc.) is irrelevant.
During the employment conract, you can apply for an exchange and prepare matters related to the exchange, but the employment contract must end before the start of the exchange period.
2. Brexit and student exchanges
(Updated 25 June 2024)
The United Kingdom is continuing to be a part of the Erasmus+ programme as a partner country. This means that students will be able to apply for Erasmus+ exchange at UK host institutions within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme, if the student’s department/subject has a valid Erasmus+ agreement with a British university. If UEF has a bilateral exchange agreement with a British university, students may apply for bilateral exchange. If UEF has no current exchange agreements with a university, students may apply for Freemover grants for an exchange.
One of YUFE Alliance members is University of Essex in the UK. Students may apply for YUFE exchange to Essex and receive Erasmus+ grants for the mobility. Read more about YUFE Alliance on Kamu.
For trainee/internships in Britain, Erasmus+ traineeship funding is available. If the receiving organisation is a university or another higher education institution, there needs to be a valid Erasmus+ agreement that includes traineeships between UEF and the employing institution. If there is no agreement, students may apply for their department’s own traineeship grants.
If the employer/traineeship placement is a public or private organisation and not a higher education institution, students may apply for Erasmus+ traineeship funding. In this case, regular Erasmus+ rules regarding traineeship funding will apply.
3. The war on Ukraine and its impact on student exchange
(Updated 28 June 2022)
Following the policies issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture on 9 March 2022, the University of Eastern Finland refrains from all cooperation with Russian partner organisations in higher education and science. According to the policies, new projects will not be initiated and existing cooperation between organisations will be suspended for the time being.
This means that currently UEF students are not able to apply for student exchange at Russian universities.
International Week is organised annually in October and January. For January 2026, International week will be held on 19-23 Jan 2026. The schedule for these sessions will be published on this page and on Viva Engage in the group Internationalisation offers for students.
Schedule for January’s International Week will be published here closer to the event.
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Pre-departure Orientations
UEF International Mobility Services organises a pre-departure orientation in April (and a another in November) for all the UEF students who are going on a student exchange. In the pre-departure orientation, we will discuss health, practical arrangements, and other relevant matters of outgoing exchange students.
The next sessions will be held for students going abroad for Spring 2025. The sessions will be recorded. Links to the events have been shared by email to invitees.
Pre-departure orientation in Finnish, Monday 3 November, 4-6 PM
Pre-departure orientation in English, Wednesday 5 November, 4-6 PM
NB! All sessions start on the hour, not quarter past. Event times are scheduled for Finnish time.
Please note that events may end sooner than scheduled, if all matters are discussed in a timely manner.
If you are unable to join either of the events, no worries: all the necessary information will be sent to you via email in the form of an information package for the outgoing exchange students (in Finnish and in English). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact International Mobility Services at [email protected], and we will help you!
Outgoing exchange students will receive invitations to the pre-departure orientations via email. If you want to join the pre-departure orientation but you haven’t received an invitation via email, please contact: [email protected].
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Exchange Info Sessions
International Mobility Services hosts info sessions about student exchange during the academic year. Sessions are mostly held online via Zoom or Teams. The sessions include information about exchange possibilities, practical information (applying etc.) and other useful information for students planning a study abroad semester.
Most sessions are in Finnish, but students are encouraged to join the sessions to ask questions in English as well.
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Exchange Application Clinics
Are you having problems with your application for student exchange? Do you need help with your application on the application system SoleMOVE? No worries – you can get help at an exchange application clinic! At the exchange application clinic, coordinator(s) from UEF International Mobility Services will answer your questions and help you with any technical issues on the online application system SoleMOVE.
Exchange application clinics are held during the application periods in November and February. If you need help with your application during the second calls for applications in May, please contact: [email protected].
Degree students at the University of Eastern Finland may participate in short-term student exchange during their studies. Short-term exchanges generally mean short courses, summer and winter schools and other short-term study visits organised by different partner universities.
NB! Short-term exchange does not, unfortunately, mean that for example, the student applies for a host university for a 1-month stay. A short-term exchange must be for a specific short-term/intensive course to be completed, not a month’s stay at any university in general.
International Mobility Services shares information about different short-term study abroad options in the Viva Engage group Internationalisation offers for students (new tab, UEF login required). The short-term options listed in Viva Engage are also compiled on each short-term exchange program’s page. It is also recommended that students seek out the websites and social media profiles of different partner universities – partners may promote their courses in their own channels.
Students can also seek out and participate in commercial summer courses in Europe from Summer Schools in Europe (new tab). Mobility grants are not available for commercial courses (excl. Nordic Centre courses).
Mobility grants for short-term exchanges
UEF students may apply for mobility grants some short-term exchanges. Grants are available in the following programmes:
Nordplus: Nordplus grants are available for short-term courses, summer or winter schools organised by Nordlys partner universities
Nordic Centre: summer courses in China and India
Outside of Europe: short-term exchange outside of Europe
See dedicated pages for these options for more information.
NB! Students must be registered as “present” in a degree programme at UEF throughout the exchange period. It is not possible to graduate during the exchange and studies completed during the exchange must be included into degree studies at UEF. It is also not possible to go abroad for student exchange after graduating. This rule applies to all exchanges, i.e. long term (semester/full academic year) exchanges and short term exchanges in all exchange programmes.
Exception: Erasmus+ traineeships for recent graduates are possible after graduation, as long as the traineeship grant is applied for a minimum of one (1) month before graduation and that the traineeship both starts and ends within a year of graduation.
The Erasmus+ programme also enables mobility grants for short-term exchanges (blended intensive programmes, BIP) and for blended short-term traineeship mobilities. Blended intensive programmes, or BIP courses, are individual courses organized by UEF’s Erasmus partner universities, which students can apply for and participate in during the academic year. A student can apply for a grant through UEF, but applying for a course is a separate, course-specific process. More information on blended short-term traineeship mobility, please visit Erasmus+ traineeship pages.
The application for Erasmus+ short-term exchanges is continuous, which means that the student can start the application process as soon as a suitable course is found. The application must be made in good time, about 1 month before the start of the physical mobility part of the exchange period. Erasmus+ grants cannot be applied for or paid retroactively. The application is open annually from 1 June to 31 May. There is separate application period for short-term exchanges. If applied for the short-term traineeship mobility, application for Erasmus+ traineeship grant should be filled.
Applications for the Erasmus+ grant must be made at least a month before the mobility period begins. If the mobility period begins less than a month from the date of submission for the grant application, grants may not be awarded.
Requirements for short-term exchange and BIP courses
In Erasmus+ short-term exchanges, all of the following criteria must be met in order for a grant to be awarded for the course:
The course includes both virtual and physical mobility. This means that the course must have online learning before or after the physical exchange period. NOTE! The requirement of virtual studies does not apply to PhD students in the short-term exchanges.
The physical mobility period is 5–30 days.
The minimum credits (virtual and physical period combined) must be 3 ECTS.
Tuition must be free of charge at the blended intensive course. In addition, there can be no fees regarding teaching, enrollment, examinations, or laboratory or library use. There can be fees from, for example, a voluntary social program.
Students can generally apply for a short-term exchange grant only once during their degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral). However, the grant can be awarded for several short-term exchanges if there is enough Erasmus+ funding available. If you are an undergraduate student and belong to a group with fewer opportunities to participate in exchanges or if you work alongside your studies, you can apply for a short-term exchange grant multiple times during your degree level without restrictions.
Student must be registered as a “present” degree student at UEF throughout the exchange. Participating in exchange studies is not possible after graduation.
Applying for an Erasmus+ short-term exchange grant
Students can search for suitable courses on their own, for example, on the websites of UEF’s Erasmus partner universities. BIP courses that come to the attention of UEF’s International Mobility Services are announced in the Viva Engage group Kansainvälistymismahdollisuuksia opiskelijoille // Internationalization offers for students (requires UEF registration). BIP courses informed by our partners are also listed in the table below on this page. When a suitable course that meets all the criteria mentioned above is found, the student can start the application process. If the host university requires a nomination for the course, the student must notify UEF’s International Mobility Services in time to submit the student’s nomination. The student must submit an application to the host university in accordance with the guidelines and schedules determined by the host. The UEF application is made in the SoleMOVE system.
NB! An individual student may be awarded the grant once per study level (incl. doctoral students).
Students who are employed by UEF cannot apply for an Erasmus+ short-term exchange grant. If you are employed (e.g. employment contract of a junior researcher), you can apply for Erasmus+ staff exchange support (requires UEF registration) for a short exchange.
Doctoral students not employed by the UEF can receive the grant for short-term mobility based on their supervisor’s recommendation, therefore the recommendation letter should be attached in the SoleMOVE application.
When you find a suitable course, make sure that the compulsory criteria are met (above).
Consult your departmental mobility coordinator and programme coordinator before you apply for the mobility grant.
Apply to the host university according to their instructions and schedules.
Submit your UEF application in the SoleMOVE system after you have received acceptance from the host university and attach the acceptance letter to SoleMOVE attachments.
NB! If the BIP course requires nomination from UEF, first apply for the short course in SoleMOVE and then wait for instructions from the home/host university for applying to the course. In this case, there is no need to attach an acceptance letter to SoleMOVE.
NB! If you are a doctoral student, please also attach your supervisor’s recommendation letter in the SoleMOVE application.
Funding
The grant is paid for the physical mobility period of the course (5–30 days). The grant is 79 €/day for days 5–14 and 56 €/day for days 15–30. In addition, students will receive travel support for their mobility and are entitled to two grant-funded travel days. Students who have fewer opportunities on participating in the exchange (e.g. students with family, family carers, students with health problems, disabled students, migrant background) or who have special needs due to physical or mental health can apply for additional support for the exchange.
In Erasmus+ programme, student can also apply for green travel support, if most of the travelled journeys to host country and back home or at least one direction of journey is travelled with low emissions (bus, train, carpooling) – ferry/ship is not considered as a form of green travel. When traveling green, the student is entitled to increased travel support and up to six grant-funded travel days.
More detailed information on additional support and the amount of travel support can be found from the section Funding your studies abroad.
12 months per degree level
Students may complete more than one Erasmus+ student exchange or traineeship during their studies. However, the total maximum duration is 12 months per degree level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate). Once the 12-month limit at a certain degree level is reached, the student can no longer participate in an Erasmus+ mobility period at that degree level. It should also be noted that the student must have enough months available when leaving on an Erasmus+ mobility period, meaning that the 12-month limit cannot be exceeded during the mobility period. The 12-month limit also includes the months that the student has used in previous studies at the same degree level and the time as a recipient of the Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
Digital Learning Agreement
All students need to make a digital study plan, Digital Learning Agreement (DLA), for the short-term exchange period before their study exchange period begins. Digital Learning Agreement can also be called as an Online Learning Agreement (OLA). Digital Learning Agreements are created in the SoleMOVE system.
UEF Erasmus ID Code: SF KUOPIO12
BIP courses informed by our partners
Blended intensive programmes informed by our partners are listed in the table below, and more details about the course can be found via the link.
NB! Please submit your grant application for the courses at least a month before the physical mobility period begins. Grant applications submitted under a month before the mobility begins may not be processed in time and grants may not be awarded.
University
Course name
Study period
Physical duration
Deadline
ECTS
More information
UEF guidelines on using Erasmus+ support for short-term mobility
Starting from 1 August 2024, the following guidelines will be considered regarding the use of Erasmus+ funding for short-term exchanges:
The following groups are prioritised when awarding grants:
Bachelor and Master’s degree students who have fewer opportunities to engage in long-term student mobility (e.g. students with families, working students etc., special groups mentioned in this Kamu article)
Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) courses where UEF is one of the organising universities
In addition:
Doctoral students not employed by the university can receive the grant for short-term mobility based on their supervisor’s recommendation
Short-term mobility funding can be generally granted once per degree level (including doctoral students) but excluding special groups (see above).
Bachelor, Master and Doctoral students (without a working contract at UEF) at the University of Eastern Finland can also apply for and participate in shorter exchanges in destinations outside of Europe. These include, for example, various summer and winter schools as well as other short and intensive courses.
In practice, a short exchange means participation in a specific summer or winter school or other short course module, i.e. it cannot be an “occasional” short period abroad.
NB! Students must be registered as “present” in a degree programme at UEF throughout the exchange period. It is not permitted to graduate before or during the exchange and studies completed during the exchange must be included into degree studies at UEF.
Short-term courses currently available:
University
Course name
Study period
Application deadline
Credits
More information
University of Seoul
Seoul International Winter School 2026 (SIWS)
Feb 8-21, 2026
Nomination, application, and payment: Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
Grant for short exchanges in destinations outside Europe
The University of Eastern Finland awards mobility grants for short periods. The grant is available either for a summer course organised by the Nordic Centre (China or India) or for a summer/winter school or other short/intensive course organised by one of UEF’s partner universities. The host university should primarily be a partner university of the University of Eastern Finland, but other higher education institutions outside the EU that organise courses are also suitable. It is also possible to receive grants for fee-based courses.
Grant applications should be submitted after the student has submitted an application for the course to the host institution. If a nomination from the home university is required, contact International Mobility Services at [email protected].
NB! An individual student may be awarded the grant once per degree level (incl. doctoral students).
The short period must provide credits that can be included in the UEF degree. The duration of the period should be at least 5 working days, but less than 3 months.
The total duration may include a possible orientation or welcome event at the beginning of the period, if the orientation or other event requires attendance at the host university. Travel days are not included in the duration.
The amount of the grant is 1000 euros per student. Grants may be awarded as long as they are available. In short exchanges, the following are prioritized:
Bachelor and Master’s students who have fewer opportunities to participate in long-term exchanges (e.g. people with families, working people, etc.), so-called special groups (people with fewer opportunities to participate in a long exchange period: https://kamu.uef.fi/en/tietopankki/general-information/funding-your-studies-abroad/)
Moreover:
Non-contractual (i.e. no contract of employment at UEF, incl. 10% contracts) doctoral students may be granted short-term mobility funding on the recommendation of the supervisor
Short-term mobility funding can be granted once to an individual student, incl. doctoral students, but excluding special groups of students (above).
Students cannot have a valid contract of employment during the exchange period, nor are students permitted to start a new (or resume a previous) contract at UEF during the exchange period.
Applying for a grant
The grant application period is open 1.1.2025 – 30.6.2026.
Students can apply for a specific summer/winter school or other short course. The period must start by 31.7.2026.
The grant must be applied for no later than one month before the start of the exchange period. The grant cannot be combined with other grants from the University of Eastern Finland (e.g. internship grants or other mobility grants, excl. accessibility grants).
The application is made in the SoleMOVE system. Attached to the application is a transcript of records and a free-form motivation letter in which the student tells about the course they are applying the grant for. If the student has already applied for the course and received acceptance from the host university, the student may include the acceptance letter to the application instead of a motivation letter.
The grant is awarded conditionally: the host university/course organiser must accept the student to the course in order for the student to receive the grant.
Grants are not awarded for remote or virtual courses. Grants can only be awarded for periods requiring physical presence at the host university.
Other things to note
Grants are also available for fee-based summer and winter schools. If the student is already going to the same host university for a longer-term exchange and also intends to participate, for example, in the summer or winter school at the same host university, the short period is considered to be included in the longer exchange period, in which case the grant cannot be awarded.
Students going on a short exchange also fill in a Learning Agreement and request a certificate of attendance from the host university before the end of the period. International Mobility Services will send the necessary form templates and instructions by email.
Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements and all costs associated with exchange studies.
Further information
Further information is available from International Mobility Services, [email protected].
Are you interested in making your studies more international, but going abroad for an exchange for a semester of full year does not feel like an option for you? Students also have the opportunity to internationalize their degree without traveling!
UEF students have a variety of options for participating in different virtual courses and complete studies through different channels.
UniPID – courses in sustainable development and global challenges
UniPID is a network of Finnish universities that supports multidisciplinary studies and research, as well as societal impact and partnerships of universities related to global sustainable development. The network offers students a large variety of virtual courses, a minor in sustainable development and supports development research through the UniPID DocNet.
UniPID virtual studies are open to all UEF degree students and exchange students. Learn more about the UniPID virtual studies here. Students can also complete a minor “Sustainability in Development” (min. 25 ECTS). If you are interested in completing a UniPID course or the minor, please contact your programme coordinator to discuss the course(s) can be included into your degree. The UEF Contact Person for UniPID virtual studies is Annikka Männikkö [email protected]
UniPID also arranges workshops for master’s students. UniPID and the Finnish Society for Development Research also arrange an annual ‘Master’s Award’ competition, where exceptional pro-gradu theses from UniPID member universities are recognised. The pro-gradu theses are multidisciplinary and focus on development studies, international development or Global South research. A winning prize of 1000€ and honorable mentions are awarded. UniPID workshops, events and Master’s Award call are communicated on the UEF Viva Engage channels.
YUFE Alliance – virtual studies at European universities
The University of Eastern Finland is a member of the YUFE Alliance, through which our students have a number of different options to personalize their participation in Alliance activities.
YUFE offers the chance to go abroad for student exchange at partner institutions (with Erasmus+ funding), participate in volunteering opportunities, and complete virtual courses offered by our partner universities. YUFE also offers language courses and the chance to participate in open academy lectures with changing themes.
YUFE is available to all degree students at UEF, so there are no programme/subject specific restrictions in participating. Students from all fields of study and of all degree levels are eligible to participate completely free of charge!
Open YUFE
Completing virtual studies and language courses is possible with the Open YUFE study right. The study right is valid for two years, during which the student can freely participate in different Alliance activities – obtaining the study right also does not mandate participation, so it is also possible to not complete courses or participate in other activities if you find that your calendar is full, but the option to participate is open for the duration of the study right. Read more about the YUFE Alliance and Open YUFE on Kamu!
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Homepage of the SoleMOVE system. List of universities is in a drop-down menu on the left.
