This page provides information about the costs of student exchange, mobility grants, and other funding opportunities.
General information about exchange costs
When you go on exchange through a UEF exchange programme or bilateral agreement, you do not need to pay tuition fees at the host university. However, you should be prepared for other costs, such as study materials, membership fees, and possible administrative fees set by the host university.
In most exchange programmes and the majority of bilateral exchange placements, you are responsible for:
- accommodation and living costs at the host destination,
- travel arrangements and expenses,
- sufficient insurance coverage.
ISEP programme exception: In the ISEP programme, you pay an exchange fee to UEF, which covers accommodation and meal costs at the host university during the exchange. This is not a tuition fee or administrative fee – it covers some of your exchange costs in advance. This may be more affordable than paying living costs directly in the host country.
On this page:
- Financial aid from Kela
- Mobility grant
- Other funding
- Additional support for students with fewer opportunities
- Inclusion support
- Travel support and green travel support (Erasmus+)
Arranging funding before departure
Secure your funding from Finland before you leave – arranging funding in the host country can be difficult or even impossible. Some countries also require proof of sufficient funds, for example when granting a student visa.
To demonstrate sufficient funds, you can use for example:
- UEF’s mobility grant certificate (also doubles as a certificate of your selection as UEF’s candidate for exchange)
- an English-language financial aid certificate from Kela
- a bank statement (your own or a family member’s)
Financial aid from Kela
Financial aid from Kela can be granted for studies abroad if the studies are equivalent to supported studies in Finland or are included in a Finnish degree.
- You will receive the normal study grant during the exchange.
- The housing supplement is usually a fixed amount; in some countries with lower rent levels, it may be smaller.
- An increased student loan is available for exchange studies.
Remember: Financial aid requires progress in your studies. Make sure that studies completed abroad are recorded in your study register for the correct academic year – i.e. the year in which they were actually completed. Your exchange must fit within the maximum period of financial aid, which cannot be extended due to exchange studies.
You can apply for financial aid for studies abroad through Kela’s Notification of changes form (muutosilmoitus). You can use UEF’s certificate of your selection as an exchange candidate as an attachment. Always see updated information and instructions on Kela’s website (new tab).
Mobility grant
A mobility grant is awarded to all students selected for exchange through a UEF exchange programme or bilateral agreement. The purpose of the grant is to help cover extra costs caused by the exchange (e.g. travel expenses). The grant is not intended to cover all the costs related to the exchange or normal living costs in the host country – UEF does not have fully funded exchange programmes.
Grant amounts
Grant amounts vary by year, destination, and exchange programme. For the academic year 2026–2027, the grants for long-term exchanges are:
| Exchange programme | Grant |
| Erasmus+ | 490-540 € / month |
| Nordplus/Nordlys (Erasmus+ funding) | 540 € / month |
| YUFE Alliance (Erasmus+ funding) | 490-540 € / month |
| Bilateral exchange | 1,200–1,800 € / semester, 1,700–2,300 € / academic year |
| ISEP Exchange | 1,200–1,800 € / semester |
| North2north (Nordics) | 1,500 € / semester |
| North2north (North America, UK, Australia) | 2,000 € / semester |
See the exchange programme pages on Kamu’s Exchange options (long and short-term) section for more details on grants.
Applying for the grant and payment schedule
Once you have been accepted by the host university, submit the required documents for your grant to International Mobility Services:
- Mobility grant form / grant agreement
- A copy of the acceptance letter/email from the host university
- Any additional support applications (see additional support below)
Payment schedule:
- UEF payment dates for mobility grants are the 15th and last day of each month. If a payment date falls on a weekend or public holiday, payment is made on the preceding working day.
- Long-term exchanges: The grant is paid approximately one month before the exchange begins at the earliest, provided you have submitted all documents well in advance.
- Short-term exchanges: The grant is paid primarily on the last payment date before the exchange starts, but no earlier than one month before the exchange begins, provided you have submitted all documents well in advance.
- Allow approximately 4 weeks for processing of the grant form.
- During holiday periods (late June to early August, end-of-year holidays), payments may be delayed.
Important: Grants are not paid retroactively after the exchange has ended. If you have not submitted the required documents before the exchange or at the latest at the beginning of the exchange, the grant will not be paid.
Remember: If you have a contract of employment at UEF before your exchange begins, the mobility grant cannot be paid during an active employment contract. The grant will be paid after your employment contract expires.
Other funding
In addition to the UEF mobility grant, it is worth exploring external funding sources. You can look for grants from:
- associations, foundations, and funds,
- cities, municipalities, and friendship societies.
Useful resources
- National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) (new tab)
- Council of Finnish Foundations – Research.fi database (new tab)
- Finnish National Agency for Education (new tab)
- Fulbright Center (new tab)
Additional support for students with fewer opportunities
In addition to the standard mobility grant, you may be eligible for additional support if you belong to one of the following groups. The amount of additional support varies by exchange programme. Eligibility is demonstrated by a declaration on honour signed by you and the university. For more information, contact International Mobility Services at [email protected].
Social obstacles:
- Students with families (underaged children in your care) – the additional support can be granted regardless of whether the children accompany you on the exchange
- Students who are family carers (agreement of informal care with the municipality)
Disabilities:
- Students with the EU disability card or the right to one
- Disabled students (at least moderate functional deficiency)
Health obstacles:
- Students with severe and/or chronic health problems (at least moderate functional deficiency)
Migrant background:
- Students who have received international protection (refugees, asylum seekers, students granted international, subsidiary or temporary protection, or students with a refugee’s passport)
Inclusion support
If you have a physical or mental health condition, disability, or learning difficulty that causes extra costs during the exchange, you may be eligible for inclusion support in addition to the standard mobility grant.
Support can be granted on a discretionary basis for needs such as:
- accessible housing or mobility
- special learning arrangements, such as study materials
Inclusion support can be applied for in addition to the additional support described above. You must apply well in advance before the exchange begins. For more information, contact International Mobility Services at [email protected].
Travel support and green travel support (Erasmus+)
In Erasmus+ funded exchanges, you are entitled to travel support and two grant-funded travel days. The travel distance is calculated as the crow flies between UEF’s home campus and the host university.
Green travel support: You can apply for increased travel support if you travel using low-emission transport (bus, train, or carpool). Green travel is accepted when most of the journeys to and from the host institution, or at least one direction of the round trip, are completed by low-emission means.
Good to know: A ship or ferry is not considered green travel, unless it is combined with other low-emission transport.
When travelling green, you are entitled to increased travel support and up to six grant-funded travel days.
| Travel distance | Green travel support | Travel support |
| 100-499 km | 285 € | 211 € |
| 500-1,999 km | 417 € | 309 € |
| 2,000-2,999 km | 535 € | 395 € |
| 3,000-3,999 km | 785 € | 580 € |