The purpose of the north2north programme is to support mutual research and understanding of the northern regions and promote high-quality education in North America, the Nordic countries, and Russia. The north2north programme is the University of the Arctic’s internal student mobility programme. As a speciality of the programme, the studies of the participating students must be related to the northern or Arctic region.
University of the Arctic (UArctic) offers student mobility within the north2north programme, as well as the online study module Circumpolar Studies.
North2north exchange
For whom
Bachelor’s and Master’s level students.
NB! Students from outside the EU/EEA are advised to discuss with their study programme coordinator if exchange studies would extend their studies and/or affect their tuition fee.
Where can I go?
North America and Nordics. The programme also includes a limited number of placements in Scotland and Australia.
Applying
November and/or February application period annually. Please always check the Calls for Applications on Kamu for updated information.
International Mobility Services will post a call for applications prior to the application period, where more information about possible host institutions will be specified.
NB! Not all UArctic partners are involved with the north2north mobility programme. Host universities for each exchange application round will be announced separately in the call for applications (see link above).
Applying to North American, Australian and Scottish institutions
Host institutions North America, Australia, Denmark and Scotland charge tuition fees from exchange students. The north2north programme is allocated some placements with tuition fee waivers to North America, Australia and Scotland on an annual basis, and these placements will be opened for applications during our application periods. Students at the University of Eastern Finland will be able to apply for waiver placements during the application period.
Students who are applying for north2north exchanges in North American, Australian or Scottish institutions will need to compile a TOP 3 list of host institutions and include the list in their application, for example in the motivation letter. Students may be selected for one exchange placement on the list. The student must be committed to accepting a placement in any of the institutions they have listed.
NB! Due to the limited number of placements in Scotland and Australia, it is strongly recommended that a student’s TOP 3 list includes at least one host institution in North America. UEF cannot guarantee placements.
The University of Eastern Finland will make a preliminary selection of candidates and submit the information to the north2north coordinators at the Finnish National Agency for Education. The final selection of candidates and their exchange placements will be made by the north2north programme.
Due to the limited number of available waiver exchange placements, it is possible that not all applicants from the UEF will be selected. In case a candidate from UEF is not awarded a placement to one of their 3 choices, we will contact the student separately regarding the available options.
The list of institutions offering waivers will be updated annually. Possible host institutions are currently listed here: the list of 2025/26 waiver placements.
The finalized list of institutions UEF students may apply to and more instructions on how to compile a list of host institutions will always be given in the calls for applications!
Applying to Nordic partner universities
Host universities in the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Iceland) do not charge tuition fees from exchange students. Danish host institutions (Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands) charge tuition fees from n2n exchange students unless there is a bilateral agreement between home and host institution.
Students interested in applying to the Nordics will not need to submit a Top 3 list. Students who are interested in applying to a Nordic institution for north2north exchange may submit an application and specify which institution they wish to apply to in their application.
Funding
The students are responsible for their travel costs, accommodation and other expenses. The north2north programme provides participants with a mobility grant, the amount of which varies annually. For exchanges during the academic year 2024-2025, students going to North American host institutions for one semester will receive 2000 euros, and students going to Nordic host institutions for one semester will receive 1500 euros.
Further information
North2north programme at UArctic: University of the Arctic (new tab)
North2north member institutions (please note the restrictions above): north2north partners (new tab)
Circumpolar Studies
UEF students may also participate in online studies within the UArctic network: Circumpolar Studies (CS) study module is a multidisciplinary module, to which all bachelor and master’s degree students at UEF may apply for.
The multidisciplinary research conducted in the module sheds light on possibilities of the arctic region and the threats it faces.
The module consists of one introductory course and smaller, 2-course modules related to native peoples of the arctic region, arctic governance, or global changes and sustainable development:
CS100: Introduction to the Circumpolar World
CS311: Land and Environment of the Circumpolar World I
CS312: Land and Environment of the Circumpolar World II
CS321: Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World I
CS322: Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World II
CS331: Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World I
CS332: Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World II
Each course awards 6 ECTS.
There are a couple application periods annually for the courses, July-August for autumn semester classes and October-November for spring semester courses. Information about applying to courses will be published in the Viva Engage group Internationalisation offers for Students.
If you are interested in completing Circumpolar Studies courses, please make sure that the courses can be included into your degree at UEF. Contact your departmental coordinator to discuss inclusion.
NB! Transcripts for the courses are awarded by the hosting organisation, i.e. the Canadian or American university offering the courses. Inclusion into your degree at UEF is done by your department’s usual processes for inclusion/crediting, so the credits are not automatically transferred to Peppi after the courses end. Receiving the transcript from abroad may take a long time, and therefore we do not recommend leaving your graduation waiting for these courses.
Further information: Circumpolar Studies, UArctic (new tab), core course materials (new tab)