Do you want to study one or two semesters abroad? There is a world of opportunities for you!
All students doing a degree at a Norwegian university have the possibility to study one or two semesters abroad. The requirements are that you have 60 ECTS before you leave and that you are enrolled at the foreign university min. three months. UMB recommends a minimum GPA of C to apply for exchange.
Below you find a list of things to remember before you can fly off and see new parts of the world. Where? First of all you need to figure out where you want to study and to help you off with our list of 90 partner universities. These can be split into three groups depending of where you go.
- Nordic countries UMB has several partner universities in our neighbour countries Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland through the Nordplus . By applying to one of these you also have the chance of getting a 200€ scholarship per month.
- European countries Through the EU program Erasmus you can study at one of UMB’s partner universities in Europe. In addition to the fact that you will pay no tuition, you may also get an Erasmus grant of 300€ per month. (Restrictions apply for non EU citizens)
- Other countries UMB also has a number of bilateral agreements with universities all around the rest of the world which is out side the Nordic region and Europe. Some of the agreements waives tuition fee for UMB students and some do not.
You find an updated list over UMB's current partners on page 3-4 of the application form.
You also have the possibility to go to a university which UMB does not have an agreement with, but this can imply more work for you.
When? In order to get the courses you will do abroad transferred to your UMB degree you are dependent of your study advisor’s approval and also to get advice on when you can go. This means you should contact your department about your plans to go abroad as soon as possible no matter which university you want to study at.
How? After having decided where and when the application process begins. You need to fill out the application form and hand this in by February 1 for the bilateral agreements and March 1 for Erasmus and Nordplus. You also have to write a letter of motivation as part of your application. Housing Once you have been admitted to the university you should apply for on campus housing as soon as possible. A lot of universities guarantee on campus housing for their exchange students but there is usually a first come, first serve rule. If you choose to live off campus make sure you do not sign any contract for a flat you have not seen. Therefore we recommend you to stay in temporary accommodation (hostel, bed&breakfast, etc) and look for flats once you have arrived. Language Is the language of study not English or Scandinavian? If you are eligible for Lånekassen grants you are entitled to a language grant of 16 000 NOK if you participate on a language course with a minimum duration of four weeks.
Travel and visa As soon as you know when you can arrive to your new university you should book a ticket. Make sure you have updated information on the visa regulation in the country of study as some of these processes can take time. Also make sure you have the right vaccinations if you are going to a country which requires such. Financial support If you are eligible for support from Lånekassen remember to apply for support. As student abroad you can get a travel grant and support for tuition fee in addition to the basic grant. Insurance Contact your insurance company to make sure you have the appropriate insurance for staying abroad for a longer period of time.
Before departure Remember to pay the UMB semester fee and register as a student at UMB by the normal deadline!
Questions? Please contact SIT and we will help you!
