The University of Vaasa has several partner universities abroad and student exchange with these institutions is active, every year approximately 200 outgoing and 200 incoming students. International degree students can also participate in student exchange (some regulations apply) by completing courses at a partner university of the University of Vaasa or by completing an international double degree. In the Erasmus-programme there is also the possibility for a specific internship exchange. There are three prgorammes through which students can go abroad:
Nordplus-programmes is open to students studying for a degree in a Nordic country. Some programme-specific regulations apply.
Erasmus-programme is open to all degree students studying at the University of Vaasa.
Bilateral places are open to all degree students studying at the University of Vaasa.
Partner universities of the University of Vaasa
The University of Vaasa has nearly 190 partners in nearly 40 countries. You can view the different exchange destinations in detail here.
Search for study options in each university by finding information on the website of the partuicular university. If there are no details on what courses exchange students can take you can have a look at the website in general.
Exchange study process in short
1. Applying for the exchange place at the University of Vaasa → Selection and returning the CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE EXCHANGE STUDY PLACE AND TRAVELLING GRANT CONDITIONS –document
2. Nomination to the host universities
3. Applying to the host universities → acceptance letters
4. Learning Agreement before exchange (with Ms Ahlqvist or Mr Ilomäki)
5. Practicalities and formalities before leaving
6. Starting your studies (a new Learning Agreement)
7. After your exchange
Application process
Official application periods for exchanges occurring in 2012/2013 (autumn 2012 or spring 2013) have ended. There is also a small possibility of applying outside the fixed application periods, contact the international exchange coordinator to see the available places.
First discuss with the Student Adviser of your faculty on how the possible exchange would benefit your degree and how it will affect your graduation. Discuss with the International Exchange Coordinator to find the appropriate destination(s) for you.
Fill in the electronic application form and follow the instruction on the form. Return the form and the required attachments to the International Exchange Coordinator at the International Office by the given time. Applications arriving late or incomplete will not be processed.
Here is the the link to the ‘Application Form for Exchange Studies’. Please attach a letter of motivation for each university you are applying for, your transcript of studies, a letter of recommendation from the Faculty (see further) and any other supporting documents (e.g. language certificates if applying to places requiring knowledge of specific language)
The candidates for student exchange are chosen by a special committee comprising of members from International Affairs and the Faculties. The criteria are:
1) Suitability of the exchange in relation to the degree and estimated graduation time
2) Language proficiency
3) Motivation towards studying abroad and prior international experience
4) Number of credits
5) General study progress
Specific regulations for international Master's Degree students:
-
Obtained preferably a minimum of 30 ECTS credits / attended semester when applying.
-
Started on the Master's Thesis before participating in an exchange, otherwise the exchange cannot be realised.
-
Students cannot be sent to their home countires
-
Only one semester exchange as more than 50% of studies and degree needs to be done at University of Vaasa (exception: international double degrees)
Please note that different programmes have different opinions on whether the students should participate in an exchange. Master's Degree students are required to enclose a letter of recommendation from Anne Ahlqvist at the Facult of Business Studies or Sami Ilomäki at the Faculty of Technology and Faculty of Philosophy. If you are applying for postgraduate exchange studies, then a letter of recommendation from your Doctoral thesis supervisor is required.
If chosen the candidates usually need to fill in the application forms of the host university and return them by the given date to the host university. The host university will then decide if they accept the student nominated by the University of Vaasa. Be active in finding information concerning accommodation, application procedure and course information from the host university’s web page.
The students must discuss with the the Student Adviser (Anne Ahlqvist / Sami ilomäki) at their faculty of the courses they will be completing at the host university before their exchange and draft a Learning Agreement. A new Learning Agreement will be drafted at the beginning of the exchange according to the courses the student will be attending. The completed courses will be added to your degree if possible. This does not happen automatically, you need to discuss it with the Student Adviser at your faculty after the exchange. Remember to keep all study documents.
Practical matters
The minimum of an exchange period is 3 months, maximum is a whole academic year. Usually exchanges last either spring or fall term and in some cases the semester is pre-determined. The minimum amount of ECTS credit points to be earned at the host institution during the exchange is 20 ECTS, but it is highly recommended to earn more.
Students participating in the student exchange must first discuss with the Faculty about the courses to be done at the exchage. Together with the Faculty do a Learning Agreement and provide the international office with a copy.
Students need to return the following documents to the International Office at the University of Vaasa within 1 month after their exchange has ended:
1) Second Learning Agreement (preferably returned directly after the courses are selected at the destination)
2) Letter of Confirmation (stating the actual period of stay, filled in and signed by the exchange coordinator of the host university)
3) Copy of their study transcript from the host university / copies of the course certificates
4) A report of their study period
1, 2 and 4 are found here.
Failing to deliver these documents will result in recovery of the received study grant!
The students must participate in a special orientation designed for students attending student exchange. Failing to attend this orientation will affect the amount of study grant. The orientation is held in April/May for fall term/whole academic year exchange and in October/November for spring term exchange.
Study grants
Students participating in student exchange are entitled to a study grant. The amount varies every year, but is usually 700-1000 € for Erasmus, 900 € for Nordplus, 600-1600 € for bilateral exchanges, (depending on the duration and the destination).
If the student is eligible for the Finnish study grant provided by Kela, the grant applies also for the exchange periods. Housing supplement may be higher or lower depending on cost of living in the host country.
ERASMUS INTERSHIP EXCHANGE
In the Erasmus-programme there is also the possibility for a specific intership exchange, where the student will work in a European business or organisation for a minimum of 3 months in an EU/EEA country. Embassies of the student's home country and institutions dealing directly with EU-funding do not apply. Also the students are not sent to their home countries. In order to get an Erasmus grant for the training it must be accredited in the student's degree and needs to be approved by the student's Faculty before the internship period.
The University of Vaasa does not have any intership positions to offer. The students must be active in finding a suitable position. Positions can be found on the forum and the portal of the University or independently. Preferred application deadlines are 15.5 and 15.11 annually. You can always consult afterwards to find out if any extra funds for scholarhips exist.
First the student needs to find a possible internship organisation and position. Then together with the organisation fill out a Training agreement. In the Agreement you will have to explain in detail the tasks you will be doing in the internship. After this the student must discuss with the faculty to see how many ECTS-credits one will get for the intership and what one needs to do in order to get the credits. Training agreement must be then signed by the student, the faculty representative and the internship organisation.
Signed Training Agreement is delivered to the international office by the deadline together with the commitment. In the commitment the students give their personal details and details about the internship.
Also the student must fill out and return the first page of the placement contract. If the student gets the grant, the international office will ask the student to come and sign the second page of the agreement.
Please note that the grant is not guaranteed. Please note also that you cannot graduate during the internship. Also the student must make an employment contract /internship contract with the organisation and find out about working visas and insurance policies.
For further information on the student exchange possibilities for international degree students, please contact:
International Exchange Coordinator
Juhani Moisio
Room 131 in the Luotsi
Phone (06) 324 8225, 050-369 9219
outgoing.international@uwasa.fi
