Practical information about exchange studies

The international coordinator at your department (through the departmental agreement) or at the Student Services (through the central agreements and networks) ensures that the host university receives your name and address. The university then sends you information on how to apply either directly to you or to your international coordinator.

As soon as you get instructions on how to apply, you should carefully review them. Make sure that the application is complete and that all attachments are included. 

Common attachments to attach or upload are:

• Transcript of Records
• Letter of recommendation
• Course selections
• Language certificate/grade
• Copy of your passport
• Health certificate

The attachments needed may vary depending on the university. The partner universities retain admission rights based on their entry requirements and course availability.

Some exchange students in Erasmus+ must do a language test before and after completing the exchange.

Language assessment and courses for outbound Erasmus students

You are still a student at Stockholm University during your exchange studies, field studies. Therefore, you should be registered in Ladok throughout your exchange period.

To make sure it is registered in Ladok before you leave, contact the programme coordinator or international coordinator at your department. Please do this as soon as possible after you have received your Letter of Acceptance from the host university.

Note that CSN has access to Ladok, as they make sure you are registered as a student. The Kammarkollegiet’s insurance is also linked to the Ladok registration.

When making your course selection, you should primarily consider those that are at the appropriate level of education, suit your subject and degree, and all together constitute full-time studies.

Be sure to apply for courses well in advance. It may take time to familiarise yourself with the other university’s education system and how to find courses in their catalogues. Please note that this in your own responsibility.

When you have made your decision, you must fill in a Learning Agreement that contains the courses you plan to take and the person responsible for crediting your courses (either your department or the Student Services). The Learning Agreement is created digitally in Mobility Online. It must be approved by you, your home institution and host university (for exchanges inside Europe) before the start of your mobility. Please direct any questions you may have regarding the Learning Agreement to your international coordinator at your department. You can also request a guide on how to fill in the Learning Agreement from your international coordinator.
Departmental international coordinators at Stockholm University

The core of ​​exchange studies is that you should be able to transfer the credit from your foreign studies as part of your education. Your department has the academic responsibility for the exchange and they primarily transfer the credit.

To ensure that you can take your foreign studies into account in your education, you must write a Learning Agreement well in advance of your departure (see above).

If you are going to swap a specific course at Stockholm University for one at the partner university, the credit is always transferred to your home department. If you want to replace specific courses, you have to establish several Learning Agreements, one per department.

In cases where you do not get credits for the courses, you can usually count them as a course that broadens your degree. In such cases, turn to the Exam Group at the Student Services by writing to: tillgodo@su.se

Before your exchange, it is important you find out which documentation is required for credit transfer. This allows the department or Student Services to decide on credit transfer after your exchange period.

Examples of documents you may need for credit transfer:

• Transcript of Records
• Curriculum
• List of course literature

Students studying abroad through Stockholm University are covered by the insurance Student OUT from Kammarkollegiet. You find the terms and conditions here, and make sure the insurance covers your needs.

Student OUT

Exchange studies means that you pay no tuition fee at the partner university for your studies there. If you are a fee-paying student at Stockholm University you’ll keep paying for your studies to Stockholm University during the exchange period. However, exchange studies always come with additional costs, compared to your studies at SU. 

NOTE, if you are a fee-paying student at SU it is crucial that you come back from your exchange with the equivalent number of credits, that is 30 ECTS = one semester of full time studies. 

Examples of additional costs linked to your exchange (not a complete list, only examples):

• Travels to/from your destination.
• VISA fees (vary depending on destination).
• Some partner universities requires that you purchase a local insurance.
• Some partner universities requires that you purchase a so called “meal plan”, meals from campus canteens.
• Some partner universities requires that you live on campus, at designated dormitories.
• Some partner universities charges a (usually smaller) administration/registration fee.

As an exchange student, you can apply for student finance from CSN. You may also apply to have the loan increased to cover travel expenses.

CSN student abroad finance

Additionally, all students on an Erasmus+ exchange are granted a scholarship. You can apply for the scholarship only when the partner university has accepted your application.

How and when to apply for the Erasmus+ scholarship

Before the exchange, you need to review your vaccinations. Also note that some countries require you to bring documents proving that you are vaccinated. Contact a vaccination clinic to find out what applies to the country you are going to.

Some universities may even require you to do a medical examination. You will receive more information about this when you have received your offer.

If your exchange is outside Europe, you must most likely apply for a visa. In most cases, proof of admission from your host university will enable you to apply for a visa. Contact the embassy of the country you are going to immediately after you have been offered a scholarship to find out more about the application process.

Before your trip, you should seek out the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (Utrikesdepartementet) current travel advice for the country you are going to. It is beneficial to know the area of your accommodation and if there are any areas you should avoid.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' travel information includes their recommendations for visitors and the location and contact information of Swedish embassies.

In most cases, exchange studies are carried out without any problems, but unexpected events or disasters sometimes affect the safety in the host country.

If a crisis occurs, you should:

• Contact Falck Global Assistance
• Contact the Swedish Embassy in the host country
• Contact your family
• Contact your international coordinator at Stockholm University

Your coordinator may contact you if they become aware of any major event in your host country and it is then vital that you reply.

You can be granted a residence permit in Sweden even if you will be spending time in another country during part of the permit period, as long as the stay abroad is part of the education to which you have been admitted in Sweden. If you will be travelling to another country as part of your education, you should contact that country’s authorities to find out what is required to stay in that country.
 
If you are studying a multilateral programme and are alternating between mandatory studies in different countries, you may be able to obtain a residence permit for the entire programme even if it is carried out in different countries. More information can be found on the Migration Agency’s website.

migrationsverket.se/English/Startpage.html 

It is possible you need to make changes to your course choice after the exchange has begun. In such an event, you must report any changes as soon as possible by updating your Learning Agreement in Mobility Online. Please note that the person who signed your original Learning Agreement must approve the changes.

As an exchange student, you are a representative both for Stockholm University and your department. It is important that you are aware of your rights and responsiblites, in particular that you act in line with Stockholm University's policy on equal treatment of students
Your rights and responsibilities

We encourage you to attend exchange and international fairs and presentations by the host university and hope that you do your best to be a good ambassador for SU. Your ambassadorship is important for future students' opportunity to go on an exchange.

Your internationel coordinator can provide you with brochures to bring, or you can have them sent to your host university if there is a fair or similar. Below, you will also find digital material about Sweden and SU you can use.

Top reasons to choose Stockholm University

Study in Sweden

This is Sweden

After returning home, you must apply for credit transfer of your exchange studies to have them registered in Ladok.

In your application, you must attach your Transcript of Records from the host university and in some cases your syllabus. It is therefore important that you collect information about the courses during the time of your exchange.

Contact your international coordinator to get information on the application process.

• If a degree coordinator at the Student Services signed your Learning Agreement, it is at the Exam Group you apply for credit transfer.
• If your home department signed your Learning Agreement, it is to them you should apply for credit transfer.

International coordinators at the departments

For Erasmus+ exchange students, it is mandatory to fill out the Erasmus+ Participant Report Form online. The link will be sent to you at the end of your exchange via email.

Erasmus+ mobility grant

Returning exchange students are encouraged to contact the international coordinator at the home institution and complete a student report, if required.

Become an exchange ambassador

Inspire others by sharing your experiences as an exchange student. Each year, the Student Services recruits exchange ambassadors who help informing and inspiring Stockholm University students for exchange studies. 

You may for example talk about your exchange at informational meetings at the Student Services, represent exchange studies at fairs or help during Orientation Day for international students.