Teacher and Student Mobility
Teacher exchange
Teacher exchanges may last from 1 week to 3 months. Teaching has to be part of the curriculum of the hosting institution. Teacher exchanges always have a Finnish counterpart either as a sending or as a hosting institution.
The teacher grant covers additional costs arising from the exchange (travel, subsistence). Travel arrangements are made in the cheapest possible way.
Student exchange
The length of a student exchange varies from 3 to 12 months. The programme does not support mobility that aims at the completion of a degree in the host country or institution.
Student exchange is reciprocal. Student exchanges always have a Finnish counterpart either as a sending or as a hosting institution.
Undergraduate and graduate students who are registered at a participating higher education institution and who have completed at least the first year of studies are eligible to participate in student exchange.
Postgraduate students completing a PhD degree in the participating higher education institution may also participate in the North-South-South student exchange. The hosting Finnish institution or department appoints a supervising professor for the incoming postgraduate student, and the student participates in the study programme provided by the institution or department. While the mobility of postgraduate students is part of the network cooperation, it cannot be the only activity carried out by the network.
Student exchange is full-time study, and courses are fully credited at the home institution
Courses taken by students must be fully credited at the student’s home institution. Students participate in teaching provided by the host institution. The exchange period may also contain practical training, but it cannot contain only training.
Exchange students do not pay study fees. Individual students may participate in student exchange only once; however, it is possible to participate in student exchange and to attend an intensive course.
A study plan and an agreement on the recognition of studies are concluded before each exchange. Finnish students participate in departure orientation organised by CIMO or by other actors. The hosting institution arranges arrival orientation for incoming students.
The aim of the exchange cannot be completion of a degree. After the exchange period, the student returns to his/her home institution to continue his/her studies.
Student grant
The student grant covers additional costs arising from the exchange. The level of each grant is based on the length and estimated costs of the exchange. Travel costs are covered on the basis of actual costs. Travel arrangements are made in the cheapest possible way. In addition, it is possible to cover costs related to permits and insurances (the latter only for developing country students coming to Finland).