Exchange destinations and funding

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content.

International exchange opportunities for teaching and research staff

 Exchange programmes for teaching and research staff

Exchange programme
Erasmus+ teacher exchange
Erasmus+ staff exchange
Nordplus
Swiss European mobility
Erasmus+ global / ICM teacher exchange
Bilateral agreements to countries outside EU/EEA
Host countries

EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia (also Great Britain until May 31st, 2023)

EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia (also Great Britain until May 31st, 2023)

Nordic and Baltic states (host countries depend on each Nordplus network) Switzerland Countries outside EU/EEA, which have been granted funding Countries outside EU/EEA
Exchange must include

at least 8 h of teaching per week

if the exchange includes developing pedagogical skills (teaching/training combined), at least 4 hours of teaching per week

for example, preparing a funding application for an international education project or curriculum development for example, teaching, guidance or developing teaching material  at least 8 h of teaching per week at least 8 h of teaching per week teaching or research
Duration of funding
2-12 working days + up to 2 travel days 2-12 working days + up to 2 travel days at least 8 h, maximum 14 days (duration depends on the funding of the network) at least 2, maximum 14 working days 5-12 working days + up to 2 travel days maximum 14 days
Funding covers
accommodation, travel costs, per diem accommodation, travel costs, per diem accommodation, travel costs, per diem travel costs and per diem paid by the host university, per diem also intended for housing costs accommodation, travel costs, per diem no exchange funding available, some host universities offer free housing
Guidance
staffexchange@helsinki.fi staffexchange@helsinki.fi for discipline-level networks, the network's contact person;
for the university-wide Nordlys network staffexchange@helsinki.fi
for funding, the host university in Switzerland, for applications  staffexchange@helsinki.fi; travel request to one's own unit staffexchange@helsinki.fi travel request and travel costs at one's own unit; for applications and housing by the host university: staffexchange@helsinki.fi

Criteria for teacher and researcher exchange

  • Teaching and research staff of the University of Helsinki can go on teacher and researcher exchange.
  • The person applying for teacher and researcher exchange must be employed by the University of Helsinki when applying for the exchange and during the exchange period.
  • The applicant’s supervisor must approve the content and schedule of the exchange.
  • Funding for teacher and research exchange opportunities varies depending on the exchange programme and location of the exchange destination. 
  • Applicants can go on exchange up to twice a year.
  • International Exchange Services and Education Cooperation unit of the University of Helsinki grants Erasmus+ travel funding for teacher exchange which lasts 2-14 days (2-12 working days + maximum 2 travel days). The most common duration of teacher exchange is one week.
  • Due to the EU’s rules concerning the Erasmus+ programme, Erasmus+ exchanges that focus solely on research and do not involve teaching or training are not possible.
  • Applications must be submitted at the latest two months before the exchange. Please note that some destinations require application 3 months before intended exchange.
  • An exchange trip is a work related trip, and the University of Helsinki’s travel policy must always be observed in the planning and execution. In addition to the travel policy, one needs to observe the travel instructions (in Finnish or Swedish) of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
  • The applicant also needs to follow the guidelines of the funding agency, for example, the Erasmus+ rules and regulations set by the European Commission. In an Erasmus+ exchange, a personal holiday and the exchange trip cannot be combined. Teacher and researcher exchange usually cannot last over the weekend, due to reasons other than those attributable to the official programme of the exchange (for example, if teaching continues during the following week).
  • Erasmus+ funding is external funding, and there are limitations to the maximum travel cost sum from the funding agency. Example of approved Erasmus+ travel costs:
    - cheapest direct flights or ship and train
    - accommodation costs in a three star hotel or similar
    - airport train or bus (taxi only if the flight departs or arrives during night)
    - per diem
  • Because teacher and staff exchange are a strategically important internationalization instrument for the University of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki is willing to compensate for reasonable travel costs from the university’s own exchange funding if the travel costs exceed the Erasmus+ travel grant sum.  The additional compensation needs to be within the boundaries of the example above, i.e. its purpose is to ensure that per diem and reasonable accommodation costs are covered.
  • Erasmus+ travel grants are based on daily sums, which means that the applicant must notify the International Exchange Services and Education Cooperation unit if there are changes in the travel schedule. Changes in exchange duration will influence the amount of Erasmus+ travel grant.
  • The travel grant decision may be cancelled if the exchange trip does not comply with the exchange programme and dates described in the Mobility Agreement.

Erasmus+ teacher exchange to destinations in Europe

Erasmus+ teacher exchange to destinations in Europe

  • Erasmus+ -teacher exchange destinations include universities which are located in Erasmus+ programme countries (EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia, also Great Britain until 31.5.2023).

  • Erasmus+ teacher exchange must include at least 8 hours of teaching for each exchange period. If the exchange includes developing pedagogical or digital skills (combined teaching and staff exchange), at least 4 hours of teaching is required.

  • If the exchange duration is more than 7 days but less than 14 days, the teaching hours are calculated proportionally. A two week exchange must include at least 16 hours of teaching (at least 8 hours of teaching if the exchange includes developing pedagogical or digital skills).

  • The exchange can include teaching several different courses. Teacher exchange can also include teaching the staff members of the receiving institution or giving guidance to students, which are included in the amount of teaching hours.

  • The teacher exchange can include teaching at several different universities in the host country during the same teacher exchange journey.

  • The teacher exchange can be carried out as a blended mobility, which means that it will include a virtual part before or during the exchange to the host country.

  • The applicant plans the content of teaching together with the receiving university.

Erasmus+ teacher exchanges are based on exchange agreements

  • There needs to be an interinstitutional agreement between universities in order for teacher exchanges to take place. 

  • University of Helsinki will negotiate teacher exchange agreements based on need for the area of EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia. Please contact staffexchange@helsinki.fi at least three months before the intended teacher exchange.

Erasmus+ staff exchange

At the University of Helsinki, travel grants for Erasmus+ Staff Exchange are primarily given to other staff than research and teaching staff.

However, research and teaching staff members can also go on Erasmus+ teacher exchange for specific reasons such as preparing a funding application for an international education project or curriculum development. Erasmus+ staff exchange application instructions are available on the intranet Flamma.  

Erasmus + ICM Global Mobility teacher exchange

  • Erasmus + ICM Global Mobility (Erasmus+ international credit mobility) teacher exchange offers exchange opportunities to destinations which are located outside EU/EEA.

  • Erasmus+ teacher exchange must include at least 8 hours of teaching for each exchange period.

  • If the exchange duration is more than 7 days but less than 14 days, the teaching hours are calculated proportionally. A two week exchange must include at least 16 hours of teaching.

  • Content of the exchange period is planned together with the receiving higher education institution.

Erasmus+ Global Mobility teacher exchanges are based on exchange agreements

  • Teacher exchanges require an Erasmus + teacher exchange agreement between the universities.

Teacher and researcher exchange to destinations outside the EU/EEA

University of Helsinki has bilateral exchange agreements with universities located outside the EU/EEA. Some of these agreements also cover teacher and researcher exchanges. The exchange agreement specifies the number of incoming and outgoing staff members and may include discipline-specific limitations.

Funding an exchange based on the bilateral exchange agreements

The International Exchange Services and Education Cooperation unit does not award travel grants for destinations outside the EU/EEA except for teacher exchanges based on Erasmus+ Global (Erasmus+ ICM) exchange agreements.

Some receiving universities provide teachers on a teacher and researcher exchange with free accommodation for a maximum duration of 14 days, when this possibility is stated in the exchange agreement. Please check the partner list for which universities offer free housing.

Contact your own faculty/unit for more information on funding possibilities. The teacher or researcher planning the exchange to a destination outside the EU/EEA must submit a travel request to one's own unit before the exchange.

Erasmus+ Global teacher exchange funding

The International Exchange Services and Education Cooperation unit grants Erasmus+ Global teacher exchange grants based on the funding awarded to the University of Helsinki for a specific year. For more information, please contact staffexchange@helsinki.fi.