Frequently asked questions about exchange studies

You must meet the entry requirements set out on the page Apply for exchange studies.

You can find the updated entry requirements on the page Apply for exchange studies. 

Yes. Courses for which you have received credits within your current programme are included when your eligibility is assessed. 

You apply for exchange studies at the beginning of November in the year before you plan to go. This means you need to apply about a year in advance. 

Example: If you would like to go on exchange during the 2027/2028 academic year, you should apply for an exchange place in November 2026. 

When the application period is open, you will find the link to the MoveON application system on the Apply for exchange studies page. 

Find out more about the universities you are interested in and check that they offer courses which you can count towards your degree programme. In your application, you should answer the question about your course selection by giving examples of courses you would like to take during your exchange. 

We recommend that you start your application well in advance of the closing date. Once you have started your application in MoveON, you can continue working on it right up until the closing date. 

You can apply to a maximum of four universities. Rank the universities in order of preference, starting with the one where you would most like to study. 

No, all applications are on an individual basis. 

You will usually be notified of your host university by email in early February. 

If, during the application period, you are enrolled on a Bachelor’s programme and wish to apply for an exchange within a Master’s programme to which you have not yet been admitted, the earliest exchange period you can apply for is the spring semester of the first year of the Master’s programme. You may then be conditionally offered an exchange place. We recommend going on exchange during the second year of your Master’s programme.  

Choose the courses for the programme you are most likely to select. However, we recommend that you check that there are also courses relevant to your alternative programmes. 

Yes, it could affect your nomination. Not all partner universities offer courses that are relevant to all Master’s programmes. You are therefore admitted conditionally.

You should primarily look for information about courses on the universities’ own websites. You can find links to SLU’s partner universities in MoveON. 

Other sources include travel reports and recommendations from other students who have previously studied at that university. 

If you cannot find a course list for the coming year, look for one for the current year or semester, or for the previous year. 
If you cannot find a course list, check whether there is a relevant programme and which courses are offered within that programme. 

If you cannot find enough courses that you can include in your degree, there is a risk that you will not be able to graduate on time. In that case, it is best to consider other options instead, such as a different exchange university or another type of study abroad programme.

List courses equivalent to full-time study. You can find information on what constitutes full-time study on the respective partner university’s page in MoveON. 

Yes. You must check your options for every university you apply to (up to four). 
Choose courses that are relevant to your SLU programme for each university you are applying to. If you are applying to four universities, you should therefore list courses for all four. If you do not answer the question about course selection for one of the universities you wish to study at, that university will be removed from your application. 

Yes. State which courses you would like to take and that they are electives. For example, a course cannot be counted as an elective if it overlaps with a course you have already taken. Nor is it certain that you will be able to take the courses you have listed. 

Please read the syllabus for your programme carefully. Contact your programme director at SLU to discuss your course selection well in advance of submitting your application. You should find courses equivalent to your compulsory courses for the semester you are on exchange. The programme coordinator will then assess your proposal and determine which courses may be recognised for credit. 

Yes, that might be possible. At some universities, you can undertake the equivalent of a degree project, but you must check whether this is possible before you apply. You often need to have found a supervisor before you set off. Find out more on the Degree project abroad page. 

Not usually, but the course selection process is used to check that the exchange universities you have chosen are likely to be a good fit for you. You will need to draw up a study plan after you have been nominated. However, selecting courses will help you prepare a stronger application and be ready for the next step.

Your international coordinator can help you find courses, but cannot find them for you. It is your responsibility to find relevant courses at the universities where you wish to study. 

Yes. Choosing your courses is, above all, a way for you and your international coordinator to ensure that your choice of exchange university is feasible; however, you are required to check with your programme director in good time to ensure that your course selection appears reasonable.  

Careful planning of your study programme is important to ensure that the courses you take on your exchange can be credited as part of your programme at SLU. Once you have decided which courses you wish to take during your exchange, you should therefore discuss your selection with your programme director. They can help you assess how the courses fit into your programme and whether they can count towards your degree. 

Also remember to make plans for the period after the exchange. Check which courses you need or wish to take when you return, and make sure you will meet any entry requirements. 

You can find the contact details for your programme director on the programme page on the student web. 

If you do not earn all the required credits (equivalent to 30 credits per semester) during your exchange, you may need to extend your studies at SLU. You will need to catch up on the course(s) you have missed at a later date. You also risk having to repay any student finance to CSN. 

After completing your exchange, you should apply for credit transfer in Ladok Student. No course credits are transferred automatically. You can find more information on the Transferring credits 

If you do not earn all the required credits (equivalent to 30 credits per semester) during your exchange, or if you take courses that cannot be credited towards your programme, you may need to extend your studies at SLU. You will need to catch up on the course(s) you have missed at a later date. 

The rules on changing courses vary from one university to another. It is usually possible to change a course at the start of a semester. If you change a course during your exchange, you must inform both your programme director and the international coordinator at SLU so that the course you switch to can be recognised as part of your programme at SLU. 

An exchange means that you are expected to study full-time at the host university. 

Students who are accepted onto an exchange programme within the EU can apply for an Erasmus+ grant. Switzerland and the UK are not yet part of the Erasmus+ program. The grant is calculated per day and is awarded for the study period at the host university. If you need to stay at the host university before you start your studies – for example, for a compulsory induction programme – a grant will also be provided for that period. 

Some of SLU’s faculties offer travel grants for students who are going to study outside Europe. For more information, see the Scholarships page.

Yes, you can apply for student finance from CSN at the same rate as for studies in Sweden. It may also be possible to apply for a loan to cover additional costs. For further information, visit the CSN website. 

Some universities require students to take a language test. For example, exchange students may in some cases need to sit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or provide evidence of their English proficiency through their upper secondary school grades. If this is required, it is usually stated on the relevant university’s page in MoveOn. 

If you are applying for an exchange where teaching is conducted in a language other than English, you will need to enclose a certificate showing your language proficiency. When studying in countries such as Spain, France, Italy or Chile, teaching is usually conducted in the local language, particularly at undergraduate level. 
Consider whether you need to take any additional language courses, either before you leave or while you are studying at the university abroad. A good way to practise the language before you go is to spend time with the exchange students studying at SLU.

If you have been offered a place, you will need to: 

• plan your studies; 

• arrange passports and visas; 

• find out more about your host university and safety there; 

• plan your trip.