Training abroad

Self-acquired training place

• No specific application period, but you can apply for a training and complete it according your own study plan.
• However, please note that you must reserve at least 2 months for the application process after you have found a training place.

Training applied through partner institution

The application process goes according to the study exchange process and application schedule.

 

General eligibility

All degree students of Lapland UAS can apply for the training period abroad, if the student:

• has progressed in studies according to his/her personal study plan and will graduate in a target time.
• has completed at least 60 credits at the start of the training.
• has sufficient language skills (B1, B2 or C1) depending on the destination, either in English or in the language of the destination country.
• minimum duration of the training is 2 months (60 days).
• gains at least 5 credits / month during the exchange period.
• will get all the credits completed abroad fully included into his/her degree. at Lapland UAS in accordance with his/her study plan (Learning Agreement for traineeships).
• the supervising teacher of the training has approved the training place and the content.

 

Selection Criteria

Training places applied through the partner university

• The exchange places are usually filled in the order of application.
• There may be degree programme specific exceptions for some training places. More information about these can be obtained from the responsible teacher.

In self-acquired training places

• The supervising teacher of the training approves the training place and the content.

Where to find a training place?

Usually, students acquire a training place independently by themselves.

Below are some tips on where to look for a training place.

• Traineeship databases online: You can search for training options online, where you can find various internship databases (a few links below)

Erasmusintern – Internship database

leo-net.solidintern.com – All students who are studying in Finnish higher education institution has the opportunity to log in as student status to this new reliable internship portal. Students can get Erasmus+ or other funding to these placements and there are also placements with salory.

EDUFI- Traineeships

 

• SoleMOVE: You can also find good tips in the training reports of other students, which you can familiarize yourself with in the SoleMOVE exchange system.

 

• In Tuudo, internship opportunities are published in the section Work and internship > Careers and internships offered by Lapland UAS.

 

• Partners and networks of the degree programmes: There may be internship options in your study field through various partner universities. For more information, please contact Internationalisation services or the teachers of your degree programme. It is also a good idea to ask teachers for other tips and their possible contacts with potential organisations.

 

• Social services and health care students have an opportunity to apply for an training place through partner universities in Europe and through the Healtht Africa network in Uganda and Kenya.

 

Health Africa- practical training is performed through the Health Africa network. The target countries are Kenya and Uganda.

Health Africa network and Health Africa Development Co-operation Organisation HADCO is the third sector non-profit organisation. It has eight applied sciences as member, including Lapland UAS. The general goal of the organisation is to maintain, to support and to develop cooperation between Uganda, Kenya and Finland.

The students of the health care and social services can apply for the Health Africa programme. The application period is in general in the spring once a year. It is possible to apply for the Lapland UAS travel grant and training grant for the exchange. Please notice that you can’t receive the grant for training in your home country. The network chooses students for the following autumn and for the spring on the basis of the application. The target countries are Kenya and Uganda. About 8-10 students per the country per a term is chosen for the programme. For the students are arranged two orientation days before the exchange. In the orientation are gone through practice arrangements and matters which are related to safety and health. The duration of the practical training exchange is 90 days. During the training students will practice in 2-5 different training places.

 

1. Start planning your exchange well in advance, preferably a several months before the starting date of the training.
2. Familiarize yourself with the Lapland UAS Go International -webpages and search for possible training options and places.
3. Discuss with your study counselor and the training instructor about the suitable time for the training period and training place’s suitability. The study counselor gives the approval to apply for the exchange. The supervising teacher of the training approves the training place and the content.
4. Internationalisation Services will help you with the learning agreement and the exchange application process. Book the personal meeting time, if needed.
5. After you have found the suitable training place
   • Ask confirmation of the training places and the suitability from your training supervising teacher
   • Fill in the Learning Agreement for Traineeships -document
     • The content is filled together with the training instructor and the training organisation.
     • Send the form to the internationalisation services for review before signing the form.
     • The agreement is signed by the student, the supervising teacher of the training (or a study counselor, if you are doing several training courses during the exchange period), the responsible person at the sending institution (=internationalisation services coordinator), and the host organisation. The agreement can be scanned and sent by email between the parties involved.)
   • If necessary, make a separate training contract with states a possible salary, CV, and other documents required for the training organisation or your degree programme.
   • If you have any questions, please contact internationalisation services at any phase of the process.
6. Fill in and send the online exchange application in SoleMOVE system.
   • Attach into the application:
     • Learning Agreement (signed by you and the study counsellor/supervising teacher of the training)
     • To be noticed during a mobility period -form (signed by computer)

7. Once the Internationalisation Services have approved your SoleMOVE application:

• You can find the Learning Agreement signed by all parties in your SoleMOVE application.
• Confirm your exchange place in the SoleMOVE system (change the application status as Confirmed).

8. Apply for grants in SoleGRANT -system.

• Fill in the grant application in SoleGRANT programme (log in through SoleMOVE system).
• Upload the Learning Agreement for Traineeships signed by all parties as an attachment.

9. Prepare for the exchange period.

• Familiarize yourself with the checklist of the outgoing student.
• Check the exchange materials in the Moodle workspace, where you can find e.g. recordings and materials of the outgoing student orientation.
• Get to know the exchange destination and prepare well for your trip!

The amount of the grant and the award criteria are determined by the exchange destination and the exchange programme according to the table below.

*Training grant for placements outside the EU, not in one’s home country. You can apply for a travel grant of 450 € for a training period abroad in your home country.

 

I) Grant award criteria and payment policy:

• Grants are awarded according to exchange programmes and Lapland UAS criteria (see below for more details).
• The grant is applied for by filling in an electronic grant application in the SoleGRANT system after the student has received an approval decision from the receiving exchange institution or organisation.
• The grant application must be submitted no later than before the start of the exchange. Grant applications received after the start of the exchange will not be accepted, and the student will not be awarded a grant.
• Grants are paid twice a month (on the 15th and 30th or 31st day of the month). Please note that it will take at least 3 weeks in the process of processing and accepting the application and paying the grant, even if the application is properly filled out and does not require any further requests for clarification from the student. So, send the grant application well in advance.

 

II) Lapland UAS travel grant

• It is possible to receive Lapland UAS travel grant twice for study exchange and/or training abroad during Lapland UAS degree.
• It can be granted for each new exchange period.*
• Paid in full before exchange.

Amount of travel grant in 2024:

• To Europe and to student’s home country outside Europe 450€
• Outside Europe (excluding an exchange to student’s home country) 1000€

Additional support for green travel

You can be granted an additional green travel support of 50 € per exchange, if you travel to the exchange destination according to the Erasmus+ programme criteria for green travel (see the criteria in the Erasmus+ grant section).

*Travel grant for Erasmus+ exchange

The travel grant for an Erasmus+ exchange consists of an Erasmus+ travel grant and a possible share of the Lapland UAS travel grant as follows:

• The total travel grant is at least 450 €.
• If the Erasmus+ grant’s travel support is less than 450 €, a Lapland UAS travel grant will be paid to compensate the remaining part, so that the total amount of the travel grant is 450 €.
• If the Erasmus+ grant’s travel support is more than 450 €, the Lapland UAS travel grant will not be awarded on top of this.

 

III) Lapland UAS Study and Training Exchange Grant

• Is awarded to those exchange destinations for which the exchange programmes administered by Lapland UAS do not award a separate grant.
• Daily grant, 10 €/day.
• Minimum duration of exchange is 2 months (60 days).
• A maximum of 12 months of grant can be awarded per Lapland UAS degree.
• Not granted, if the exchange destination is in student’s home country.
• 90% of the grant is paid before the exchange and the rest after the exchange.

 

IV) Erasmus+ grant

The Erasmus+ grant consists of individual support and travel support (as of 1 August 2024, academic year 2024-2025). NOTE! In the summer 2024, a grant will still be awarded according to the criteria for the academic year 2023-2024.

In addition, a student can apply for the Erasmus+ additional support, if the conditions for receiving support are met.

The amount of Erasmus+ individual support is determined by the country of destination. The countries are divided into two groups.

Group 1:

• Grant for training 690€/month
• Countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, France, Sweden, Germany and Denmark.

Group 2:

• Grant for training 640€/month
• Countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey.

The individual grant is a daily grant and is granted for the entire exchange period according to the duration of the exchange, as well as for two additional travel days.

80% of the grant is paid before the exchange and the rest after the exchange based on the actual duration of the exchange.

 

The Erasmus+ travel support is determined by the distance between the city where the home university is located and the city where the exchange destination is located (one-way distance in kilometres). The distance is calculated using the Distance Calculator of the Erasmus+ programme.

Amount of the travel support is determined according to the table below:

Erasmus+ Additional Grants

Students going for an Erasmus+ exchange can apply additional support, if they meet the eligibility criteria of the those grants.

Green Travel Support (=supplemented travel grant amount) is possible to apply, if you travel to your exchange destination by using environmentally friendly means of transportation, which are buss, train, car-pooling and bike. At least half of the return trip must be traveled using above mentioned transportation. More information on criteria and amount of the grant can be found in the form Declaration of Green Travel Support.

You can read tips how to make your exchange period greener from Finnish National Agency for Education web page How can we make higher education exchanges greener? | Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi).

Fewer Opportunities Topup you can apply, if you belong to one of the groups mentioned below. More information criteria and amount of the grant can be found at the form Declaration of Fewer Opportunities Topup.

• Students with under-aged child or children
• students who are family carers
• students with disability
• students having severe and/or chronic health problems
• students who have received international protection

Inclusion support you can apply, if you have an injury, illness or a learning difficulty and need special arrangements which cause extra costs that cannot be covered by any other sources. Please contact the Internationalisation Services for more information.

 

V) When receiving a grant, the grantee commits to the following conditions:

1. To use the grant only for travel, subsistence, accommodation and language training expenses arising from study or internship exchanges.
2. To comply with an established study plan (=Learning Agreement) or an internship programme (=Learning Agreement for Traineeships).
3. To familiarize yourself with the guidelines for international exchange before departure.
4. Take care of the necessary permits, insurance and vaccinations yourself.
5. To be a representative of Lapland UAS and to present your university of applied sciences during the exchange.
6. Return the necessary forms and reports of the exchange in accordance with the instructions and on time. The exchange report may also be published in the SoleMOVE program.
7. To pay back all or part of the grants in case of interruption, cancellation of the exchange abroad or failure to return the required documents to internationalisation services.

Lapland UAS is obliged to report the grants paid to students to the tax authorities when the total sum of the grants is €1,000.00 or more during the same year. Students must declare the grants they have received in their tax return.

You are able to open the forms by clicking the name of the form. After that you need to download the file and save it to your computer or elsewhere before are can start filling the form.

 European language levels self assessment

European language levels – self assessment grid
Certificate of Language Proficiency

Erasmus+ Training Mobility

Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for Traineeships 2023-2024
To be noticed during a mobility period
Erasmus+ Grant Agreement for Students and Trainees (attach the form to SoleGRANT application)
Changes to Training Mobility
Traineeship Certificate
Erasmus Student Charter
Declaration of Green travel support
Declaration of Fewer Opportunities top up

Training abroad outside EU (other destinations except the Erasmus+)

Learning Agreement for Traineeship – non-EU
To be noticed during a mobility period
Traineeship Certificate
Changes to the Original Learning Agreement for Traineeship – non-EU

SoleMOVE and SoleGRANT

Every student going for international exchange has to make an online application to SoleMOVE before going abroad.

Grants for exchange must be applied in SoleGRANT after your SoleMOVE exchange application is approved, you have confirmed your exchange pace in SoleMOVE and you have received an acceptance letter from the host university or signed learning agreement for traineeships form from the training place.

Lapland UAS email

Student must use only Lapland UAS email during the exchange. Remember to renew your password and empty your email regularly.

Financing the Exchange

Before going abroad remember to take care of the needed financing for the exchange period. Lapland UAS grants do not cover all the expenses of the exchange, thus you must be prepared to use your own savings. Please notice that there might be extra fees for example visas, registrations, deposit etc.

Passport, Visa and Residence Permit

Check that your passport is valid during the exchange period. Also check if you need a Visa or a Residence Permit for your exchange country. Please notice that some exchange universities may require the copy of the valid passport attached to the exchange application. You can have for more information about Visa and Residence Permit from the exchange country’s embassy. Be prepared to apply for the Residence Permit in good time in advance.

Travel notification

Submit, prior to the start of the mobility period, a travel notification via the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland at: matkustusilmoitus.fi – Front page
Instructions how to make a travel notification.

Right of Residence and Work Permit

Nordic Countries: Finnish citizens do not need a Residence Permit for staying in the Nordic Countries. If you are International student, please check the requirements for your nationality

In the EU countries the students must register their right to reside if staying in the country more than 3 months. Students can do the registration at the local police or the immigration service of the exchange country,

For the registration you need among others a passport, attendance certificate (letter of acceptance) from your host university, certificate of finance for your exchange study period (fro example the documents of the grants, KELA study grants, and money that you have with you/you can use), passport photos and local money. Check all needed documents from the authorizing body in question.

If you are International student, you most likely need a Residence Permit to the host country. Please check the requirements for your nationality.

In some exchange destinations (political situation or other reason) it is recommended to register to local Finnish authorities (embassy), especially if staying in the country for a long time.

In EU region labour force can move freely without work permit. Registration of right of residence (EU citizens) is obligatory if you stay in the country more than 3 months. For other countries, please check the country-specific work permit procedures.

Study Grant Application (KELA)

For more information and forms from Lapland UAS Financial Aid Committee and the Lapland UAS web pages and also from KELA’s pages.

Social Security: The European Health Insurance Card (EU Citizens)

EU citizens have the same benefits and duties to social security as the citizens of that country. Apply from KELA the European Health Insurance Card which certifies that you are entitled to the Social Services of the EU: The card is very useful for example if you need hospital treatment.

Travel Insurance

Each International student doing degree programme and going abroad is obliged to acquire themselves a sufficient insurance that covers for example illness, accidents, repatriation and if needed, liability issues. Ask for more information from insurance companies.

During the unpaid training students are insured with Lapland UAS insurance that covers accidents and occupational diseases in working hours as well as liability issues (USA and Canada excluded). Print copy of certificate of the validity of liability insurance and insurance for accidents.
For study exchange all Lapland UAS students are covered by the group accident insurance. This insurance covers expenses caused by an accident during studies according to the curricula or immediate travel to the study location. You can print the copy of the validity certificate here.

When travelling, always remember that things can be replaced, but life cannot be.

Travelling tickets and travelling timetables

Compare prices of the different travelling possibilities to get the best use of the grants. Affordable student tickets are sold by many travel agencies such as Kilroy Travels and Are. They have offices in numerous countries, which makes changing the tickets easier. Remember to inform travel times to the exchange university / training place and your family.

Student Identity Card

In Finland travel agencies (for example Kilroy Travels) sell International Student Identity Card (ISIC) which entitles to discount in different countries. Most of the discount are for travelling, but ISIC can also be used for bargaining about the student discounts when visiting museums etc.

Letter of Acceptance, Proof of Means of Support, Passport photos

Take Letter of Acceptance, Proof of Means of Support (for example in Finland foreigners are required to have at least 560€ per month); students can use for example a document of the grant, KELA study grant or other assets (bank statement). Take copies of the documents and passport and keep them in a different place than the originals.

Take adequate amount of passport photos with you, at least 5-10 photos.

Accommodation

Remember to take care of the housing-related matters, such as rent, electricity contract, notice of removal, postal services etc. Find yourself an apartment from the exchange destination in good time in advance and keep all the apartment-related documents and agreements (tenancy agreement with tenancy period and price) in safe.

Addresses and Contact Information

Make all needed change of addresses for the period of absence: Post, Registry Office, Study Affairs Office. Take with you all important contact information in Finland, Lapland UAS (study councellor, training supervising teacher, internationalisation services) as well as in exchange destination (for example Finnish Embassy) and leave a copy to your family / trusted person.

For the exchange, take with you a list of needed addresses and directions. Pack the list to your hand luggage so that you can take it out easily.

Financial Matters

Find out the most practical way of taking care of your finances in the destination: to open a bank account or to withdraw money from automatic cash dispenser from the Finnish bank account, how to transfer money to the destination etc. Give instructions to your family / trusted person. Make an authorization for your banking matters in Finland. The authorization should include also other things, such as insurance and study grant matters. The authorization document must be signed by two witnesses.

Find out the most convenient way of taking money with you: cash travel cheque, credit cards, VisaElectron etc.

Health Care

Take care of the needed vaccinations and visit the dentist before going abroad. Remember to have your pharmaceuticals with you for the whole exchange period. Take also plasters, basic painkillers, basic lotion etc.

There are specific instructions for Health Care students about the needed vaccinations and medical examinations before and after the exchange: more information from the Internationalisation Services. Lapland UAS does not cover the expenses of the possible vaccinations. Students pay the costs of the vaccinations themselves.

Information about Finland, Lapland UAS and the destination

Be prepared to answer the most extraordinary questions about Finland and Lapland UAS. Addresses to sources of Finland-information. If interested in books, Facts about Finland is very useful.

Familiarize yourself with Lapland UAS brochures and web pages in English so that you know the Lapland UAS terminology. You can also pick up a Lapland UAS information package from your Internationalisation Services before going abroad. Ask more!

Take with you also Rovaniemi/Kemi/Tornio information and pictures, for example post cards. In advance familiarize yourself with the exchange country and culture as well as you can. You can have more information from books and the Internet.

Presents

Be prepared for situations when presents are needed (such as invitation to a party) by taking with you something small, like key chains etc. It is nice to take something that is originated from your own country.

 

Internationalisation Services arranges an orientation for outgoing exchange students.

The invitation to the orientation will be sent to accepted students after the SoleMOVE application has been accepted.

Orientation is diveded into two sessions.

Part I: 22.10.2024 at 14 – 15.30

Part II: 26.11.2024 at 14 – 15.30

Orientation materials are stored in the Moodle workspace after the sessions.

More detailed instructions on the exchange process and tasks during and after the exchange can be found in the Moodle workspace Outgoing Orientation – Lapland UAS. You can get the enrolment key for the workspace from internationalisation services, outgoing@lapinamk.fi.

Cancellation or termination of the exchange

Exchange preparations require a lot of work from Lapland UAS as well as the partner / host institution (training destination). The exchange can be cancelled only with cogent reasons. If you consider discontinuing the exchange, you should immediately contact the Internationalisation Services (outgoing@lapinamk.fi).

If you are thinking of ending your exchange earlier than planned, you must immediately contact the Internationalisation Services. They will discuss with the study cousellor about the termination of the exchange and early return. The study counsellor gives the approval for the termination. Paid grants are mainly month-specific which means that termination or early return leads to paying back all or some part of the grants.

If you experience during your exchange any situations that make your staying difficult, contact immediately the coordinator or instructor of your exchange destination and the Internationalisation Services in Lapland UAS. Lapland UAS wants to take care of the students during the international exchange and the sooner you contact, the better we are able to help you.