ERASMUS - Higher Education of Socrates

SOCRATES/ERASMUS is the higher education action of the Socrates programme. It aims at developing higher education in Europe. It encourages higher education institutions to engage in international co-operation and increases the mobility of students and teachers. It also promotes transparency in education and better crediting of studies and qualifications in Europe.

SOCRATES/Erasmus supports a wide range of activities which include student and teacher mobility and organisation of student and teacher mobility, Intensive Programmes, joint development and implementation of curriculum, ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), Thematic Networks and Preparatory visits

All higher education institutions as well as their students and teachers can take part in the Erasmus programme. Administratively the above mentioned activities are divided into three actions which are closely connected to each other:

Erasmus 1: Grants to universities for their European activities
Erasmus 2: Individual grants for students and teachers
Erasmus 3: Thematic Networks

For more information on the Erasmus programme, please visit the website of the European Commission at http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/erasmus.html.

ERASMUS Student Exchange

Students of Oulu University of Applied Sciences can complete parts of their studies in other European higher education institutions.

Students can apply for an Erasmus student exchange from their second year of studies on. The Erasmus exchange period lasts from three to twelve months and usually an Erasmus grant is awarded to students to cover part of the expenses caused by the student exchange. All studies completed during an Erasmus exchange are accredited to your studies at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Furthermore, host institutions do not charge any tuition fees from Erasmus students.

The Erasmus grant can be awarded to citizens of the countries taking part in the Socrates programme or to refugees and immigrants whose stay in Finland can be considered permanent (visa type A in the passport). The Erasmus grant as well as the Erasmus Exchange Student status is available for every student only once. However, nothing prevents those interested from taking advantage of the agreements even without the official Erasmus student status if the host institution agrees to co-operate.

To start the planning of your Erasmus exchange period, please contact the international co-ordinator of your school.

Student exchange forms

Student application form
Notice of student or trainee exchange and/or Erasmus grant agreement

ERASMUS Teacher Exchange

Teachers of Oulu University of Applied Sciences can acquire international experience by teaching in European higher education institutions.

All members of Oulu University of Applied Sciences' teaching staff can apply to participate in an Erasmus teacher exchange period at any one of our Socrates/Erasmus partners. The Erasmus teacher exchange period can last from one week (which is the minimum) up to six months. During the Erasmus teacher exchange a teacher must teach at least eight hours per week. An Erasmus grant is usually awarded to Erasmus teachers. At Oulu University of Applied Sciences the grant is paid to the school, who then takes care of the expenses of teacher exchanges on behalf of the teacher.

Just as it is awarded to students, the Erasmus grant can be awarded to citizens of the countries taking part in the Socrates programme, or to immigrants and/or refugees whose stay in Finland can be considered permanent (visa-type A in the passport). For teachers there are no limitations concerning the number of exchanges or grants one can have.

A successful teacher exchange period always requires careful advance planning. For help with the planning, you should contact the international co-ordinator of the respective school in good time before the planned exchange period.

ERASMUS Intensive Programmes

An Intensive Programme (IP) is a short programme of study (10 days to 3 months) which brings students and staff from higher education institutions in different participating countries together with non-academic experts, in any field of study.

SOCRATES/Erasmus may cover the implementation of an IP during one, two or three successive years (including travel and subsistence costs for participants). Support is given to the co-ordinating institution who takes care of its distribution to the partner institutions.