Global mobility for higher education - general information

The Erasmus+ Programme covers all higher education fields and degree levels. Mobility periods between Finnish and foreign higher education institutions are based on bilateral agreements. Enterprises and other private or public organisations and their staff are eligible to participate in some activities.

To be eligible to participate in the Erasmus+ Programme, a higher education institution must have an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE), granted by the European Commission. The charter creates the foundation for all Erasmus+ cooperation of the higher education institution, and through the charter, the institution commits to the Erasmus+ programme’s principles and terms.

In global mobility, a valid ECHE is required only from the Erasmus+ Programme countries. In the global mobility framework, the Partner Countries do not apply for the Charter but they commit to its principles when they sign an agreement with their European Erasmus+ partner.

Read more about the Erasmus Charter (currently in Finnish)

EDUFI grants funding for higher education

Universities and universities of applied sciences apply for funding from the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) for organising international mobility periods. Higher education students, teachers, and staff apply for grants from their own higher education institution.

Students and staff members with special needs can apply for a special needs grant. This additional funding is meant to enable an accessible participation in the Erasmus+ Programme which not would otherwise be possible due to a disability, physical or psychological illness, learning difficulty or other special need.

Mobility consortia can also organise exchanges

A mobility consortium formed by higher education institutions and other organisations can also organise Erasmus+ mobility periods. The mobility consortium applies for accreditation of the consortium; an accreditation is a prerequisite for receiving funding. Once the consortium is accredited, it can apply for mobility funding on the same principles as an individual higher education institution.

Within the Erasmus+ Programme, also higher education institutions’ teachers and other staff members have the possibility for an international mobility period: Erasmus+ funding may be granted for teaching or training abroad. This funding covers some of the expenses of the exchange, and it is granted by the applicant's own higher education institution. Teachers and staff members in both permanent and temporary employment can take part in exchange; the higher education institutions carry out the selection of their exchange participants.

Global mobility also funds exchange periods for incoming teachers and staff members.

Teaching abroad

Teacher exchanges focus on foreign higher education institutions and they are based on bilateral cooperation agreements. Additionally, a representative of a foreign enterprise can be invited to teach in a Finnish higher education institution. Within the global mobility framework, a bilateral agreement is always signed for cooperation with foreign enterprises. The receiving higher education institution always covers the funding for the person invited from a foreign enterprise.

Staff training abroad

The Erasmus+ Programme offers higher education institutions' staff an opportunity for professional development. Any higher education institution's staff member can participate in workplace learning period or in training in another higher education institution or other private or public organisation in a Erasmus+ Partner Country. The exchange can be a study visit, a workshop, or a workplace learning period. Conference participation is not funded from the Erasmus+ Programme.

Representatives of higher education institutions coming to Finland may participate in a training taking place in higher education institutions, enterprises or public organisations.

Students and staff members with special needs participating in an exchange can also apply for a special needs grant. The aim of this grant is to enable an accessible participation in the Erasmus+ Programme which would not be possible without an additional support due to the participant's disability, physical or psychological illness, learning difficulty or other special needs.

More information and detailed instructions for applying the accessibility grant can be found on a separate special needs grant page.