Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility

* Outgoing study mobilities are financed from the  Erasmus+ KA131 funds. If you would like more information on this activity or would like to apply for the funds, please contact the project coordinator at [email protected]

The table was last updated on 30.07.2025 

• The student must be enrolled at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, meaning that studies at the host university must be completed before graduating from the respective study program.
• Students can participate in long-term mobility from the 2nd year of bachelor's studies (however, participation in Erasmus+ intensive programs is possible already in the 1st year).

• In the Erasmus+ program, students can study abroad for up to 12 months per study cycle, and in integrated studies, for up to 12+12 months.
  Important! Previous participation in the Erasmus program is taken into account and deducted from the maximum possible duration at the given study level. For example, if a student has already participated in the Erasmus program for 12 months at the first cycle of higher education, they cannot participate again at the same level. However, if the previous participation was shorter than 12 months, it is possible to participate again for up to 12 months, provided that the remaining months meet the program’s minimum duration requirement (at least 3 months for studies).
• Studies at the host university must last a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months. It is not allowed to extend an exchange period beyond one academic year (e.g., from January to December). However, students can undertake mobility in consecutive periods, including across two academic years, such as in the spring semester followed by the autumn semester. In such cases, a separate application must be submitted for each period.

• At the host university, you must complete at least 15 ECTS credits per semester that fit into your study program. Since courses are sometimes canceled, offered in a different language, or have schedule conflicts, we recommend selecting more courses initially to have backup options
• If the host university has higher minimum credit requirements for incoming exchange students, you must comply with their rules.
• Your studies abroad, including exams and other assessments, must be recognized by your home university as equivalent to local studies.

1. Travel Grant
All participants are eligible for a travel grant. This is calculated based on the distance from Tartu to the city where the studies will take place. The distance is calculated using the official Erasmus program distance calculatorlink opens in new page. The support is granted accordingly:

Travel distance (one end)

The support amount

Distance 10 to 99 km:                28 EUR per participant 

Distance 100 to 499 km:           211 EUR per participant 

Distance 500 to 1999 km:         309 EUR per participant 

Distance 2000 to 2999 km:      395 EUR per participant 

Distance 3000 to 3999 km:      580 EUR per participant 

Distance  4000 to  7999 km:    1188 EUR per participant 

8000 km and more:                   1735 EUR per participant 

2. Individual support:

Students participating in the Erasmus+ ICM program have the right to apply for a scholarship which helps cover additional costs related to the exchange.
Outgoing students travelling to a non-EU country within Erasmus+ ICM project receive 700 euro per month.

All the students participating in the Erasmus+ mobilities are obliged to obtain their own travel insurance for the whole period of their stay abroad!  

Co-financing from Estonian Government

Students from Estonian higher education institutions participating in the Erasmus+ mobility program also receive co-financing from the Estonian state. Each student participating in Erasmus+ mobility will receive an additional 118 euros.

Additional support for students with fewer opportunities

If a student belongs to one of the following target groups:

• recipient of Estonian needs-based study/special allowance
• parent of minor child/children
• from foster care background
• with diminished work ability
• with health related special needs or chronic illness

They are eligible for an additional Erasmus+ grant of 250 euros per month, funded by the European Commission. To apply, the student must complete, digitally sign, and submit a declaration of honour for students with fewer opportunities to the Erasmus coordinator at EMÜ before signing the scholarship agreement. This should be sent to: [email protected] 

3. A participant may also apply for the  inclusion support. The inclusion support is intended to compensate for additional costs incurred by participants that are directly related to their reduced opportunities and are not covered by the monthly additional support. In particular, additional financial support is intended for participants with special physical needs or disabilities, special mental health needs or other health problems, but in justified cases, other participants with fewer opportunities may also apply for inclusion support, provided that without additional support, participation in learning mobility would not be possible. Examples of inclusion support: adapted accommodation, travel assistance, medical assistance, support equipment, adaptation of learning materials, support person, etc.

When applying, you should indicate your special needs and expected additional costs when preparing for Erasmus+ learning mobility. Additional support should be applied for approximately six months before the start of the learning mobility, and it will be assessed by the university and the funding body. The support is determined on the basis of planned expenses, but at the end of the learning mobility, you must submit proof of expenses incurred (a contract – in the case of a service or product regulated by a contract; invoice, payment order or cash receipt). Expenses must be incurred during the learning mobility period and by the participant themselve. 

*Ask the project coordinator for more information and the application form.

4. Additional support for green travel

If a student travels to their study destination using an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, they can receive an increased subsistence grant for up to 6 extra travel days and a bigger travel grant.

Environmentally friendly travel modes include:

• Bicycle
• Train
• Carpooling (e.g., traveling with a friend by car)
• Bus
• Any other eco-friendly vehicle (please specify)

According to the Erasmus+ program guide, green travel modes do not include ships, planes, or cars/motorcycles (when used alone). To be eligible for the top-up, the student must travel at least half the distance from the sending institution to the receiving institution and back using green transportation. The distance must be calculated using the Erasmus+ Erasmus+ distance calculatorlink opens in new pagelink opens in new page. To apply for the supplement, the student must complete and digitally sign a declaration of honour confirming their use of green travel and send it to: [email protected] 

The Erasmus+ scholarship may not cover all expenses incurred while studying abroad and should be considered more as a grant to help offset the additional costs associated with studying abroad.

During their stay abroad, students are entitled to receive national scholarships, study grants, and loans on the same basis as students studying in Estonia. Students may also apply for additional support from national and private funds during their time abroad (Note: the use of the Kristjan Jaak scholarship together with the Erasmus scholarship / Erasmus student status is not allowed).

Erasmus student status and privileges can also be used without receiving the scholarship (i.e., students can use the Erasmus status at their own expense).

NB! The receiving institution may not charge the Erasmus+ ICM participant tuition fees or additional fees (course, registration, examination, and laboratory fees), but may charge small fees for student unions, study materials (copies, laboratory equipment, etc.) on an equal basis with local students. NB! The student is obliged to pay the tuition fees on a regular basis to thir home university even during their studies abroad.

For additional information please turn to: [email protected]  

The language proficiency of exchange students must be sufficient for active and successful participation in the academic activities at the host university. When choosing a university, the first thing to check is the language of instruction for the courses you are interested in. Many European universities offer lectures in English, and in such cases, proficiency in the local language is not a requirement for participation in the academic program. However, basic proficiency in the local language is often required in countries such as Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, and Italy. As a rule, partner universities offer the opportunity to learn the local language through parallel language courses during your studies.

To apply, you must provide proof of language proficiency at least at a B2 level.

SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION AT THE ESTONIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES

Before submitting your application, you must fill out the exchange student form for studying abroad, which confirms that the courses you have selected will be counted towards your study program. Once completed and signed by the academic director, send the form to: [email protected] 

To submit your application in the SoleMOVElink opens in new pagelink opens in new page application system send an email to anastassia.safonova@emu.ee, and we will grant you access to the platform. 

Required documents for the application:

• A copy of your passport or ID card
• A passport photo
• A motivation letter (in English)
• Language proof (if you have studied English or German at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, ask for the language certificate from our Language Center Director, Ülle Sihver at [email protected])
• An English-language transcript of records (ask your academic advisor for this)

During the application process, we will consider:

• The student's academic progress at the Estonian University of Life Sciences
• Language proficiency in the host university's language of instruction
• Motivation

Nomination

After the deadline, we will review the applications, and if everything is in order, we will nominate you to the partner university (we will inform the university that you wish to study there).

Submitting the Application to the Host University

After the nomination, the partner university will send an email with instructions on how to submit the application to them. This will include a list of required documents, and you must submit the application by their set deadline.

We recommend familiarizing yourself with the required documents from the host university during the planning phase of your mobility and collecting them in advance.

The partner university will make the final decision regarding your admission. If you are accepted they will issue a confirmation letter or guide you to fill in the Learning Agreement.

The application deadline for studying abroad in the autumn semester or the whole academic year is April 1st 

and for spring semester is October 1st.

The learning agreement confirms the student's study plan for the exchange period, signed by three parties: the student, their home university, and the host university. The learning agreement must also include the courses you want to substitute in your study program with the courses taken abroad.

Typically, the learning agreement is completed after submitting the application to the host university. This is done through the SoleMOVE system, and it is automatically forwarded to the responsible person at our university for confirmation, and then to the partner university. You can ask for instructions from the EMÜ Erasmus coordinator.

Note: The sequence of events may sometimes differ – the student may first receive the acceptance confirmation, and only then will the learning agreement be processed.

• The grant agreement with the student going abroad will be signed after the submission of the aforementioned documents (learning agreement, acceptance letter from the host institution, and the exchange student form). The scholarship amount is based on the acceptance letter from the host university and the dates mentioned there. If you return from the host university earlier than planned, the grant amount will be reduced accordingly.
• The grant agreement is typically signed before the student departs, but not before the learning agreement is confirmed. This means that if there is a delay in finalizing the learning agreement, the payment of the grant will also be delayed.
• The grant is paid in two or three installments: for a semester-long stay abroad, 80% of the total amount is paid before the studies, and the remaining amount after returning from the exchange and submitting the required documents. For a full academic year abroad, the autumn and spring semester payments are made separately, 80% before the start of each semester, and the remaining amount after returning from the exchange and submitting the required documents.

Students often need to modify their learning agreement at the beginning of the semester if it turns out that a previously announced course is not offered or does not fit well into the timetable. Changes should be made, if possible, no later than one month after the start of studies. The modifications to the learning agreement are also made in the SoleMOVE system. Along with the changes, a new exchange student form must also be submitted.

Please note that the learning agreement is not just a list of courses; it is a binding document that you have committed to, and it cannot be changed retroactively. When the exchange studies are completed, the transcript of records issued by the host university and the list of courses in the learning agreement must match exactly.

• Submit the confirmation letter of the study period issued by the Erasmus coordinator of the host university to the Erasmus coordinator at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Note: Ask the host university's coordinator in advance about the principle they follow for marking the dates on the confirmation letter, as there are different practices: it could be the official last date of the semester, the date of the final lecture or exam, or the date of departure from the country. The dates on this confirmation letter should match those provided in the acceptance letter (if the study period is shorter on the confirmation letter, the total scholarship amount will be reduced).
• Submit a copy of the transcript of records (the confirmation of study results collected at the host university) to the Erasmus coordinator and your department/institute coordinator. The results that were previously agreed upon for recognition (through the signed exchange student form) will be entered into the study information system (ÕIS).
• If you took courses abroad that were not previously agreed upon, you must complete and submit a VÕTA application along with copies of the transcript and course annotations to your department's VÕTA advisor.

• After the exchange studies are completed, submit an online feedback report through the EU-Survey platform. The student participating in the program will receive an email with a link to the Erasmus+ participant report form. Submission of the report is a prerequisite for receiving the final installment of the scholarship.

  Note: Do not fill out the report until your grades have been entered into the study information system (ÕIS).

A student on study mobility is considered not to have interrupted their studies at the university, and their nominal study period is extended by the number of semesters spent at the host university, as long as they spent at least three months per semester at the host university, and the courses taken there were credited towards the student's curriculum, with at least 15 ECTS. The extension of the nominal study period is formalized after the completion of studies at the host university and the transfer of academic results.

Note: A student who studied at a foreign university for the entire academic year but only earned 15 ECTS towards their curriculum will have their study period extended by just one semester.

The extended nominal study period provides an opportunity to make up for any missed courses during the time spent abroad. However, it is also possible to catch up on the missed courses during the regular academic timeline and still graduate within the nominal study period.

If you are willing to share your experience with a wider audience, please let the Erasmus coordinator know. We would be happy to include you in our informational events: [email protected].

Erasmus Student Network is the largest student organization in Europe, and their goal is to make the experience of international students in the host country as enjoyable and meaningful as possible. If you want to meet students who are on Erasmus in Tartu and introduce them to Estonia, join ESN Tartu.

At the Estonian University of Life Sciences, we have international student buddies who assist new international students with adjusting to life at our university. The buddies help with practical matters related to the university but also organize fun gatherings and trips.

If you're interested in joining, contact the international relations officer, Ksenia Safonova: [email protected].