Funding the exchange
Students going on exchange to any of the partner institutions of VAMK do not normally have to pay tuition fees to the partner institution. If there are any exceptions, students will be informed. However, students may need to pay other fees, such as student union fees, purchase of books and supplies or service fees at the host institution. This depends on the target country and institution.
The most important and necessary expenses related to the exchange are insurance, travel and living costs.
It is worthwhile to calculate carefully in advance how much financing is needed for the period of studies abroad.
From these pages you will find more detailed information about applying for the VAMK grants and other opportunities.
VAMK grant is available for students going on exchange, if there is no other special funding, salary or scholarships available. The financial aid which VAMK grants to students will cover part of the total expenses. The amount of the grant varies depending on the destination country. In order to receive a grant from VAMK, you need to present the following documents before the mobility period begins:
Documents and attachments required for Grant Application:
1. Grant application
2. Acceptance letter or email (for studies) or VAMK practical training plan (signed by the supervising teacher and the organization representative) AND either :3a, 3b 3c:
- 3. a ERASMUS studies in Europe: Erasmus+ Grant Agreement
OR - 3. b ERASMUS unpaid practical training in Europe: Erasmus+Learning Agreement for Traineeship and Erasmus+ Grant Agreement
- 3.c for studies or practical training outside Europe (Finnish students only): Exchange Agreement
Send the documents to: international@vamk.fi .
The grant will be paid to your bank account usually within one month (no processing in July). If the grant application is rejected, you will receive a notification.
The first and bigger part of Erasmus grant will be paid before the exchange period. Second part (max 200 €) will be paid after the exchange when student has submitted the following documents:
- Original Learning Agreement (studies)
- Changes to original Learning Agreement (when applicable)
- Transcript of Records (studies)
- Certificate of stay / Traineeship Certificate from the host institution/employer with the exact dates of the exchange
- Exchange report in English
- EU Survey (online questionnaire)
Erasmus+ -grant is based on the actual dates and it is re-calculated after the mobility period based on certificate received from the host institution. This means that if the student/trainee stays a shorter period than estimated or agreed, the grant will be less. In some exceptional cases VAMK needs to send an invoice to the student if the final grant is much smaller than the preliminary grant.
NOTE! As a grant recipient, the student is obliged to write a report within one month after completing the exchange period. Otherwise the grant must be reimbursed. Other reasons for reimbursement are failure in studies during the exchange or inappropriate behaviour at the host institution.
Please note that categories and amounts may change yearly
| Countries |
Studying Grant Grant (€/month) |
Studying €/day |
Training Grant €/month |
Training €/day |
|
| Group 1
Programme Countries with higher living costs
|
Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom |
540 | 18 | 690 | 23 |
|
Group 2 Programme Countries with medium or lower living costs |
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |
490 | 16,33 | 640 | 21,33 |
The Erasmus grant is paid by full calendar months (1 calendar month = 28-31 days). For any number of days exceeding a full calendar month, a daily amount will be added.
For example: Student goes to exchange to Belgium, his first day of studies is 15.9. and his last day of exams is 20.12. The monthly grant is paid for 15.9. – 14.12. (3 months) and the daily amount is added for 15.12. – 20.12 (6 days). The total grant is 3 months X 490€ + 6 days X 16,33 € = 1568€.
The accountable days for Erasmus grant start from the first day (e.g. welcoming day, orientation day, start of the semester) and end on the last day the student needs to be present (e.g. end of exam period, last day of classes).
If the student has one or more underaged children, he/she can apply for an additional 200 € monthly grant for Erasmus+ studies. The grant is paid even if the child/children will stay in Finland. To be able to apply for the extra grant, the student has to fill in a special form and attach it to the grant agreement.
If you use environmentally friendly, sustainable means of transport for your trip to your host country such as travel by train, bus or the use of carpooling (car), you are entitled to Erasmus+ Top up for green travelling. Check the conditions and submit the following document:
Students, whose participation in the mobility period would not be possible without an additional financial support due to physical or mental state of health, are entitled to apply for a disability grant in Erasmus+. Additional funding can be granted for both students and staff of higher education institutions.
Erasmus+ Accessibility Grant Application
Length of the Exchange period |
(total amount Eur) |
| 2 months | 1200 € |
| 3 months | 1300 € |
| 4 months | 1400 € |
| 5 months | 1500 € |
| 6 months | 1600 € |
| 7 months | 1700 € |
| 8 months | 1800 € |
| 9 months | 1900 € |
| 10 months | 2000 € |
| 11 months | 2100 € |
| 12 months | 2200 € |
- Grant 200 Eur / month, 70 Eur/week (max. amounts)
- Travel Grant 330 Eur (depending on the destination country)
KELA provides financial aid for studies abroad (mainly Finnish nationalities). Please check the latest information: Payment of financial aid abroad | Our Services | Kela
