Practical information

Important and practical information to consider before, during and after your exchange studies.

After being nominated as an exchange student, it may take some time before you receive confirmation from the host university that you have been accepted. This is because their semesters are not always aligned with ours.

If for any reason you have to give up your place, you must notify us immediately! Late cancellations may result in additional costs for the host university. In case of late cancellations, we usually have no possibility to send a replacement and our exchange place will not be used.

Being in a foreign environment and studying in a foreign language is demanding, but it is also rewarding. Experience from previous student exchange programs clearly shows that a well-functioning student exchange requires careful planning and long preparation time. Many contacts need to be made both between the universities involved and within the universities involved.

It is your responsibility to prepare yourself as well as possible by reading about the country you are going to and its social customs. Read travel reports and the experiences of previous exchange students. Some students have also provided their phone numbers and email addresses so that you can contact them directly.

It is also very important to be able to follow the lessons from the very beginning, which in most cases are in the language of the country. Prepare yourself carefully and refresh your language skills by reading books in the language of the country in question or attending a language course, for example in the evening, the semester before. You should follow the intensive courses offered at the beginning of the semester in many countries. In some places it is free of charge for exchange students. However, you cannot expect to receive credit for such a course as part of your full-time studies.

Language test

Under Erasmus, students starting their exchange period after the spring 2015 semester are required to take a language test if the language of instruction in the host country is English, Spanish, French, German, Italian or Dutch. The language test is compulsory and is carried out both before and at the end of the exchange period.

Online language course

Language courses are voluntary and can be started after you have completed the test.

If you are offered a language course and want to take it, which is voluntary, it becomes possible from the date LTU grants you a license. This is how it works:

• The course starts when you log in and is valid from the first login to the course platform and for as long as the study period is estimated abroad. Example: the first login is October 10 for an exchange period of six months. The course license is then valid until 10 April.
• You can mainly participate in reading and listening comprehension courses.
• You communicate with teachers and fellow students, on-line and off-line.
• Teachers answer your questions within 24 hours.

Through the platform, you can also take teacher-led courses:

• Teacher-led courses in each level (A, B and C) will start every three weeks.
• Up to six people can participate in each course

In addition to the course elements, there are also articles, glossaries and grammar.

Before departure

Course selection for exchange studies

You are responsible for finding courses that suit your education at the partner university. The easiest way to do this is to visit each university's website and see what courses they offer, as the most up-to-date information is available there. The International Office can help you if you have trouble finding the right course.

To make sure that you can transfer all your credits to the partner university, make sure that your study plan is approved by your institution before you leave. Stay in constant contact with your department and program coordinator, especially if you deviate from your preliminary study plan and change courses. Make sure to bring as much information as possible about the courses you have taken at the partner university and your "Official Transcript of Records" when you apply for credit transfer on your return home.

Course selection at LTU

If you have applied for courses via antagning.se for the semester you are studying abroad, make sure to cancel these in good time by declining via antagning.se.

Registration of studies abroad

Just like when you study at LTU, you must remember to register for your exchange commitment the first three days of the semester in Luleå. As usual, this is done in Ladok. You are still a student at LTU during your stay abroad and this is necessary for your insurance, Student UT, to apply and for CSN to see that you are registered for exchange studies.

NOTE! You should NOT register for courses at LTU during your exchange semester.

If you are going as a Free Mover, you should contact your study counsellor.

E-mail address

Remember to check your LTU e-mail address at regular intervals, it is through it that we contact you. Also keep an eye on the trash can because emails sometimes mistakenly end up there.

Insurance

If you are on an exchange within Europe, the EU card applies. More information can be found on Försäkringskassan's website. All exchange students from LTU are also insured through Kammarkollegiet's insurance Student UT External link, opens in new window.. This insurance is only valid in the host country, so if you intend to travel around, you should consider obtaining any additional travel insurance.

• Antagning.se External link, opens in new window.
• Application for credit transfer for exchange studies Opens in new window.
• Försäkringskassan study abroad External link, opens in new window.

During the exchange

Registration

Remember to register for your exchange commitment in Ladok. You do this during the first three days of LTU's semester, just as if you had studied courses as usual at LTU.

The student interface Ladok External link, opens in new window.

Course selection at LTU

Course selection for further studies at LTU should be done as usual via antagning.se. External link, opens in new window.

Choices for the spring semester are announced no later than October 15 and choices for the fall semester are announced no later than April 15.

Credit transfer

If your study plan changes, for example when changing courses, contact your department at LTU for approval. Many documents must be available so that the studies abroad can be assessed and credited upon return. Therefore, collect as much information about the courses as possible, such as detailed course descriptions, bibliographies, schedules showing the number of teaching hours, copies of your exams, etc. during your stay abroad, to facilitate the final credit transfer when you return home.

You are also responsible for sending your grades from your stay abroad to LTU, the International Office. If you are able to take an original copy of your study results with you on your return journey, this will speed up your credit transfer and also make it easier for you to have your application for study funds processed in time.

• Application for credit transfer of studies abroad
  The application for credit transfer must be submitted to the registrar at LTU.
  

Being an ambassador

Be a good ambassador for Luleå University of Technology. For the university's continued exchange, it is important that you do well both academically and socially, and that foreign students discover our university as an alternative among many others. Participate in International Days at the host university. Bring along brochures about Sweden, Luleå and Luleå University of Technology.

Insurance coverage

If something should happen during your exchange, you have insurance through the university's insurance with Kammarkollegiet - Student UT.

After returning home

Credit transfer

Submit the application for credit transfer together with foreign grades and information about courses, syllabi to the registrar.

Application for credit transfer for studies abroad External link, opens in new window.

Travel report

The experience you gain abroad is very valuable for future outgoing students. It is therefore very important that you write your travel report as soon as possible.

For Erasmus students, this is sent directly to jenny.lundkvist@ltu.se as a PDF.

Take part in International Day!

International Day takes place in the fall every year. You are expected to attend and inform other students about your experiences during your period abroad.

Become an international sponsor!

By volunteering as a "buddy" either before or after your studies abroad, you have the opportunity to meet incoming exchange students and get a lot of information about their universities and courses. It is also a good opportunity to brush up your language skills and keep them alive! Buddy activities are organized by ESN Luleå.