Applying for exchange abroad

There are two application periods annually. You can apply for both international work placement and student exchange in this application.

February application period

• Student exchange in spring 2028 (or autumn 2027): starting in January 2027

September application period

• Student exchange in autumn 2027 (or spring 2027): 1 September – 25 September 2026

The recommendation is that you apply one year before departure. It is also possible to apply 6 months before departure, but applicants that apply one year before are prioritised in the selection process.

The basic rule is that you must have basic competence in your field of study before the exchange. It is not usually possible to study or complete a work placement abroad during your first study year at Diak.

Each degree programme has different recommendations for the timing of the exchange. Contact your study guidance counsellor to discuss the timing further.

Bachelor of Social Services

• Semester 4: PRA2
• Semester 5: PRA3 (recommended)
• Studies abroad are possible during 4th and 5th semesters. It is recommended to complete elective studies abroad.

Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing (Diak curriculum, your studies started in August 2024 or later)

• 4. semester: PRA5 + PRA8
• 5. semester: PRA7 + PRA8
• Less recommendable, 4. semester: PRA6 (if the student has an excellent command of the local language) + PRA8
• 6. or 7. semester: part of advanced studies work placement
• For other alternatives, please contact your international academic supervisor

Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing (Diak-Arcada curriculum, your studies started in August 2023 or earlier)

• Semester 4 (April onwards): PRA3 + PRA4
• Semester 5 (mid-September onwards): PRA4 + EXT (or PRA4 & PRA5 if the student has an excellent command of the local language) 
• Semester 7: EXT
• PRA2 Clinical practice: Internal medicine, Surgical Care must be successfully completed before going on exchange.

Master of Health Care, Master of Social Services

Please make an appointment at the start of your studies with your study guidance counsellor and Diak’s international coordinator to discuss options

Apply for a work placement or study period abroad by filling in the application form in Mobility Online.

Your final exchange destination does not need to be fixed when applying, but it is import to list the most interesting destinations in the application. The destination will be discussed and confirmed in the exchange interview.

Before filling in the application, please check the Exchange destinations available for your field of study at the Mobility Online database.

You can also look for a work placement organisation yourself. Also in this case you should fill in the application in order to get the work placement grant and credits. Select the country and write the name of the organisation yourself.

Next your study guidance counsellor will check the timing of the exchange and missing assignments.

Second part of the application is the student exchange interview. Please book a time slot for the interview below.

• Social Services (DSS) interviews
• Nursing interviews

Present in the interview are the student and international academic supervisor.

Topics discussed in the interview:

• exchange process.
• objectives for the exchange
• exchange plan
• exchange destinations
• life situation of the student and

The selections are made in the interview or shortly after the interview. The student will receive an acceptance email from Mobility Online.

After the acceptance the student follows the exchange student check list (below in this website):

1. Completes other formalities listed in the check list
2. Completes the student exchange formalities at Mobility Online workflow
3. Enrols for the Student Exchange Orientation course KVS0002A22S one semester before the exchange

You can find the schedules and participation link in your timetable on Lukkarikone.

We will take the following issues into account in the selection:

1. Language skills: Usually the studying/working language in the destination is English, but check the destination database for language requirements. Required English level is B2 (see CEFR). Knowing the local language is always a benefit.
2. Timing and contents of the exchange are in line with the study plan of the student. The exchange does not prolong graduation.
3. Student has progressed according to the schedule in their studies.
4. Pending assignments  must be completed before the KVS student exchange orientation begins (in March/October the semester before the exchange).
5. Health and life situation of the student
6. Suitability for the destination: The student meets the other requirements set by the receiving institution. Some universities have GPA requirements for exchange students. Some work placement organisations are very challenging and require previous experience from the field.
7. GPA ranking: Some destinations have a limited number of places for Diak students. If there are more applicants than places, GPA is used as a selection criteria. GPA is taken from MyDiak after the application period has ended.

Degree Regulations

Diak’s degree regulations address international mobility and provide the following guidelines. These guidelines can only be waived if specifically agreed with a study counsellor or content specialist.

“In degree-awarding programmes, students may complete part of their studies abroad at higher education institutions or internship placements, in ways agreed in their PSP (Personal Study Plan) and in accordance with Diak’s guidelines. International studies may also be carried out virtually or in a blended format, combining both virtual and physical mobility.

The prior studies required in the PSP must be completed before the start of the International Exchange Preparation course. The international exchange must take place within the target duration of studies, and participation in the exchange must not delay the student’s graduation.”

Apply for exchange

There are two application periods every year, in September and in February. More information about the application process can be found in this website, scroll to the uppr part of the page.

Attend the orientation course

After applying and being selected for student exchange, you will be added to the student exchange orientation course. The course is compulsory for all Diak exchange students. Take the course during the semester preceding your exchange. The orientation course gives you a possibility to meet other Diak students going on exchange. The course includes intercultural training as well as practical information about the exchange process, such as insurance and grants.

• All exchange students: Student Exchange Orientation KVS0002A20S, 2 cr.

Contact the destination organisation and submit required documents on time

Studies abroad

Universities require exchange students to fill in several documents in order to register as an exchange student. Find out the required documents and the deadline for submitting the documents from the university website (you can find a link to the relevant website from our destination portal). Submit all the required documents by the deadline. Some universities have online application systems, some ask you to send the documents via email, some require the Diak International Office to submit the documents.

Work placement abroad

Contact the work placement organisation and agree about your work placement. Include a CV and a motivation letter in English (or in the local language). You can find CV examples at Europass website. Agree on the work placement dates and send them to the international office. Agree on the goals and tasks of the work placement with the organisation and your international work placement supervisor. After you know the dates and contents of your placement, you can fill in the traineeship agreement.

Fill in the Learning agreement / Work placement agreement

Learning Agreement is an agreement between the student, the destination organisation and Diak. It is a binding agreement in which the host organisation agrees to offer the courses or work tasks listed in the agreement and Diak agrees to transfer the credits to your Diak degree. Fill in the Learning Agreement carefully and agree about the contents with your international academic supervisor.

The planning of the contents begins already in the application interview. If you are going to study abroad, get to know the courses the destination organisation offers and make a preliminary plan. Course lists are often published just before your exchange, so you can use the course lists of the previous years.

For work placement planning, check the tasks that previous Diak students have completed by reading exchange stories in the Mobility Online application portal.

Learning agreement is approved by the International Office.

• Complete the Learning Agreement in Mobility Online.
• Get signatures from all the parties (student, host organisation, Diak) before the exchange. The signed version must be submitted to the Mobility Online workflow before you apply for the student exchange grant.
• Take a copy of the Learning Agreement with you to the student exchange.
• If the contents of your student exchange change, update the Learning Agreement. The Learning Agreement must include the same contents as your final certificate (transcript of records or placement certificate).
• Upload the final version of the Learning Agreement to Mobility Online.

Apply for housing

Apply for housing in the destination early. The host organisation can often give you tips for apartment hunting. If you search for housing by yourself, be careful, since there are many fraudulent offers in the housing markets. It is recommended to check the reliability of the housing offer from the destination organisation.

If you complete your student exchange in a university, they often have student housing available. You can apply for student housing as part of the host university’s application process. The number of places is often limited and given on first come first served basis, so be fast.

In the Diak destinations outside Europe (Nepal, Tansania, Eswatini) the local coordinator can help you with finding housing.

Students studying in Helsinki can use the Apartments for students in Helsinki Metropolitan area Facebook group when subletting your apartment in Helsinki.

Students going on work placement abroad: Print documents

Print and take with you abroad the following documents:

Inform Kela about the changed circumstances

If you are entitled to Kela study grant during your studies in Finland, you have to notify Kela about your changed circumstances with a specific form. The form can be completed in the Kela’s online service. Diak confirms your student exchange to Kela according to the Mobility Online information. Please make sure that the destination information and dates of your student exchange are correct in Mobility online.Please check Kela website for details.

Apply for the grant

Apply for student exchange grant in Mobility Online. The grant application can be made once the previous steps (e.g. Learning Agreement) have been completed. You are only entitled to one of the grants listed below; the type of grant is determined by the exchange programme.

Please enter the exact start date and end date of your exchange period to Mobility Online once you have the information. Erasmus+ grants are based on the exact duration of your student exchange (number of days). Also your travel insurance will be valid for the days specified in the grant form.

Please check that you have entered your bank account information in the IBAN format.

Apply for one of the following funds:

• Diak grant: For students who do not qualify for an Erasmus+ grant (all freemover destinations outside the EU).
• Erasmus+ Study Grant: For students participating in the Erasmus Study Programme (university exchange in Europe). Every now and then it is also possible to attend the global Erasmus+ exchange.
• Erasmus+ Work Placement Grant: For students participating in the Erasmus Work Placement Programme (normally any work organisation placement in Europe).

Arrange for tickets, work permits, residency permits and visa

The student is responsible for buying travel tickets and applying for work permits, residence permits and visas. Please note that bureaucratic processes take time, and it is advisable to start early. Should you need some official statements, you can get those from the international office.

EU citizens do not need to apply for visa or residence permit before the exchange when moving to another EU country.

Students with a residence permit in Finland can often apply for Mobility notification on the basis of EU Directive 2016/801 when moving to another EU country for student exchange. This is cheaper than getting a new residence permit.

Find out about insurance cover

Diak has traveller’s insurance, liability insurance and accident insurance coverage provided by LähiTapiola Ltd. for outgoing exchange students, who are members of the Finnish social security system Kela.

• Diak students are insured against accidents also while studying and/or completing practical training abroad. The insurance policy covers medical expenses, daily allowances, permanent disability and death caused by an accident if the accident occurs during curriculum-based activities or travel directly related to such activities.
• Students travelling to the United States or Canada are required to get private liability insurance.
• Students may choose the doctor or place of treatment themselves. The treatment fees must be paid on the spot, and compensation cannot be claimed until the student has returned home.
• Insurance certificate can be printed from Mobility Online.
• Please note that the insurance is valid only during your student exchange. If you go travelling before or after the exchange, the insurance does not cover your expenses.
• We recommend that outgoing exchange students should also obtain their own travel insurance for additional coverage. For example, luggage is not covered by Diak’s insurance.

Important

Please note that if you are not a member of the Finnish social security system Kela and you don’t have permanent residence in Finland, Diak cannot provide travel insurance for you. In this case, you should obtain travel insurance coverage for the entire exchange period, including travel from Finland to the destination and back.

If you are going to another EU country and are a citizen of a member state, you are normally entitled to public health care services in acute cases on the basis of the Finnish health insurance scheme provided that you are a member (see European Health Insurance Card).

Note: The level of health care compensation or treatment may not be equivalent to that provided by health care services in Finland.​

Apply for a European Health Insurance Card

In order to prove your right to medical care, you must apply for a European Health Insurance Card from Kela. The health insurance card is free of charge.

Apply for a criminal record extract

This document can be obtained from the Suomi.fi online service if your practical training involves working with children.

Send a travel notification to Formin

All students (including non-Finnish citizens) must notify the local Finnish embassy about their stay in the area. For instructions and forms, see formin.fi.

Inform Diak about any changes

Please inform Diak if there are any changes in your mobility once you are abroad. It is advisable to maintain regular contact with the international office – all feedback and observations are welcome.

If there are changes to the study modules, update your Learning Agreement

If you are on exchange under the Erasmus+ programme and there are changes to your courses, you will have to update your Learning Agreement. Changes are made on Mobility Online.

In addition, if the dates of your exchange period change, please inform the international office immediately.

What if I decide to come home in the middle of the exchange?

If you come home significantly earlier than planned, you may have to pay part of the grant back.

If something is unclear to you during the exchange, do not hesitate to contact the international office.

Report safety incidents in the Falcony system

At Diak, safety incidents are reported using the Falcony system. Students log in with their Diak student credentials.

The following types of incidents should be reported:

• Accidents
• Injuries
• Other unclear situations at the placement organisation
• Safety concerns during international exchange

Crisis situations:

• Examples of possible crisis situations include serious accidents, natural disasters, and becoming the victim of a crime.
• In an acute crisis, always contact the local authorities, emergency services, and the embassy immediately.
• If you need to reach an official Diak representative, you can contact them via the emergency number 030 32211.
• This emergency number is available outside office hours for acute crisis situations when other Diak contacts are not available.

Participate in a post-exchange review session

Upon your return from the exchange period, you should participate in a review session either in a group or individually. If you are unable to attend a group session, you must contact the International Office to schedule a personal appointment.

Share your experiences!

Students who have already completed their exchange can provide highly valuable tips and peer support for those preparing to go abroad. It is therefore very helpful if as many returning students as possible take part in the next groups’ international info sessions or preparatory training. Sharing your experiences is an integral part of the international mobility process.

There is also a need for internationally minded students at various events. If you wish, you can even become an international tutor!

Scan the required documents into Mobility Online

If you have completed studies during your exchange, you must obtain the following documents from the international office of your host institution:

1. Letter of Confirmation (exchange dates), signed at the end of your exchange
2. Transcript of Records (the host institution will send the transcript electronically or by post weeks or months after the exchange; check before the end of your exchange how it will be delivered to you)

If you completed a traineeship during your exchange, you must obtain the following documents from your host organisation:

• Placement Certificate signed at the end of the traineeship (available in Mobility Online)

Upload scanned copies of all documents to Mobility Online.

Submit a copy of the transcript to your supervising teacher, who will record the credits on MyDiak.

The original Learning Agreement and the original transcript will remain with you.

Submit the documents as soon as possible after your exchange. In case of any issues, please contact the international office.

Fill in an exchange report

Complete your exchange report in Mobility Online at the end of your exchange. In the report, you can describe, for example:

• the duration of your exchange, your destination and your field of study
• a general overview of the host institution or location
• your studies or traineeship
• leisure time and accommodation
• what you learned during the exchange
• tips for future exchange students.

Complete the Participant Survey

Students who have taken part in an Erasmus+ exchange must complete the programme feedback form, the Participant Survey, after returning. A link to the online survey will be sent automatically to your email.

Once you have submitted all required exchange documents and completed the survey, the remaining part of your Erasmus grant will be paid to you.

Congratulations on completing your studies or traineeship abroad — and on all your new experiences!