How is an exchange period funded?
Costs vary significantly across different exchange destinations. It is advisable to plan your personal spending in advance.
Most expenses arise from travel tickets, accommodation in the host country, vaccinations, possible visa fees (including, in some cases, paid medical certificates), living costs and daily commuting to the work or study placement.
An estimated budget for an exchange in Asia or Africa is approximately EUR 3,000. In Africa, for example, accommodation and living costs are generally higher than in Asia.
In addition, you should consider your housing arrangements in Finland, leisure activities in your host country and any possible travel.
In Europe, costs vary considerably between countries.
See the scholarship amounts at the bottom of the page.
Scholarships at Diak
To help cover the costs of the exchange, Diak grants a scholarship to every student going on exchange. The scholarship and its amount depend on the exchange programme.
Available scholarships
- Diak scholarship for Free Mover exchanges (including project-based grants)
- Erasmus+ study grant for exchanges in Europe
- Erasmus+ traineeship grant for Europe
- Erasmus+ traineeship grant for global destinations.
Only one of the above scholarships can be awarded per exchange. Scholarships cannot be combined. You may also apply for grants for your studies abroad from various foundations, trade unions or other organisations.
Scholarships for international exchanges are not taxable income and therefore do not affect, for example, the annual income limit for student financial aid.
See the scholarship amounts at the bottom of the page.
Apply for a scholarship based on your destination
Exchanges to Diak’s global partner institutions are based on bilateral agreements, which means students may receive an Erasmus+ traineeship grant. The International Office informs all selected exchange students of the details.
If the exchange takes place as part of a Diak project, a project-specific grant will be awarded instead of Diak’s regular scholarship.
Exchanges within Europe are carried out under the Erasmus+ programme. Students going on exchange through a higher education institution receive an Erasmus study grant, and those undertaking a traineeship without a university connection receive an Erasmus traineeship grant.
It is possible to complete two exchange periods as part of your degree, and both are eligible for a scholarship (maximum Erasmus grant is 12 months per degree level).
Apply for a scholarship in Mobility Online before your exchange period begins. Applications submitted after the start of the exchange will not be processed. See more information in the exchange student checklist.
If you do not complete your study or traineeship period as agreed, the scholarship may be reclaimed in full or in part.
For all changes and enquiries, please contact the International Office:
Erasmus+
Inclusion support for students with fewer opportunities
The Erasmus+ programme also supports the full and barrier-free participation of individuals with special needs in exchange activities.
Further information is available on the Finnish National Agency for Education (OPH) website.
For details on accessibility support, please contact the International Office.
Green travel top-up
Students who are eligible for an Erasmus+ travel grant and choose an environmentally friendly means of travel (train, bus, carpooling or bicycle) may apply for an increased travel grant as well as up to four additional travel days, for which subsistence support may be awarded. To receive the green travel top-up, students must upload the signed green travel declaration form to Mobility Online.
Kela study grant during exchange
Students receiving financial aid from Kela may additionally apply for the study grant, foreign housing supplement and an increased loan guarantee for the duration of their exchange abroad.
Further information on financial aid for studies abroad and instructions on how to apply are available on Kela’s website. Students going on exchange must independently submit a notification of changed circumstances, which is most easily done via Kela’s online service.
Scholarship amounts
Diak scholarship
A minimum 2‑month study period abroad is required to be eligible for the scholarship. The scholarship is paid as a single installment and the amount is EUR 1,500. Please refer to the conditions of the Diak scholarship.
Erasmus grants
The amount of the Erasmus grant is determined by:
- whether the mobility is for traineeship or study
- the destination country
- the duration of the mobility in months and days.
Each Erasmus+ grant is therefore calculated individually. Erasmus+ grants cannot be combined with the Diak scholarship. Please also read the Erasmus+ grant conditions (opens in a new tab).
Impact of destination country on the Erasmus grant
From Finland’s perspective, destination countries are classified into two cost groups. Group 1 includes countries with higher living costs, and monthly grants for exchanges to these countries are correspondingly higher.
Country group 1
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
Country group 2
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye
Country group 3
Global destinations
Monthly grant amounts
- For Erasmus+ study mobility, the grant is either EUR 540 (group 1) or EUR 490 (group 2).
- For Erasmus+ work placement mobility, the grant is EUR 690 (group 1), EUR 640 (group 2) or EUR 700 (group 3).
- Students going to European destinations also receive a travel grant, the amount of which depends on the travel distance.
- Students with families are eligible for an additional EUR 250 per month.
Monthly grants are paid for full months, and daily rates are paid for additional days beyond full months. The daily rate is 1/30 of the monthly student or traineeship grant determined by the institution.
The grant is paid in two instalments (80% before the exchange, 20% after), but it may be reclaimed partly or in full if the student does not complete all exchange-related requirements.
In addition to the Learning Agreement, Erasmus+ mobility includes the EU Participant Survey. A transcript of records for studies or a traineeship certificate must always be submitted to the International Office.