Sustainability during exchange and green travel

An international exchange offers a unique opportunity to learn, grow and immerse yourself in new cultures. It is also a chance to make more sustainable choices. Green travel is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint, but your choice of accommodation, local transport and everyday consumption habits also play an important role. Discover how you can make your exchange experience even more environmentally responsible.

Green travel

Most students travel to their exchange destination by air, even though other options are available. For students travelling within Europe in particular, combining different low-emission modes of transport is both feasible and relatively straightforward.

Green travel means using low-emission modes of transport, such as buses, trains, bicycles or car sharing, for at least half of the return journey to and from your exchange destination. Ferry travel may also be recognised as green travel when combined with other low-emission modes of transport. In this case, you may be eligible for a higher travel grant through the Erasmus+ programme.

The transport sector alone accounts for approximately 13.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing green travel, you can help reduce transport-related emissions and make a positive impact through your own choices. If you are hesitant about going on exchange because of its environmental impact, green travel may offer a solution. It is also an excellent option for those who want to see and experience as much as possible during their journey and enjoy travelling itself. At the same time, it provides an opportunity to try something new.

Erasmus+ travel grant for green travel

If you go on an Erasmus+ exchange, you are eligible for additional funding for green travel when the main part of the travel (in km) or at least one direction of the round trip has been made using low-emissions means of transport. In other words, either most of the travel distance or at least one direction of the round trip must be travelled using low-emission modes of transport.

If you choose green travel, you may also be eligible for more supported travel days. Under the green travel scheme, a grant may be awarded for up to six travel days.

The amount of the grant is determined by the one-way distance between Tampere and the host city. The distance is always calculated using the official Distance Calculator – Erasmus+.

Travel grant for student exchange is paid according to the table below.

Students do not need to apply for the travel grant separately, it is calculated automatically into their Erasmus+ grant. However, if you want to receive the green travel top-up, that needs to be proven with a declaration on honour signed by both the student and International Office. Send the signed and scanned form to International Office: outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi (outgoing[dot]tamk[at]tuni[dot]fi).

Application forms:

Accepted modes of transport:

• The following modes of transport qualify for the green travel top-up:
• Train
• Car, if you travel as part of a car-sharing arrangement with more than one passenger (for example, with other students going on exchange)
• Coach or bus
• Bicycle
• Ferry or ship, but only when used in combination with other green modes of transport

The following modes of transport do not qualify as green travel:

• Aeroplane
• Car, if there is only one person travelling in the vehicle
• Motorcycle

You may combine several different modes of transport during your journey. To qualify for green travel support, at least 50% of the journey (measured in kilometres) must be completed using low-emission modes of transport, such as train or bus.

With the green travel top-up, you may receive travel support based on a daily allowance for up to six travel days. For standard travel, support is usually provided for 0–2 travel days only.

Practical examples

• You will receive a travel grant as part of your Erasmus+ grant, based on the distance between TAMK and your destination city. The distance bands and corresponding grant amounts are shown in the table above. For example, if your destination is 1155 kilometres away, you are entitled to a green travel grant of 417 € (distance band 500 to 1999 km).
• In addition to the green travel grant, you may receive support for additional travel days. A maximum of six travel days can be funded.
• You may spend more than six days travelling, but funding can only be awarded for up to six travel days.

Long-term exchange

The daily travel allowance is calculated by dividing your monthly Erasmus+ grant by 30.
For example, a student going on exchange to Germany receives a monthly study grant of 540 €. In this case, the daily travel allowance is 18 €.

Example calculation:

If you travel to Germany for your exchange and the journey to your destination takes three days and the return journey takes two days, you will have a total of five travel days.

5 × 18 € = 90 €

In addition, you will receive the green travel grant. If the distance falls within the 500 to 1999 km band, you would receive 309 € for standard travel but 417 € for green travel.

You would therefore receive:

90 € + 108 € = 198 € more than with standard (non-green) travel.

Short-term exchange

For short-term mobility periods, the daily travel allowance is a fixed amount of 79 €.
In addition to the travel day allowance, you will receive a green travel grant according to the table above.

For example, in the 500 to 1999 km distance band:

Standard travel: 309 €
Green travel: 417 €

You would therefore receive:

79 € + 108 € = 187 € more than with standard (non-green) travel.

Tips for planning your journey and travelling green

Green travel is a form of slow travel, and at times it can feel more demanding than flying. In return, however, it offers the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy more experiences along the way.

• Keep your travel plans organised in a notebook or app so that you can easily keep track of different options and arrangements.
• Compare different routes. Staying overnight in capital cities is not always the most cost-effective option, as accommodation is often more expensive there. Smaller towns and cities may offer more affordable alternatives.
• Allow plenty of time for planning your journey.
• Be flexible. Travel does not always go according to plan.
• Leave sufficient time for connections and transfers.
• Make the most of travel breaks by stretching, resting and making time for meals.
• Download any necessary apps and keep your tickets easily accessible throughout your journey.

Useful links for planning your journey

• Flixbus-nettisivut
• Deutsche Bahn
• Google Maps
• Interrail Erasmus Pass
• Rail Planner application
• Seat61 website
• Erasmus+ Distance Calculator

Travel blogs

• What is a student's greener exchange period abroad like?
• Maatapitkin Blog
• Vain harva matkustaa vaihtoon vihreästi, eikä yliopisto voi tukea sitä enempää – Toimittaja testasi vaihtomatkan lentämättä
• Going on student exchange by train
• Across the sea and by land – Star of Europe awaits

Ways to make your exchange greener

• How to make a higher education exchange greener?
• Green Erasmus

Guidance for students selected for exchange