Applying for exchange studies

Student exchange is open to degree students enrolled at TAMK. There are two application periods for student exchange each academic year.

The application process has two stages:

1. Students first apply through TAMK’s internal application process using the SoleMOVE database. Once the degree programme has approved the student’s exchange, International Office nominates the student to the host university.
2. The student then submits an application to the host university in accordance with its instructions. The final decision on whether to accept or reject the application is always made by the host university.

Internal application round at TAMK

Note! Music students fill in the SoleMOVE application after they have received acceptance for their exchange from the host university. For more information, please contact Henri Annala, henri.annala [at] tuni.fi (henri[dot]annala[at]tuni[dot]fi).

TAMK exchange destinations where the application for exchanges for the whole academic year 2026–27 (autumn 2026, spring 2027) is already in the spring 2026 application:

• VIVES, Belgium
• Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, Portugal
• University of Malaga, Spain
• North-West University, South-Africa
• University of Cape Town, South-Africa
• Western Sydney University, Australia (only Emergency care students)
• Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• All Radiography exchange destinations

Explore exchange destinations in SoleMOVE

Please take a look at your own degree programme's exchange partners in SoleMOVE. If you need assistance in finding a suitable exchange destination, consult your own international coordinator or contact International Office.

In SoleMOVE choose Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) from the list of institutions and click Destination search. Then choose your own degree programme as Home unit and click Advanced search. For the Type of exchange choose Studying, and in the Application period choose the correct application period. Finally, click Start search. You can also read additional information and feedback from other students.

Read previous exchange student's experiences: Far Away but Still So Near – exchange postcard blog

Watch TAMK students’ exchange stories on YouTube

Apply in SoleMOVE

When you apply in SoleMOVE, we recommend that you choose 3–10 exchange destinations. We aim to nominate you for the first exchange destination you have chosen. However, if this is not possible (e.g. there are more priority applicants than places available), we will nominate you to the second destination or the third etc. Please note that we nominate you only for one destination at a time.

Remember that by default you can only apply to your own degree programme's partner universities. If the duration of your exchange is more than one month, fill the Normal Exchange application. See the application instructions:

Student selection and allocation of exchange places

Students will be selected according to criteria set by the board of TAMK. Applications are reviewed by the degree programmes, which decide whether to approve or reject them. International Office informs all applicants of the outcome and nominates selected candidates to their host universities. The host university will then contact the nominated students directly.

If there are more applicants than places available, students will be selected based on a separate grading system. The person with the highest points is selected. If several students receive the same amount of highest points, the person with the highest average grade is selected.

Students get points (1 point each) from the following attachments:

• General international experience (free form document, max A4)
• Destination related studies/experience (preferably a certificate from a teacher or other testimonial)
• Certificate of destination language studies (Not English/Swedish)
• Certificate of international tutoring from Tamko
• Studying in a degree programme taught in English at TAMK (no certificate required)

Students should attach the documents or as many of them as possible to SoleMOVE at application stage.

Confirm or cancel the exchange place allocated to you

The deadline for confirming or cancelling the allocated exchange is 31.10.2026. Confirmation or cancellation is done in SoleMOVE.

Note!

• Confirmation of an exchange place is binding. If you decide to cancel your exchange, remember to inform TAMK International Office and your own international coordinator immediately.
• TAMK´s acceptance does not mean that host university has accepted you for exchange. After TAMK´s acceptance, you need to send the application to a host university according to the instructions you get from there.

Application to receiving university (after acceptance from TAMK)

International Office nominates the student to host university

After TAMK has accepted your exchange application and allocated an exchange place for you, International Office sends a nomination to the host university. Some students receive application instructions shortly after being accepted by TAMK, while others may need to wait up to two months before the application period at the host university opens.

Student receives application instructions and makes the application to host university

Host universities usually directly contact students and send the application instructions. Read the instructions carefully and act accordingly. Given deadlines need to be respected! If you have any doubts, please contact International Office (outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi). International Office can also stamp documents required by the host university.

If the host university requires a statement of your language skills at the application stage, contact International Office (outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi). If you are asked for your own opinion on coping with the language of teaching in your host university, you can use the self-evaluation grid.

How to prove your English language skills for the host university

Applying to an EU country

• If you study in English at TAMK, contact International Office (outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi, TAMK Main campus B1-15) for a certificate of English language skills.
• If you already have passed English courses at TAMK, contact International Office (outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi, TAMK Main campus B1-15) for a certificate of English language skills.
• If you haven’t done your English courses at TAMK yet, contact Anne Kopperoinen (anne.kopperoinen [at] tuni.fi). She will interview you briefly. If you have passed the matriculation exam, bring the certificate to the meeting.  

Applying to a non-EU country 

• If you are applying to a non-EU country, you can take a TOEFL or an IELTS as English language test if needed. You will be reimbursed max 150 € if you deliver the receipt and the certificate of the test to International Office (outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi).
• If you are applying to the USA, they require a TOEFL as English language test. You will be reimbursed max 150 € if you deliver the receipt and the certificate of the test to International Office (outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi).

Language skills and preparing for exchange

Learning agreement (study plan) for exchange

In addition to submitting an application to the host university, you must complete a Learning Agreement to ensure that the studies you undertake abroad can be recognised as part of your degree. The Learning Agreement sets out the studies to be completed during your exchange and how they will be credited towards your degree at TAMK.

Minimum requirements for support for studying abroad:

• Minimum length: 2 months (60 days)
• Minimum credits: 5 cr/month

Minimum requirements for support for training (health care traineeship) abroad:

• Minimum length: 2 months (60 days)
• Minimum credits: 5 cr/month

Fill in the learning agreement in collaboration with the international coordinator of your own degree programme.

Use the electronic Learning Agreement form, the Online Learning Agreement (OLA). You can create your OLA in SoleMOVE once you have confirmed your exchange placement. Students applying for an exchange outside the EU must also complete an OLA.

If the host university does not use the electronic Online Learning Agreement (OLA), you must print the form after you and your degree programme's international coordinator have approved it in SoleMOVE. You must then send the PDF version of the OLA to the host university for signature. Once you receive the signed PDF OLA back, submit it to International Office, outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi (outgoing[dot]tamk[at]tuni[dot]fi).

The OLA must be approved and confirmed by all three parties before the start of your exchange and before the first instalment of your grant can be paid.

Acceptance from host university

The exchange is confirmed once you receive an official acceptance letter or acceptance e-mail from the host university. Forward this confirmation to International Office (outgoing.tamk [at] tuni.fi) as we need the exact dates of your exchange to our records.

Now you can start arranging all practicalities such as grant application.

Practicalities before going abroad

Note! Before buying flights or making other travel arrangements, paying deposit for accommodation, etc. make sure you have

• official acceptance from the host university
• necessary documents to enter the country of exchange (residence permit/visa, if it is required)

If you have, for example, bought the flights and your visa is delayed or rejected, you may not get the money back!

Guidance for students selected for exchange