The university with the international profile

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The university with the international profile

• Student and staff exchange
• 800 incoming students each year
• 300 outgoing students each year
• Exchange with around 40 countries
• Europe, the Nordic countries, USA, Canada,
  Mexico, Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Argentina,
  South Africa, Australia

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International Office

• 7 coordinators with different areas of
  responsibility
• Administrative responsibility for exchanges
  to/from Växjö University
• Help with contacts at our partner universities
• Facilitate the application process

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Visiting hours

• Tuesday - Thursday 12.30-2pm
• Contact
• Phone [phone] (switchboard)
• Individual consulting (make an appointment)
• outgoingexchange_at_vxu.se
• www.vxu.se, choose Internationellt ?
  International Office

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Essential questions

• Clear objective - Where? When? Why?
• Credit transfer - How does the exchange fit in to
  your study plan?
• What will you study - Language skills? Subjects?
• Practical issues - Accommodation?
• Do you really want to go on an exchange?
• Be your own project manager!

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General information about study abroad

• On your own or as an exchange student?
• If you choose exchange studies, the International
  Office will assist you an easier process!
• What are exchange studies?
• Exchange means that students from Växjö
  University can study 1-2 semesters abroad without
  paying tuition fees.
• In return, Växjö University receives a number of
  students from our partner universities.

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Fees

• No tuition fees
• Other compulsory fees may occur
• For example costs for language tests, health
  examinations, insurances, ancillary fees
• The cost of living varies between countries
• Extra costs for travelling and leisure while
  abroad

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Who can apply for an exchange?

• You must be registered on a study program/course
  at Växjö University
• You must have passed 30 Higher Education Credits
  (HEC) or more at any university at the time of
  application
• You must have passed at least 90 HEC at any
  university before departure of which at least 30
  HEC must be from Växjö University the academic
  year preceding the exchange period

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When can I go and for how long?

• Undergraduate students
• Usually semester 5 (check your program)
• One or two semesters
• Graduate students
• Can only go if doing a 2-year master
• Only in semester 3
• Only for one semester
• Must write master thesis (semester 4) at Växjö
  University

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Course choices and credit transfer

• It is your responsibility to make sure that the
  host university offers suitable subjects and
  courses
• When the list of available places says samtliga
  ämnesområden (all subject areas), this does not
  mean that the host university offers all subject
  areas offered at Växjö University!
• Credit transfer must be discussed with your
  school/department before application

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What kind of degree or diploma do I receive?

• You will receive your degree/diploma from the
  Växjö University program you are currently taking
  
• It is not possible to receive a degree or diploma
  from your exchange university!

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Available exchange programs

• Nordplus
• Erasmus (within the Lifelong Learning Programme)
• Bilateral agreements (in and outside Europe)
• ISEP - International Student Exchange Program
• ISEP International-to-International
• USAC - University Studies Abroad Consortium
• MCTS - Middelburg Center for Transatlantic
  Studies
• Linnaeus/Palme

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Exchange places available for master students

• Majority of exchange places available are for
  undergraduate students only
• A number of exchange places for master students
  are available
• through ISEP (the US) 4 places
• through ISEP I to I (rest of the world) 4
  places
• at selected American universities 6 places
• at selected Mexican universities 2 places
• at selected Danish universities approx. 5
  places
• at selected Norwegian universities approx. 5
  places
• at a number of other European universities
  (courses mainly not offered in English)

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Grants and scholarships

• Nordplus exchanges to the Nordic countries
• 200 euro per month travel grant (about 100
  euro)
• You do not have to be a Nordic citizen
• Erasmus exchanges in Europe
• Minimum 200 euro per month
• You must be an EU or EES country citizen
• Apply for other scholarships on your own, see
  e.g. www.stipendieguiden.se

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Language requirements

• Important to be honest with yourself
• No language tests in Europe
• TOEFL test - Test of English as a Foreign
  Language

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Who should I talk to?

• First stop program coordinator at Växjö
  University
• Would it suit your program to go?
• What should you study?
• More questions coordinator at International
  Office

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More information

• Links from www.vxu.se, choose internationellt
  (www.vxu.se/international/intoff/)
• Your School /your program coordinator
• Coordinators at the International Office
• Previous exchange students STARS
  (www.stars.liu.se)
• International students in Växjö
• Blogs from students on exchange do not hesitate
  to ask them questions! (blogg.lnu.se/studerautomla
  nds/)

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School contact persons

• School of Management and Economics Anna Lindahl
  and program coordinator of your program
• School of Social Sciences Per-Arne Rosén and
  director of studies for the different subject
  areas
• School of Humanities Ulla Carlsson
• School of Education/Teacher Education - Kajsa
  Higgins, Susanne Liedberg
• School of Technology and Design Elena
  Vinci-Hytter
• School of Mathematics and Systems Engineering -
  Lars-Eric Ljung, Gösta Sundberg
• School of Health Sciences and Social Work - Björn
  Albin, Christina Siewertsson and Kia Graffman

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How to apply

• Read the handbook! (www.vxu.se/international/intof
  f/)
• Application form
• Make sure your credits have been registered in
  LADOK!
• 6 alternatives choose university, not country
• NB! Some universities have certain selection
  criteria, see list of available places
• Letter of motivation
• Application deadline November 15, 2009
• Only complete applications will be considered
• Selection is made by your School, based on your
  studies and grades, and certain ranking criteria

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Remember!

• Put down a postal address in your application
  where you regularly check and know you will
  receive your mail!
• Your motivation letter must include
• what you are currently studying at Växjö
  University
• how your exchange studies will fit into your
  program at Växjö University
• evidence showing that you have researched the
  universities you are applying for and concluded
  that they suit you in terms of subject areas
  taught, courses offered, language courses are
  offered in etc
• your skills in the language(s) you will be
  studying in at the exchange university

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Time frame

• October/November information meetings
• November 15 application deadline
• November/December registration of applications,
  ranking and selection by the Schools and the
  International Office (IO)
• Beginning of December notification of
  nomination, will be sent to study address
• Mid-December last day to accept/decline
  placement, notification to the IO
• February list of all nominated students will be
  posted at the IO
• January-April information to all outgoing
  students
• February-June application sent to exchange
  university
• June-September information from host university
• (March 15, 2010 application deadline for
  exchange places still available after the first
  round of application)

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We look forward to your application!

• Handbook, list of available exchange places, and
  application forms can be found at
• www.vxu.se/international/intoff
• Application deadline November 15