Erasmus+ programme and grant top-ups
Erasmus+ programme
Through the Erasmus+ programme, you can receive grants for Erasmus+ mobility (BIP, student exchange and work placement abroad) for a maximum duration of 360 days per degree level (bachelor, master, doctoral degree). You may therefore participate in both Erasmus+ exchange and work placement abroad, as long as their combined duration does not exceed 12 months. For the period exceeding 12 months, you can receive a grant from Metropolia.
You can go on Erasmus+ mobility to your home country, provided that it is not your actual country of residence during your studies.
You can go on an Erasmus+ student exchange when there is a valid exchange agreement between Metropolia and the host institution.
In the Erasmus+ programme, additional support is also available to promote equality, accessibility and environmental sustainability.
You can find the rights and obligations of Erasmus+ exchange students in the Erasmus Student Charter. In many Erasmus+ destinations, Erasmus Student Network activities are available.
Erasmus+ grant top ups
Students participating in Erasmus+ student exchange, work placement abroad or BIP-mobility can apply for additional support for their mobility period: green travel top up, fewer opportunities top up and accessibility support.
Green travel top-up
You can apply for the green travel top-up if the main part of your roundtrip travel (from Finland to the destination and from the destination to Finland) is made using low-emission means of transport (train, bus, bike, carpooling).
Travel by ferry is also considered green travel when it is combined with other low-emission modes of transport. Travelling alone by car is not regarded as green travel, regardless of the type of fuel used by the vehicle.
The length of the journey can be checked from for example Google Maps or EU Commision's travel calculator.
Students who use low-emission means of transport can receive:
- max 4 additional travel days according to the actual travel days
- an increased travel grant, which is calculated based on the distance between Helsinki and the destination country. You can use Google Maps or the European Commission's Distance Calculator | Erasmus+ (europa.eu) to calculate the distance.
Travel distance 0 - 90 km
- Standard travel support 28 €
- Green travel support 56 €
Travel distance 100 - 499 km
- Standard travel support 211 €
- Green travel support 285 €
Travel distance 500 km - 1999 km
- Standard travel support 309 €
- Green travel support 417 €
Travel distance 2000 km - 2999 km
- Standard travel support 395 €
- Green travel support 535 €
Travel distance 3000 km - 3999 km
- Standard travel support 580 €
- Green travel support 785 €
Travel distance 4000 km - 7999 km
- Standard travel support 1188 €
- Green travel support 1188 €
Travel distance 8000 km ->
- Standard travel support 1735 €
- Green travel support 1735 €
Apply for the green travel top up for the round-trip travel before your exchange or work placement abroad.
Erasmus+ student exchange
Apply for the green travel top up in Mobility online at the same time as your exchange grant. Download the green travel declaration form from Mobility Online and upload it there, filled in and signed.
Erasmus+ work placement
Download the green travel declaration form from this page and return it filled and signed to your international relations adviser.
Erasmus+ BIP mobility
Apply for the green travel top up in Mobility Online at the same time as your exchange grant. Download the green travel declaration form from Mobility Online and upload it there, filled in and signed.
You can find inspiration for green travel and a sustainable exchange in:
- the Guide to Greener Exchange
- the Finnish National Agency for Education’s page How to Make a Higher Education Institution Greener
Tips:
- You can search for train and bus connections in Europe for example on the following websites: Maata pitkin, Trainline and Interrail Trip Planner
- On the Go2UNIS website, you can find other students travelling to the same destination and arrange carpooling
- You can also find useful route-planning tips in the Facebook group Maata pitkin matkustavat
Interrail Pass for Erasmus+
With the Interrail Pass for Erasmus+, you can travel sustainably by train across Europe for 4 or 6 travel days within a period of six months. Find out more about the options available from the Interrail Pass for Erasmus+ webpage.
Fewer opportunities top up
In the Erasmus+ programme, inclusion is promoted by offering additional grants to students who have fewer opportunities to participate in mobility than others.
- Grant 250 €/month for long exchanges
- Grant 100 € for short blended exchanges
You are eligible to apply for this grant if you meet at least one of the specified criteria listed below.
- students with families (student has an underaged child or children)
- Provide the declaration form and present extract from populations register or screenshot of the “https://www.suomi.fi/omat-tiedot/” (opens a new tab) page showing information on minor children
- students who are family caregivers
- Provide the declaration form and present agreement of informal care with the municipality
- students with EU´s disability card or who have a right for the card
- students with disability (at least moderate functional deficiency)
- Provide the declaration form and present doctor´s certificate or equivalent documentation
- students having severe and/or chronic health problems (at the very least moderate impairment)
- Provide the declaration form and present doctor's certificate or equivalent documentation.
More information
- Requires moderate functional impairment (disability classes 6–10): The person is unable to perform activities that require continuous accuracy and concentration. Treatment of the illness causes strain and takes time every day, and neglecting the treatment poses a risk to the person’s health.
- Further details about the disability classes, see Finlex
- students who have received international protection (refugees, asylum seekers, students who have been granted international, subsidiary or temporary protection, or student has a refugee´s passport)
- Provide the declaration form and present residence permit issued on the basis of protection or a refugee´s passport
Apply for the fewer opportunties top up before your exchange or work placement. Fill out the Fewer opportuntinies declaration form and provide proof of your situation to your international relations adviser. Applications are handled confidentially. For more information, please contact your international relations adviser.
Erasmus+ student exchange
Apply for the fewer opportunities top up in Mobility online at the same time as your exchange grant. Download the fewer opportunities declaration from Mobility online and upload it there, filled and signed. Provide proof of your situation to your International relations adviser.
Erasmus+ work placement abroad
Download the fewer opportunities declaration form from this page and return it filled and signed to your international relations adviser. Provide proof of your situation to your international relations adviser.
Erasmus+ BIP-exchange
Apply for the fewer opportunities top up in Mobility Online at the same time as your exchange grant. Download the fewer opportunities declaration from Mobility online and upload it there, filled and signed. Provide proof of your situation to your International relations adviser.
You can explore the support services available in European countries, for example, by using the inclusivemobility.eu -portal.
Accessibility support
Accessibility support is meant to cover extra costs related to your exchange which arise from a special need and are not funded for any other sources. The special needs can be an injury, disability, illness, learning difficulty, personal situation or another similar reason.
Support can be applied, for example, for arrangements related to accessible accessible accommodation, assisted mobility or study-related arrangements, such as learning materials, assistants or preparatory visits. Accessibility support is granted in addition to your exchange grant and is based on actual costs.
Start looking into and applying for accessibility support and contact your international relations adviser as early as possible, preferably 6 months before the start of your exchange period. Get to know the information on the Accessibility Support application form and contact your international mobility advisor well before your exchange period.
In addition to the application form you need submit additional documents regarding your situation (for example doctor's certificate) and specify the additional costs related to your exchange. Reserve enough time to collect these. It may also take time before you have all the necessary information from your destination, including details of any special arrangements.
The application is submitted together with the International Relations Services to the Finnish National Agency for Education (OPH). OPH makes the decision case-by-case on whether the support is granted and the grant amount.
You can check further details in the pages of Finnish National Agency for Education (OPH) - Special Needs and Inclusion Grant
Support services availble in EU as well as testimonials can be reviewed at - Inclusivemobility.eu pages.
Learn more about Erasmus+ grants
If you have any questions or you would like to discuss more on the your possibilities for internationalisation, please consult Metropolia International Relations Advisers.