Exchange studies abroad

Exchange programs are available for full time SPbPU students:

1. 2-3 year of bachelor program, 2-4 year of specialist program, 2-3 semester of master program; 
2. Minimum level of English (or other language of hosting country) proficiency – B2 (upper-intermediate); 
3. Average grade (all exams) – from 4.0 and higher; 
4. Good academic standing; 
5. Any citizenship; 
6. Support from your department and parents.

1. Students can apply for exchange studies at one of SPbPU partner universities
2. Students of technical study fields can choose technical universities and universities of applied sciences; students of economics and humanities – classic universities, business schools and universities of applied sciences; 
3. Discuss a possibility to go exchange with you program coordinator/head of your department/ international coordinator at your institute
4. One of the most important things is finding study program at partner university that corresponds to your study field. The majority of your chosen courses should correspond your education plan at SPbPU. In this case you can discuss a possibility of transferring earned credits after returning from abroad.

To make preliminary education plan for exchange studies (learning agreement) you should take a copy of your study plan at the deanery of your institute and compare it to the list of courses you chose for exchange studies at partner university. This learning agreement should be confirmed by your department and institute.

Should you have any difficulties choosing university for exchange studies you may also ask for advice at the International educational programs and academic mobility department Tel. +7 (812) 534-25-31

Application procedure consists of 2 main steps:

1) Applying for exchange studies to International academic mobility department:

• Fill in this online form;
• Fill and get signatures on application form for exchange studies.

2) International academic mobility department and coordinators at institutes check your application and send nomination letter to chosen university (to one university only).

Applying to one chosen university after your application is approved by International academic mobility department. You will receive information about necessary application documents and application deadlines from international coordinators at chosen university.

Application deadlines and list of application documents depend on university. You can find this information on chosen university’s website in following sections: Exchange students/Visiting students/Incoming students/Bilateral agreements.

Please, pay attention that every student who is going abroad for exchange studies/internship should hand in signed “go abroad” and “turn back” documents to International academic mobility department before going and after coming back.

List of application documents vary from university to university:

• Application form with your personal data (available on chosen university’s website or sent via e-mail);
• Transcript of records – certificate with all your grades from the deanery of your institute (translated into English by your department/institute or any translation agency);
• Learning agreement or study plan – list of courses you are planning to take at chosen university. You should make your study plan by yourself because there are no fixed programs for exchange students abroad. Learning agreement form is usually available on chosen university’s website. This document should be signed in the following order:
• Departmental coordinator – head of your department;
• Institutional coordinator – head of International academic mobility department;

Upon arrival at the host university, the list of courses you have chosen may change. In this case, you need to draw up a new Learning agreement / Study plan and sign it again at the host and home universities.

• Motivation letter – letter where you should express you motivation for studying abroad at chosen university as exchange student;
• Language certificate – document confirming your level of English or language of host country. You can use the same language certificate that you applied at SPbPU with;
• Copy of foreign passport.

In order to choose your study program you should check list of courses available for exchange students during the semester when you are planning to study at chosen university. This information is available on partner universities’ websites in the following sections: Courses for exchange students/Course catalogue/Study programs.

The majority of your chosen courses should correspond your education plan at SPbPU. In this case you can discuss a possibility of transferring earned credits after returning from abroad.

After checking availability of courses for exchange students (pay attention to semester when courses are available and language of instruction), you should make a preliminary list of courses you are planning to attend and write it in your learning agreement when applying to chosen university. Upon arrival at the host university, the list of courses you have chosen may change. In this case, you need to draw up a new Learning agreement / Study plan and sign it again at the host and home universities.

Recommended level of foreign language proficiency is B2 (upper-intermediate). Language requirements for exchange students are available on partner universities’ websites in the section «language requirements for exchange students».

Language certificate is one of the necessary application documents. You may use the language certificate you applied to SPbPU with. In case you did not submit any language certificate when applying to SPbPU, please, contact your program coordinator and ask for language certificate.

1. There is no tuition fee for exchange students at partner universities;
2. If you pay tuition fee at SPbPU you should pay for full semester studies before going abroad;
3. You are responsible for the following expenses: tickets, accommodation, food, student fee, visa application fees etc. You should check information about living costs at chosen country before applying for exchange program.
4. You can check living costs all over the world here.

You should apply for student visa at chosen country by yourself. List of necessary documents is available on host country consulate’s general or embassy’s website.

List of consulate generals in St. Petersburg.

Before applying for student visa you should obtain health insurance certificate. You can find more information about the type of certificate you need at host country consulate general/embassy.

In general, student accommodation office abroad does not belong to universities; therefore, you should apply for student accommodation by yourself after receiving letter of acceptance.

Information about monthly cost and application procedure is available at chosen university’s website in the following sections: Exchange students/Visiting students/Incoming students/Bilateral agreements/Accommodation. More information can be found at chosen university’s website.

After applying for student visa you should start preparing paperwork for official leave-abroad order. Every student who is going abroad for exchange studies/internship should hand in the following documents to International academic mobility department:

BEFORE LEAVING (2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE):

• «Leave abroad» paper
• Letter of acceptance
• Bypass list  

International academic mobility department issues official paper that confirms your absence.  

AFTER RETURNING (WITHIN 3 DAYS):

• «Turn back» paper
• Report on exchange studies

All documents should be handed in to International academic mobility department.

BEFORE DEPARTURE:

• Application deadline at chosen university. All the deadlines are indicated on chosen university’s website in the following sections: Application procedure/How to apply/Application deadlines. Late applications will not be considered. 
• Applying for student accommodation – make it according to the procedure of Host university; 
• Application procedure for student visa. More information is available on consulate general’s/embassy’s website of chosen country; 
• Health insurance; • Paying tuition fee at SPbPU; 
• Preparing documents for official leave abroad paper; 
• Dormitory residents have to sort out all payment issues and clear the room; 
• Money exchange.

TAKE WITH YOU:

• Copy of your education plan at SPbPU and learning agreement; 
• 5 photos (3x4 cm);
• Address of student dormitory/accommodation; 
• Contact information of your home country embassy/consulate general; 
• First aid kit; 
• Money.

AFTER RETURNING:

• Preparing documents for official «Сome back» paper 
• Discuss your placement at SPbPU dormitory with the dormitory administration; 
• Discuss credit transfer with your department.