Doing studies abroad offers a unique possibility to achieve international experience and language skills for working life. Part of your studies at LAB can be completed by taking part in a student exchange programme or by carrying out practical training abroad. Studies completed in our partner institutions will be transferred to your degree in LAB.

Various possibilities around the world

Going on an exchange is possible for everyone, regardless of your nationality or background! As a LAB student you can complete one semester, or in some cases even one academic year, in one of our partner institutions located all over the world. In addition to the European partner institutions, LAB has bilateral exchange agreements with many North and South American and Asian partner institutions.

If you are a master level student, you might have a possibility for one semester exchange as well, but your options need to be checked more carefully by LAB International Mobility Services. Exchange options for Master students usually vary from year to year.

If you are not keen to do a full semester abroad, LAB also offers a possibility to take part in one-week International Intensive programmes, which are planned and carried out together with our partner institutions. More information about intensive weeks can be found here.

Exchange Programmes

Erasmus+ and Nordplus are the exchange programmes LAB is part of currently. Read more about the Erasmus+ programme from here. LAB has also signed bilateral exchange agreements with several institutions worldwide and these exchanges are referenced as bilateral exchanges.

United Kingdom in not taking part in the Erasmus+ programme currently, but LAB is still able to pay Erasmus+ grant to exchanges taking place in some of the UK partner institutions (which are our Erasmus+ partners).

Switzerland is not part of Erasmus+ programme currently but they provide grants for exchange students coming to the country from the state’s own budget.

What does it mean then if you take in part of a certain exchange programme?

In general, the only difference to you is the amount of money you will receive from LAB - the grant for studies abroad is determined by the particular exchange programme. You can read more about the grants paid by LAB in the section Exchange grants.

When to go?

Recommended time for exchange studies is the second or third year of your studies, depending on your own study field. 

You might also combine studies with placement so that you would first complete the exchange studies and during it look for a placement from the same area. You could then continue with the placement after the exchange period is over.

What is the best time for you to do your placement or exchange studies abroad then? That is a question that your tutor teacher will help you with.

When starting your studies at LAB, please bring this topic up in the first discussion with your tutor teacher, if you already know that you want to go abroad during your studies.

Also note that the semester timings are not the same everywhere, so this issue should be also considered when you are choosing your destination. For example Germany and Japan have really different semester timings than Finland, but there are differences with other countries aswell. The best source to check the semester timings in a specific institution, is the institution’s websites.

More information for Health and Social Welfare Unit students

Health and Social Welfare Unit students find more detailed information regarding international opportunities in Moodle course "Health and Social Welfare Unit Students International Info" (No course key needed).