international

Mobility grants for doctoral researchers

Erasmus+ programme mobility
Blended Intensive Program, BIP

Purpose: To take part in an intensive course at a university abroad.

General conditions

  • 5–30 days of physical (on-site) mobility carried out abroad, preceded or followed by a virtual part of the course;
  • must award a minimum of 3 ECTS;
  • recognition of the course in the UT curriculum;
  • The receiving institution must be a higher education institution that is an Erasmus+ partner of the UT faculty or institute.

Applying: To attend a BIP course, one must apply through a public call from the UT’s institute or faculty.

The information will be sent via the faculty-based mailing list.

Semester
studies at a partner university

Purpose: 1–2 semesters of study at a partner university.

General conditions

  • 2–12 months of physical (on-site) studies in the country of destination;
  • recognition of partner university’s courses in the UT curriculum;
  • destination (institute/faculty) Erasmus+ partner higher education institution;
  • the minimum number of credits depends on the foreign university (generally at least 15 credits per semester);
  • a doctoral researcher can participate provided doctoral researcher exchange has been agreed upon with the specific partner higher education institution.

Applying: The UT’s internal competition takes place in February and September.

For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Partner universities of UT
Semester studies at a partner university

Purpose: To study at a partner higher education institution.

General conditions

  • 1–2 semesters;
  • a doctoral student can participate provided doctoral student exchange has been agreed upon with the specific partner higher education institution;
  • preference will be given to mobility for study activities.

Applying: The UT’s internal competitions are taking place from January to April.

For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Erasmus+ programme traineeship grant
Short-term blended mobility for traineeship

Purpose: For a traineeship abroad.

Not suitable for conference participation.

General conditions

  • 5–30 days of physical (on-site) mobility carried out abroad, followed by a virtual part of the mobility (not compulsory for doctoral students);
  • the host organisation will provide a traineeship supervisor;
  • within the framework of a UT traineeship course or for the completion of a Research, Development and Creative work module (in the latter case, it will be considered during the progress review);
  • destination (institute/faculty) Erasmus+ partner organisations (incl. higher education institutions).

Applying: Deadline last day of the month from January to May.

For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Traineeship abroad

Purpose: For a traineeship abroad.

General conditions

  • 2-6 months of traineeship abroad (2-3 months outside of program countries);
  • the host organisation will provide a traineeship supervisor;
  • within the framework of a UT traineeship course or for the completion of a Research, Development and Creative work module (in the latter case, it will be considered during the progress review);
  • destination (institute/faculty) Erasmus+ partner organisations (incl. higher education institutions).

Applying: Deadline last day of the month from January to May.

For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Erasmus+ mobility in Europe (between European programme countries)

Staff mobility for teaching

Purpose: Teaching at a partner higher education institution

General conditions

  • Duration of the mobility period is 4–7 days (at least two days without travel days)
  • Volume of teaching is at least eight academic hours per week
  • In the case of a combined mobility (teaching and training), the volume of teaching is at least four academic hours per week
  • The receiving institution must be an Erasmus+ partner of the UT faculty or institute.

Applying: Application deadlines 30 November 2026 – mobilities taking place in the spring semester, 31 May 2027 – mobilities taking place in the autumn semester. More information on the intranet.

Staff mobility for training

Purpose: Training at a foreign higher education institution or organisation; international staff training weeks; workshops, seminars, training courses on higher education administration, management, development and policy; training in teaching and curriculum development skills; job shadowing in a foreign higher education institution or company.
Not suitable for conference participation.

General conditions

  • The duration of the mobility is at least three days, i.e. at least two training days plus at least one travel day before or after the training period (except for Finland and Latvia, where one can go from Estonia without travel days)
  • The receiving institution must be a higher education institution, other institution or organisation of an Erasmus+ country

Applying: Application deadlines 30 November 2026 – mobilities taking place in the spring semester, 31 May 2027 – mobilities taking place in the autumn semester. More information on the intranet.

Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) (outside Erasmus+ programme countries)
Staff mobility for training

Purpose: Training at a foreign university.

Duration: At least five days plus two travel days if necessary.

Applying: On an ongoing basis, at least one month before the mobility. More information on the intranet.

Staff mobility for teaching

Purpose: Teaching at a partner higher education institution.

General conditions:

  • The duration of the mobility is at least five days plus two travel days, if necessary
  • The volume of teaching is at least eight academic hours
  • The receiving institution must be an ICM partner institution of the UT faculty or institute.

Applying: On an ongoing basis, at least one month before the mobility. More information on the intranet.

Kristjan Jaak scholarship
Short study visits

Purpose: To participate in a conference, work at a library, use a laboratory, supplement one's lecture materials, cooperate with one's supervisor, take part in professional development courses, consultations or summer schools

General conditions:

  • Study visits of up to 30 days are supported
  • Applicants must have at least B1 level in Estonian

Applying: Three to four application deadlines each year

Estonian Doctoral School
Mobility grant

Purpose: To gain international teaching and research experience and to participate in and present at specialised international events

Duration: Mobility of up to 30 days is supported

Applying: Internal competitions at the UT. Doctoral researchers can get the information via the doctoral researchers' mailing list or from the centre for doctoral studies

Utrecht Network
Young Researcher’s Grant

Purpose: Thesis research. Taking courses may also be supported, but priority is given to ‘research-only’ students.

General conditions:

  • Minimum length of stay at the host institution is four weeks
  • The research must be conducted at a university belonging to the Utrecht Network. Applicants must find the suitable host institution themselves and submit the invitation letter (letter of admission) from the host institution to apply
  • The grant is meant for doctoral researchers who cannot participate in the Erasmus programme (there are no Erasmus agreements with the foreign university).

Applying: Internal UT competition. Read more.

If you are an employee of the university (incl. a junior research fellow) and plan to go abroad to do research, study or do a traineeship, you need to formalise it as a business trip (travel workflow). Talk to your supervisor(s) well in advance about the possibilities for covering your travel expenses.

There are two main ways of recording expenses (incl. daily allowance) when formalising a business trip:

  1. the employer, with the agreement of the employee, fully or partially covers the expenses of the business trip. It is also possible to combine different grants if the conditions of the mobility grant allow it;

  2. the employer does not cover the costs of the business trip, but the costs are fully or partially covered from the mobility grant. In this case, add the following explanation in the field ‘Additional terms and conditions’ of the travel workflow: "The employee's travel expenses [list all types of expenses that can be reimbursed, e.g. daily allowance, transport, accommodation, etc.] will be covered by the mobility grant ... according to the funder's conditions".

Please note that if a business trip lasts for more than 183 days within 12 consecutive calendar months, the employer may be required to register, declare and pay taxes under the laws of a foreign country. In this case, the university may have to incur additional expenses to outsource such a service abroad (expenditure not eligible for activity support).

As a general rule, employees on secondment from Estonia are covered by Estonian social security, which you can verify with the form A1. However, if you take up a job abroad, you may be subject to foreign social security, which means you will potentially have the above-mentioned obligations and expenses.

Therefore, if you are planning to work abroad for a longer period, discuss possible options with the Finance Office and the Human Resources Office.