Author:

Johanna Poll

Mobility grants for doctoral students

Erasmus+ studies in Europe (between European programme countries)

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, followed by a virtual part of the mobility;
must award a minimum of 3 ECTS credits;
recognition of the course in the UT curriculum;
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

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 studies in country of destination;
recognition of partner university’s courses in the UT curriculum;
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty;
the minimum number of credits depends on the foreign university (generally at least 15 credits per semester);
a doctoral student can participate provided a doctoral student 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.

Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) programme (between with Non-EU countries)

Doctoral student’s short-term international study mobility

Purpose: To study at a partner higher education institution.

General conditions:

5–30 days of physical (on-site) studying;
recognition of the course in the UT curriculum;
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

Applying: The UT’s internal competition takes place in March. The information will be sent via the faculty-based mailing list. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Semester studies at a partner University

Purpose: To study at a partner higher education institution.

General conditions:

2– 5 months of studies in the country of destination;
recognition of study abroad in the UT curriculum.

Applying: The UT’s internal competition takes place in March. The information will be sent via the faculty-based mailing list. 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 a doctoral student exchange has been agreed upon with the specific partner higher education institution;
preference will be given to study mobility.

Applying: The UT’s internal competitions are taking place from January to April. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Erasmus+ traineeship grant (between European programme countries)

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 studies);
the host organisation will provide a traineeship supervisor;
within the framework of a UT traineeship or for the completion of a Research, Development and Creative work module (in the latter case, it will be considered during the progress review);
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

Applying: Deadline last day of the month from September 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 in the target country (2-3 months outside of program countries);
the host organisation will provide a traineeship supervisor;
within the framework of a UT traineeship or for the completion of a Research, Development and Creative work module (in the latter case, it will be considered during the progress review);
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

Applying: Deadline last day of the month from September to May. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) programme (between with Non-EU countries)

Short-term mobility for doctoral traineeships

Purpose: For a traineeship abroad at a partner higher education institution.

General conditions:

5–30 days of physical (on-site) mobility in the target country;
the host organisation will provide a traineeship supervisor;
within the framework of a UT traineeship or for the completion of a Research, Development and Creative work module;
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

Applying: The UT’s internal competition takes place in March. The information will be sent via the faculty-based mailing list. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Traineeship abroad

Purpose: For a traineeship abroad at a partner higher education institution.

General conditions:

2–3 months;
the host organisation will provide a traineeship supervisor;
within the framework of a UT traineeship or for the completion of a Research, Development and Creative work module (in the latter case, it will be considered during the progress review);
receiving institution must be Erasmus (ICM) partner of UT faculty.

Applying: The UT’s internal competition takes place in March. The information will be sent via the faculty-based mailing list. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Erasmus+ mobility in Europe (between European programme countries)

Teacher exchange

Purpose: Carrying out teaching in a partner higher education institution.

General conditions:

as a rule, the duration of the posting is 4-7 days (min. 2 days without travel days);
at least 8 academic hours per week of teaching;
in the case of a combined secondment (teaching & training), the volume of teaching to be carried out is at least 4 academic hours per week;
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

Applying: On an ongoing basis, at least 1 month before secondment. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Staff mobility

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

General conditions:

the duration of the secondment is min. 3 days, i.e. at least 2 training days plus at least 1 travel day before or after the training period (except Finland and Latvia, where Estonia can go without travel days);
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

Applying: On an ongoing basis, at least 1 month before secondment. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) programme (between with non-EU countries)

Scholarship for training abroad

Purpose: Training at a foreign university.

General conditions: 5 program days & 2 travel days.

Applying: On an ongoing basis, at least 1 month before secondment. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Teacher exchange

Purpose: Carrying out teaching in a partner higher education institution.

General conditions:

5 program days & 2 travel days;
at least 8 academic hours of teaching;
receiving institution must be Erasmus partner of UT faculty.

Applying: On an ongoing basis, at least 1 month before secondment. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

Kristjan Jaak
Scholarship for short study visits	Purpose: To participate in conferences or intensive courses, visit libraries or labs, or take part in any other study, research or teaching-related activity. General conditions: a short study visit can last up to 30 days; Estonian language knowledge is at least on a B1 level. Applying: Three to four application deadlines per year.
The Estonian Doctoral School
Mobility grant	Purpose: To gain international teaching and research experience and to participate in and present at specialised international events. General conditions: Short-term mobility lasts up to 30 calendar days. Applying: Internal competitions in UT. The information will be sent via the faculty-based mailing list or contact the project manager at for doctoral studies at your faculty.
Utrecht Network
Young Researcher’s Grant	Purpose: Thesis research; it is also allowed to take courses, but priority will be given to ‘research-only’ students. General conditions: minimum length of stay: 4 weeks; the research must take place at a university belonging to the Utrecht network. Students can select the foreign university themselves - in order to apply, you need the invitation letter (letter of admission) from the host university; the grant is available only for the students who cannot participate in the Erasmus programme (e.g. length of stay under 2 months, there are no Erasmus agreements with the foreign university in student's study field). Applying: Internal competition in February. For more information and to contact the coordinator, click here.

If you are an employee of the university (including a junior research fellow) and you are planning to go abroad to do research, study or do a traineeship, you will need to arrange a secondment. Talk to your supervisor(s) well in advance about the possibilities for covering your secondment expenses.

There are two main ways of recording expenses (including daily allowance) when formalising a secondment:

the employer, with the agreement of the employee, fully or partially covers the expenses of the secondment. In addition, it is possible to combine different grants if the conditions of the mobility grant allow it;
the employer does not cover the costs of the secondment, but the costs will be fully or partially deducted from the mobility grant. In this case, you should write in the field ‘Additional terms and conditions’ in the travel workflow the explanation "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 conditions of the financier".

Please note that if a secondment 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 Human Resources Office.

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Mobility grants for doctoral students

Going to study

Going to a traineeship

Going to improve skills or to carry out teaching as a staff member

Going to a professional event or conducting research

Junior research fellows, mobility grants and secondments