Erasmus+ Policy Statement

Our participation in the Erasmus+ Programme contributes to EU and EU member state goals for HEIs to achieve their full potential as educational institutions and cultures. To achieve these goals, the Erasmus+ Programme is a crucial element for us to provide key competencies for lifelong learning, digital skills as well as common values and inclusive education to our students and staff. The key competencies relate to active citizenship, the development of digital competencies and skills to name a few.

Our study and research programmes are enhanced by close cooperation with our partner universities, which have been carefully chosen on the basis of their quality, geographical position, strong academic environment, and ability to work with UCN. These partner agreements are essential to UCN’s student and staff exchange activities. We encourage our staff, both academic and administrative, to visit our partners and invite their staff to Northern Denmark in return.

Both for our programmes and for UCN, the goal is to enhance the high quality of our existing partnerships and to set standards for future partnerships.

UCN offers professional guidance to students who are planning a stay abroad.

The international coordinators at UCN’s degree programmes inform students about studies, internship possibilities, and practicalities such as grants. Exchange coordinators advise students on the content of the exchange programmes and select eligible students. It is also possible for students to contact UCN’s International Office, where a team of staff specialises in mobility and funding.

Students are prepared for their upcoming stays at various pre-departure sessions. UCN also encourages students to be active and take part in society on their stay. This way they will learn even more about European democracy.

UCN’s International Office works closely with the international coordinators of UCN’s degree programmes in the process of implementing The European Student Card and Erasmus Without Paper to make the transition as smooth as possible.

All UCN students have the opportunity to include a period of study or training abroad during their study programme, which will provide full credit transfer. UCN also promote the possibility to go abroad for special needs students and for those who need to bring their child(ren).

To go on an exchange, the student makes a proposal of the courses he or she wants to follow during the exchange. His or her UCN study programme will have to approve this proposal to ensure the recognition of credits. After approval, a learning agreement is signed by the student, the partner university, and the international coordinator at the relevant UCN programme.

UCN wants to attract the best-qualified students from abroad.

All incoming students will be made members of a programme, regardless of the length of their study period, and will gain benefits (both academic and social) as a result. Currently, UCN offers 15 programmes fully taught in English: 6 short-cycle AP Degrees, 6 top-up bachelor programmes and 3 full-time bachelor programmes.

All information on exchange programmes is available on our website, and relevant brochures are also sent to our partner universities. Twice a year, the International Office facilitates a webinar for incoming students entitled ‘Welcome to UCN’. Here we provide new students with a lot of relevant information for their upcoming stay in Denmark.

To ensure that the earned credits will be recognized by their home institution, incoming students must have a learning agreement. After successful completion of their programme, students receive a transcript of records. This is all in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System – ECTS.

To ensure integration of incoming students, student ambassadors and buddies assist and guide them, and they organize both professional and social activities for the international students to help them get settled. In addition, a corps of voluntary UCN students arranges a so-called ‘Talk Danish Café’ for the international students on a weekly basis.

Staff mobility plays a significant role at UCN. An ongoing staff awareness campaign has been developed to inform and support our staff and to show the many possibilities provided by the Erasmus+ Programme.

Staff members returning from a stay abroad are encouraged to participate in a video to inform about Erasmus+ funding. These motivational videos are displayed on UCN’s staff intranet, and in this way, the staff members become ambassadors for going abroad with Erasmus+ funding. The videos demonstrate the various stay types.

UCN continuously strives to increase the incentives for international mobility among our PhD students and academic staff. We focus on international experience by creating opportunities for the PhD degree programmes at UCN. We are also very careful to encourage not only academic staff but also administrative staff on all levels and in all parts of UCN to engage in international activities and to take part in training opportunities abroad.

UCN wishes to cooperate with programme countries and partner countries under the Erasmus+ programme. 

UCN will set up rules to clarify how the funding towards international mobility should be allocated at UCN. This is to ensure a fair and transparent process for UCN and the partner institutions from partner countries.