When you have returned from your exchange, there are a few practical things to take care of. On this page you will find information on what to do after your exchange studies.
When your exchange is over and it is time to return to Gothenburg, you should bring as much documentation about your completed coursework (such as syllabi and lists of required reading) as possible. You will need these document to apply for credit transfer. Also ensure that the host institution sends you a Transcript of Records. If you are planning on applying for continued student finance from the Swedish National Board of Student Aid (CSN), you need to forward this document to them.
If you have been on an Erasmus+ exchange, you will also need to bring home a Certificate of Attendance in order to receive the full amount of your grant.
Once you are back in Gothenburg and have received your grade transcript from the exchange university, it is time to apply for a transfer of credits. This is necessary in order for the courses you took abroad to count towards your degree programme at the University of Gothenburg.
If you received student finance from the Swedish National Board of Student Aid (CSN) while studying abroad, you must send them a copy of your transcript of records from the host university upon completion of the exchange.
Sometimes host universities will not send out original transcripts to former exchange students for several months. In these cases, CSN accepts digital copies of grade reports, screenshots from the student portal or similar documentation. What is most important is that the certificate (or equivalent) shows your name and all relevant course titles, grades, number of credits and course dates.
If you are planning to apply for more student finance from CSN for studies in Sweden after returning to Gothenburg, you must submit a complete application, including grades/certificates, within four weeks of the beginning of the semester in Sweden. We therefore recommend all students who are intending to apply for student finance to try to obtain some type of transcript/grade report from the host university already before they depart.
Your experiences from the exchange are valuable to both us at the University of Gothenburg and students who are thinking about going on an exchange in the future . If you have returned from an exchange, you may therefore be asked to submit a report or respond to an exchange questionnaire about your experiences. In that case, the international coordinator who nominated you for the exchange will email you information about the exchange report in conjunction with your return to Gothenburg.
If you have returned from an exchange and have received an Erasmus scholarship, you also need to complete the student report form that you receive directly from the Erasmus administration.
We would love to hear more about what your exchange visit was like, and maybe you would also like to share some of your experiences with fellow students who are thinking about studying abroad.
Be a Buddy and Help an Incoming Exchange System
The student unions enable you to get involved in the University’s hosting of international students. A large number of international students arrive in Gothenburg every year, and the student unions have special programmes that enable you to help out as a ‘student buddy’ or in arranging various fun events and activities.
The Sahlgrenska Academy Student Union
The International Committee – the Student Association of the School of Business, Economics and Law
KonstKåren - Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts
Inspire Others to Study Abroad
At the University of Gothenburg, a group of former exchange students have been hired as exchange ambassadors to inspire more students to dare to take the plunge. The ambassadors share their own and other students’ exchange experiences on social media and at various events arranged on campus. Would you like to share your experiences? You can find them at:
facebook.com/exchangegu/
instagram.com/exchange.gu/
Information Meetings at Your Faculty/Department
The University’s faculties and departments arrange a number of information meetings about studies abroad every year. The meetings are arranged for example in connection with application deadlines or to discuss necessary preparations shortly before departure. We like to invite students who have just returned from an exchange to give short presentations at these meetings or just be available to answer questions. Invitations to the meetings are usually sent out by email, but you are also welcome to contact the international coordinator at your Faculty/Department to find out when the next meeting will be held.
Meet international students in Gothenburg
Do you want more international experiences? The Erasmus Student Network gathers international students in Gothenburg, and is open for for evereyone who's interested in international networking. You are welcome to join, and participate in the activities.
Erasmus Student Network is a network for international students studying in Gothenburg. If you have been on exchange, you are welcome to join the network and participate in the activities.