Short-term mobility

Eligibility
To apply, you must:

• Be a registered student at the University of Gothenburg at the time of application and during the summer course.
• By the application deadline, have maintained normal study pace (full-time or part-time, according to your study plan).
• Take the summer course as part of your degree program.
• Meet the host university’s requirements.
• Provide proof of language skills according to the host university’s requirements.
• In case of competition for places, students with the most ECTS credits will be given priority.

Finances

Some of the opportunities presented on this page carry costs that you as a student are responsible for covering. Tuition-fees or administrative fees are a few examples. Summer courses offered through Nordlys usually do not carry such costs – with a few exceptions. Please find more information about costs under each university mentioned above.

When you attend a summer course abroad you as a student will always have to pay for travels, accomodation, and cost of living at the destination and for the period of the course. If the course carries a tuition fee you will also have to cover this. 

Credit transfer

Some of the opportunities presented on this page will include the opportunity to earn higher education credits, that can be transferred and counted towards your degree at GU. If you are looking into transferring credits for a summer course, you need to have discussed this with your study concellor or program director prior to the start the summer course. Otherwise it is not certain that you will be able to use the credits earned in the course as part of your degree here at GU.

Please contact your study councellor for any questions you might have regarding credit transfer.
More information can be found here Credit transfer | Student Portal (gu.se)

CSN

If you are eligible for CSN in Sweden and you will be able to count the credits from a summer course towards your degree, you may be able to include this in your grant from CSN. You can find all the information you need regarding this on the CSN webpage.

CSN

The University of Gothenburg is a member of Nordlys, an interdisciplinary network for student exchanges within the Nordic countries. Several universities offer free summer courses for our students. See each university for detailed course offerings.

If you choose to take a summer course at any of the Nordic universities listed below, in some cases you must be nominated by the University of Gothenburg (GU). Please contact us at exchangestudies@gu.se so we can assist you with nomination and application.

You may also be eligible for a scholarship, with amounts varying depending on the number of applicants, the host university, and the duration of your stay. The scholarship ranges from approximately €250 to €800.

To apply, you must:

• Be a registered student at the University of Gothenburg at the time of application and during the summer course.
• By the application deadline, have maintained normal study pace (full-time or part-time, according to your study plan).
• Take the summer course as part of your degree program.
• Meet the host university’s requirements.
• Provide proof of language skills according to the host university’s requirements.
• In case of competition for places, students with the most ECTS credits will be given priority.

Note: Some courses have specific prerequisites – see each university’s website for details.

Updated information about summer courses is usually available at the end of January each year.

If you are interested in applying to one of these summer schools, email exchangestudies@gu.se with your transcript and registration certificate from Ladok to receive more information.

DENMARK
 

Aarhus University
AU Summer University (6 July – 14 August, 2026)

• Application opens: 15 January 2026
• Nomination deadline: 6 March 2026
• Application deadline: 17 March 2026, 12:00

You must be nominated by GU to apply. Send your request by 3 March to exchangestudies@gu.se.

AU Summer University offers a wide range of courses in Economics, Political Science, Law, Health, Science, and Engineering. The university also assists with housing and offers a social program. The city is known for its white sand beaches and rich cultural life. Information on housing is available on the AU Summer University website.

After being admitted, contact exchangestudies@gu.se to apply for the scholarship.

Aarhus will hold an online information session on February 17 at 2:00 PM. The webinar will cover AU Summer University 2026, course structure and academic level, the application process and important deadlines, as well as practical information about fees, housing, and life in Aarhus. There will also be a live Q&A session at the end.
Registration for the information session can be done via the link.

University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
SDU International Summer School (3 – 14 August, 2026)

• Application period: 1 March – 1 May 2026
• You must be nominated by GU to be exempt from the course fee. Send your request by 24 April 2026 to exchangestudies@gu.se.

Courses are offered in Odense and Sønderborg, hubs of Danish innovation and culture. The school offers courses in Science, Business, and Social Sciences at both bachelor and master levels. In addition to academic studies, there is a rich program of social and cultural activities.

After being admitted, contact exchangestudies@gu.se to apply for the scholarship.
 

FINLAND

University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
UEF Summer School (10 – 21 August, 2026)

Courses are offered at the Joensuu campus, located in Inland Finland surrounded by stunning nature. You can choose courses in Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Health, and Languages. UEF organizes social activities such as hiking, canoeing, and sauna in nearby lakes.

The updated course list is published end of January, and applications open in February. No nomination is needed, but indicate that you are a GU student to waive the course fee. After being admitted, contact exchangestudies@gu.se to apply for the scholarship.

University of Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä Summer School (3 – 14 August, 2026)

• Application period: 1 March – 30 April 2026
• Admission decisions announced in May 2026

One of Finland’s oldest and largest summer schools, offering high-quality courses for master’s students, PhD students, and postdocs in Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and IT. All courses are taught in English by leading international researchers. Participation is free, and a varied social program is offered.

After being admitted, contact exchangestudies@gu.se to apply for the scholarship.

NORWAY

University of Oslo
International Summer School (ISS) (30 June – 25 July, 2025)

• Nomination & application deadline: 1 March 2025

Slogan: “Come to Norway – meet the world!” Every summer, over 500 students from 70 countries gather in Oslo.

Courses are offered at bachelor and master levels, each worth 10 ECTS credits. Courses help develop new skills, intercultural understanding, and enhance academic and professional opportunities. Social activities are an important part of the program, including opening ceremony at Oslo City Hall, International Night, museum visits, and short excursions nearby. If you choose program housing, you stay with other ISS students.

GU students do not pay course or application fees. After admission, contact exchangestudies@gu.se to apply for the scholarship.

NORDKURS

The University of Gothenburg is active in Nordkurs, a collaboration between Nordic universities since the 1960s.

Through Nordkurs, you can go to Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, or Norway for a summer course. You explore our neighboring countries closely while learning about Nordic languages and cultures.

All subjects are welcome; any student can apply. Courses are usually held in June-July for about three weeks at various universities and colleges in the Nordic countries, including Aarhus, Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu, Tórshavn, Reykjavik, Bergen, Oslo, Tromsø, and Trondheim.

Accepted students receive a scholarship to cover travel and accommodation costs.

Applications open after New Year, with a typical deadline of 1 March. Admission decisions are announced in early April.

For more information about Nordkurs, contact elisabeth.andersson@svenska.gu.se.

EUTOPIA Summer Schools for GU Students

The University of Gothenburg (GU) is part of a European alliance of universities called EUTOPIA. Within the alliance, a number of summer schools are organized each year, and GU students are warmly invited to apply. In most cases, you apply directly to the courses, but you can contact us in advance for more information.

Some summer schools have tuition fees, while others are free of charge. Updated information is continuously posted on EUTOPIA’s dedicated summer school page.

Some of EUTOPIA’s partner universities offering summer courses are listed below:

VUB and NOVA’s Jean Monnet Summer School on EU Policy Making

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and NOVA University of Lisbon offer a summer course on EU decision-making. The course is held over two weeks: one week in Brussels and one week in Lisbon.

The focus is on the EU’s external policies, covering topics such as trade, development, technology, sustainability, and the EU’s role in global affairs. The course is aimed at bachelor students, preferably in the final year of their studies. Good English skills are required.

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis starting in February. The early-bird deadline is 15 March, giving a 10% discount on the tuition fee. The final application deadline is 26 April.

Barcelona International Summer School (BISS) at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

(29 June – 24 July, 2026)
BISS – Universitat Pompeu Fabra

A unique opportunity for both local and international students with a wide range of credit-bearing courses in English or Spanish. Courses run from one to four weeks, and students can choose from areas such as Business, Science, and Technology. GU students are eligible for significant tuition discounts.

The final application deadline varies depending on different application windows.

Ljubljana Summer School

(6 – 22 July, 2026)
Ljubljana Summer School

Offers a wide range of courses in Economics, Finance, Sustainability, Marketing, Data Analysis, Programming, and Negotiation Skills, at both bachelor and master levels.

Courses take place at the School of Economics and Business and are fee-paying (one course: €650). GU students may be eligible for a discounted tuition fee.

Warwick Summer School

(12 July – 1 August, 2026)
Warwick Summer School

Course offerings include Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Business, Global Perspectives, and Strategic Leadership. All courses can be combined with the Exploring British Culture Week (4–11 July 2026) or a preparatory English online program (6–10 July 2026).

Each course comprises 60 hours of teaching, including lectures, seminars, workshops, guest lectures, review sessions, and group work. In addition, students are expected to complete approximately 90 hours of independent study during the program.

• Application deadline for students who need a visa: Sunday, 31 May 2026
• Application deadline for students who need an ETA visa or no visa: Friday, 12 June 2026

The Nordic Centre is a network connecting Nordic and Chinese universities. The centre is located on the Fudan University campus in Shanghai, one of China’s most prestigious universities.

The centre serves as a platform to initiate and develop research and education, as well as conferences and seminars of shared interest for Nordic and Chinese researchers and students.

Each year, the Nordic Centre organizes summer courses that GU students can participate in. The course fee is approximately €140. The University of Gothenburg can nominate three students. In case of competition for places, students with the most ECTS credits will be given priority.

Fudan University (10 – 24 July, 2026)
Business and Innovation in China

• Nomination deadline: 13 March
• If you are interested, you must contact exchangestudies@gu.se by 6 March to receive the application form, and send us back the complete form no later than March 10.
• Admissions will be confirmed by March 31.
• Participation fee is 1000 RMB (app. 130 EUR)

Nordic Centre Fudan offers the summer course Business and Innovation in China (5 ECTS), which includes lectures, company visits, and team exercises to explore what it means to conduct business and innovation in China. The course is designed for master’s students, but final-year bachelor students may also be admitted.

More information – Nordic Centre Fudan: Business and Innovation in China

There are also several summer and winter schools at our GU-wide partner universities that are not listed above. These courses often come with administrative fees and tuition fees that you, as a student, are responsible for. We publish links with information provided by GU's partner universities, but you are responsible for finding additional information and applying for the course on your own. 

Summer Programs at UNCW | UNCW

SNU International Summer Program

UBC Vancouver Summer Program

Kyungpook National University Summer School 

Fudan International Summer Session 2026 (FISS)

MUIC Summer Program 2026 at Mahidol University International College

Waseda Summer Session at Waseda University

Seoul International Summer School I (SISS I) 2026