Bilateral agreements

Cathrine Strømø

There is a world outside the Nordic countries and the EU also. In addition to Erasmus/Nordplus, exchange is done through bilateral agreements, which are cooperation agreements directly between UMB and another university. You find information about our partner universities by reading information about the specific agreements.

1 February is the closing date for applications for a place through a bilateral agreement. You will get an answer from the International Office in the Economy Building regardless of the application result!

Some of these agreements are general and cover most subject areas, while others are limited to specific departments or faculties.

Why and how do you travel through a bilateral agreement?
There are several advantages to UMB’s bilateral agreements when studying outside of the Nordic countries and the EU:

Quality:
We have chosen these specific universities for a reason. You are on academically safe ground when choosing one of UMB’s partner universities.

Simpler procedures:
We help you throughout the application process and keep you informed. In some cases we have arranged exemption from the language test requirement.

Prior recognition of courses:
We are currently working out procedures in relation to prior recognition of courses/subjects in study programmes abroad. Therefore, students who are applying for bilateral agreements, Erasmus agreements or Nordplus agreements do not need prior recognition of courses/subjects before 1 March.

Economy:
Some agreements have exemption for student fees, while others have reduced fees (so low that they are covered by Lånekassen (the State Educational Loan Fund)). Even though it often requires a bit more work from you and us, for example in connection with language tests and student visas, it is not at all as difficult to study in other parts of the world as you might think. You get far if you are interested and have the right spirit, but a few other factors also play a part if you want to be considered for the exchange places through the bilateral agreements.

If you get a place at one of UMB’s partner institutions, you must go through a more comprehensive application process later. You must be prepared for quite some paper work in connection with the application to the foreign university, but you will get help and advice from us throughout the application process.

Quite a few countries outside the EU and the Nordic countries require documented language skills. Some universities, especially in the USA and Canada, require that you take a TOEFL or IELTS test. Note that UMB in several cases have arranged exemption from language tests in their bilateral agreements.

Updated: 18.09.06
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