Study Abroad in Biology

If you are considering going abroad during your Biology studies there are several options available to you. Whatever you choose, the courses you take must be approved by your head of programme. 

If you have questions regarding the academic aspects of your exchange you can speak with your study advisor or head of programme. If you have questions about the application process, etc., please contact your international coordinator.

Want to go abroad during your Bachelor's degree?

You have the opportunity to abroad during the 5th or 6th semester of your Bachelor's in Biology.

If you choose to go abroad during the 5th semester, you should be aware that you will need to find a course that can replace the mandatory Programming or GIS course, which is part of your degree at AU. If you cannot find a GIS/programming course at the university of your choice, you have the option to take GIS at the Department of Geoscience in your 6th semester.

If you want to go abroad in your 6th semester, you must do your bachelor's project in your 5th semester. 

Want to go abroad during your Master's degree?

During your Master's, you have the opportunity to go abroad in the 1st (7th) and 2nd (8th) semester.

Courses during your study abroad

When you have identified some interesting courses you want to take at a partner university, you should check the following:

  • Whether the course content overlaps with courses you have already completed in your Biology programme. If the overlap is too significant, your application to take the course abroad will be denied.
  • Whether you meet the academic prerequisites to follow the course.
  • Whether the course matches your current academic level.
  • Whether the course content is research-based – i.e., is the instructor an active researcher in the subject or a closely related field? If the course is not research-based, your application to take it will be denied.

As a Master's student, you may be allowed to take a Bachelor's course if it is an advanced-level course at the Bachelor's level at the foreign university or if a similar course is not offered at AU.

We will also check these points, but you will do yourself (and us) a favor by reviewing them yourself beforehand. Otherwise, your application for pre-approval will be rejected.

Popular destinations for students in Biology

  • University of Exeter, UK
  • University of Tromsø (UiT), Norway
  • University of Bergen, Norway
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Norway
  • KU Leuven, Belgium
  • University of Padova, Italy
  • University of Oslo, Norway
  • Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU, Norway
  • University of Lund, Sweden
  • Korea University, Korea (Republic)
  • Univerity of Rennes, France
  • Wageningen University, The Netherlands

You can see all available destinations and read travel reports from other students in the MoveOn database

Statements from students who have studied abroad


"My time abroad has by far been the best semester I've had at university. I've had so many nice experiences during my stay and met a lot of wonderful people. Most importantly, I've also learned a lot about myself"

"The best part of my exchange was how nature affected me and my mind. I developed and grew by being there alone and spending as much time in nature as I did."

"I was introduced to new knowledge and methods I did not know about beforehand"

"I can very much recommend going abroad! It gives you so many different things both personally, socially and academically"