How to apply

If you wish to apply for an exchange spot, it is important that you read the information below carefully. Here you will find essential information about the application process as well as the deadlines that must be met.

Your application

Explore your options

When you apply for an exchange spot, you must first investigate which destinations are available.

However, you cannot see the available destinations until the application round opens on 1 November or 1 April. Before then, the database is not updated.

After 1 November or 1 April, you can view possible destinations for your exchange stay by checking the MoveON database.

Inside the MoveON database

It is important that you read the descriptions of the universities you wish to apply for carefully.

It is also important to make sure that the universities you select offer courses that are relevant to you and your programme. It requires thorough research to identify relevant courses among the universities. In MoveON, you can find links to course catalogues where you can search for courses at each university. Make sure to also read about the options and restrictions for course selection and the number of ECTS credits in the MoveON database.

You must also remember to check whether any of the universities you wish to apply for require documentation of your language skills.

In the MoveON database, you will also find travel reports from AU students under each university. Here you can find both inspiration and practical advice. Please note that the views in the reports are the students’ own and do not necessarily represent AU.

Apply broadly

Be aware that you increase your chances of getting an exchange placement if you apply broadly. The more universities you apply to, the greater the chance of receiving an exchange placement. Therefore, feel free to apply to all the universities you find interesting and that offer the right courses. Consider applying in several different countries, and explore whether there are strong universities that fit your academic profile which may be located in cities you do not know or had not initially considered.

Note

The application to AU is for internal use only. If you are allocated an exchange spot, you will also need to apply to the host university. You will automatically receive more information about this by email.

You submit your application via the application portal in MoveON.

Application deadlines

The deadline for applying to study abroad through AU's exchange agreements depends on when you want to go and your degree programme. There are two application rounds every year, but not all students are eligible to apply for both.

  • 1 December at 12:00 noon is the deadline for the upcoming academic year. For example, for an exchange in the autumn semester 2026 or the spring semester 2027, you should apply by 1 December 2025 at 12:00 noon. The application round opens approximately one month before the application deadline. 
  • 1 May at 12:00 noon is the deadline for the following spring. For example, apply by 1 May 2026 at 12:00 noon for an exchange in the Spring semester 2027. The application round opens approximately one month before the application deadline. 

We recommend that you apply in the 1 December application round whenever possible. You can apply for exchange positions the following autumn and/or spring semester in the 1 December application round. You can check your academic regulations for more information about your application options. 

If you’re on the BA programme in international business communication at Arts, you can only apply in the spring application round, which ends on 1 May.

Applying to the host university

If you are allocated an exchange position, you will automatically be nominated to the host university. You’ll receive information on how to apply to the host university by email, either from AU or directly from the host university. This means you should not take any further action until you receive an email about applying to the host university.

Please note that being nominated for an exchange position by AU is no guarantee of admission to your host university. During the process of applying to the host university, a situation may arise which AU was not in a position to foresee when you were offered an exchange position - eg. if you do not meet the admission criteria by the application deadline (GPA or similar). At the end of the day, the host university decides whether to admit you or not.

The application deadline depends on the host university, so you should always stay up to date.

Important

  • The MoveON database is updated: on November 1 and April 1 for the autumn and spring application rounds, respectively. After that, you can start looking into which destinations you can apply for in the application round.
  • Response to your application: will be sent to you by email no later than eight weeks after the application deadline.
  • Confirmation of your exchange: If you are offered an exchange position, you must confirm it in the MoveON application portal. Keep an eye on your AU inbox: this is where you’ll receive an offer of an exchange position, and this is where you’ll receive information about the deadline for confirming it. If you do not accept the study abroad position within the deadline, the study abroad position is waived.
  • Note: You will only be offered one exchange position, so you won’t be offered a new one if you turn down the offer. You cannot apply for a (new) exchange position if you have already had an exchange position in the same semester by the start of the application period.