Erasmus+ World

Study mobility (partner countries)

Erasmus+ provides an opportunity for students to gain international experience and expertise by studying at higher education institutions outside Europe, with which bilateral cooperation agreements have been signed. Erasmus+ partner countries include countries from the following regions of the world, Western Balkans, Asia, Central Asia, Neighborhood East, South-Mediterranean, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Caribbean. All other countries in the world are able to participate in some Actions under Erasmus+ but only under certain circumstances (for more information, please consult the Erasmus+ partner country coordinators at RTU).

Prerequisites for candidates

Erasmus+ programme is available for all RTU students from all specializations and levels of higher education. To apply for participation in Erasmus+ study mobility a student has to be registered at least as a 3rd semester student at the Bachelor level or at the Master level. The student cannot have academic debts, must have adequate grades (weighted average grade cannot be lower than 6.25), good knowledge of English and a well-defined objective for participating in a mobility. 
Students who intend to develop a Bachelor or Master Thesis at a partner university should coordinate their plans with a professor at a particular university before applying.
In case student applies for the Erasmus+ mobility within the same level the Erasmus or Erasmus+ scholarship has been received before, note that the maximum period of Erasmus+ mobility is 12 months; minimum – 3 months.

Prerequisites for choosing a suitable partner university

To successfully participate in the competition, special attention should be devoted to the choice of appropriate university. Using the list of Erasmus+ Partner Countries in outgoingexchange.rtu.lv, students must select the host university and the study programme in accordance with student's current study programme. The offered fields for study exchange are indicated for each partner university.
Students have to ensure they register for study courses at the partner university offered in a laguage in which they are proficient. Student have to make sure their chosen courses are offered during the semester of their mobility (autumn/winter semester or spring/summer semester).
By submitting the online application students have to choose a maximum of three prospective universities, which are suitable for study mobility. After the selection process is finished students will be asked to confirm the final choice – one university from the pre-selected three. Applicants compete with each other if the same university is selected by many students. The students with higher summary evaluation in the selection process will be prioritized.

Application for the Erasmus+ scholarship

Application has to be done online in outgoingexchange.rtu.lv «Outgoing study exchange (world)». Participants of the programme will be selected in competition based on the average mark and language test results.
Before applying you have to do following:

Get acquainted with information on the website;
Attend informative seminars organized by the RTU International Mobility Unit.
Explore a list of Erasmus+ Partners in Partner Countries and consider opportunities to acquire study courses corresponding to the RTU study programme at a required study level in a language you are fluent in.
Identify the living conditions of a particular country and the expected mobility costs.

INFORMATIVE EVENTS – In September and February all interested people are invited to participate in informative events about the Erasmus+ programme, where various issues related to the selection process and Erasmus+ scholarships are discussed and explained. You can find information about these events on outgoingexchange.rtu.lv.

APPLICATION DEADLINES – Application has to be completed online on outgoingexchange.rtu.lv, attaching all necessary documents (CV, transcript of records, language test certificates - if available).
The application deadlines are February 25 and September 25.

Selection process

Submitting the application in online platform outgoingexchange.rtu.lv the applicant has to be sure the application is complete, and all necessary amendments are uploaded (CV, transcript of records, language test certificates - if available). All incomplete applications will be rejected after the application deadline.
After application deadline, an English language test will be organized. All applicants will be evaluated based on the average mark and language test results. All applicants will be ranked according to the final score.

After the nomination/before the Erasmus+ mobility students selected for Erasmus+ study mobility will be asked to confirm the final choice of the university in the online platform outgoingexchange.rtu.lv and to upload the necessary documents.

Application to the host university

Students apply for studies at the host university, taking into account application deadlines, procedures and documents to be submitted. Detailed information on application to the partner universities will be sent via e-mail.
Application procedures are different at each university. The student should be ready to submit various documents, for example, an application, transcript of records, proof of language skills, passport or ID card copy, proof of insurance, dormitory application, application for language courses, a letter of motivation, CV, etc.
Copies of documents submitted to the host university must also be submitted to RTU Erasmus+ coordinator, together with the «Learning Agreement for Studies» and «Application for Study Results Transfer». RTU Erasmus+ coordinator must also receive the «Acceptance / Admission Letter» sent electronically or by mail to the student by the host university within 2–6 weeks after the application deadline. If the «Acceptance / Admission Letter» is sent to RTU Erasmus+ coordinator, the student is immediately informed.

Confirmation of study courses

When the student has selected a suitable university for mobility, study courses should be approved by the responsible person at RTU, student must prepare the following documents:

Choosing appropriate study courses is a key criterion for a successful Erasmus+ mobility. Erasmus+ study mobility is based on the acquisition of study courses at the host university that in content completely or partially correspond with the study courses at RTU. First, it is necessary to find out study courses planned for the following semesters within RTU study programme. Then the student finds similar study courses at the host university in the volume of 30 ECTS or 20 CP.

RTU study courses must correspond to the courses offered by the host university in terms of content, but their titles can differ. Section A or compulsory study courses should match in content completely; section B or professional specialization study courses should comply with the chosen specialization, but in terms of the content they can slightly differ. If the study programme also comprises section C or elective study courses, students can choose any courses offered by the host university, including language courses.

By signing the «Learning Agreement for Studies» and «Application for Study Results Transfer», the study programme director and the academic advisor at International Cooperation Department approve the chosen study courses and the transfer of the results of study courses successfully acquired at the host university during the Erasmus+ mobility.

Immigration requirements

For mobility outside the EU, students must check the immigration requirements of the host country and ensure they can enter the country for a study period. Even if the country of destination doesn't require a visa for entry, since the exchange period usually lasts longer and the purpose of stay is studies not travel, students must be holders of immigration permit (VISA, residence permit, etc.) of the particular country. To find out information on immigration formalities of the receiving country, students must contact the international office of receiving university and embassy of the particular country. Each country has different immigration formalities, but usually embassy will require an original of the «Acceptance / Admission Letter» among other documents.

Grant agreement

After receiving the «Acceptance / Admission Letter», shortly before going to Erasmus+ mobility, RTU Erasmus+ coordinator and the student conclude «Mobility Grant Agreement», which provides the amount of scholarship, the procedure and time of its allocation. Usually, scholarships are paid before the student leaves for mobility.
To calculate the amount of scholarship, information on Erasmus+ mobility period, precisely specifying the start and end dates, must be submitted to RTU Erasmus+ coordinator.

Student activities during and after Erasmus+ mobility

Student activities during Erasmus+ mobility:

Students must meet Erasmus+ coordinator at the host university in due time, complete the required formalities and register for exchange studies, as well as receive a signed «Learning Agreement for Studies», if it has not been signed before mobility.
If changes in the «Learning Agreement for Studies» are necessary, they must be made within 1 month after the start of the study period at the host university, by completing a section «During the Mobility» and coordinating the changes with the host university and the responsible person at RTU.
Students must successfully acquire the chosen courses. Any problems that occur in mobility need to be addressed in a timely manner, in cooperation with Erasmus+ coordinators at the host university and RTU.
At the end of Erasmus+ study period, the student will receive an acknowledgment of the mobility period «Confirmation of Attendance» and «Transcript of Records» from the host university. The student must clarify when and how the transcript of records will be received, if it is not issued until the end of the mobility. The start and end dates of the mobility approved in «Confirmation of Attendance» must exactly coincide with those written in «Mobility Grant Agreement».

Student activities after Erasmus+ mobility:

Within 30 calendar days after the return from the mobility, the student must complete and submit an individual report on the online «Beneficiary Module» system. An invitation to complete the report form is sent to the student’s e-mail a few days after the mobility period end date.
Students must submit «Confirmation of Attendance», «Transcript of Records», as well as other required documents to the RTU Erasmus+ coordinator.
After receiving the «Transcript of Records», the student must immediately contact the academic advisor at International Cooperation Department and initiate the process of recognition of the acquired study courses. Students are responsible for submitting the «Transcript of Records» to the academic advisor at the International Cooperation Department and initiation of the recognition of the study results transfer.

Useful information

Documents for downloading:

Erasmus+ scholarship:

Erasmus+ scholarship will be provided to all students nominated for Erasmus+ mobility after selection process is closed. The scholarship amount for the partner countries is determined by the European Commission and State Education Development Agency.
The scholarships are intended to cover the extra cost related to studying abroad. The scholarships provided by the Erasmus+ programme will only partly cover the total cost of the mobility expenses. The students themselves are responsible for ensuring the necessary additional funding in a timely manner.
Students with disabilities have the opportunity to apply for additional financial support (additional equipment, special transport, accompanying persons, etc.).

ECTS:

Within the Erasmus+ programme, the student must cover study subjects worth 30 ECTS (20 CP) per semester at the receiving university. ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is a higher education credit system developed to objectively assess the student’s performance studying at different universities with different evaluation systems. ECTS credits are based on the student’s workload required to achieve the expected learning outcomes. 1 Latvian credit point is equal to 1.5 ECTS.
Each Faculty at RTU has a dedicated person responsible for study course and ECTS coordination and recognition for students going on a mobility to a partner university. To find a coordinator at your faculty, please click here.

Contact information:
RTU International Cooperation Department, International Mobility Unit
12 Azenes Street, Room 332, Riga