Nordlys
Table of contents
Nordlys is one of the Nordplus networks.
You can apply to Nordlys exchange if you are a Bachelor's and Master's level student and your discipline/department/faculty does not have a subject-specific Nordplus network of their own and your cannot be admitted to the host university through the Erasmus programme.
You can apply to Nordlys exchange for one semester.
Nordlys universities
You can apply to the following universities within the Nordlys programme for the academic year 2025-2026:
Denmark
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- Not possible to choose courses in medicine
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- Not possible to choose courses in business & economics, medicine, psychology, political science or law. Courses must be chosen from one faculty or department only. Check all the .
- TOEFL/IELTS test required for
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- TOEFL/IELTS or other language proof required
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- Check the -restrictions in several fields
- TOEFL/IELTS test required for
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- Not possible to choose courses in medicine
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- Not possible to choose courses in journalism
Iceland
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- Course selection must total 30 ECTS credits per semester, 60% of the studies must be from the student's major subject; the following fields are not open to exchange students: medicine, psychology, nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, law, economics, MBA, earth science, courses taught in Icelandic; English Language Programme only open to exchange students majoring in English at their home university or students who are very proficient in English
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/CAE/CPA required from nationals coming outside the EU/EEA countries whose native language is not English
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- ; bachelor's level nominees must have completed at least 60 ECTS credits
- The following fields of study are not open to Nordlys students: MBA, MPM, clinical psychology, Iceland School of Energy
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- Not open to exchange students: occupational therapy and nursing
Norway
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- not possible to choose courses from the following fields: architecture, medicine, music
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- Courses must be chosen from one campus
- Only a limited number of nominated students are selected by the host university to some fields, e.g. outdoor education
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- Max. 4 placements/semester
- Studies in the following faculties are not open to Nordlys students: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Art, Music and Design;
- Not open to Nordlys students: areas of study with subject-specific Nordplus networks
- Language certificate required from those taking courses of English language and culture (C1 level)
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- Max. 4 placements/semester
- restrictions in the admission to the following fields: medicine, health sciences, dentistry, pharmacy, geo sciences, psychology, biosciences
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- All studies must be from the same campus
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- Not open to exchange students: medicine, music and art
Sweden
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- Not open to Nordlys students: business, economics and law, courses at Sahlgrenska Academy, HDK-Valand Academy of Arts and Design programmes
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- Max. 2 placements
- Possible to choose courses from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences only
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- Not open to Nordlys students: economics, management and business, journalism, medicine, industrial design, architecture, performing arts, courses from the Malmö Art Academy & the Faculty of Performing Arts
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- not open to Nordlys students: graphic design, industrial design, nursing
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- Max. 2 placements/semester
- 30 ECTS credits per semester must be selected, no more nor less.
- Studies from a maximum of two departments can be selected
- Not open to Nordlys students: business, law
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- Only possible to choose courses listed at
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- Not open to Nordlys students: medicine, culinary arts
Please note!
- The number of placements are given above if they are restricted.
- Note the restricted fields.
- Previous studies in the field may be required. Please check the possible field or course-specific requirements from the host university website.
Studies
You can take courses of your major/minor subject or free electives in Nordlys exchange. The courses can also include language studies if suitable courses are available. Nordic universities offer many courses in English and therefore studying in English also possible. The number of courses in English vary between fields of study and universities. Please note the above mentioned restrictions in the areas of study and the course-specific restrictions and requirements.
Exchange period
You can apply for Nordlys exchange for one semester.
Funding
Application
Application period
The annual Nordlys application period for the following academic year starts at the end of January and ends at the beginning of February. The application period for the academic year 2025-2026 takes place on 22 January - 5 February 2025.
Statistics
- 2024: 35 applicants, 28 selected
- 2023: 30 applicants, 25 selected
- 2022: 47 applicants, 38 selected
- 2021: 33 applicants, 18 selected
- 2020: 31 applicants, 27 selected
- 2019: 35 applicants, 30 selected
Practicalities
The international offices of the host universities assist in practical matters related to your exchange, such as getting an apartment, tutoring etc. Nordic universities offer many courses in English. However, students studying to Sweden are encouraged to study in Swedish if they have studied the language in lower and upper secondary school.
Norway and Iceland have higher living costs than the rest of the Nordic countries. Also, students have to buy some text books in Norway which may result in additional costs.
In larger cities, such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Copenhagen, it may be difficult to find an apartment, especially during the autumn semester. It is therefore advisable to apply for accommodation as early as possible or from the private sector. In smaller towns, getting an apartment can be a lot easier. In Iceland and Norway, the student unions have apartments to which exchange students may be able to apply for.
Experiences of former exchange students
You can read about the experiences of students who have studies in the Nordic countries in the student exchange reports and blogs.
Contact us
Questions about internationalisation? For guidance on student exchange, please contact us through HelpJYU.