How and when to apply?

From 1 November you can apply for an exchange via Osiris if you want to go on exchange in 2027-2028. Make sure that your application is submitted before the deadline: 1 December 2026, 23:59. 

In order to apply for exchange, you will need to include this document in your Osiris application:

The detailed step by step description of an exchange application in Osiris can be found here. 

Your UCU study abroad application form needs to be discussed with and approved by your tutor. You then submit it through this online form (available from 1 November. Please use Chrome as it may not work well in another browser). You must also complete the application process in Osiris (submission deadline 1 December). You can also apply if you missed the deadline, but only for the Spring semester. You can find more details here. 

You may use the UCU financial plan as a tool to help you manage your finances for your exchange, but as there is no longer a specific scholarship fund at the UCU IO, this is not a necessity. 

Important: Please use the UCU form (via Chrome) - and not the UU template that you will find in the Osiris application process. The UCU form is tailored to the UCU programme and will go to your tutor, and then the UCU International Office, directly. Even if you apply for only UU destinations, upload the UCU form in Osiris - your destination preferences will be considered by both UCU and UU, as per your input. 

ELAN destinations: You cannot apply directly to an ELAN member institution, only to the ELAN network overall. You can find the ELAN network in Osiris under Belgium (a country had to be added for technical reasons, you application won't be sent to Belgium). Please specify your preferred destination within the ELAN network on your study plan and motivation letter.  

Placement 

We are usually able to place all UCU students with our own partner universities at one of your top 3 preferences. We cannot always guarantee this as it is subject to the number of applications per destination. 

Exchange course catalogue

We understand that you might be looking for some clarity about the course conversion and specifically, the level of courses. To help guide you, you can use the catalogue with over a thousand courses taken by former UCU students who went on exchange. See the exchange course catalogue here. 

Acceptance and cancellation

By accepting your offer of an exchange place you commit to going on exchange. Cancellation is not possible after accepting your exchange place by 10 February*. 

Please note the difference between canceling your exchange entirely, and rejecting your spot if you are unhappy with your allocated destination and want to explore leftover options. After 10 February, cancellation is only possible in case of extenuating circumstances, as your exchange place can no longer be given to anyone else, and your place at UCU is given away to an incoming exchange student. Please contact the UCU International Office. If you cancel after having accepted your spot, you are required to pay a cancellation fee of €200 (which is donated to the UCU scholarship fund). Housing at UCU for the semester you were due to be on exchange can no longer be guaranteed, as this housing is granted to incoming exchange students. This means you may not be able to live at UCU during that semester.  

If you decide to re-apply for exchange in a later semester, your placement depends on the availability of places. You do not receive priority over other students if you were previously selected for a destination and canceled your spot. Please note: Election to a UCU or other board position does not exempt you from these cancellation terms.

If you are set to go on exchange but decide to drop out of UCU before your exchange semester, you will also have to pay the late cancellation fee. If you have not yet paid the late cancellation fee, the release of your preliminary grade transcript will be held back.

*Since the application to the University of California (UC) starts before February, you accept your spot by starting your application. The UC application deadline is end of January for the subsequent Fall semester, meaning your cancellation deadline is the same as the University of California application deadline. If you go to UC in Spring, your cancellation deadline remains 10 February. Consequently, canceling after having started your UC application will also result in a €200 fine, even if this is before 10 February.