What is an academic exchange?
A university exchange is part of an exchange program between partner universities that have signed a cooperation agreement. It offers students the opportunity to spend part of their studies in a foreign partner university, for one or two semesters.
Thanks to university exchanges, you can travel the world, discover new teaching methods and gain a new perspective on your academic career!
What are the specific advantages of a university exchange?
In addition to the undeniable academic benefits, university exchanges enable you to..:
An optimized curriculum:
- No need to extend the duration of your studies at amU
- Maintain your enrolment at amU during the exchange
- Validation of ECTS credits required for your degree at amU
- Possibility of taking courses or specializations not offered at amU
A considerable financial advantage:
- Exemption from the host university's registration fees: you pay only your usual fees to
amU - Possibility of receiving funding for your exchange (several scholarships exist and are awarded under certain conditions).
Where and how can I go?
When and where to go?
University exchanges always take place within an institutional framework, generally recognized as part of the university curriculum. It can take place :
Aix Marseille Université (amU) collaborates with over 348 universities and institutions in Europe (beyond Erasmus+ agreements), America, Australasia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean and Asia.
Under the Erasmus+ program, students wishing to go on an academic exchange with amU can choose from 336 academic destinations.
To find out about all the universities participating in the program, consult the destinations catalog. And for more information on Erasmus+, visit this page !
ISEP (International Student Exchange Program) is a non-profit organization founded in 1979, which manages a worldwide network of over 300 universities in more than 50 countries. Aix Marseille Université is a member of this network and offers its students the opportunity to take part in 2 exchange programs: ISEP Exchange and ISEP Direct.
Find out all you need to know about ISEP (destinations, eligibility requirements, program costs, financial aid available, how to apply, etc.) on this amU page!
Please note that all exchanges outside the European Economic Area must be submitted to Aix Marseille Université's Defense Security Officer for final approval. In view of the specific security risks in Ukraine, mobility to neighboring countries (Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia) will also be subject to FSD approval, in order to analyze the risks according to the distance of the mobility location from the Ukrainian border. Don't forget to discuss this with your outgoing mobility manager.
Useful links
Documents to download
How do I apply for a university exchange?
Every year, the International Relations Office (DRI) organizes "International Month" during the month of October. On this occasion, you will be invited to take part in information meetings organized on your campus. These events will enable you to gather all the information you need to initiate your future university exchange project, and to identify the people who can support you in this process.
We also encourage you to consult our destination catalogs. If you have found a destination that interests you and is open to your career path, we encourage you to contact :
- Your faculty's outgoing mobility manager, who will give you details of the application procedure and help you with all the steps involved in your future university exchange.
- Your International Relations advisor , who will advise and support you in defining your study abroad project.
Once you've decided on your project, you'll need to gather a number of documents to put together your application, such as :
- Your university transcripts
- Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A cover letter explaining your university exchange project and your choice of destinations
- Your draft study contract, listing the courses you will be taking in your chosen destinations.
This document must be validated by your amU course coordinator.
After the selections, it will serve as the basis for drawing up your future study contract, which must be validated and signed by the 3 parties involved (the student, the amU academic advisor and the academic advisor at the partner university).
It will also guarantee recognition of your studies abroad on your return.
| Please note: some destinations require specific language skills and/or test results. Self-evaluate and register early for the next test sessions, so that you have the results before the application deadlines. |
From late October / early November, you will be able to connect to the Mobility Portal via a link sent to you by your outgoing mobility manager. At this point, you can choose to apply for the amU Global Mobility Campaign and/or the Mobility Campaign of your component.
Application procedures may differ from one component to another. We therefore encourage you to check the application deadlines and carefully read the instructions provided by your component in the "Component" tab on the Mobility Portal home page.
Once your application has been submitted and the campaign closed, the International Relations Department (DRI) and the International Relations Services (SRI) will check all the applications. Selection committees will be organized in January and February.
If you are shortlisted, an offer will be made on the same portal, and you will be asked to confirm your application as soon as possible.
Once your application has been shortlisted and you have accepted the offer, amU will inform the partner university.
The partner university may then ask you to complete a file with its own international services. Once again, it is important to pay particular attention to the preparation of this type of application.
| The final selection is made by the host university, which will then send you a letter of acceptance. Only this letter can be considered as acceptance of your mobility, enabling you to continue your administrative procedures with amU and prepare for your departure (visa, insurance, accommodation, health, transport, etc.). It can take up to two months to receive this letter of acceptance. |
Other information:
If you are a CROUS scholarship holder or would like to become one, we strongly recommend that you apply for a DSE (Dossier Social Etudiant) at the same time, as soon as applications open for the following academic year.
Please note that students with CROUS scholarships who are going abroad for mobility purposes are eligible for the AMI scholarship.
How to finance a university exchange?
Several scholarship schemes can help you finance your international academic exchange:
Length of stay financed: 1 month minimum and 5 months maximum.
Amount :
- 600 €/month in Europe (up to a maximum of 3000€/academic year)
- 1000 €/month outside Europe (up to a maximum of 5000€/academic year)
Length of stay financed: 1 month minimum and 5 months maximum.
Amount :
- 600 €/month in Europe (up to a maximum of 3000€/academic year)
- 1000 €/month outside Europe (up to a maximum of 5000€/academic year)
Length of stay financed: 2 months minimum, within the limit of 12 months per study cycle (Bachelor's and Master's degrees).
The Erasmus+ allowance is calculated on the basis of the monthly lump sum according to the destination country group + a monthly financial inclusion supplement (if conditions are met) + a lump sum for travel expenses:
Amounts (these amounts are subject to change, are indicative and applicable to the 2025/2026 academic year) :
The Inclusion financial supplement of €250 per month will be awarded to you if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have a disability or long-term illness (ALD)
- live in a commune classified as a rural revitalization zone (ZFRR)
- Live in an address classified as a priority urban district (quartier prioritaire de la ville)
- Be a higher education grant holder on social criteria, grades 6 or 7
The contribution to travel expenses is calculated on the basis of the distance between amU and the school where you will be working:
*If you have made at least half of your journey (outward + return) between amU and the host establishment using an eco-responsible means of transport, you will be eligible for the ECO RESPONSIBLE means of transport package.
Please note: only stays organized as part of the Erasmus+ program will be financed.
Length of stay financed: 2 months minimum, within the limit of 12 months per study cycle (Bachelor's and Master's degrees).
The Erasmus+ allowance is calculated on the basis of the monthly lump sum according to the destination country group + a monthly financial inclusion supplement (if conditions are met) + a lump sum for travel expenses:
Amounts (these amounts are subject to change, are indicative and applicable to the 2025/2026 academic year) :
The Inclusion financial supplement of €250 per month will be awarded to you if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have a disability or long-term illness (ALD)
- live in a commune classified as a rural revitalization zone (ZFRR)
- Live in an address classified as a priority urban district (quartier prioritaire de la ville)
- Be a higher education grant holder on social criteria, grades 6 or 7
The contribution to travel expenses is calculated on the basis of the distance between amU and the school where you will be working:
*If you have made at least half of your journey (outward + return) between amU and the host establishment using an eco-responsible means of transport, you will be eligible for the ECO RESPONSIBLE means of transport package.
Please note: only stays organized as part of the Erasmus+ program will be financed.
Length of stay financed: 1 month minimum, up to a maximum of 10 months for all your stays during your university course.
Amount : €400 per month.
Please note: only CROUS grant holders (level 0bis and above) whose study period is part of their course will be financed.
Length of stay financed: 1 month minimum, up to a maximum of 10 months for all your stays during your university course.
Amount : €400 per month.
Please note: only CROUS grant holders (level 0bis and above) whose study period is part of their course will be financed.
The information below concerns the academic year 2025-2026:
Length of stay financed : 1 or 2 semesters.
Please note: funding is limited to a maximum of 5 months per mobility program. Example: a student going on a 7-month mobility program could only be funded for a maximum of 5 months.
Amounts (there are 3 daily rates per geographical area):
* With the exception of Mexico, included in zone 2
** United Kingdom with the exception of mobility to the University of Glasgow (CIVIS partner)
*** Switzerland subject to non-eligibility for SEMP funding for study mobility and with the exception of mobility to the University of Lausanne UNIL (CIVIS partner).
**** DPI in Europe
How to apply :
To qualify for this grant, your application must have been ranked by your component and selected by the grant committee of the Pôle Mobilité. Students from L2 to M2, or equivalent, are eligible. Students are eligible for one internship mobility and one study mobility per study cycle. Doctoral students are not eligible. Eligibility for this grant is automatically checked if the student is registered on the amU Mobility Portal.
Please note: the PMS cannot be combined with any other grant, whether French or foreign, with the exception of the AMI-MESRI grant.
The information below concerns the academic year 2025-2026:
Length of stay financed : 1 or 2 semesters.
Please note: funding is limited to a maximum of 5 months per mobility program. Example: a student going on a 7-month mobility program could only be funded for a maximum of 5 months.
Amounts (there are 3 daily rates per geographical area):
* With the exception of Mexico, included in zone 2
** United Kingdom with the exception of mobility to the University of Glasgow (CIVIS partner)
*** Switzerland subject to non-eligibility for SEMP funding for study mobility and with the exception of mobility to the University of Lausanne UNIL (CIVIS partner).
**** DPI in Europe
How to apply :
To qualify for this grant, your application must have been ranked by your component and selected by the grant committee of the Pôle Mobilité. Students from L2 to M2, or equivalent, are eligible. Students are eligible for one internship mobility and one study mobility per study cycle. Doctoral students are not eligible. Eligibility for this grant is automatically checked if the student is registered on the amU Mobility Portal.
Please note: the PMS cannot be combined with any other grant, whether French or foreign, with the exception of the AMI-MESRI grant.
The PRAME grant can only be awarded once a year, and cannot be combined with the PRAME internship grant.
Only stays outside the European Union are eligible, with the exception of France (Metropolitan and Overseas territories) and the principalities of Monaco and Andorra.
Duration of funded stay: 12 weeks minimum and 20 weeks maximum, ending no later than December 31 of year N+1.
The length of stay financed is modulated according to the family quotient (≤ €26,000) for year N-1 on N-2 income.
Amount :
- 125€ /week for students whose tax residence is in the PACA region(max.: 2,500 euros).
> Additional flat-rate assistance may be granted for each internship:
- 200 € for students who have had to pay visa fees, on presentation of proof of payment;
- 400 € for students with disabilities, on presentation of proof from the departmental disabled people's organization.
Application procedure: as soon as students know the actual dates of their work placement, they must create an account or log in to their existing account. They then submit their application on the dedicated portal, together with the supporting documents requested, using the connection code sent by their Mobility Manager on the Région Sud website.
The PRAME grant can only be awarded once a year, and cannot be combined with the PRAME internship grant.
Only stays outside the European Union are eligible, with the exception of France (Metropolitan and Overseas territories) and the principalities of Monaco and Andorra.
Duration of funded stay: 12 weeks minimum and 20 weeks maximum, ending no later than December 31 of year N+1.
The length of stay financed is modulated according to the family quotient (≤ €26,000) for year N-1 on N-2 income.
Amount :
- 125€ /week for students whose tax residence is in the PACA region(max.: 2,500 euros).
> Additional flat-rate assistance may be granted for each internship:
- 200 € for students who have had to pay visa fees, on presentation of proof of payment;
- 400 € for students with disabilities, on presentation of proof from the departmental disabled people's organization.
Application procedure: as soon as students know the actual dates of their work placement, they must create an account or log in to their existing account. They then submit their application on the dedicated portal, together with the supporting documents requested, using the connection code sent by their Mobility Manager on the Région Sud website.
Applications for financial assistance are always subject to prior validation and completion of your mobility file. Make sure you scrupulously respect the timetables and procedures you are given.
Please note that not all grants can be combined. Please refer to the table below for more information.
* These grants help finance your mobility, but are not intended to systematically cover all expenses related to your stay.
What steps to take after selection?
Prior to your departure, and throughout your study period, you will be asked to complete several follow-up forms on the same mobility portal you used to apply.
These forms will enable our administrative services to:
- collect the information and documents needed to compile your mobility file
- validate your mobility
- Examine your eligibility for a grant and pay the grant if you are eligible.
- Receive additional documents during your mobility and on your return.
Here are the main stages in monitoring your academic exchange:
-> Complete the post-nomination form (between mid-April and the end of May)
This form will enable you to :
- Confirm your planned dates of mobility
- Indicate any scholarships you may have received from a previous mobility program abroad
- Submit the initial documents required to apply for a grant(conditional or definitive Crous notification, Erasmus+ inclusion documents, etc.).
During the Scholarship Committee meeting, our departments will assess your eligibility for the various grants offered by Aix Marseille Université. Following the committee meeting, you will receive notification of your scholarship award or, if applicable, notification that your scholarship has not been awarded.
Please note that if your university exchange is part of the Erasmus+ program, you will have the opportunity to take a language test via the EU Academy platform. Whatever the result, this will not affect your financial aid, but will enable you to assess your level and access the Erasmus+ program's online courses to support you throughout your mobility.
-> Complete the mobility application form (from July-August)
This form will enable you to :
- Reconfirm your planned mobility dates, if any changes have been made to the information filled in at the previous stage.
- Submit the documents required to complete your mobility file (AMU school attendance certificate, copies of insurance certificates required for international mobility, copy of European Health Insurance Card if applicable).
- Submit your study contract signed by all parties (at least: you and your AMU academic advisor).
- Submit your RIB if you are eligible for a grant and your conditional or definitive Crous notification if you are concerned.
-> Complete the tracking form (on arrival at your destination)
This form will enable you to :
- Submit your arrival certificate signed by your host institution
- Submit your AMU registration certificate for the year of mobility and/or your final CROUS notification if you are concerned and were unable to submit them in the previous step.
This step is essential as it provides AMU with proof of your mobility and enables us to collect the final proof of payment of your scholarship if you are concerned.
-> Complete the follow-up form (during the exchange)
If any changes have been made to your study contract, you can use this form to submit them during the exchange.
-> Complete the follow-up form
This form will enable you to upload the documents required to finalize your mobility file, so you can :
- Submit the return portion of your attendance certificate signed by the host establishment
- Submit proof of eco-responsible transport for Erasmus+ mobility.
This stage is proof of your return to France, and will enable amU to arrange payment of the balance of your grant if you are concerned, and the payment of financial supplements linked to the use of environmentally-friendly transport.
What other general steps should you take?
Have you been selected for a mobility program abroad?
Before setting off on a mobility program outside France, it's important to prepare your stay and find out all you can about your destination.
For stays in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey and Switzerland: a valid identity card or passport is all you need.
For other destinations, a passport valid for 6 months after the end of your stay, and a student visa, are required. Contact the embassy and/or consulate of the foreign country in France to request one.
Other documents may also be required, so find out more beforehand!
In Quebec, for example, it's advisable to obtain a study permit, even if your mobility is for six months or less, and the Certificat d'Acceptation du Québec.
Except in cases where a specific exchange agreement guaranteeing accommodation has been signed between amU and the student's host university, it is the student' s responsibility to find local accommodation.
We strongly recommend that you take the necessary steps as early as possible in advance of your international mobility trip. Some destinations tend to become overcrowded very quickly, and booking accommodation at the last minute can entail considerable costs.
Before you leave, and for your own safety, we recommend that you register on the Ariane website , which enables you to register easily and free of charge with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. Once you've registered, you'll be able to
- Receive safety recommendations by e-mail or SMS if the situation in the country warrants it
- Be contacted in the event of a crisis in your destination country (your designated contact person can also be alerted if necessary).
For stays of more than 6 months, we advise you to register with the register of French nationals established outside France and apply for a consular card. This step is free, voluntary and not compulsory, and may prove useful (for example, to obtain a passport renewal, or in the event of the implementation of a security plan in the country).
Only by registering can the consular post be aware of your presence in the country. Don't forget to bring your identity card, proof of French nationality and a certificate of residence in the consular district with you when you register.
If you're going to Switzerland or any other member state of the European Economic Area (EEA), you'll need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC ) to cover the cost of medical treatment. You can request it online from theAméli website.
If you are leaving outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you must have valid medical insurance cover in the country where you will be staying. Some universities offer social security coverage on advantageous terms. You can also contact your student mutual insurance company to arrange suitable health cover.
If you need medical care during your stay, you'll have to pay for it locally. Remember to keep all invoices and proof of payment, and present them to your mutuelle étudiante when you return to France. They may be able to reimburse you according to the terms of your insurance contract.
Good to know: French nationals studying in Quebec are eligible for Quebec health and hospitalization insurance benefits, under the same conditions as Quebec students. Before leaving, students must request and have their university complete form SE 401-Q-106 for studies and form SE 401-Q-104 for unpaid internships. This will enable them to register with the Régie de l'assurance maladie in Quebec upon arrival.
Before you leave, we advise you to check the need for vaccinations and advice on the state of hygiene in your host country on the government website.
It's also a good time to check that your vaccination records are up to date.
Before you leave, check the validity of your civil liability insurance for the host country, and take out additional cover if necessary, particularly for medical repatriation. Don't forget that if you choose the HEYME mutual insurance plan, you can benefit from a 10% discount by entering the following partner code: 13AMU, thanks to our partnership with Aix Marseille University.
If you're traveling by car, remember to take out an insurance extension for transit countries and the host country, and make sure that your vehicle's equipment complies with current regulations (safety vest, warning triangle, fire extinguisher, breathalyser, etc.).