Study mobility means spending part of your degree course at a foreign university that is a partner of the USMB. But when and how should you prepare? What are the key stages not to be missed? Are there scholarships available to finance your project? We explain everything.
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Study mobility: definition
To give your studies an international flavour, you can spend a week, a semester or a year at one of USMB's partner universities.
In a study mobility program, you are enrolled at the USMB and attend classes and take exams at the university where you are studying.
When you return to France, the USMB validates the grades and exams you took abroad, which will count towards your final degree.
Please note: to benefit from international mobility, you must be enrolled at USMB and have completed at least 1 year of higher education.
Preparing for international mobility
You can't prepare for mobility at the last minute! To ensure that your stay abroad goes smoothly and that you get the most out of your experience, you need to prepare your study mobility in the right conditions... and in good time!
It is advisable to prepare about 1 year before the start of the desired mobility.
To help you, here is a list of the main steps to take:
- Contact the head of your department to find out what agreements exist for the degree you are preparing at USMB.
- Contact the international relations office at your university before applying for an exchange.
- Apply for a mobility grant to finance your project
- Finalize your application by sending all the necessary documents
We also advise you to take part in the International Week organized on your campuses in the autumn. It's a great opportunity to find out all you need to know about mobility and to meet the international partners with whom you may be studying.
Programs in and outside Europe
Thanks to its many international partnerships and agreements, the USMB is present on all 5 continents.
Depending on your destination, you may need to take different steps to apply.
Studying in Europe
Is the destination you've been looking for on the Old Continent? There are two ways to enjoy an unforgettable international experience: take part in the Erasmus+ program or take advantage of the many opportunities offered by UNITA.
Created in 1987 and financed by the European Union, the Erasmus program (EuRopean Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) is the first European university mobility program.
With Erasmus +, you can take part in mobility programs in the 27 countries of the European Union, the countries of the European Free Trade Association and the candidate countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Northern Macedonia, the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Serbia).
As you now know, the USMB is part of a European alliance with 11 other universities. There are many opportunities for mobility within UNITA member universities, and being part of the alliance makes it even easier to prepare your mobility!
Mobility opportunities
- Politécnico da Guarda (Portugal)
- Universidade da Beira Interior (Portugal),
- Universidad Publica de Navarra (Spain)
- Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain)
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (France)
- Università degli Studi di Torino (Italy)
- Università degli Studi di Brescia (Italy)
- Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara (Romania)
- Universitatea Transilvania din Brașov (Romania)
- Hes-So - University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (Switzerland)
- Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (Ukraine)
Discover all the opportunities on Opport'UNITA.
If you have any questions about the UNITA alliance and its opportunities, please contact the UNITA office at USMB.
Study outside Europe (Canada, USA, UK, Australia, etc.)
Thanks to exchange programs and bilateral agreements signed between the USMB and universities abroad, you can study in countries all over the world, not just in Europe!
To find out more about the destinations available for your academics, don't forget to contact your academics IR advisor.
Two programs are available to help you explore the land of the maple leaf: ORA and BCI.
The Ontario Rhône-Alpes program (ORA)
This program enables you to study at 14 universities in Ontario. A good level of English attested by the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) is required. You will need to make 3 choices, in consultation with your academics supervisor. To find out more, visit the ORA website. Program not available for academic year 2025/26
The Franco-Quebec BCI program (Bureau de Coopération Interuniversitaire)
This program enables you to spend an academic year (8 months) studying in one of the 7 Quebec universities participating in the BCI program. You'll need to make 3 choices, in consultation with your academics coordinator. Visit the BCI website.
The International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) lets you study almost anywhere in the world, from Argentina to the United States, via the UK, Japan, Australia and the Fiji Islands. This program requires a financial contribution from the student.
In consultation with your academics manager, you can choose from 3 destinations to apply for international mobility outside Europe with the ISEP program.
Please note: a good level of English attested by the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) is required. Some universities may require other language tests.
The Erasmus+ program isn't just for mobility within Europe! International Credit Mobility (ICM) allows you to set up a mobility project with institutions in countries that are not members of the Erasmus+ program.
Who can apply? Students who have completed at least 2 years of higher education and wish to go on a mobility program outside Erasmus+ partner countries for periods of 3 to 12 months.
Financing your study mobility
Now that you've chosen your destination, you need to think about logistics and budget! Studying abroad has its costs, which can vary from country to country. (transport, accommodation, etc.).
Even if they are not intended to finance your entire stay, mobility grants can contribute to the cost of your stay abroad.
To apply for these grants, contact the international relations office of your component. Several types of financial aid can be combined, and are distributed by different structures with specific terms and conditions. You'll find them all in this practical guide concocted by the International Relations Department.
You'll be eligible if you take part in an Erasmus+ academics program. The amount of the Erasmus+ grant depends on the country you are going to and the level of your social criteria grant, if you have one.
Bonuses can be added to your scholarships if :
- you have a very low income, or if you live in a rural revitalization zone or a priority district
- if you have a disability or long-term condition
- if you travel to your place of mobility using more environmentally-friendly modes of transport (train, coach, carpooling)
You are eligible for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional grant for international student mobility if your study stay exceeds 4 weeks.
This grant is made up of a fixed weekly rate, as well as a flat-rate grant for students with social grants, depending on the level of their CROUS grant. A lump-sum grant is also available for students with disabilities.
These grants are managed via the region's aid portal, on which students must create an account.
If you need help creating or modifying your account :
- you can consult this leaflet;
- and watch the video tutorial.
The AMI is a special grant for students from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. You are eligible if you have a social criteria grant in the year of study mobility.
Student status
You can obtain additional funding of €250 per month on top of your Erasmus+ grant if you are in one of the following situations:
- CROUS scholarship holder - grades 6 and 7
- Resident of a ZRR(Rural Revitalization Zone)
- Resident of a priority urban district
Disability
If you are disabled or suffering from a long-term illness, we can also cover the actual cost of mobility-related expenses.
Short-term mobility
As part of an intensive hybrid program (BIP Erasmus+), you can obtain additional flat-rate funding of €100 per stay, according to the situations detailed in "Student status".
Green mobility
You are eligible for additional Erasmus+ funding when you use an "environmentally-friendly" mode of transport such as train or coach to get to your place of mobility (international transport from your home in France to your future place of study or internship abroad).
Apply for study mobility
Allocation and payment of grants
Mobility grants are a contribution to the cost of your stay abroad; they are not intended to finance the entire stay. The number of monthly payments awarded will not necessarily correspond to the total duration of the mobility program.
To receive these grants, you must submit an application to your component.
Grants may be adjusted downwards depending on the actual duration of the stay. If the stay is extended, no additional grant will be awarded.
N.B.: Only the period spent abroad will be eligible for the scholarship (regardless of whether the courses at the host institution are taken remotely from the host country or face-to-face at the host university). In the case of distance learning courses started in France and continued abroad, the scholarship will only cover the period spent abroad.
- 75% at the start of the mobility period on presentation of proof of the start of the stay
- 25% at the end of the stay upon presentation of proof of completion of stay
N.B.: The 75% deposit is calculated on the basis of the actual justified duration indicated on the certificate of commencement of stay.
The lump-sum regional grant for students with scholarships or disabilities is paid at the beginning of the stay, on presentation of proof of the start of the stay.
Regional grants are managed via the regional aid portal. Students must create their account and manage payment requests (deposit and balance).