Norsk versjon - Korona - Utveksling

Last updated: 03.12.2021

Student exchange and Covid

• Until the opposite is evident, the Office of International Relations processes applications for exchange on the assumption that exchange to the country in question will be possible. Any known cancellations will be announced here.
  
• Note that some institutions abroad require that exchange students are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (two doses + at least one booster dose). It is your own responsibility to check the requirements of the institution you wish to exchange to.

• Students must closely follow the situation in the country they intend to go on exchange to. Changes in travel restrictions may impede plans for exchange. Stay updated at the Innsida channel for exchange and this page (above) for information about cancellations. Note that the Office of International Relations cannot guarantee up-to-date information from all partner universities at all times. You should therefore also keep an eye on the website for the university you are planning to travel to.

• NTNU requires students going on exchange to have valid travel insurance that covers costs related to Covid-19. See below for more information.
  
• Students are recommended to postpone all expenses related to planned exchange for as long as possible.
• Due to a risk of cancellations, all students applying for exchange must have a Plan B for studies at NTNU. That is, a plan for which courses you will take in the event that exchange becomes impossible on short notice and you must remain at NTNU. This can in most cases be the subjects that are already in your study plan at NTNU for the semester you plan on going on exchange.

• Travel to go on exchange is considered necessary travel by the Norwegian state, and will thus not consitute a breach of authorities' travel advice, wherever this advices against unneccessary travel. The Norwegian government's global travel advice which avised against unneccessary travel was lifted on October 1 2021. However, local travel advice for your intended destination may be in place due to the Covid-19 situtation in specific countries, so you still need to stay updated on the authorities' travel advice for the country you're traveling to.

Insurance and expenses

Students must be aware of the responsibilities and risks an exchange stay entails - this includes unforeseen costs.

Note that NTNU cannot refund costs related to Covid-19 (illness, cancelled stay/travel home, rent etc.) related to exchange. Students are recommended to postpone all expenses related to exchange for as long as possible.

Outbound exchange students:

• Must have travel insurance valid for the entire stay, which covers costs related to illness, including Covid-19.
• Are responsible for familiarizing themselves with what their insurance covers, and how this is affected by infection control measures in the country they intend to travel to. Health expenses will usually be covered. Students should check if medical evacuation is covered, and in what situations. In the EU/EEA, the European Health Insurance scheme applies.
• Must try to secure themselves by buying flexible tickets, cancellation insurance etc. and check what their insurance provider will cover, as well as possibilities to get any expenses refunded.
• Should check what alternative insurance schemes cover - what is covered in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic may vary.

Change in infection situation

It is important to be prepared for possible changes in the infection situation of the individual country that may have consequences for your exchange:

• In the worst case, universities may cancel exchange.
• There may be a combination of physical and online education in your subjects.
• Measures to reduce infectionmay affect the possibilities for outward or inward travel and exchange visits.

Remember that you will have to abide by the host country's infection control measures.

Incoming exchange

Incoming student exchange

Incoming student exchange to NTNU is now unaffected by the pandemic, except in cases where the student is unable to go on exchange due to circumstances in their home country. Quarantine, registration and other Covid-related duties for inbound travelers are no longer in effect in Norway.