Nord University is dedicated to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers from us and around the world. Our research mobility programs offer exciting opportunities for scholars to engage in cross-institutional partnerships, access cutting-edge resources, and explore new academic horizons.
Mobility support by Erasmus+ is internal support at Nord University, and all other arrangements are exernal support.
Here you can find information about mobility opportunities
The Research Council (also the Research Council of Norway; Norwegian: Norges forskningsråd) is a Norwegian government agency that funds research and innovation projects. On behalf of the Government, the Research Council invests NOK 11,4 billion (2022) annually. The Research Council works to promote international research and innovation, cooperation, and has several schemes to mobilize Norwegian applicants for the EU Research and Innovation Program. The following calls of the Research Council are relevant for researcher mobility.
The purpose of research visits to Norway for visiting researchers is to facilitate more international collaboration with researchers and post-doctoral research fellows from research groups outside Norway, by providing support for them to carry out research stays in Norway. The funding is granted to an approved Norwegian research organisation hosting the researcher/postdoctoral fellow (visiting researcher). Funding is only provided for research visits lasting from 1 to 12 months.
Read more about research visits to Norway.Research stays abroad for doctoral and postdoctoral fellows
The program for research stays abroad is open to doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship recipients who are fully or partially funded by the Research Council and affiliated with an ongoing project lasting a minimum of 24 months. Please note that this program is not applicable to fellowship recipients under the schemes for Centres of Excellence (SFF), Centres for Research-based Innovation (SFI), Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME), and Centres for Clinical Treatment Research (FKB). The research stay abroad should last between 3 and 12 months. Furthermore, project managers overseeing young talent projects funded by FRIPRO are eligible to apply for research stays abroad through this opportunity. All the requirements and limitations outlined in this call for doctoral and postdoctoral fellows also apply to young talent project managers.
Read more about research stays abroad for doctoral and postdoctoral fellows.Under Horizon Europe, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programs are founded on the principle of physical mobility, where researchers are required to relocate from one country to another in order to acquire fresh knowledge, skills, and competences, thus advancing their research careers. Researchers are also strongly encouraged to transition between sectors and disciplines. The following MSCA programmes are relevant for individual researcher mobility:
The objective of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) is to amplify the imaginative and inventive capacity of doctoral degree holders who aspire to broaden their skill set through advanced education, international and interdisciplinary mobility, as well as collaboration across different sectors. MSCA PF welcome exceptional researchers from all nationalities, including those seeking reintegration in Europe, individuals displaced by conflict, and those with great potential seeking to relaunch their research careers. The program also promotes engagement in research and innovation endeavours within non-academic fields. MSCA PF supports research stays of up to two years at the host institution abroad. Norwegian researchers can utilize the MSCA PF program either to invite skilled and promising foreign researchers to their research group or for their own research stay outside Norway. PF either can take place in Europe (i.e. in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country) or in a Third Country not associated to Horizon Europe through the following ways:
- European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe. The standard duration of these fellowships must be between 12 and 24 months.
- Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organisations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. These fellowships require an outgoing phase of minimum 12 and maximum 24 months in a non-associated Third Country, and a mandatory 12-month return phase to a host organisation based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country.
The researcher applying for MSCA PF must hold a doctoral degree and maximum eight year of full time research experience after their doctorate studies. The fellowship primarily covers salary, operational costs, and some overhead expenses. The call for applications is announced once a year.
Read more about MSCA PF programme.Follow this link to find Nord University's Expression of Interest to host PF for the MSCA-PF 2023.
The MSCA Staff Exchanges (MSCA SE) program aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between academic and non-academic sectors by funding short-term international and inter-sectoral staff exchanges. It supports the development of sustainable collaborative projects among organizations in Europe and beyond. Participating staff members benefit from new knowledge and skills, while organizations enhance their research and innovation capacities. The program is open to international consortia comprising universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs, and other non-academic organizations. The consortia must involve a minimum of three organizations from three different countries, with at least two from EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Individual staff members are selected by their sending organizations for participation.
MSCA SE projects can last up to four years, and the grant covers the mobility costs of seconded staff members for durations ranging from one month to one year. The funded staff members can be researchers at any career stage, as well as administrative, technical, or managerial staff engaged in research and innovation activities. They can be of any nationality and must return to their sending organizations after the secondment to share knowledge and promote collaboration. Funding includes allowances for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs, and special needs, if applicable. It also covers research, training, networking activities, as well as management and indirect costs.
Read more about MSCA SE programme.ERASMUS+ Staff Grant
Both researchers/teachers and technical-administrative staff can apply for grants for short training stays at universities, companies, and organizations in the EU/EEA. There are two categories of staff grants:
Staff Training Assignment (STT):
The purpose of the exchange is to build competence, maintain foreign language skills, gain insight into the routines of other universities in the same job area, and strengthen relationships with partner institutions in the EU/EEA. This support scheme contributes to a clear increase in competence within the staff member's area of responsibility at Nord University. The staff travel contributes to an increase in intercultural competence and improved language skills at the individual level. The staff travel contributes to an increase in grant writing skills in connection with EU-funded research and education programs. The staff travel contributes to an increase in outbound student mobility within established cooperation agreements (BA/MA/PhD). Examples of stays that one can receive support are
- Participation in "staff training week," "international week," "partner days," and similar events
- Job shadowing such as administrative staff travels to a university to learn from colleagues' experiences and best practices
- Seminars and workshops at educational institutions or other relevant organizations
- Training in laboratories (for scientific staff and doctoral candidates). Method courses and summer courses (for scientific staff and doctoral candidates).
- Stays in a company for training or observation.
- Language courses.
Duration is from 2 working days to 6 weeks (usually five working days, including two travel days). No funding is provided for trips lasting longer than two weeks. There is no requirement for a formal agreement between Nord University and the host institution. The stay can be at an educational institution, a company, or another type of organization. Both the host and the staff member traveling must fill out a work plan. The grant amount is between 87 and 112 euros per day, depending on the host country. In addition, travel support between 180 and 1500 euros is provided. Any additional costs beyond the grant must be covered by the respective unit. The grant is paid via a travel expense claim.
Staff Teaching Assignment (STA):
The purpose of staff teaching assignment is to build comparative competence, teach in an international academic environment, contribute to the "internationalization at home" of the partner institution by exposing students to a comparative Norwegian perspective, follow up on project work, develop common curricula, and recruit students and staff to Nord University, among other things. Academic staff and researchers from Nord University can travel on shorter teaching stays to contract universities in Europe with support from Erasmus+ for collaborating with colleagues, guest lecturing, holding courses and supervising PhD candidates. Faculties may also invite a guest lecturer from a partner university or employees from a company to teach at the unit.
The duraction of the stay can range from one day to 6 weeks. A minimum of 8 teaching hours is required. There must be a formal Erasmus agreement between Nord University and the host institution. An overview of current agreements can be obtained from the faculty's international coordinator or by contacting the International Office. GThe grant amount is between 87 and 112 euros per day, depending on the host country. In addition, travel support between 180 and 1500 euros is provided. Any additional costs beyond the grant must be covered by the respective unit. The grant is paid via a travel expense claim.
Not supported assignments:
- Conference visits or participation in conferences
- Research collaboration
- Establishment of agreements
Process to apply these grants:
The faculty/unit is allocated a specific number of grants after the allocation process. The local unit independently assesses the allocation internally based on need and has the opportunity for internal redistribution if spots are not utilized. Applicants should expect a processing time of one month at the Internationalization Unit. It is assumed that one (1) grant covers five days. This includes working days and travel days. Your department/unit can organize this itself and then send applications to elena.popova@nord.no at the Internationalization Unit, who will forward the applications to the faculty/unit after a technical check of the documentation. The application is submitted in the form of a Mobility Agreement - a separate form to be filled out by applicants. After filling the form, send to Elena Popova, elena.popova@nord.no.
Green travel
The Erasmus Programme has an ambition and wants to make erasmus mobility as climate neutral as possible. Therefor there are different travel rates for those who want to travel more climate friendly (train, bus or car).
Travel distance between 100 and 499 km: 210 € per participant
Travel distance between 500 and 1999 km: 320 € per participant
Travel distance between 2000 og 2999 km: 410 € per participant
Travel distance between 3000 og 3999 km: 610 € per participant
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. It is available for both Norwegian and US Citizens.
Fulbright Scholarship for Norwegian Citizens
Norwegian Nationals can receive grants to study, teach, or conduct research in the US. Grants are awarded in science and technology, the arts and humanities, education, journalism, media, government, law, and virtually every academic discipline. Students at the Masters and PhD level and scholars (post-PhD or equivalent) are eligible to apply. Grants currently range in size from NOK 100,000 to 200,000. The minimum duration of stay in the USA must be an academic year. Exceptions can be made for students in the final stages of their Ph.D. degree (a minimum 6-month stay is permitted).
Read more about Fullbright scholarships for Norwegian citizens.Fulbright Scholarship for US Citizens
The US Fulbright program offers a variety of long- and short-term opportunities for US citizens to study, conduct research and teach in Norway. The scholar topics for research shall be relevant with Arctic Sciences.
Read more about Fullbright scholarships for US citizens.Arctic Scholarship for Norwegian Citizens
Fulbright offers a Distinguished Arctic Scholar (formerly "Arctic Chair") grant for research on Arctic or Arctic/polar related issues. The scholarship was originally reserved for the natural sciences, but has from 2016 been expanded to include all disciplines that may be relevant to knowledge about the High North (also humanities and social sciences). Duration of stay in US shall be between 3 and 12 months. The amount of the scholarship is nominal NOK 200,000,- In addition, there is a travel grant of NOK 25,000,-. The researcher must have a PhD and Norwegian Citizenship.
Read more about Arctic Scholarship for Norwegian citizens.Arctic Scholarship for US Citizens
U.S. citizens who have a scholarly focus on polar and High North issues, a Ph.D. or equivalent professional/terminal degree (including a master’s degree, depending on the field) as appropriate, and a significant publication and teaching record are eligible to apply for an Arctic Scholar award. The Arctic award for U.S. scholars is a three month grant to do research and lecture any institution of higher education or research in Norway. One award is given to a U.S. scholar each year. The grant will provide support of NOK 200.000 for 3 months. In addition to this an allowance of NOK 25.000,- for round-trip international travel, including excess baggage allowance, shipping costs, etc. for grantee only.
Read more about Arctic Scholarships for US citizens.The Norwegian University Centre in Paris (hosted by the University of Oslo) offers stipends to researchers in political science and the humanities.
The Norwegian Institute in Rome (hosted by the University of Oslo) offers stipends for young research in the Humanities and Arts.
