FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

General information about the project

What is the Erasmus + programme?

Erasmus + supports transnational partnerships among Education, Training, and Youth
institutions and organisations to foster cooperation and bridge the worlds of Education and
work in order to tackle the skills gaps we are facing in Europe.
It also supports national efforts to modernise Education, Training, and Youth systems. In the
field of Sport, it supports for grassroots projects and cross-border challenges such as combating
match-fixing, doping, violence and racism.
Erasmus+ brings together seven existing EU programmes in the fields of Education, Training, and
Youth; and for the first time, provides support for Sport. As an integrated programme, Erasmus+
offers more opportunities for cooperation across the Education, Training, Youth, and Sport
sectors and is easier to access than its predecessors, with simplified funding rules.

Which is my home institution?

If you are a student, your home institution is the institution where you are currently enrolled at.
If you are a researcher, a teacher or a technical staff member, your home institution is the
institution where you work.

Which is my host institution?

The host institution is the institution where you will develop your study/work programme within
the framework of the MOBILE22 project.

Eligibility

Can the Erasmus + grant holders receive additional grants from other European funded
programmes?
No, the Erasmus+ grant holders cannot receive more than one European grant at a time. In other
words, the Erasmus + grant holders who are already receiving a European grant cannot receive
another kind of European financing. However, if the grant holder benefits from an additional
support granted by a different entity programme or agency (for example: a grant from a national
entity of the grant holder’s home country and not Europe), he/she can benefit from both grants.

Can I be a MOBILE22 grant holder more than once?

Yes, as long as the maximum duration of the mobility, as foreseen in the Erasmus+ Guide, is
respected:

• Students can go on mobility for a maximum of 12 months per study cycle

• Staff members (teachers, researchers and administrative staff) can go on mobility
for a maximum of 2 months.

However, please note:

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applications from candidates who have a pending scholarship within Mobile22, by the time
of the selection committee meeting of this call, will be rejected;

candidates with previous ICM scholarships awarded, which were already implemented/used,
will lose priority to candidates who never benefited from a scholarship within Mobile22 or
other ICM projects, thus being placed in the reserve list.

I am a student/staff from an eligible country but I do not belong to any institution of the
MOBILE22 Project. Can I still apply?
No, only the students/staff from the institutions which are a part of one of the project’s higher
education institutions are eligible to apply to a MOBILE22 grant.

I am a researcher working in one of the partner institutions. Can I apply?

Yes, researchers can apply as administrative or teaching staff (if the contract foresees also a
teaching percentage). If they apply as teaching staff in case of selection they should guarantee
a minimum of 8 teaching hours (for 5 days).

Do I need to speak the teaching language of the host institution?

The U.Porto and also its partner institutions offer Programme/activities taught in English.
However, it is advisable that the applicant attentively checks all the available information about
the Faculty/Department to which he/she intends to apply to, especially regarding the specific
linguistic requirements for each Programme. The applicant shall submit a proof of language
proficiency if such document is required by the Faculty/Department/Programme. Failing to do
so may result on the rejection of the application.

Which are the minimum eligibility criteria?

The MOBILE22 project offers grants only for exchange mobility. Full degree/degree-seeking
mobility is not allowed under Erasmus +. As so, all the students must be registered in a HEI and
enrolled in a study programme leading to a recognized degree or another recognized tertiary
level qualification.
For Undergraduate studies, the student must have concluded at least the first year and be
enrolled in the second year of higher education studies in order to be eligible to undertake an
exchange period abroad.
For Master studies, the student must be enrolled in a master program (at the time of application
and during the whole period of studies as an Erasmus + grant holder).
For Doctorate studies, the student must be enrolled in a PhD program (at the time of application
and during the whole period of studies as an Erasmus + grant holder) and have a research plan.
For researchers, academic and administrative staff, the applicant must work at a partner
institution of the project in order to be eligible to apply for a grant.
All applicants need to present a letter of support that proves their enrolment or contract with
one of the partner institutions of the MOBILE22 project in order to be considered eligible.

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Application

Is there a minimum or maximum age in order to apply to the MOBILE22 project?

Any person, regardless his/her age, can apply.

Which application form shall I fill in?

You must fill in the online application form. Only the application forms duly submitted online
within the established deadline, through the project’s official webpage will be accepted by the
U.Porto.
The U.Porto will not accept applications in paper format (originals sent by post) nor applications
sent by email.
All applicants must create a username and a password through the project’s page in order to
access the online application form.
All mandatory documents for the application must also be uploaded online through the
application form.
For security reasons, the applicant’s session is active for a limited amount of time and it expires
if you spend some time without making any kind of action. Therefore, we advise you to
frequently save the application form you are filling in by clicking the “Save” button at the end of
each section.
Any mistake during this procedure is of the applicant’s entire responsibility and may result in
his/her immediate exclusion of the application process.

If my home institution does not issue official documents in English, can I attach them in
another language?
All documents must be submitted in English. Exceptionally, the Coordinating Institution can
consider supporting documents in Portuguese, French and Spanish (only for incoming
candidates). If the home institution does not issue official documents in English (or any of the
other languages), the documents in the given language must be submitted accompanied by a
certified translation into English by the contact person of the home institution or by another
authorized entity/person.

When filling in the application form, shall I define straight away the study/work/research
programme which I intend to develop?
In case of 1st or 2nd and 3rd cycle (undergraduate, master and PhD) exchanges, applicants must
define when applying which programme they intend to undertake. It is important to take into
consideration the demanded requirements by the host Faculty/Department/Programme
namely academic records, prior instruction, course objectives, teaching language and all criteria
that can determine the success of the application.
Applicants must ensure that their home institution will grant full academic recognition of the
studies undertaken abroad.

In case of researchers, academic/administrative staff exchange, applicants must define straight

away their main goals and objectives, mentioning the kind of work they want to develop
considering the Project’s main goals:

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 • Active participation in teaching/daily life office activities;
• Research activities that may involve joint research projects;
• Implementation of new cooperation activities such as bilateral agreements for mobility
implementation, joint co-supervision agreements, joint supervision of master/PhD
thesis (…);
• Participation in seminars, workshops on relevant topics for the cooperation of both
universities;
• Development of joint curricula (eg. creation of double or joint degrees);
• Expansion/creation of local and regional management and organizational structures,
namely IOs, research groups, etc.;
• Implementation of tools to allow a more dynamic academic structure of HEIs benefiting
from the Bologna Process and the wide EU experience;
• Create synergies with the EU higher education system through the use of ECTS, Diploma
Supplement, among others.

Do I need a support letter from my home/host institution in order to submit my application?

The submission of a support letter from the home institution is mandatory to all applicants so
that the application is considered eligible. Not to submit a letter of support of the home
institution together with the application may determine failure to comply with the formal
requirements of the application and will result in its immediate exclusion.

I am not presently enrolled in any Programme at my home institution. Can I still apply?
No. 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle applicants must be mandatorily enrolled in a Bachelor/Master/Doctoral
programme at their home institution in the moment of application. This enrolment must be
confirmed by submitting (upload) an official document issued by the applicant’s home
institution. The non-submission of this document implies the immediate exclusion of the
application.

Researchers, academic and administrative staff must work in one of the partner institutions at
the moment of application and throughout the mobility period, in case of selection). This link
must be confirmed through the submission (upload) of an official document issued by the
applicant’s home institution. The non-submission of this document implies the immediate
exclusion of the application.

Which are the evaluation criteria?

The evaluation of the application in qualitative terms is based in very specific criteria, such as:
• Very good/excellent academic results in the field of study/research;
• Applicant’s academic potential;
• Exchange proposal impact at individual, institutional and regional levels;
• Level of language proficiency in order to successfully complete the proposed exchange;
• Motivation;
• Recommendations;
• Work/research experience and professional qualification;

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 • Cross-cutting related issues (gender balance, equal opportunities, being part of a
vulnerable group).
These criteria ensure the transparency of the selection process and equal treatment for all.

Who will validate my application?

Your application will be validated by your home institution. The home institution will analyse
the eligibility of the application considering the criteria defined by the Erasmus + Programme
and its internal regulation and will verify if all the mandatory documents were duly uploaded.

Who will evaluate my application?

Your application will be evaluated by the host Faculty/Department/Programme you choose in
your application form. Your application will be evaluated by a group of experts and the selection
will be made taking into account the final evaluation awarded by them. The entire evaluation
process is done online through a system developed by the U.Porto.

How will the applicants be selected?

The selection process is constituted by the following stages:

1. Validation of applications by the applicants’ home institution. This validation implies:
• Careful analysis of all the information given by the applicant in the application form;
• Check that the applicant fulfils the general eligibility requirements defined by the Erasmus +
Programme;
• Verification that the applicant fulfils the internally established requirements by the home
institution for the exchange;
• Verification of the host institution required documents and their veracity and accuracy;
• Verification that the applicant has not submitted several applications (in this case only the last
one will be considered);
• Support of the home institution regarding the exchange proposal;
In this validation process, if the application does not fulfil any of the general or specific
home/host institution requirements, it will immediately be invalidated by the home institution
and will not proceed to the evaluation stage conducted/performed by the host institution.
If the information provided, documents uploaded are true and all the requirements are fulfilled,
the home institution will validate the application.

2. Evaluation, analysis and acceptance, by the host Faculty/Department/Programme, of the

validated applications. This process implies:
• Careful analysis of all the information given by the applicant in the application form;
• Confirmation that the applicant fulfils the general eligibility requirements defined by the
Erasmus + Programme;
• Verification that the applicant fulfils the internally established requirements by the home
institution for the exchange;
• Verification of the host institution required documents;

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• Verification that the applicant has not submitted several applications;
• Support of the host institution regarding the exchange proposal.

Can I send my application by mail, fax or e-mail?

No. All applications must be submitted online through the project’s website. Under no
circumstance any other kind of application (post, fax, letter or in person) will be accepted.

I do not have all the documents required by the application. Can I finish my application?
No. The application form can only be duly submitted after all the required information is duly
filled in and all the required documents are duly uploaded. Any mistake made by the applicant
when filling in the application form or the lack of any mandatory document will result in the
immediate exclusion of the application.
If the applicant scans a wrong or blank document in a way that the system allows the submission
of the application form, the partnership will immediately invalidate the submitted application
and it will immediately be excluded of the application process.

I forgot my password. How do I recover it?

If you have forgotten your password, you must access to the project’s webpage and click the
“Forgot your password?” link in that section. A new password will be sent to you automatically.
Please make sure you have provided the correct e-mail address in the application form, given
that the new password can only be provided through e-mail.

What does the support by the home institution mean?

The support from the home institution can be translated into the issuing of a support letter by
a professor from the institution with which the applicant has a formal link. In the students’ case
(1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle – Undergraduate, Master, PhD), it is highly advisable that this letter is issued
by the responsible person for granting the academic recognition at the home institution.

For staff this document should guarantee the department has no objection with the application
presented.

Academic issues

Am I going to receive a diploma from U.Porto at the end of my exchange period?

No. All students (1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle – Undergraduate, Master, PhD grant holders) will have the
exchange period recognized by their home institution. The home institution will be the one
issuing the diploma, since the studies will be concluded when back at the home institution.
The U.Porto has determined that a Declaration of Participation will be issued at the end of the
exchange and such document will be sent to all grant holders.

Which Programme and/or activities can I choose to enroll at a host institution?

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The academic offer is available at the project’s website. It is highly advisable that applicants
consult the academic offer of the U.Porto and contact the Faculty/Department/Programme they
want to apply to before filling in/submitting the application form.

I am a researcher or teaching staff. If I undertake an exchange period of one week + 2 days,

which is the minimum number of teaching hours I must provide?
In case the exchange lasts more than one week, the teaching hours must be proportional to the
duration of that week. As an example, if you stay at U.Porto for one week + 2 days, you must
teach for 8 hours + approximately 3 hours, which totalizes 11 hours. However, the scholarship
will not be increased as the maximum amount awarded is 5 working days.

Which are the consequences if I do not fulfill the exchange programme goals (ex. fail or non-
execution of the programmed activities)?
At the end of the exchange period, all grant holders will receive a Transcript of Records detailing
the achieved results. All students must obtain a positive mark in all the subjects/activities
contemplated in their study programme. In case this criterion is not fulfilled, the U.Porto will
consult the European Commission and the Legal Department in order to identify the procedures
to be followed that may result in the return of the scholarship.
The researchers, academic and administrative staff must comply with the programme. Failing to
do so may result in the return of the scholarship.

Financial support

What kind of financial support will I receive if I am selected?

The MOBILE22 projects provides the following financial support to the grant holders:

- Monthly allowance (the amount per month will depend on the mobility’s direction);
- Round trip plane ticket between the grant holder’s home city and the host country;
- Health, accident and travel insurance valid during the entire mobility period.

Which is my scholarship amount? Can I receive more money according to the home country?
The European Commission has defined the following amounts:

Students mobility (Studies SMS) – Duration: 4 months

Origin Monthly allowance

U.Porto’s grantees 700 EUR/month
Partner Institutions’ grantees 850 EUR/month

Staff mobility (Researchers, Academic and Administrative Staff) – Exchange periods with the
duration of 7 days (5 working days + 2 travel days)

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 Amount per diem
- From the U.Porto’s to the partner institutions: 180 EUR
- From the partner institutions to the U.Porto: 160 EUR

Will I need to pay tuition fees?

Since you are undertaking an exchange mobility period, no tuition fees will be applied to your
period of studies. You will be required to pay your regular tuition fees (if applicable) at your
home institution.

What does “travel distance” stand for and how is it calculated?

The "travel distance" represents the linear distance between the city where the university of
origin and the city where the host university are located. This is calculated automatically by a
website indicated by the European Commission and cannot be subject to any change. The
financial support allocated to the "travel distance" is the maximum allowed by the Erasmus+
Programme and is intended to contribute to the round trip back between the home and host
institutions. In the event that the assigned value is insufficient to pay for the desired trip, the
grantee must find other sources of funding.

The travel budget within the framework of the MOBILE22 project will be distributed as follows:

Travel distance Amount

Between 100 and 499 km 180 EUR per participant
Between 500 and 1999 km 275 EUR per participant
Between 2000 and 2999 km 360 EUR per participant
Between 3000 and 3999 km 530 EUR per participant
Between 4000 and 7999 km 820 EUR per participant
8000 km or more 1500 EUR per participan

Participants will be responsible to buy their own flight tickets. The University of Porto will
transfer the amount corresponding to the travel distance (see table above) to the grantee’s bank
account after the signature of the request for travel reimbursement and the scholarship contract
on arrival.
When purchasing the tickets the dates of mobility established with U.Porto must be respected.
The arrival must be at least one day before the start of the mobility period and the return to
the country of origin, one day after the last day of the mobility period.
The flights are between the same city as the home institution (or the nearest airport) and Porto
both for inbound and outbound flights and tickets should be sent in advance to the MOBILE22
Management Team.

Am I going to benefit from medical assistance during my exchange period (health insurance)?
Every selected applicant will receive a health, accident and travel insurance valid during the
entire mobility period provided by the University of Porto.

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Mobility flows: preparation and implementation

How and when shall I require for the issuing of my visa?

The selected applicants must require for a visa at the Embassy/Consulate that exist in their home
country or in the closest country where there is a diplomatic representation of the country
where they will undertake the exchange period. It is mandatory that grant holders contact the
Embassy/Consulate of the host country immediately after receiving the project’s notification
confirming the effective selection for a MOBILE22 grant, given that the visa can take up to 3
months to be issued.
Grant holders must have all the mandatory documents for the visa application as soon as
possible, by contacting all the entities responsible for the issuing of those documents. Any
obstacle found in the gathering of those documents must be immediately reported to the
coordination, which will support the applicant in all the necessary procedures.

Which services and support will I have at my host institution?

One of the partner institutions’ main responsibilities is to provide grant holder with all the
necessary support in all the stages of the exchange period, namely:

- Documents for visa issuing;

- Support in the search of accommodation;
- Support in the opening of a bank account (when applicable);
- Integration activities;
- Language courses;
- Monitoring actions and mobility quality assessment;
- Provide adequate work/study/research conditions;
- Inform about the host country’s cost of life and culture.

Naturally, the support given by each partner institution regarding the above-mentioned aspects
may differ from institution to institution. As so, it is advisable that applicants consult the
academic offers and webpages of each one of the institutions they wish to apply to beforehand.
If there is any doubt regarding the information provided, applicants must directly contact the
institution which they are interested to go to.

When do I have to undertake my exchange period?

Preferably all students must start their exchange period in the academic year following their
selection. However in duly justified cases the date can be postponed for the following semester.

The academic and administrative staff exchanges (including researchers) can start at any
moment upon the selection of applicants is published and whenever all the mandatory
documents (work programme, visa if applicable, travel, and insurance) are duly taken care of.
All exchanges must end at least one week before the project’s ending date (31/07/2025)

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Which is the procedure and what warranties can I have regarding accommodation in the host
city?
There are no guarantees regarding accommodation. All grant holders must find a suitable
accommodation upon the arrival to his/her host institution. All partner institution will provide
the necessary support to grant holders regarding the process of finding an accommodation. We
remind all grant holders that the specific support given by partner institutions may differ from
institution to institution and from country to country.

Can I start and/or finish my mobility flow on a different date from the initially agreed date?

No. The change of starting and/or finishing dates of the exchange implies a substantial change
in all the documents agreed upon and signed at the beginning of the exchange period.
Additionally, the Scholarship Contract includes very clear information on the consequences of a
reduction (for example: due to the anticipated conclusion of the exchange period). There severe
consequences may result in the partial/full return, depending on the motives which lead to the
change of the exchange dates.

In case I have to return any amount overpaid to me, when must I return the money to the
U.Porto?

Every grantee is responsible for any refund due to the University of Porto. As soon as the U.Porto
informs the grantee about this need, he/she must follow the procedures indicated by the
MOBILE22 Management Team at the U.Porto and respect the deadlines established to proceed
with the payment of the amount due.

Legal action will be taken in case the grantees do not follow procedures and guidelines set by
the U.Porto on this matter.

What does “force majeure” stand for?

Force majeure, according to the EACEA definition, is an unpredicted or exceptional event or
situation, beyond one’s control, that prevents from accomplishing the demands within the
MOBILE22 project, despite all the diligences. Malfunctioning of materials or equipment, delays,
labour disagreements, strikes or financial difficulties cannot be considered as force majeure.

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