International possibilities for the Master Programme Media Cultures: Intermedial and Multimodal Studies

Broaden Your Academic Horizons

Exchange studies at master’s level provide an opportunity to deepen your disciplinary expertise within a new academic environment and to cultivate international perspectives on your field. By spending a semester at one of Linnaeus University’s partner institutions, you gain fresh insights, valuable research connections, and experiences that enhance your professional and academic profile.

An international exchange can extend well beyond formal studies. Many master’s students choose to undertake an internship, fieldwork, or part of their dissertation abroad. Such experiences enable you to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, gather material in new contexts, and develop networks that may prove valuable for future research or professional pathways.

Even on campus, there are opportunities to engage with international perspectives,  for instance, by participating in the Buddy Programme and supporting incoming international students.

When to apply for exchange studies

You apply in the middle of the autumn semester, the academic year before you plan to go abroad. This means that you apply in autumn if you wish to go on exchange the following autumn or the spring after that. In early spring there is also a second application round for the remaining places from the first round.

Planning your exchange

When an exchange fits into your programme depends on how your studies are structured, so always start by reading your programme syllabus. There you can see during which semester exchange studies can be included and what you are expected to study during that period.

As a student of the Media Cultures: Intermedial and Multimodal Studies Master Programme, you can go on exchange during semester 3.

The courses you take abroad will replace that semester in your programme. During the third semester, you have elective studies for exchange on either bachelor or master level.

Semester 3 is then replaced in your degree plan by:
 Exchange Studies, undergraduate or graduate level, 30 hp (level depends on your selection of partner and courses)

This is also what should appear in your Learning Agreement under Table B if you are nominated to a partner university. The Learning Agreement is a document in which you and your programme director agree in advance on which courses you will study during your exchange.

It is possible to transfer up to 30 credits (hp) from undergraduate level into a master’s degree. Within the Media Cultures: Intermedial and Multimodal Studies Master Programme, you may include bachelor’s level courses among your elective courses. This means that during your exchange, you can choose electives at either bachelor’s or master’s level.

Steps towards your exchange

1. Explore your options

   See which partner universities are suitable for your programme in the list of available exchange places. A general overview is always available, but specific information such as number of places and subject areas is only visible when the application period is open.
   
   
2. Prepare your application

   When the application period opens, it’s a good time to start exploring your options. Each university in the list includes a comment where you can find information about which subject areas are available through the collaboration. It’s a good idea to note the universities that interest you most and write down which subjects or courses you would like to take there. This makes it easier when you fill out your application.
   
   
3. After nomination
   
If you are nominated, you will plan your courses together with your programme director and international coordinator in a Learning Agreement. This should be completed either before you go abroad or, in some cases, before you submit your application to the host university. You will receive more detailed instructions after nomination.
   
   
4. After returning home
   
When you return, you will apply to have your courses from the exchange recognised at Linnaeus University. You then specify what is written in your Learning Agreement (Table B), which will be listed alongside the courses you studied abroad.

Suitable partner universities

There are opportunities for exchange studies with universities across the world – in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania. Our collaborations may be at a general university level, known as University Wide, open to all students, or within specific subject areas intended for particular groups of students.

As a student at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, you can choose between several types of agreements. You can apply to University Wide agreements, to the faculty’s own agreements within the area of Arts and Humanities, or to agreements within specific subjects (for exchange in Design these are gathered under Arts), as long as the university offers courses suitable for your exchange period.

More information about each collaboration and university is available in the placement list when applications are open, and in the comments for each institution. Below are examples of partner universities where students from the programme have previously studied abroad, or where the range of courses often suits the programme. In addition to these, there are many more options. Available partners may vary each year, so always check the current placement list when the application is open.

Examples of partner universities

Aarhus University, Danmark
University of Helsinki, Finland
Université de Nantes, Frankrike
Université de Strasbourg, Frankrike
Bath Spa University, Storbritannien
University of Greenwich, Storbritannien
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Tyskland
Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Tyskland
University of Iceland, Island
University of Limerick, Irland
Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Italien
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Waseda University, Japan
Masaryk University, Tjeckien
Metropolitan University Prague, Tjeckien
Hogeschool Inholland, Nederländerna
University of South-Eastern Norway, Norge
Jagiellonian University, Polen
Universidade do Porto, Portugal
University of Ljubljana, Slovenien
Ewha Womans University, Sydkorea
Sungkyunkwan University, Sydkorea
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spanien
North-West University, Sydafrika
San Francisco State University, USA
University of Minnesota Duluth, USA

Internship abroad

For the programme internship, you have the opportunity to carry it out abroad if it is approved by your course coordinator. You are responsible for finding your own placement but can receive advice and support from your programme director during the process.

For the internship to be covered by Linnaeus University’s collective insurance for students abroad, a learning agreement for traineeships must be signed between Linnaeus University and the host organisation. If your internship lasts for at least two months, you may also apply for an Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant through Linnaeus University. The agreement is signed by the course coordinator, the international coordinator, and the receiving organisation.

Internship after graduation

After completing your studies, you can apply for an Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant to fund an internship within the EU. It is important that you have not yet graduated, as the internship will then be registered as part of your degree. You are responsible for finding your own placement, and depending on previous Erasmus+ mobility periods, you may be eligible for up to 12 months of funding. Applications are made during your final semester.

Conducting fieldwork abroad for your degree project

You have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork abroad as part of your dissertation or degree project. Fieldwork involves collecting data or carrying out investigations on site, for example through interviews, observations, or collaborations with an organisation. It gives you the chance to gather material in a new cultural context, discover different perspectives on your subject, and gain experiences that can deepen your academic work.

To carry out fieldwork abroad, you need prior approval from your dissertation supervisor. If you are interested, it is advisable to discuss your plans with your programme director well in advance. An agreement between Linnaeus University and the receiving organisation is also required for the university’s insurance (Student UT) to apply during your stay abroad. Contact your faculty’s international coordinator for assistance with this.

There are scholarships available to support fieldwork abroad. Through Minor Field Studies (MFS), you can apply for a travel grant for field studies in low- and middle-income countries, while the Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant can provide funding for data collection or fieldwork in a European country.

International experience at home

You can also gain international experience during your regular studies. Through the Buddy Programme run by Linnaeus Union, you can become a mentor for incoming international and exchange students and help them settle into student life at Linnaeus University. It’s a fun way to meet new cultures and build international connections.

Contact

If you would like to learn more about your options or need help planning your exchange studies or internship abroad, we are happy to assist you.

International Office

The International Office helps with practical matters such as how to apply, how nominations work, and what you need to arrange before your exchange.

Faculty of Arts and Humanities International Coordinator

The faculty’s international coordinator assists with the academic aspects, for example, finding suitable universities for your subject area, advising on course selection, who approves your courses, and how they can be credited towards your degree upon return.

Together we ensure that you receive support throughout the entire process, from planning to return.