Student mobility programmes represent an instrument of the internationalization of higher education, enabling students to gain academic experience abroad with financial support and often exemption from tuition fees at foreign higher education institutions. Among them, the Erasmus+ programme stands out, involving the largest number of participants and thus representing the most widespread form of international student exchange.

Within the Erasmus+ programme, mobility can take the form of a study period that includes attending classes, taking exams, or conducting research for a final thesis, as well as traineeships in relevant institutions or companies.
The minimum duration of mobility is 2 months, and the maximum is 12 months. There is also the possibility of short-term mobility lasting 5 to 30 days with a mandatory virtual component carried out before, during, and/or after the physical part of the mobility. The optimal duration of mobility is usually one semester, as this period allows students to successfully complete academic obligations at the host institution. Upon return, the achieved learning outcomes are recognized at the home university, ensuring the continuity of the study programme and avoiding academic loss.

The amount of financial support within the Erasmus+ programme varies depending on the duration of mobility, host country, and additional criteria. For short-term mobility, the average daily allowance is 79 euros, while for long-term stays, the monthly grant can amount to up to 950 euros. A detailed overview of financial support amounts is available in the official table of Grant Amounts published on the Erasmus+ programme website.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOME UNIVERSITY AND THE STUDENT

Before the start of mobility, the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University is obliged to conclude with the student appropriate agreements defining mutual rights and obligations related to the stay abroad.

For this reason, it is necessary to conclude:

Learning Agreement for Studies and/or Learning Agreement for Traineeships

The Learning Agreement for Studies defines the student’s study or training plan during mobility abroad within the Erasmus+ programme. It ensures clarity and transparency regarding the study programme and serves as a basis for recognizing qualifications upon return.

The Learning Agreement for Traineeships is a document concluded between the student, the sending higher education institution, and the host institution. It describes in detail the traineeship programme the student will undertake abroad and ensures clarity and transparency regarding expected tasks, competences, and learning outcomes.

Grant Agreement for Erasmus+ Individual Mobility

The Grant Agreement defines the financial conditions and obligations between the participant (students, teachers, staff) and the higher education institution participating in the Erasmus+ programme, covering mobility for study, teaching, or training purposes.

RECOGNITION OF ECTS CREDITS AND MOBILITY PERIOD
Students planning to participate in the Erasmus+ programme are required, in cooperation with the Erasmus+ coordinator and/or study programme head, to carefully analyze and compare the curricula of the home university and the host institution. Based on this comparison, students select the courses to be attended and passed during mobility. Special attention should be paid to the language of instruction at the host institution.

Before the start of mobility, a Learning Agreement is concluded with the selected students, specifying the courses they will attend at the host institution with the corresponding number of ECTS credits. By signing this document, automatic recognition of the earned ECTS credits and the mobility period at the foreign institution is ensured.

In justified cases, amendments or additions to the Learning Agreement may be made within one month of the student’s arrival at the host institution. Any subsequent necessary changes must be agreed upon by all parties involved (student, home and host institutions) and promptly included in the document.

STUDENT VISA
If a visa is required for the study stay abroad, students are obliged to initiate the procedure themselves. The visa application with all required documentation prescribed by the competent consular office must be submitted to the consular service of the destination country after the student has received the official letter of acceptance from the host institution.
A list of foreign embassies and consular offices in the Republic of Croatia is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
The Office for International and Inter-Institutional Cooperation will be available to advise and support students during the visa process.

HEALTH INSURANCE
Students are obliged to arrange their own health insurance valid for the duration of their stay abroad. On the websites of foreign higher education institutions and their international offices, students can check whether exchange student insurance is available (some institutions offer compulsory insurance packages). If such an option is not available, students may arrange insurance through Croatian insurance companies. Students also have the right to use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which provides access to necessary health services during temporary stays in EU member states under the same conditions as host country citizens.

A copy of the insurance policy must be submitted by the student to the Office for International and Inter-Institutional Cooperation of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University.

TUITION FEES AND OTHER CHARGES
Erasmus students may not be charged tuition fees at host institutions, nor any other fees not charged to local students, such as exam registration, laboratory use, internet, library access, etc. Fees may only be requested for certain services (e.g., photocopying, insurance), as is the case for home students.
Students remain enrolled at their home institution during the mobility period and must continue paying tuition fees if they belong to the category of self-financing students.

PAYMENT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University pays 80% of the total grant amount to students before the start of mobility, with the remaining 20% paid after the student submits the final report in accordance with programme obligations.

FINAL REPORT
Upon returning from mobility, students must submit the following documentation to the Office for International and Inter-Institutional Cooperation:

• Confirmation of the exact duration of stay issued by the host institution
• Transcript of records – a document listing the courses attended, including grades and ECTS credits, if exams were taken
• Final report – completed electronically by the student.

BEFORE APPLYING FOR MOBILITY
Mobility within the Erasmus+ programme requires timely planning, as calls for applications are announced twice a year: at the end of the winter semester for mobility in the following academic year (for all semesters), and at the end of the summer semester if funds remain available, for mobility in the summer semester of the next academic year.

Although the application must be submitted well before the start of mobility, selected candidates retain the right to withdraw or postpone mobility. Early application allows students more time to organize travel and prepare for the stay abroad. It is not necessary to specify exact dates of mobility at the time of application, but the student must determine the semester period and approximate duration expressed in months.

BEFORE DEPARTURE
After the publication of results, all selected candidates participate in an information session, after which nomination to the foreign university is carried out. This is followed by course selection and preparation of the Learning Agreement in cooperation with the programme head.
Once nomination is completed, the partner university provides information on accommodation, application procedures, deadlines, required health insurance, and other useful details for preparing the stay abroad.

It is recommended that students apply for the EHIC card early to receive it before departure.

Students are also advised to have travel insurance valid for the entire mobility period. Before departure, students sign the Grant Agreement for Erasmus+ Individual Mobility, and after submitting the required documents (Learning Agreement, Proof of Enrollment, etc.), 80% of the total grant amount is paid.

DURING MOBILITY
During their stay at the host institution, the student remains enrolled at the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University and is registered abroad as an exchange student. During mobility, the student attends classes and takes exams in accordance with the Learning Agreement, which replaces the home institution’s obligations for that semester.

If the student wishes to change selected courses (e.g., due to schedule conflicts), this can be done within 30 days from the start of mobility. Each change must be approved by the programme head and entered into the updated Learning Agreement, signed again by the student, the foreign coordinator, and the University’s Erasmus+ coordinator.

It is important for the student to respect the agreed duration of the stay, as stated in the Grant Agreement. In case of changes to the duration, the Office for International and Inter-Institutional Cooperation must be notified in a timely manner. If unforeseen circumstances or difficulties arise, the student may seek assistance from the Office for support.

Before the end of mobility, the student must request confirmation of the exact dates of stay at the host institution and provide a transcript of records and ECTS credits earned during the exchange. Students should be aware that some institutions may delay issuing transcripts, which can be submitted even after the end of mobility.

AFTER MOBILITY
On the day of completing mobility, the student receives by email the EU survey, which serves as the official request for the payment of the remaining 20% of the Erasmus+ grant. However, for the payment to be made, the student must submit to the Office for International and Inter-Institutional Cooperation the confirmation of duration, transcript of records, and the final version of the Learning Agreement, including all changes and signatures of all parties involved.