CEEPUS

CEEPUS - General information


CEEPUS (Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies) is an exchange programme focused on regional co-operation and mobility particularly within certain agreed university networks.

CEEPUS III, is running since 1 May 2011 and aims at supporting the creation of joint-degree programmes and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, amongst others. Today after over 25 years of successful cooperation there are 15+ members states who joint the current CEEPUS III agreement. 

The programme is designated for:

  • undergraduate students
  • postgraduate students
  • academic staff

Participating countries:

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldavia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia. The universities of Pristina, Prizren and Peja in Kosovo are also involved.

How to get a scholarship?

A scholarship can be obtained:

  • within the university network;
  • individually – freemover.

However, emphasis is put especially on participation within the university network.

CEEPUS university networks

The list of university networks for academic year 2023/2024 is available on the CEEPUS website.

Mobility

The CEEPUS programme offers the following mobilities:

  • student mobility (within university networks)
  • CEEPUS - Freemovers (outside university networks)
  • academic staff mobility (within university networks)

Further information

Student mobility

The CEEPUS programme allows students to study abroad within the university networks.

The list of university networks for academic year 2023/2024 is available on the CEEPUS website.

For the manual on choosing a university network go here.

Conditions for participation

  • the student must be enrolled in a regular full-time programme
  • the student must be enrolled in the second year of his/her studies or higher (i.e. he/she must have completed at least two semesters)
  • it is not possible to apply for a scholarship for a country of which you are a national
  • the student or employee must be a national of a country involved in the CEEPUS programme or have equal status
  • scholarships cannot be provided for research, with the exception of diploma or doctoral theses, but can be granted for training
  • agreement on mobility either within the CEEPUS network at the home university or as a CEEPUS freemover (usually only for the spring semester)
  • no age limit

Duration of stay

Bachelor and Master students

One semester mobility (S – student)

  • Duration of stay: 3 to 10 months
  • The recipients can divide this period into several years of study; however, a separate application must be submitted for each mobility. Each recipient can have a maximum of one mobility per academic year.
  • A mobility must last at least 2 months and 16 days for the student to receive a scholarship for 3 months.
  • Shorter mobilities may exceptionally be allowed for students working on their Bachelor’s or diploma theses (the minimum duration is one month).

Short-term tours (excursions, STE – Short Term Student Excursion)

  • Duration of stay: 3 to 5 days
  • This mobility is intended for summer schools and tours

Doctoral students

Short-term mobilities (STS – Short Term Student)

  • Duration of stay: 6 days to 3 months
  • This mobility is designated for students working on their theses to obtain university diplomas
  • for doctoral students only
  • in order to obtain a scholarship, the student has to stay abroad for at least 21 days
  • this type of mobility can be used for summer schools lasting over 9 days
  • Doctoral students usually make use of one-month mobilities and the limit of one mobility per academic year only does not apply to them. The student must stay abroad for at least 21 calendar days to become eligible for a scholarship for one month.

Submitting an application

Deadline for application

Winter semester

15 June of the given year

Summer semester

31 October of the given year

Scholarship

The scholarship is intended for accommodation, meals and potential insurance and is paid in the host country. The amount varies depending on the host country:

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Pristina – Kosovo

For more information, see: https://www.ceepus.info/

Travel expenses

Travel expenses are reimbursed by the home university (BUT)

  • Recognizable travel expenses include:
    • return 2nd class train ticket; extra charge or seat reservation (where applicable)
    • return bus ticket
    • return economy class plane ticket (it is necessary to provide the boarding passes)
    • travel expenses on public transportation can be reimbursed only on the day of arrival and the day of departure for transportation to and from the place of the stay, the cost of public transportation on other days of the stay cannot be reimbursed (the student pays these expenses from the scholarship provided)
    • travel insurance is not reimbursed within the CEEPUS programme
  • Procedure for travel expenses reimbursement:
    • after returning from abroad, the student must submit the originals of travel documents to the foreign relations department of his/her BUT faculty
    • the faculty will discuss with the IRO whether or not the travel documents are eligible within the CEEPUS programme rules
    • after approving the travel documents, the IRO will send the funds to pay the eligible travel expenses to the faculty (this is done once in half of year)
    • travel expenses are paid to students by means of extraordinary scholarships

Further information

Freemovers – CEEPUS

  • The CEEPUS programme allows students to study abroad as freemovers, i.e. outside the university networks.
  • The freemover mobility is available to both students and academic staff.
  • You can choose any university from any university network that does not include BUT for your mobility. For an overview of the university networks, see here.

Conditions for participation

  • scholarships are intended for full-time students and full-time teachers
  • it is not possible to apply for a scholarship for a country of which you are a national
  • scholarships cannot be provided for research, with the exception of diploma or doctoral theses, but can be granted for training

Bachelor and Master students:

  • nationality of a CEEPUS member or equal status
  • no age limit
  • two semesters of study duly completed

Doctoral students:

  • nationality of a CEEPUS member or equal status
  • no age limit

Teachers:

  • obligation to teach at least 6 periods in 5 working days during your stay abroad – submit the curriculum in the Motivation field of the application

Duration of stay

Bachelor and Master students

3 to 10 months

PhD students

at least 21 days

Academic staff

at least 5 working days with at least 6 periods of teaching

Submitting an application

Students

  • When applying for a freemover mobility, the student must include a brief description of the activities he/she will engage in during the mobility in the Motivation field, attaching two letters drawn up on standard forms:

- Letter of Acceptance

- Letter of Recommendation

Academic staff:

  • When applying for a freemover mobility, teachers must submit:

- Letter Freemover Teacher

- In the Motivation field, they must submit their teaching schedule including at least 6 teaching periods per week.

Deadline for application

Summer semester
Winter semester

1 July to 30 November of the given year
on request from the host NCO

Scholarship

The scholarship is intended for accommodation, meals and potential insurance and is paid in the host country. The amount varies depending on the host country:

amount varies depending on the host country:

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Pristina – Kosovo

For more information, see: https://www.ceepus.info/

Travel expenses

Travel expenses are reimbursed by the home university (BUT)

  • Recognizable travel expenses include:
    • return 2nd class train ticket; extra charge or seat reservation (where applicable)
    • return bus ticket
    • return economy class plane ticket (it is necessary to provide the boarding passes)
    • travel expenses on public transportation can be reimbursed only on the day of arrival and the day of departure for transportation to and from the place of the stay, the cost of public transportation on other days of the stay cannot be reimbursed (the student pays these expenses from the scholarship provided)
    • travel insurance is not reimbursed within the CEEPUS programme
  • Procedure for travel expenses reimbursement:
    • after returning from abroad, the student must submit the originals of travel documents to the foreign relations department of his/her BUT faculty for reimbursement
    • the faculty will discuss with the IRO whether or not the travel documents are eligible within the CEEPUS programme rules
    • after approving the travel documents, the IRO will send the funds to pay the eligible travel expenses to the faculty (this is done once every three months)
    • travel expenses are paid to students by means of extraordinary scholarships

Further information



Mobility of academic staff

Academic staff may participate in the CEEPUS programme within the university networks.

The list of university networks for academic year 2023/2024 is available on the CEEPUS website.

For the manual on choosing a university network go here.

Conditions for participation

  • it is not possible to apply for a scholarship for a country of which you are a national
  • no age limit
  • obligation to teach at least 6 periods in 5 working days during your stay abroad – submit the curriculum in the Motivation field of the application

Duration of stay

Duration of stay: minimum of 5 days with at least 6 periods.

  • There is no maximum duration of mobility, nor a limitation regarding the number of mobilities during one academic year for academic staff. It is recommended to agree on the date of the mobility with the potential host institution in advance.

Submitting an application

Deadline for application

Winter semester

15 June of the given year

Summer semester

31 October of the given year

Scholarship

The scholarship is intended for accommodation, meals and potential insurance and is paid in the host country. The amount varies depending on the host country:

amount varies depending on the host country:

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Pristina – Kosovo

For more information, see: https://www.ceepus.info/

Travel expenses

Travel expenses are reimbursed by the home university (BUT)

  • Recognizable travel expenses include:
    • return 2nd class train ticket; extra charge or seat reservation (where applicable)
    • return bus ticket
    • return economy class plane ticket (it is necessary to provide the boarding passes)
    • travel expenses on public transportation can be reimbursed only on the day of arrival and the day of departure for transportation to and from the place of the stay, the cost of public transportation on other days of the stay cannot be reimbursed
    • in case of using a company or private vehicle, it is possible to proceed according to the internal rules of BUT Bursar’s Guideline No. 16/2017 when claiming reimbursement of travel expenses based on travel documents
    • travel insurance is not reimbursed within the CEEPUS programme
  • Procedure for travel expenses reimbursement:
    • The member of academic staff must complete a travel order before he/she leaves for his/her stay abroad. 
    • Since the meals are covered by the scholarship provided, meal allowances must not be indicated in the travel order.
    • The member of academic staff will settle the travel order at his/her respective faculty after returning from his/her stay abroad.
    • According to the CEEPUS rules, recognisable travel expenses are refunded by the Rectorate (Department od Internacionalization) to the faculty once in half of year (the decision on whether any given expense is recognisable will be made by the IRO).

Further information