CIRRUS is a Nordic-Baltic network of Art and Design higher education. There are 20 excellent art and design schools from the Nordics and the Baltics in the circle of this cooperation. The central activities of the partner institutions are art and design, including innovative activities, technical development and artistic practices.

Students

 

In CIRRUS, students and teachers can benefit from mobility within the Nordic and Baltic region.
Funds for mobility are applied for by the coordinating institution (Estonian Academy of Arts) from Nordplus Higher Education Programme.

Students from CIRRUS partner universities can apply for three types of student mobility:
* Student exchange in partner university for 1-12 months
* Express mobility: min 5 days
* Student placement in host organisation in Nordic-Baltic region for 1 week – 12 months

Rates:

Express mobility grants: 250 EUR 1st week, 100 EUR 2nd week, 100 EUR 3rd week + travel grant, additional day: 20 EUR
1 month – 12 month mobility grants: 250 EUR month, additional week 70 EUR, additional day 20 EUR.

Travel grant:
330 EUR, 660 Iceland, 1300 Greenland, 175 domestic travel top-up (only, when related to travelling abroad)

Examples:

– 5-week student mobility, the maximum rate is 250 € + 63 € = 313 € + travel grant
– 1-week (5–7 days) express mobility, the maximum rate is 250 € + travel grant

Student Application Form for Funding should be filled in by the student, signed and given to the coordinator in home institution who is in charge of CIRRUS network in your home university. Afterwards the home institution will forward the application to CIRRUS coordinator who will pay out the grant to the home institution who will then transfer the grant to the student.
CIRRUS mobility is funded from Nordplus Higher Education programme and by the institutions participating in the network’s activities.

Group travel is normally not supported from CIRRUS (due to limited funding in Nordplus programme). Possible exceptions must be discussed with the coordinator of CIRRUS separately. Normally there will be a proposal to the board to consider the circumstances for the possible exception then. Up to 2 persons can go to a short term mobility in another CIRRUS institution. Mobility funding available for 2023/24 is 46 000 EUR.

 

 

Teachers

For teachers and administrative staff employed by CIRRUS institutions independent of nationality exchange mobility grants are available on the following conditions:
• length of exchange: minimum 8 hours of teaching/working
GRANT AMOUNTS FOR TEACHERS (as of November 2022):

Travel grant:
330 EUR, 660 Iceland, 1300 Greenland, 175 domestic travel top-up (only, when related to travelling abroad)
Daily rate – 100 EUR
Weekly rate – 500 EUR
Monthly rate – 1350 EUR

Examples of calculating the grant:

– 8-day teacher mobility, the maximum rate is 500 € + 100 € = 600 € + travel grant
– 1-day teacher mobility, the maximum rate is 100 € + travel grant
– 5 (working)day teacher mobility, the maximum rate is 500 € + travel grant

The network decides the size of the scholarship in respect to the means available.

Teacher Application Form CIRRUS should be filled in by the teacher or administrative staff, signed and given to the coordinator at home institution who is in charge of CIRRUS network in your home university. Afterwards the home institution will forward the application to CIRRUS coordinator who will pay out the grant to the home institution who will then transfer the grant to the grant holder.
After mobility: please fill in a short 5-minute survey about your teacher/staff exchange mobility experience here.

How to create projects

CALL for project applications to Nordplus Higher Education Programme through CIRRUS network. “Enhancing educational cooperation and preparing pupils, students and adults for a greener future” is highlighted by Nordplus 2023 programme.

DEADLINE: January 15, 2025, to be sent to sandra.mell@artun.ee
(Nordplus deadline is Feb 1, 2025).

We kindly ask your project descriptions along with the budget file in order to insert it in the application system of Nordplus. Please use Nordplus Handbook or turn to CIRRUS coordinator or your international coordinator at home to find out more.

The type of projects that we are waiting for are:
1. INTENSIVE COURSES 
Download application form 
Download 2025-ic-budget
2. JOINT STUDY PROGRAMMES and DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Download application form JSP
Download application form DP
Download budget model 2025

MORE IN DETAIL (copied from NP handbook):

Intensive courses
Nordplus Higher Education awards grants for intensive courses lasting between one week (five working days) and one month. Courses may take place during term time or in the summer by way of short courses, symposiums, master classes or workshops. Intensive courses must include students and academic staff from at least three different countries. The courses must yield ECTS points and must be recognised as part of the students’ degree. The number of ECTS points should be stated in the application.
PhD students may act as teachers on intensive courses. They are not eligible for a grant if they are students in the programme. The same intensive course can be granted Nordplus funding for three consecutive years but annual applications must be submitted. It is recommended that the hosting institution is rotated.

Joint study programmes
Nordplus Higher Education awards grants for development of joint study
programmes.
Nordplus joint study programmes are defined as follows:
– Programmes are full-degree study programmes established according
to national legislation.
– Programmes lead to a degree recognised by national authorities.
– Degree certificates with a Diploma Supplement are issued according to
national legislation.
– Mobility is integrated into the programme setup.
– Programmes are developed jointly, and all courses and study units
should be approved by all participating parties.
– The collaborative venture is governed by a signed agreement defining
its aims as well as the roles of the participating parties.
The same joint study programme can be granted Nordplus funding for three consecutive years but annual applications must be submitted. Joint study programmes are complex processes. HEIs can combine Nordplus and Nordic Master grants in various ways. More information on Nordic Master is available on www.nordicmaster.org. The website consists
also of many useful handbooks and guides on joint programmes.

Development projects
Nordplus Higher Education offers grants for innovative development projects within the field of Higher Education.
Apart from joint curriculum planning and joint
modules, projects may focus on issues such as:
– Collaboration with the labour market
– Quality assurance
– The dissemination and use of results achieved by networks and projects
– The development of collaborations with other institutions in the public
or private sectors as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
within Higher Education
– The development of new teaching methods.
The same project can be granted Nordplus funding for three consecutive years but annual applications must be submitted.

Handbook: https://www.nordplusonline.org/how-to-apply/handbook/

NORDPLUS HIGHLIGHT 2025

The Nordic Council of Ministers has agreed on a green, competitive and socially sustainable vision for the Nordic region. The intention is for the region to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. Nordplus supports this vision by setting highlights in line with the vision.

In 2025, Nordplus welcomes applications for the programme under the theme “ Skills and knowledge for a competitive Nordic and Baltic region”. Skills provision is crucial for the Nordic and Baltic countries as a competitive, sustainable and equal region. The Nordplus highlight will focus on enhancing skills and competencies that meet the Nordic/Baltic region´s needs for skills supply. The Nordplus highlight relates to all Nordplus programmes and to all sectors within the field of education and training.

Nordplus wants to draw attention to projects that focus on skills and knowledge for a competitive Nordic and Baltic region, for example by sharing project results in articles, on seminars and conferences. However, initiatives on other topics are equally welcome in Nordplus and will be assessed on an equal footing with initiatives related to the Nordplus Highlight.

Read more about the possibilities for funding from Nordplus in The Nordplus Handbook 2025.