International Mobility for Staff

Contents:

↳ 1. How to undertake a short-term international stay for teaching or training?

↳ 2. How to undertake an international research stay?

↳ 3. Incoming staff mobility

↳ 4. Emergency preparedness for staff abroad

Responsible: Department of Research Administration and Internationalisation; Published: 20.06.2025. Last updated: 20.06.2025

Read more and apply here.

Funding opportunities for PhD candidates and postdocs

All PhD candidates, postdocs, and permanent staff are encouraged to undertake stays abroad at a partner institution. This can contribute to competence development, networking, and the development of new project ideas. International experience can provide an advantage in the competition for academic positions and externally funded project grants. A prerequisite for an international research stay is an invitation from a collaborating institution. The academic staff or PhD candidate/postdoc must have a workplace within an academic environment at the institution.

PhD candidates with funding from the Research Council of Norway can apply for an overseas scholarship here. Support is only provided for stays abroad lasting three to 12 months. For shorter trips related to conference participation, etc., candidates must use their own operating funds.

Erasmus+ offers the opportunity for scholarships related to teaching and training. The EU has established the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, which offers mobility funds for PhD candidates and postdocs.

Contact a research advisor for guidance.

Funding opportunities for permanent staff

Permanent academic staff in positions which entail doctoral competence or equivalent at Kristiania can apply for a research sabbatical, which may allow for an international research stay: Further develop research activities and competence.

Participation in conferences and seminars can be covered by own operating funds (annum) or possibly the department's allocated funds. Invited speakers usually have travel and accommodation covered by the organiser.

Participation in established networks with external funding may include funds for network participation. Examples include Nordforsk networks and COST networks. In international externally funded project collaboration, the allocation may include funds for travel, and it is important to include this in the application where possible.

Visits to international research and educational institutions are financed by own funds, possibly Erasmus+ scholarships for training within Europe.

Contact a research advisor for guidance.

What to do when you have been granted a research sabbatical for a stay abroad?

Stay abroad at a partner institution

A stay abroad requires that the academic staff member is invited by a partner institution for an extended stay that includes access to a workplace and the institution's infrastructure. The minimum length of the stay is 3 months. A visit to the institution that only involves meetings is considered a trip abroad. The Research Council's scholarship rates for stays abroad apply only to research sabbaticals at a host institution for at least 3 months.

Scholarship

If an academic staff member has been awarded internal or external funds for a stay abroad, these can be paid as a scholarship. The scholarship is paid based on a budget that shows the need, according to the Research Council's rates (see below). Scholarships are not pensionable.

The scholarship can cover round-trip travel costs (cheapest mode of travel) and two round-trip journeys (normal home-partner institution) during the research sabbatical. The scholarship should cover additional expenses and costs incurred in connection with the stay abroad (such as rent and travel costs). The scholarship does not cover expenses such as food, clothing, course and/or conference fees, bench fees, or other operating costs. If the academic staff member has rental income from their primary residence in Norway, the portion of the scholarship for rent abroad can be reduced by 30%.

Living expenses:*

• 22,000 NOK per month for singles
• 38,000 NOK per month for families

(*Research Council's rates for 2023)

Rules for payment

The finance department normally pays the scholarship based on an application and in advance before departure. The application with the attached budget should show available funds and planned expenses. The budget is signed by the administrative leader in the School. Travel expenses with documentation are submitted in the personnel portal UBW by the academic staff member after prior agreement with their manager, either per calendar year or upon completion of the trip/stay abroad. The travel expenses are offset against the advance received. The remaining amount is taxed or repaid by the academic staff member.

Guidance for documentation of expenses

Read more here.

Tax exemption

Academic staff must apply to the Tax Administration for exemption from tax withholding for scholarships. The application form is obtained from the finance department and signed by the finance manager at Kristiania. The Tax Administration grants preliminary approval. Final tax exemption must be applied for by the academic staff member in connection with the annual tax return. The preliminary approval from the Tax Administration must be sent by the academic staff member to the payroll department for registration. The academic staff member's tax card is automatically adjusted, and Kristiania pays adjusted salary from the time of the decision. Any overdraft will be refunded in connection with the tax settlement the following year. After completing the stay abroad with a scholarship, the academic staff member must apply to the Tax Administration to reset the tax rate.

Information on tax rules

Tax for individuals - Tax Administration

Deduction guide - Tax Administration

National Insurance

Academic staff must contact NAV to retain membership in the National Insurance Scheme. It is recommended to have the European Health Insurance Card.

Contractual Pension (AFP)

Academic staff are still covered by the AFP (Contractual Pension) scheme if they retain their employment relationship at Kristiania and are members of the National Insurance Scheme's pension section. This also applies outside the EU.

Insurance

Academic staff have insurance through their employer, which also applies to the stay abroad. Liability insurance, occupational injury insurance, accident insurance, and business travel insurance are recommended. Academic staff must arrange other travel and personal injury insurance for themselves and their families. It is recommended that the insurance at least covers accidents, contents, and travel, hospital expenses if outside the EEA area or in the USA, and expenses for repatriation in case of serious injury or death. HR assists academic staff.

Address change

Academic staff must register contact information for the partner institution and new residential address in KristianiaHR.

Emergency preparedness

Academic staff should familiarise themselves with and follow Kristiania's emergency preparedness information.

Guest Researcher Stay

An important measure to stimulate increased research activity and quality is to invite a reputable guest researcher into a research group, e.g., as part of a sabbatical. Contact the administrative leader in your School for guidance on planning, invitation, and care of international guest researchers.

Contact a research advisor for funding opportunities.

Visits from guest lecturers and staff in training

• A common way to host international colleagues is as incoming staff mobility in Erasmus. The timeframe is from two days and upwards, and the incoming will usually have an Erasmus scholarship awarded from their home institution. Read more about incoming mobility within the Erasmus programme.
• Do you want to invite an industry contact from Europe to lecture for your students? The timeframe is 1-5 days. The application deadline is the same as for staff mobility: 15 May and 1 November. Contact your international advisor for guidance.
• Fulbright scholarships for guest lecturers from the USA can be invited for 2-5 day stays.
• Each year, the Department of Research Administration and Internationalisation organises International Partner Days ahead of 17 May, usually 15-16 May. We encourage scheduling training stays during these days. The programme includes presentations and workshops on useful topics, the opportunity to meet international colleagues and presentation of Kristiania, as well as campus tours. Contact your international advisor for guidance.

Kristiania has emergency procedures for staff travelling abroad and for how incidents should be followed up from home.

Academic staff travelling with students are responsible for following up on incidents during the trip.