Winter School in Kiruna

The Arctic Winter School is a short-term mobility offer by UNIVERSEH.

It consists of preliminary online meetings, a week spend abroad at LTUs Space Campus in Kiruna, and approx. two weeks of continuous online project work.

The succesful participation will be rewarded with not only great experience, new friends all over Europe and expanded knowledge about Arctic atmosphere and culture but as well with a certificate and 3 ECTS.

Open to all undergrad and graduate students enrolled at Heinrich Heine University. All study levels are welcome (BA, MA, State Examination, PHD), regardless of the field of studies. No pre-knowledge expected.

Enrich your knowledge on space, snow and ice, the history and cultural heritage of the Arctic by participating in lectures on:

• Environment and society in the changing Arctic.
• Polar atmosphere and its significance for solar-terrestrial interactions, space weather.
• Auroral physics and observations.
• Optical phenomena in the Polar Regions.
• Snow and ice in different perspectives.
• Arctic climate systems and climate change.
• Nano satellites, rockets and balloons for polar research

Your successful participation will earn you a certificate and 3 ECTS points.

Before your flight to Kiruna

Before you will start your journey to the most northern populated city in Sweden, it will be necessary to participate in certain Online Meetings to prepare for your trip. Between 5th and 23rd February there will be mandatory group activities in which you will meet with the other participants and are assigned common aissignment that has to be handed in before your stay in Kiruna. More details on the assignment will be shared later on.

During your stay in Kiruna

Take a closer look at the exact programme here.

After your stay in Kiruna

From 7th to 21st March there will be home work and meeting(s) with a teacher/mentor you'll have met in Kiruna. The work is divided in group and individual tasks and will be presented in a final conference on 21st March 5pm. You'll receive more detailed information after your selection for the mobility opportunity.

As all the lectures and seminars will be held in English, we recommend English level B2 for your participation. Please keep in mind that attentding the online meetings is mandatory.

The flights from Düsseldorf to Kiruna and back home are paid by UNIVERSEH. Accommodation in Kiruna is reserved and financed by UNIVERSEH or Erasmus+ grants.  Some of the meals are also paid for by the Alliance.

Complete the application form and attach a letter of motivation (max. 250 words) as well as a current certificate of study. Please send your complete application documents in one PDF file to .

Please keep in mind that only complete applications can be considered within the selection of participants.

Application deadline: December 3rd 2023, 11.59 pm

In case of questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

All applicants will be informed if they have been chosen for the mobility programme by December 7th 2023.