Working abroad on a scholarship

If you are working abroad without being employed with financing in the form of a scholarship, contact Akademikernas a-kassa to determine if your work abroad may be considered as a period that can be disregarded as studies. If so, you will continue to be a member of Akademikernas a-kassa during your stay abroad. The most common form of this type of work abroad is postdoctoral scholarship funding.

The prerequisites for a period abroad on a scholarship being disregarded are:

• you conduct postdoctoral activities full-time (only full-time studies may be disregarded in unemployment insurance)
• that studies are completed or permanently interrupted when applying for unemployment benefits.
• additional requirements may be that activities in this period follow a plan and that there is some supervision.

Note that Akademikernas a-kassa always assesses each case individually so it is important that you contact them for advice

Marie Curie Scholarships
Anyone who has a Marie Curie scholarship may, in some respects, be regarded as an employee in the country in which they are studying. The recipient of a Marie Curie scholarship must belong to the relevant country’s unemployment insurance and not the Akademikernas a-kassa. Before requesting withdrawal from Akademikernas a-kassa, ensure that you are covered by unemployment insurance in your host country. Always contact Akademikernas a-kassa for further guidance.