Erasmus is a European programme for students. More exactly, Erasmus
is the higher education action of Socrates II programme.
There are already more than 2000 educational institutions participating in
Erasmus and each year opens new destinations.
Going abroad is a certain advantage: proof of dynamism, motivation and a true
experience. But this experience will be even more valuable that this project
follows the path of further education. The Erasmus programme is a real adventure
for a student, opening the doors of the European culture and demonstrating international
ability with its diploma.
The Socrates programme
Overall responsibility for implementing Socrates/Erasmus lies with the European
Commission. Its purpose is to enhance the quality the European dimension of
higher education. It seeks to reinforce transnational cooperation between universities,
boosting European mobility and encourage full academic recognition of studies
and qualifications throughout the Union (with ECTS, European Credit Transfer
System).
Currently 31 countries participate to the programme, with
all 25 member States of the European Union, the three countries of the European
Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the three candidate countries
(Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey).
Socrates covers also other European programmes on education (high education,
adult courses, research...) :
- Erasmus : Higher education.
- Comenius : School education.
- Grundtvig : Adult education and other education
pathways.
- Lingua : Learning European languages.
- Minerva : Information and communication technologies
(ICT) in education.
Socrates is not only for students, but also for teachers, professors and other
university teaching staff.
The Erasmus programme
Erasmus is the most important programme of education exchange organized by
the Commission of the European Community. Since the Erasmus creation in 1987,
1.2 million students have benefited of a study period abroad. The Erasmus budget
for the year 2004 is more than € 187.5 million.
This programme allows a student registered at university to do part of his/her
study in another European country, with the insurance to have full recognition
for your study period abroad at home (ECTS: European Credit Transfert System,
see below).
Erasmus offers the possibility of studying abroad for a period of between 3
months and 1 year.
The programme of studies which you will follow abroad (as well as the confirmation
of academic achievement protocol) is set out before the departure by the
student, the home university and the host university, and must
be agreed in writing by all three parties. The student's progress is
followed by both universities during his/her stay, therefore all possible difficulties
can be assessed quickly and managed expediently.
Who was Erasmus ?
The Erasmus program is named from a famous character of christian humanism,
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, also called Erasmus
of Rotterdam. "The
Spanish apartment", the movie from Cédric Klapisch, makes a
reference.
Erasmus was a Dutch traveller, born around 1500. He lost his parents
earlier and received a religious education. He became priest and got a
doctorate in Paris. Critical about the teaching method, he used his theories
and lived and worked in several parts of Europe, meeting and confronting
with the most important characters of his time. By leaving his fortune
to the University of Basel, he became a precursor of mobility grants.
More information on Erasmus here.
|
ECTS
The ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) system
is attached to Socrates-Erasmus. Total recognition of periods of study abroad
is a condition of quality and volume of student mobility in Europe. The aim
of ECTS is to guarantee this recognition.
The ECTS is settled on three key elments :
- information on education programmes and results of the student;
- mutal agreement between the universities and the student;
- use of ECTS credits (values
that represent the amount of work done by the student).
These 3 elements are made possible through three documents, i.e.: information
package, learning agreement/contract agreed by the student, transcript of records
showing the ECTS credits gained.
The credit system represents the volume of work that the student must give
to each module/course, affected by a value. Student workload consists of the
time required to complete all planned learning activities such as attending
lectures, seminars, independent and private study, preparation of projects,
examinations, and so forth.
60 Credits represent the workload of year of study; normally 30 Credits are
given for semester and 20 credits for a trimester, one credit stands for around
25 to 30 working hours). Those credits allocated to modules and courses can
only be obtained after successful completion of the work required and appropriate
assessment of the learning outcomes achieved.
How does it work?
ECTS grades make study programmes easy to read and compare for all students,
local and foreign, with respect for the marks of the host institution.
Students are marked on a statistical basis as ECTS credits express a relative
value.
Example of graduation:
|
Percentage of successful students normally achieving
the grade
|
ECTS grade
|
Definition
|
|
best 10%
|
A
|
EXCELLENT: outstanding performance with only minor errors |
|
next 25%
|
B
|
VERY GOOD: above the average standard but with some errors |
|
next 30%
|
C
|
GOOD: generally sound work with a number of notable errors |
|
next 25%
|
D
|
SATISFACTORY: fair but with significant shortcomings |
|
next 10%
|
E
|
SUFFICIENT: performance meets the minimum criteria |
|
-
|
FX
F
|
FAIL- some more work required before the credit can be awarded
FAIL - considerable further work required
|
It is important to note that the ECTS grade does not replace that of the institution.
The ECTS grading system gives information which is in addition to that provided
on the host institution's standard transcript, after agreement with the home
institution. The ECTS grade is indicated alongside the mark awarded by the institution
on the student's transcript of records.
An ECTS student can, in case of success and approval of both home and host
instittutions, carry on a longer stay or move to a third university.
Administrative procedures
It is advised to start preparing your stay at least 1 year
before your departure, in order to find all the differents possibilities
that are offered, and to avoid missing a deadline (registration time, allowances...).
It's usually better to leave after having achieved a first degree (ordinary
degree, Bachelor of Engineering or B.Sc for example), or even after a post degree
or Master in order to complete your studies.
It is possible to go without an exchange programme and to contact yourself
a foreign university in order to continue your studies. You must first check
that the degree will be recognised both in the host country and at home. Nothing
worse than to realize at the end of the stay that you won't be able to use your
new qualification in your home country.
Language level
In any cases, it's better to check your level in the language before to go,
and possibly attend a language leaning course, as you will have to be able to
follow the courses.
Some institutions organize tests and select the students based on their skills
on the language: Deutsches Sprachdiplom in German,
or Dele in spanish and TOEFL
in English.
In addition a student can get an Erasmus Intensive Language
Courses (EILCs) offered at host universities.
Student allowance, grants
The Erasmus grant is intended as contribution towards covering the difference
in living expenses abroad (do not expect a full scholarship, the
amount is often no more than hundred euros per month). This allowance
can be granted in addition to other grants or loans.
A good news is that no fees (for tuition, registration, examinations, access
to laboratory and library facilities etc.) have to be paid to the host institution.
Registration
Explain in you candidacy:
- your level of qualifications,
- your level of language,
- the current degree,
- and the courses that you wish to get.
and attach the certified copies of all your diplomas since the baccalaureat
or A Level. It is possible that some universities ask also for translations
of these documents (get information from your home institution).
Most of the procedure has to be done on the Internet nowadays. By connecting
to the chosen university, and by completing a dossier for candidacy, you will
probably be able to follow the advance of your dossier on-line.
To register, some of the documents (such as the choice of courses) has to be
validated by your erasmus coordinator. Do not forget also that a transcript
of records and a certificate for the language have often to be provided.
Preparing the stay
Budget
Before to leave, you must assure that you've got enough money needed for your
stay. Therefore ask information on the cost of living, the price of accommodation
and do not forget to include the cost of travel that you will have to make.
Student grants allow you to face some needs but cover often only part of your
spending as their amount is low. The Erasmus programme provides automatically
mobility grants (see above).
Social insurance
You should bring your European card for sickness insurance (see our section
Health in the list of information about the city). You can also consider any
other private insurance or international cover when you travel abroad.
Accommodation
Either accommodation is offered by your host institution (room on campus in
April-May for example), or directly in September by trying to find a flatshare.
The first solution is of course prefered. In the second solution, choose to
stay in a cheap hotel, youth accommodation or bed and breakfast for a few days
in order to have time to visit and find a room.
The Erasmus student association (see list below),
that will probably contact you to introduce its activity at the beginning, should
be able to help you.
Important documents to bring with you!
- Passport / ID card
- ID photos
- European Card for Sickness Insurance
- All the administrative documents sent by the universities regarding the
stay, student card of the year
- Documents regarding all grants that you have been awarded
- Travel insurance and international sickness insurance
- Income available...
You will find other information on the following websites:
Copyright EasyExpat Ltd © 2002-2008. All rights reserved.