Erasmus + is the European Union education, training,
youth, and sport flagship program. It offers a wide range of services to
international students in the form of mobility such as study exchange,
traineeship (internships) and programs of high status such as Erasmus Mundus
Joint Masters. The most important forms of assistance that Erasmus+ provides to
foreign students are:
1.
Financial
(Grants and Scholarships)
Erasmus + offers monthly grants to assist in meeting
living expenses in foreign countries. This is depending on the destination
country and your home country and can be around between €300 and €600 and above
per month to study in the destination country with some additional cost to
traineeships. In the case of students (non-EU) belonging to Partner Countries,
the amount of grant will be increased to cover the costs of travelling and the
disparity of living expenses. Additional top-ups include:
· Additional
education funding to those students who have fewer opportunities (e.g.
disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities).
· Additional
assistance to people living in the most distant parts of EU or undertaking
traineeships.
· Full
scholarships with Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (exclusive programs in several
universities), including tuition, traveling, visa fees, insurance, and a high
monthly stipend (approximately 1,400/month with up to 24 months). They are
based on merit and are global.
2.
Tuition
and Fee Exemptions
As an Erasmus+ student, you are not charged any tuition,
registration, examination and lab/library access fee at the host (receiving)
university. Only a few optional charges can be charged. This renders studying
in Europe very cheap and anytime you are obliged to pay fees of a home
university you do so.
3.
Academic
and Recognition Support
Prior to mobility, you enter into a Learning Agreement
with your home and host institutions so that all credits achieved in the
foreign county are factored in to your degree. The program encourages blended
mobilities (physical and virtual mobility) in order to be flexible. You also
get access to revised course catalogs and same academic services (libraries, labs
etc.) as the local students.
4.
Preparation
and Support in language
Erasmus+ provides a free Online Language Support
(OLS), to enable you to learn or enhance the language of teaching (as well as
your language of host country residence). This involves online classes, tests
and practice. In most universities, there are face-to-face language courses or
intercultural training. This builds trust and is useful in integration.
5.
Applied
and Intensive Support
You are given the Erasmus+ Student Charter, which
gives your rights (e.g. equal treatment) and responsibilities. Host
institutions need to provide assistance in the areas of accommodation,
orientation, and settling in, and they can do this through the networks such as
the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), where volunteers (frequently former Erasmus
students) offer tips and events, along with buddy systems. Other services
involve housing swaps information (through such platforms as Erasmusinn) and
local integration events.
6.
Additional
Support of Special Needs
· Students
with disability or health conditions: Accessibility needs (e.g. accommodated
accommodation or assistance) are covered by extra funding.
· Minority
chances: Grant top-up to dissolve obstacles (e.g. socio-economic, family
obligations).
· Insurance
(usually through European Health Insurance Card in case of eligible students) is
required and advice offered.
7.
Career
and Long-Term Benefits
Mobility enhances employment opportunities in terms of international experience, development of skills and networks. Internships overseas are eligible as coursework, and most give career or alumni networks.
In order to take part, nominations and applications are made to your home university international/Erasmus office as they process most of the work. In case of non-EU students, it is eligibility based on relations between institutions. Erasmus+ does not only finance your adventure, but also provides you with a richer experience supported and creating global competencies and friendships! To get the most up-to-date information, refer to the official Erasmus+ site: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/
