For one Semester Abroad

The Erasmus Program is a program created by the European Union in 1987 in an attempt to facilitate the collaboration of students and lecturers at higher education institutes within the EU and other European countries (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Turkey and parts of Switzerland).

Erasmus in an acronym for “European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students.” Since 2007, it has been a part of the EU’s lifelong learning program (previously a part of the Socrates Program). Over 2,000 higher education institutes in 31 European nations take part in the Erasmus Program with over 1.5 million students and 100,000 lecturers benefitting thus far.

Every Erasmus student’s tuition fees are waived during their time abroad. In addition, participants receive a monthly stipend of 100 Euro, though the exact amount varies from country to country.

The integral part of the program is the ability to complete portions of study abroad with the “European Credit Transfer System” (ECTS). At the beginning of the study abroad program, each student sends a Learning Agreement with chosen courses to their home university. The signature of the coordinator at the home university ensures that courses completed abroad will count toward the degree program being completed at the home university.

Along with studying and completing internships, it’s also possible to do apprenticeships, intensive language courses, as well as more advanced education with staff members.

Apply

Applying for a semester abroad with the Erasmus Program is always associated with your home university. At the International or Erasmus offices, you’ll find out application deadlines and information. It’s best to be informed earlier rather than later, as most deadlines end long before the beginning of the semester abroad.

It’s possible to apply for the Erasmus Program during the 2nd semester of your studies, but not earlier as you must be at least a third semester student in order to study abroad, unless doing a Master’s Program, in which case it’s always possible to apply. Most participants study for just one semester, but it is possible to study for up to two consecutive semesters while abroad.

Internships

As a result of revisions made in 2007, the completion of international internships has been incorporated into the Erasmus Program, though formerly apart of the Leonardo Program.
To do an internship during your studies, you must also apply at your home institution.  The only condition is that you cannot have previously studied with the Erasmus Program. The internship does not have to be a EU institution or a diplomatic representative for your home country.

The support provided for international internships is higher than for student residency, in an amount of around 350 Euro.


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