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Outgoing Erasmus Students

LLP Erasmus Programme:
 

General Information for Students who wish to study or train in another European Country

 

 

What is Erasmus?

The LLP (Lifelong Learning) Erasmus Programme is an EU funded programme which comprises a wide range of measures designed to support the European activities of higher education institutions.  These include the exchange of students and academic staff with third level institutions in other European countries, as well as the opportunity for students to spend a training period at an enterprise/organisation in one of the eligible European member states or participating countries.  The programme is open to the 27 Member States of the European Union, the three EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and candidate country (Turkey).

Cork Institute of Technology holds an Erasmus Extended University Charter which authorises the Institute to participate in the various actions of the Lifelong Learning/Erasmus programme, including student exchanges with partner institutions, as well as student placements with companies/organisations in other European countries.

 

 

Who can participate in Erasmus?

You can apply to participate in the Erasmus programme, if:

  • You are enrolled in a formal programme of study at higher education level leading to a degree or postgraduate qualification (including doctoral level) in one of the participating countries.
  • You have completed at least the first year of your third level studies.

You should contact the CIT International Affairs Office, located on the ground floor of the Administration Centre, CIT Bishopstown Campus, for information on the Erasmus programme, as well as procedures, application deadlines, requirements, etc.  Please email first to set up an appointment: erasmus@cit.ie

Where can I go?

By clicking on the Erasmus Partner Institutions link here you will see the institutions with which CIT has signed exchange agreements, as well as the departments involved in the individual Erasmus exchange agreements.  You can apply to study at a selected partner institution, depending on which course/modules are included in the bilateral exchange agreement, and their compatibility with your own course of studies at CIT.

When can I go, and for how long? Will I have to take time out from my course to do Erasmus?

An Erasmus study period is an integral part of the student’s normal study programme, and therefore it is not necessary to take time out from your course to participate in Erasmus.  In the framework of the Erasmus programme, you can spend between three months and a full academic year abroad. In general, students spend either the first or the second semester, or a whole year abroad. Academic calendars can vary at the different institutions, but generally speaking, CIT’s two-semester structure corresponds with the structure at most of the partner institutions.  The minimum period eligible for Erasmus funding is 12 weeks.

Will I get a grant to go abroad?

Yes. Erasmus provides mobility grants to selected students. These grants are not full scholarships.  Rather, they are intended as a contribution towards the extra costs involved in studying abroad, such as travel expenses, language preparation costs, higher general costs of living in the host country.  Students who are entitled to a grant for studying at CIT can keep this entitlement whilst studying abroad.  The awarded amount varies significantly from country to country, according to cost of living. The Erasmus grant does not affect the amount of the student’s normal maintenance grant.

Will I have to pay university fees abroad?

No.  It is a condition of the Erasmus programme that participating students are charged no fees (for tuition, registration, examinations, access to laboratory and library facilities etc.)  However, small fees may be charged for costs, such as insurance, student unions, the use of photocopiers, laboratory products, etc., on an equal basis with local students. In order to participate, you should be a registered student at CIT, whether you will be spending the whole academic year or just a few months abroad.  Therefore, you pay your registration fee to CIT in the normal way at the start of the academic year.

Will I receive credits for my study period abroad?

Yes. The Erasmus study period is an integral part of the programme of study at CIT. Full academic recognition is given for the study period abroad, as outlined in the Learning Agreement through the ECTS system.

What are ECTS credits?

To facilitate academic recognition, the majority of European universities have adopted the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). This system provides a common scale for measuring in credits the student workload required to complete course units (for example, one full year of studies generally amounts to 60 credits, one semester to 30 credits)

What is a Learning Agreement?

The Erasmus Learning Agreement is a contract of studies, which must be completed by the student applying to do an Erasmus exchange.  The student must find the most appropriate list of modules offered at the host institution.  The selection of modules must make up 30 ECTS credits per semester, 60 credits for two semesters.  The Learning Agreement should be completed as part of your application to the host institution, and must be approved by the Erasmus Academic Coordinators at CIT and at the host institution.  Subsequent modifications to the Learning Agreement are permitted, provided that they are agreed by all parties concerned. At the end of the study period abroad, the host university will provide the exchange student, as well as the sending university, with a transcript reporting the results obtained by the student for the agreed programmes of study, and the number of ECTS credits gained.

Who will help me with information about accommodation?

Finding suitable accommodation is an important aspect of your Erasmus experience. Often the cheapest alternative is to stay in the host institution’s campus accommodation. The International Affairs office will liaise with its counterpart at the host institution in this regard.  If campus accommodation is available, then this can be arranged relatively easily.  If campus accommodation is not available, then information will be forwarded to students by the host institution outlining the procedures for renting privately owned flats/houses.  You can also ask at your host university if they have any special places where they post accommodation listings.  Accommodation advertisements can also be found in the local press.  Students should beware of booking accommodation on-line in case of scams.  It is always best to check with the host institution if the particular site is reputable.

How will participation in the Erasmus programme benefit my employment prospects?

Research has shown that candidates’ evidence of experience in living/studying/working abroad is an added attraction to potential employers.  Many former Erasmus students have succeeded in finding work which requires the use of international competences, such as language proficiency, knowledge of a particular professional sector in the host country, as well as the ability to adapt to a new environment and life skills such as communication, team-working, cultural awareness and problem solving capabilities.  (Ref The Higher Education Funding Council for England's report "Attainment in higher education of Erasmus and placement Students", 2009.)

Is it possible to do a placement abroad?

Yes, the Erasmus programme also provides funding to support students whilst carrying out their placement period abroad.  There are opportunities for CIT students to do this in many of the Erasmus-eligible countries.  You should speak to the placement coordinator in your department and ask about the host companies/organisations in other European countries which normally offer placements to CIT students.  Depending on the number of candidates for these places, there may be a selection process.  If you find a placement yourself, you should discuss the training offered with your placement coordinator, to ensure that the experience on offer will meet the requirements for your course.  Priority is given to students whose courses have a mandatory placement period.  However, there may be a small number of placement grants available for summer placements.  All Erasmus-funded placement periods must be for a minimum of 12 weeks.

How do I apply for an Erasmus placement?

You will need to complete an application form and attach a current CV, translated into the appropriate language.  You will also need to complete an Erasmus Training Agreement, outlining the skills and tasks of the training experience, and the ECTS credit value of the placement (assigned by the relevant academic department in CIT).  This document should be signed by the student, the placement coordinator and the host organisation supervisor before the student goes abroad.

Will I need to be able to speak the local language?

If you are going to undertake a study programme at the host university, you must have acquired sufficient knowledge of the host country language to enable you to attend lectures and sit examinations in that language.  Some partner institutions are now offering courses taught in English.  Where students do not have the requisite language skills to study a full course the host institution, it may be possible for them to go to the host institution to complete a project, or to undertake a practical placement in the host country, provided this is an integral part of their existing course at CIT.  However, even if this is the case, some knowledge of the host country language will be required for day to day living in the host country.

Are there any preparatory language courses available?

Yes, preparatory language courses can be arranged at CIT prior to your departure, but due to time constraints, these courses are short, concentrating on everyday language requirements or specialised vocabulary for a particular academic discipline.  Students planning to go abroad during the course of their studies at CIT may wish to avail of one of the language modules which are being taught at CIT.  In addition, host institutions of countries, where the national language is less widely used and taught, frequently offer Erasmus Intensive Language Courses (EILC) to incoming Erasmus students.  An additional grant is available for attending one of these courses.

When should I apply for an Erasmus Exchange?

Autumn Semester 2012 application deadline: (September to January), or full year applications : Contact International Affairs Officer as soon as possible. Erasmus@cit.ie
NOTE: Students applying to do Erasmus in the autumn semester will need to have passed all of their summer examinations, as they must be registered students at CIT before commencing their Erasmus period. E: erasmus@cit.ie

Spring Semester 2013 (February to June/July) application deadline:
12th October 2012

When should I apply for an Erasmus Placement?

You should speak to the Placement Coordinator in your department initially if you are interested in doing an Erasmus funded placement.  Since the number of Erasmus placement grants available will be limited, expressions of interest should be sent to the International Affairs/Erasmus office no later than Friday, 12th October 2012.

Should there be any unused grants remaining, it may be possible to offer Erasmus grants for placements taking place during the summer period, provided that these meet the criteria detailed above.  Again, these must be for a minimum period of 12 weeks.

How do I apply?

Erasmus Exchanges:

Firstly, you must complete an Erasmus Application Form (see link below).  This is an expression of interest form.  You should also complete the learning agreement form, listing the modules offered at the host institution, which are the best possible match to the equivalent year of study at CIT. You may need to ask the Erasmus Academic Coordinator in your department for assistance.

If your application for an Erasmus exchange is approved, you will then be required to complete an application form for the host institution.  Many host institutions now have an on-line application process.  You will be sent details of the application process of the institution you have selected.

Once your application has been approved by the host institution, you will be required to sign an Erasmus Grant Agreement form which sets out the terms and conditions of your Erasmus exchange, period of exchange, Erasmus funding amount, etc.  On completion of your Erasmus exchange period, you will be required to complete an Erasmus Student Report form and return it to erasmus@cit.ie in order to claim the balance of your Erasmus grant.

Erasmus Placements
You must complete an Erasmus application form and attach a CV (with relevant translation), as well as a training agreement signed by all parties

Once your application for an Erasmus placement has been approved, you will be required to sign an Erasmus Placement Grant Agreement form, which sets out the terms and conditions of your Erasmus placement, placement period, Erasmus funding amount, etc. On completion of your Erasmus placement, you will be required to complete an Erasmus Placement Report and return it to Erasmus@cit.ie , in order to claim the balance of your Erasmus placement grant.

Where can I find out more?

You should make an appointment to see the Erasmus Academic Coordinator for your department to find out more about the department’s Erasmus partner institutions, courses offered, placement opportunities.  The Erasmus Academic Coordinator will advise you on the academic issues related to doing an Erasmus period.  For practical advice, on housing, insurance, the application process, etc., you should contact the International Office (details below).

Information links (CIT Website):

CIT Erasmus Programme (outgoing students), where you will find the application forms and information required to apply for an Erasmus exchange :  

Erasmus exchange documents:

Erasmus placement documents:

General Information on Erasmus Programme:

EURIRELAND website (Erasmus National Agency for Ireland’s international website):  www.eurireland.ie
EACEA (European Commission) website - information on Erasmus mobility programme):  http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/Erasmus/Erasmus_en.php
ESN (Erasmus Student Network) website:   http://www.esn.org/
Language Programmes available at CIT (check individual courses for language modules available): courses
European Health Insurance Card (must be valid for period full Erasmus period: http://www.ehic.ie 

Other useful orientation/language modules for students going abroad:
www.justlanded.com
VOCAL - (Vocationally Oriented Culture and Language) - A Leonardo da Vinci funded initiative led by the Institute of Technology, Tralee
Read the blog of a former CIT Erasmus student who spent a semester in Finland: http://www.jackhiggins.ie/finland/