The ERASMUS scheme is a cultural and educational exchange programme run and funded by the European Union which enables students from across the EU to experience living and studying in another country. Each year up to twenty-two single subject students from the School of English transfer from the three year English BA to a four year English (European) BA and spend their third year studying at a European university.

This means that on the BA English (EU) degree, you take the first two years of the English degree as normal, then study abroad for your third year, before returning to complete the final year of the BA English as your fourth year.

The School currently has links with universities in:

• Austria (Salzburg);
• Finland (Helsinki);
• France (Paris);
• Germany (Heidelberg, Leipzig);
• Holland (Amsterdam);
• Italy (Bologna, Turin).

Student comments

Sumit, back from a year in France, writes

Chantel spent a year in Salzburg:

Practicalities

English will be the language of instruction at whichever of our partner universities you choose to study, so all your classes and all your assessments will be in English. However, to enable you to make the most of your ERASMUS year, relevant language classes are provided at Leicester before you leave, as well as during your year abroad.

Currently students on the ERASMUS scheme receive their LEA grants and their student loans for an extra year, as well as a grant from the EU to help cover travel and extra living expenses.  In addition students are not charged tuition fees for the year abroad either by Leicester or the European university at which they study. However, please note that funding arrangements are under review for future applicants. 

The courses that you follow as part of the ERASMUS scheme will be assessed and the marks that you receive abroad will count as a quarter of your final degree classification at Leicester.

Full description of BA English degree

Students are given the opportunity to apply for the ERASMUS scheme during the second semester of their first year and are welcome to apply jointly with a friend.

Students on the BA English and American Studies can apply through the School of English Erasmus scheme for European destinations, or through a separate Year Abroad scheme for American destinations.

BA English and History students can apply through the Historical Studies Erasmus exchange.

Come and see for your yourself

There is no substitute for personal experience. We believe that witnessing what the school, university and campus has to offer first-hand will allow you absorb what it is actually like to be a student; and that is something you cannot get from a book or website.

Book a place on an open day

For more information please contact:

• (For incoming Erasmus students) Dr Harry Whitehead
  
• (For outgoing Leicester students) Dr Holly Furneaux (until January 2012) or Dr Anne Marie D'Arcy (after January 2012)
  

ERASMUS FAQs