What is ERASMUS?

ERASMUS is a cultural and educational exchange scheme run and funded by the European Union. Students and staff from all around the EU take advantage of it to live and work or study in another country.

Who does the scheme apply to?

Each year up to twenty-two single subject English students from Leicester transfer from the three year English BA to the four year English (European) BA

Image courtesy of Salzberg Tourist Information

and spend their third year studying at a European university.

Where can I go?

The School of English has links with universities in:

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

What if I don’t speak the language?

English is the language of instruction in all of these departments, so all of your classes and all of your assessment will be in English. To enable you to make the most of your ERASMUS year, language classes are provided during the second year in Leicester, as well as during the year abroad.

What about money?

Under current arrangements BA English (European) students receive their LEA grants and their student loans for an extra year, as well as some additional funds from the European Union to cover travel and extra living expenses. Whoever is supporting you now would have to do so for another year to some extent.

How does it fit in with my degree?

60 European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS) credits from your year abroad count as 30% of the final average of your degree classification.

What if I don’t want to go on my own?

Apply with a friend.

Image courtesy of the University of Tuirn

When should I apply?

Given that places are limited and allocated strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, students who have already decided to spend a year abroad should email the outgoing co-ordinator as soon as possible in the interim. It is the policy of the School of English that such places that are available are allocated to first-year students in the order that their applications arrived, without other biases or preferences.

There is a presentation, hosted jointly by the School of English and the International Office, during the first week after the Easter vacation. This gives prospective ERASMUS candidates an opportunity to meet visiting students from our exchange universities and to talk to Leicester students newly returned from their year abroad.

If places are still available after that, they will be allocated during the following week.

Who should I talk to?

 The tutor to contact for Leicester students wanting to study in Europe is Dr Holly Furneaux (until January 2012) or Dr Anne Marie D‘Arcy (after January 2012)

Students visiting Leicester from abroad should contact Dr Harry Whitehead