What Is Erasmus?
If you say the word Erasmus to most people, they’d probably give you a funny look and question your mental stability.
However Erasmus is one phrase that all University students should know and they should understand what the Erasmus program has to offer.
For those who don’t know, Erasmus allows students to work or study abroad for part of their degree course. Nearly all subject areas are catered for however some universities don’t offer Erasmus for all subjects, so you would have to check with your University to see what they offer.
Where can you go?
Firstly, Erasmus is a programme that only acts within the borders of Europe with 33 participating countries. This then covers most of the countries within Europe however there are some notable exceptions such as Russia, Serbia, some of the other Eastern European states and some of the small nations such as Andorra.
The idea is that while you are in this country, you will get a taste of the culture and heritage there, in an attempt to enrich your learning beyond the syllabus of your course.
They actively encourage you to attend different festivals while you are there, whether that be musically related or something else, which helps you to integrate with the rest of the population.
Why?
The big question nowadays is what are the benefits to me of going? Firstly, it is something to add to your CV to show that you will have some foreign language skills and even more independence than most graduates.
You’ll get a chance to visit a new place, even though you are not taking a gap year as it will be part of your degree. Most importantly, you’ll get a grant and receive plenty of support to help pay the tuition fees. How much? It depends on where you are going with the wealthier Western European countries giving grants of £350 a month and the Eastern European countries giving £250 a month.
Finally, you’ll simply get a chance to meet new people who may not share the same ideologies as you and you’ll be able to spend plenty of time exploring a foreign country. Moreover, it is not just a study placement that you have to do, you could do a work placement, which will give you crucial work experience that will impress any future employers.
As you can see, there are a plethora of reasons to sign up to the Erasmus programme, it will add plenty to your CV and give you a chance to take some time away abroad.