International Office

www.le.ac.uk/international

ERASMUS COORDINATORS 2011-

2012

What is Erasmus?• Funded by the European Commission.• The most well-known inter-national student and staff exchange

scheme, having sent well over 2 million students abroad since 1987.

• Aims to foster a greater sense of European identity and ultimately strengthen Europe as a knowledge-based world economy.

• Participating countries are EU and EEA/EFTA members, Switzerland, Croatia, Macedonia & Turkey.

What isn’t Erasmus?• Non-European mobility, eg. Leicester’s Study Abroad Study Abroad programme• Erasmus Mundus – this is a separate strand of the LLP, but with a

similar name! Nor are we Comenius, Leonardo, Grundtvig, or Transversal.

• Erasmus can’t fund staff ResearchResearch exchanges.• Erasmus incomingincoming work placements are not administered by the

Leicester Erasmus Team.

Erasmus Team • Who are we?

– Nalina Pattni, Erasmus Assistant– Laura Nieminen, Erasmus Intern– Cleo Bowen, Erasmus Institutional Coordinator – Natalie Cunningham (Finance & Bilateral Agreements)

• Contact:– Email: erasmus@le.ac.uk– Tel: x5142 or x2476– International Office, 2nd Floor, Astley Clarke Building

(Entrance 1)

Erasmus Departmental Coordinator’s Role

• Support Erasmus at departmental level• Encourage and inform students who want to

take part in Erasmus• Approve students’ module selection• Allocate outgoing students to partner

universities• Advise on academic/accreditation matters• Lots more!

In 2010-11:We had 234 (168 FTE) Erasmus students at

Leicester from: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland.

We sent 154 Leicester students to European universities (or placements) in:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands.

Erasmus at Leicester

• 134 students outgoing• 257 incoming (187.5 FTE)• Erasmus Student Feedback shows

– Good experience, language skills, cultural awareness and independence rank top.

– Accommodation, communication and prior information biggest hurdles.

• 2011-12 Erasmus Ambassadors (46 so far!) – returning students keen to help with Erasmus promotion across University

• Approx 20 Staff Exchanges

Erasmus at Leicester 2011-2012

Erasmus Tuition Fees – NEW!There will never be any tuition fee to the Erasmus Host

University; some fees payable to Leicester.• Year Abroad Students in 2011/12 (now):Tuition fees waived by HEFCE. • Year Abroad Students in 2012/13 and 2013/14:Tuition fee waiver anticipated* by HEFCE, if not £1,250

fees to University of Leicester. Decision by Jan 2012.• Year Abroad Students in 2014/15 onwards (starting

under new fee regime):£1,250 tuition fees to the University of Leicester.*from draft consultation only

Funding for Language Classes – NEW!

Language Learning in the UK• Languages@Leicester – 50% subsidy during

year 2 of study at Leicester.• Students can look for classes locally if not

available at L@L. Will also be subsidised 50% (within reason)

In-Country Language Learning• Official EILCs (Erasmus Intensive Language Classes) –

free of charge, additional Erasmus grant allocated to participants. Very competitive, a place not guaranteed.

• ILCs (other Intensive Language Classes) eg. run by host university – no longer eligible for additional Erasmus grant, tuition fees reimbursed by Leicester in July before departure. Good value!

Erasmus Student Grants – NEW!• During the Erasmus period, all participants

(regardless of nationality) are entitled.• On average, a student spending 9 months (1 year)

abroad in 2010-11 received £2,900 in Erasmus Grant• The grant is paid in 2 instalments:

– Payment 1 = end October– Payment 2 = end July

NEW Supplementary funding for specific groupsNEW Supplementary funding for specific groups1)Country-specific: €400 €400 to students going to Cyprus, Greece,

Lithuania, Malta, Poland or Turkey.

2)Widening Participation: €500 €500 to students from low-income families.

We expect to pay these in 2012We expect to pay these in 2012

Student Financial Help – NEW!• Students abroad with financial

worries can still contact the University’s Student Welfare Team for advice and support.

Hardship Fund• As of 2011-12, there will now be a

hardship fund specifically for Leicester students abroad, should they need financial help during their Erasmus exchange.

• This will be assessed and administered by the Student Welfare Office.

Erasmus Staff Mobility

Two Options:1.Teaching Mobility for academic/teaching

staff

2.Training Mobility for any member of staff

• 1-6 week exchange• Travel and expenses reimbursed• Apply ASAP and before Christmas 2011!

Details and criteria:https://swww2.le.ac.uk/offices/international/staff/europe/funding-for-visits-to-european-

universities/

Student & Staff Guidance

• Staff Blackboard site.• New IO Website• Coordinators’

Handbook – NEW!– Timeline– Responsibilities– Student FAQs– Procedures

• Student Blackboard site, information meetings and pre-departure sessions.

Website• New ‘plone’ format • Areas divided into

incoming/outgoing.• Step-by-step

processes.• Outgoing area

focuses on students who have not yet committed.

• Dedicated area for staff mobility (staff login required).

www2.le.ac.uk/offices/international/overseas-exchange

https://swww2.le.ac.uk/offices/international/

staff/europe/funding-for-visits-to-european-

universities/

Any questions?

Upcoming Dates – Incoming StudentsDate Activity

12 September Online registration opens

27-30 27-30 SeptemberSeptember

International Students’ Welcome Programme International Students’ Welcome Programme (ISWP)(ISWP)

27 September Incoming students start to arrive

3-4 October Erasmus students module registration (with departments)

by 7 October Students finalise module selection and receive student card

11 October Last date that Erasmus students (latecomers) can enrol online

16 Dec-16 Jan Student Christmas break

16-27 Jan Semester I Exams

27 January 2012 End of Erasmus period for Semester I-only students

Upcoming Dates – Outgoing StudentsYear of

studyDate Activity

3 Aug/Sept/Oct Students start Erasmus year abroad

0 24 September University Open Day

2 Week of 3 October

Eligible outgoers 2012-13 should register for Language courses

0 8 October University Open Day

2 By 15 October Outgoers 2012-13 should have switched to 4-year degree

3 By end October Students abroad should receive Erasmus grant payment 1

1,2 15 November Study Abroad & Erasmus Fair

2 By 30 November Departmental Notification Forms (2012-13 outgoers) should be returned to Erasmus Team