le.ac.uk/international

1. International Office ERASMUS COORDINATORS 2011-2012 www.le.ac.uk/international

2. 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 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 Research exchanges. • Erasmus incoming work placements are not administered by the Leicester Erasmus Team.

3. 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)

4. 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!

5. Erasmus at Leicester 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.

6. Erasmus at Leicester 2011-2012 • 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

7. 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

8. 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!

9. 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 groups • Country-specific: €400 to students going to Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Poland or Turkey. • Widening Participation: €500 to students from low-income families. We expect to pay these in 2012

10. 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.

11. Erasmus Staff Mobility Two Options: • Teaching Mobility for academic/teaching staff • 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/

12. Student & Staff Guidance • Student Blackboard site, information meetings and pre-departure sessions. • Staff Blackboard site. • New IO Website • Coordinators’ Handbook – NEW! • Timeline • Responsibilities • Student FAQs • Procedures

13. www2.le.ac.uk/offices/international/overseas-exchange 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). https://swww2.le.ac.uk/offices/international/staff/europe/funding-for-visits-to-european-universities/

14. Any questions?

15. Upcoming Dates – Incoming Students

16. Upcoming Dates – Outgoing Students