More than 150,000 people benefit each year from the world’s largest exchange programme. Students attend classes in their host institution and earn credits that count towards their degree. They improve their language skills, mix with international students and party, European-style.
‘In short, it was probably the best experience of my life,’ says Leeds University student Natalie Martin, who spent last year studying in Orléans, France.
What can Erasmus do for you?
"It is a great time to learn a second language," says Sue Hopkinson, Information Officer for the UK Socrates-Erasmus Council. "You can take classes at your home university before you go and Erasmus may pay for you to have a short intensive course before term starts at your host institution.
"Most students do pick up the language to at least basic conversational level, through mixing with the local community and other students," explains Sue.
"Employers are looking for graduates with language skills, so it’s an excellent selling point on your CV."
How long do you spend abroad?
If you are worried about spending too much time away from home you can spend as little as three months away.
It’s never easy to step into the world of the unknown, but in doing so you are showing potential employers that you’re not afraid to have an adventure and can learn to build social networks from scratch.
"Employers often complain that new graduates lack interpersonal skills,’ says Sue. "But through mixing with students abroad you develop such social skills and an awareness of different cultures."
"I think I benefited from my attempts to mix with people from a range of countries - I’m still in touch with many of them now," says Natalie.
Will it affect my work?
"Students often do much better than they expect whilst they’re abroad, probably because they are really having to make the effort to understand the material," adds Sue.
"They come home very inspired in their academic subject. As your Erasmus year is usually your penultimate year of university study, having a fresh outlook on your subject will help greatly when it comes to finals."
What’s the cost?
It could be cheaper than staying at your home university, as if you meet the student support criteria and spend a full academic year abroad as an Erasmus student, your year's UK tuition fee will be waived.
You will receive a grant to help cover living expenses and you can still take out your student loan. If you stay for less than a year you’ll have to pay the normal fees to your home university, although these may often be reduced, and you’ll still get an Erasmus grant.
As an Erasmus student you pay no tuition fee to your host university.