Erasmus - the term given to a student in Germany and Europe more frequently to read or hear. Most know that this has anything to do with a semester abroad. But why is called the "Erasmus"? What has it? And how do you become a "Erasmus Student"?
Erasmus is named after Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, a major scholar of European humanism in the 15th and 16 Century, the numerous trips to France, England, Italy, Switzerland and Germany undertook. Erasmus stands for "European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students".
Aha, mobility of students. And what have I now specifically of Erasmus?
Erasmus gives financial support - a scholarship - and helps with promotion and other formal things, if you want to do a semester abroad. Even more concrete: The scholarship amounts to about 125 € a month, but usually you get a little more. Also important: Erasmus makes sure that what you learned at a foreign university and has done, is recognized for studying at home. In return, a system called "ECTS" is served.
ECTS? What's that now?
ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System ". The system was designed to achievements of students in European universities to have and count on Uniwechsel at the other university can compare. And how does it work? Basically quite simple: collect points! Each event (lecture, seminar, etc.) is a certain credit value assigned. These credits also complain "credit points". For an event that is one semester long, you get mostly from 7.5 to 30 credits, depending on how much effort you must operate it. An event for 30 points is already not: It you have one semester in a course spend a great deal of time. An event for 7.5 points, however, is such a small lecture to a few hours of lectures per week. Most events need to complete examinations. Erasmus usually requires 30 credits per semester.
well and good. But as I will for Erasmus student?
is the first requirement, that you have at least two years in Germany studying (or any other country in Europe) and mentions a report card his own. There are exceptions where you can already do a semester abroad, but most of the testimony is required. And then it says: Apply, and indeed early, about a year before going abroad. Most universities have a so-called "International Bureau" (also often called the "International Office"), the gives further details. Sometimes you just above this office, sometimes on the department in which you study, apply. But that tells a the International Bureau. And what belongs in such an application?
- an application form which you get to the International Office or can download on their website
- CV
- Interim report, for example, pre-degree certificate
- Letter of motivation: the reasons why will they spend a semester abroad at the selected location
- the "Learning Agreement ": this is a table on which the courses and their credit value must be listed, which one would visit. The Courses can mostly be found on the websites of the host university.
partnerships - including universities want is a relationship between
universities in Europe and the so-called partnerships vary from department to department. The University of Frankfurt, for example, has numerous partnerships with all European universities, my Department of Biology, but only with a few universities in a few countries. Usually one is bound to it that a university partnership exists when one chooses a university abroad. What are the universities, can also be found on the websites of the International Bureau. But if one wants to another university with which the department has no partnership, it is more complicated. Since, however, the International Bureau Provide information, and any good way will be found already.
ran off with me How?
I've studied two and a half years at the University of Frankfurt, before I applied for a semester abroad. My application was running directly on my Department of Biology. I wanted to Scandinavia and was lucky: my department had a partnership with the University of Copenhagen and the University of Tromso in Norway. I have had a short interview in English, because English is the language of instruction in the courses that I have chosen at the University of Copenhagen. And after my motivation letter and CV were found to be good, the first hurdle was already done: I was Erasmus Student! From there it was even easier. I had always had forms by mail by the International Bureau and the University of Copenhagen, which I fill out and return. From then on I had more to do with the International Bureau of the University of Copenhagen with the in Frankfurt. And after many months of discussions with the relevant authorities (health insurance, international student loan office) finally all the forms were concerned, and proposals received and could begin: København, JEG her commercial!
Yes, this is Erasmus.
And next entry: Why the German similar to Danish, but then is so special and yet many "ektra blod Properties added.
