Careers Centre

ERASMUS Work Placement grant

Careers Centre

What is Erasmus? European Commission scheme to increase mobility of Higher Education Students around

Europe Two sections - Study and Work Placements Support given to help University students to undertake work experience in Europe, as a part

of their course

Isn’t this just for language students? Aimed at everyone, not just language students! Change to industrial year variant of course (eg POLIS

PIED8800 Work Placement) and get extra funding if work placement in Europe.

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What do I get from Erasmus Work? 1. ERASMUS GRANT, flat-rate, based on no months of placement: 2009/10:

€365 (£325) per month Not a maintenance grant; help towards extra costs of living abroad

2. A TUITION FEE WAIVER *

2011/12: worth £900 For a full year (7 months) spent in Europe. Must be EU national & eligible for UK ‘Statutory Student Funding’ (ie Student Loans; dependent

on residency criteria). International & Islands students NOT eligible for this.

3. MAINTAINED STUDENT LOANS/GRANT See next slide*Subject to annual governmental review

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3. MAINTAINED STUDENT LOANS/GRANT As an Erasmus student, you have special status regarding Student Loans

/ grant:- You have the right to have your student finance package maintained

(ie not reduced, unlike other “sandwich” course students). So, you must tell your assessing authority that you will be an Erasmus

student (there is a box to tick on the Student loan application).

4. PAY & BURSARY Students also receive payment from job (being paid doesn’t affect your

right to the grant in any way). If you normally get a Leeds bursary, you still get this (reduced)

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How do I qualify for Erasmus Work? You must be a student registered at the University on a degree

course; this includes international students. You must be registered at the University before AND after the

Placement (usually students go away after their 2nd year).

How do I arrange a placement? You are responsible for arranging your own placement. You need to be organised and start planning early!

Check with School what kind of placements are suitable Go to Careers Centre to get help with searching, CVs etc. Research organisations and get applications in. Observe deadlines

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Will my work placement qualify for Erasmus? Your work placement must be

a part of your degree (approved by dept & recognised by the University

eg in degree title / supplement – no summer jobs!) in an EU country 3 – 12 months long (but can do 3+6 or 4+5, if agreed) a full-time job (25 hours per week) timely (must fit into cycle, eg 1 Jun 2011 to 30 Oct 2012)

Your work placement must NOT be a job working directly for the EC, or representations / public

institutions of the home country of the student (eg embassies, consulates, national agencies, cultural institutes, schools)

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How do I apply for the grant and fee waiver?

Most important thing is to concentrate on getting your PLACEMENT ARRANGED!

Application for the Erasmus grant & fee waiver is through the Careers Centre (from May/Jun).

Application Form emailed to you. Copy of documentation about your placement and its

dates needed as proof. Co-operation! If you apply, you will need to regularly check your

email and do as I ask, as there is a lot of paperwork to get through…

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Where can POLIS students go?

Previous/current/future Erasmus Work students:- ECAS (European Citizen Action Service), Brussels –

defending European citizen rights Stichting ActionAid International, Brussels – anti-poverty

agency ETUI (European Trade Union Institute), Brussels – labour

research, education & support at European level Allianz, Munich – financial services Fleishman-Hillard, Brussels – International communications

agency

NB: does not include Joint Honours languages students

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Erasmus Work

If you want to know more, please contact:

Contact details (Angie Willshaw)

Email erasmuswork@leeds.ac.uk

Telephone (0113) 343 7104

Webpage http://tiny.cc/50rkf(http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/students/work-experience/erasmus-work/index.asp)

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Other Stuff

POLIS talks – proposed talk by Michael Dennison who directs research for Control Risk

Leeds City Council Internships http://www.polis.leeds.ac.uk/about/careers/internships/case-study-alexander-pearson.php

http://www.w4mp.org/html/personnel/jobs/list_jobs_ref.asp

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Other Stuff – Continued!

New POLIS Careers Module

Careers Centre

Any Questions?