The B.A. International option for non-language students

via the Erasmus Programme

Student Information Evening 29th January, 2020

Presentation by Mary Lyons

International Affairs Officer (Erasmus Programme Manager)

B.A. INTERNATIONAL OPTION

Students not studying a continental language

• Full Third Year Abroad

• Europe (ERASMUS)

• USA, Canada

• All Subjects through English (in most cases)

THE 4-YEAR B.A. INTERNATIONAL

Subject A

Subject B

Subject C

B C

THE YEAR ABROAD

B C

Final Arts

Second Arts

First Arts

Studying Abroad: If you are nominated …

• You go abroad after having successfully completed Second Year, and you transfer from the 3-year B.A. programme to the 4-year B.A. International Programme.

• While abroad, you must pass sufficient courses to secure a minimum of 40 ECTS credits (20 credits in each subject).

Studying Abroad (continued)

• You remain a registered student of NUI Galway while abroad, paying the appropriate fee.

• In this way, your period of study abroad is recognised as an integral part of your BA International Degree.

• After spending the year abroad, you return to complete your fourth and final year at NUI Galway.

Requirements • Period of study must be 1 academic year. • Students are not required to pay tuition fees

to the Host University – however, they are required to pay normal registration fees to their Home University.

• This means that you pay your fees and remain registered as an NUI Galway student while studying abroad.

• The year abroad must be completed successfully (40 ECTS credits).

Compliance

Failure to fulfil the requirements of the Year Abroad will have the following

consequences: 1. The student will be obliged to pay fees for

the final year of the BA Joint Honours. 2. The student will be deprived of the BA

International Degree and, on completion of their final year at NUI Galway, will be awarded the BA (Joint Honours) degree only.

3. May have to repay Erasmus grant

Possible study destinations

• The College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies and its disciplines are linked – through the Erasmus Programme - with a number of partner universities in Europe that offer courses through English.

• Bilateral / Exchange Agreement: a “contract” between 2 universities that allows a particular number of students to be exchanged in a particular subject area

• There are also some links with the USA and Canada.

Things to bear in mind

• Most of the relevant European partner universities offer courses through English in specific subject areas only.

• Limited number of study places available, i.e. competitive process:

• Academic record (2:1 average, at least, is recommended)

• Statement of motivation • Possibly also a short interview

ERASMUS+

EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students

So far, across Europe, over 3,000,000 students have participated.

Bilateral Agreements between universities in various subject areas allow

EXCHANGE of students – NO TUITION FEES.

Workload of study period abroad is set out in student’s LEARNING AGREEMENT and is recognised by the Home University.

A MOBILITY GRANT may be available to assist with costs.

Studying abroad – terminology HOME University:

NUI Galway

HOST University: the university where the student spends the year abroad

Academic/Subject Coordinator: A designated staff member in each School/Discipline who will

provide guidance on course choice etc, and with whom students are expected to keep in touch before and during

their study visit.

Erasmus Learning Agreement: A contract setting out the courses you will take at the host university and the recognition you will get from NUI Galway

for completing them.

Who can go on Erasmus?

• Students on a degree programme at NUI Galway who have completed one full year of study, regardless of nationality, are eligible to take part.

• Non-Irish European citizens will not normally be nominated to study in their birth country.

The Advantages of Study Abroad

• Academic development • Personal development • Cultural and social aspects:

– Get to know another country & its culture – Perhaps learn some of the language – Make new international friends – Expand your horizons ...

• A positive addition to your CV

What do participants say?

“I have become more independent and have had time to decide on the possible paths I wish to

take once I finish my degree. “Enjoy every single minute; it is a chance of a lifetime. You will have so many memories and

friends from this.” Katrina Nee, Abo Akademi, Finland

More quotes from students “For me, Erasmus is more than just University: it’s the people, the culture, the places, the friends that I’ve made, the experience I’ve gained and the memories that I’ll have forever.” “I feel like Erasmus really added to my degree and to who I am as a person. There will be work but it'll be rewarding, you get out of it what you put in. The modules I took added more variety to my education and this definitely benefitted me for final year. Adapting to a different lifestyle is challenging but that's what encourages growth.”

“ … an adventure that has without question changed my life forever”

Leah Fitzgerald, Abo Akademi, 2018/19

Reindeer sledding

Lake in Turku

Abo Akademi has a tutor program where you are placed in a group led by a native student who helps you in your first few weeks with everything from registration and finding classrooms to organizing parties. My tutor Jenny has become a dear friend and is planning on visiting Galway in April. Most of my classes were structured how our seminar classes are structured, and there are a lot more opportunities for continuous assessment to make up your final grade. For the most part, bar a few classes, my grades were better in Finland than they are at home.

During my 9 months in Finland, I traveled to 14 countries, I volunteered in my friend’s campaign for the Finnish parliament, I became friends with a reindeer, I became a sauna addict, I jumped into ice water in Norway in December, I went to Lapland and met the real Santa, I met the Irish ambassador to Finland, I saw the sun set on top of a mountain at 1pm when it only rose an hour previous, I found myself surrounded by incredible people from diverse backgrounds who I know I will be lifelong friends with.

More pictures from Leah’s year abroad (Abo Akademi)

L-R: Santa’s Village, Lapland, Dinner party in the student village; Turku sunset

Laoise Hurley, Erasmus in Uppsala, 2018/19 “My advice to students thinking of going on Erasmus next year is to go for it. It’s been the best thing I’ve done and I feel like I’ve learned so much, both personally

and academically. Despite the cold weather, I would recommend Sweden as it’s a beautiful country and there is so much to do. I have met people from so

many different countries and can now visit friends in all corners of the world.”

Left: Dog-sledding in Kiruna, Sweden

Standing on a frozen lake in Lappland

Rebecca Connolly, Erasmus in Leiden, 2017/18

“I would recommend that you go for it, as I personally have enjoyed the experience so far. All positives definitely outweigh the negatives, and have only made me even more independent. I've really adapted to the Dutch culture - it’s not too different from us, but they do have

their own ways of doing things, especially the cycling everywhere! The people are generally friendly, and all have English, so a language

barrier is not an issue in everyday life.”

Viking runestone

Houses

Katwijk, about 15 minutes away from Leiden

There follows a list of Erasmus links by

country, university and subject(s)

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: 1. You will be expected to take 20 ECTS in each of

your degree subjects while abroad.

2. Where a particular subject is indicated in purple on this list, you MUST be taking that subject as one of your degree subjects if you

wish to apply for a place at this partner university.

also important ...

• Having satisfied requirement #2, you will have to ensure that you can take 20 ECTS worth of credits in your second subject at that particular host university.

• Investigate this by referring to (i) the appendix to the application form and/or (ii) the host university’s website.

• You will need approval from both your NUI Galway disciplines.

(1) Universities with courses available through English

• Belgium - KU Leuven (both Soc. & Pol. and Law)

• Czech Republic - Charles University, Prague (Archaeology)

• Finland - Åbo Akademi, Turku (Soc. & Pol.)

- Helsinki (Soc. & Pol.)

• Hungary - Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest (Law)

• Malta - University of Malta (a. Various; b. Maths)

Courses available through English (continued)

• Netherlands - Leiden (Law and Soc. & Pol.)

- Groningen (History; Law) • Poland - Jagiellonian University Kraków (Law)

• Sweden - Uppsala (a. Celtic Civilisation; b. various) - Karlstad (IT)

• UK - Aberystwyth (Celtic Civilisation) - University of Glasgow (Celtic Civilisation and Archaeology) - University of Strathclyde (Glasgow)

(History)

Law students applying for Erasmus

should bear in mind the fact that the Law School’s exchange places are also open to students of

Corporate Law and Civil Law, and so there will be competition for these places.

Erasmus Links by country, university and subject(s)

(2) Good command of French or German required for the following exchange places

• Austria - Vienna (History) • France - La Rochelle (IT) • Germany - Bonn (Celtic Civilisation) - Göttingen (various) - Heidelberg (Soc. & Pol.)

Websites for European Universities

• Please see the Appendix to the ERASMUS application form, where we have listed all the host university websites, as well as subject combinations that are possible in each university.

• Look for links such as “International”, “Exchange/Visiting Students”, etc

Costs of going to Europe on Erasmus

• Total cost for the year will be between €7,000 - €10,000 approx.

This includes accommodation, household bills, food, travel, academic materials etc.

• Some partner university websites may have information about the costs of spending a year studying there.

What you should budget for … & what funding is available

• General Costs of Living (accommodation; heat/electricity/household bills; food)

• Travel costs

• Books, etc • Normal fee to NUI Galway

• Erasmus Mobility Grant €2,250 - €2,700 for a 9-month stay (depends on country)

• SUSI Grant (if applicable) • Back to Education Grant (if

applicable) • SISSI? • Disability / Special Needs

Grant (if applicable)

Erasmus+ grant rates

• €300 per month for UK, Finland, Sweden

• €250 per month for Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Turkey

• Part of a month: (# of days ÷ 30) x grant rate

The Application Process – both EU and non-EU

• Carry out some research on the destinations available by consulting the different universities’ websites.

• Complete the form and tick the box to indicate your preference of Europe or North America.

• Return your application form to Catherine McCurry in the College of Arts Office by 4pm on 10th February (strict deadline).

Criteria for Selection • Your Examination results: First Arts and

Semester 1 of 2nd Arts

• The extent to which you demonstrate having researched your selection

• The strength of your Personal Statement

• The ‘fit’ between your subjects and your selection (especially for ERASMUS)

Selection of candidates

• Where a particular Discipline “owns” an exchange link, we will refer the relevant students’ applications to the International Coordinator in that Discipline for his/her recommendation.

• Shortlisted candidates for Malta and Uppsala will be invited to attend an interview.

What happens then?

• The College of Arts, SS & CS and the International Affairs Office make an offer of places by early March (earlier for US universities).

• If you accept the offer, you will be officially nominated to the relevant Host University as an exchange student for 2020/2021.

• You will need to follow the application procedure for the host university. NUI Galway International Office or your departmental coordinator will advise.

More Information on Erasmus

• Erasmus website: www.nuigalway.ie/erasmus-programme

“Outgoing Students”

• Contact Jodi Blumenfeld or e-mail outgoingerasmus@nuigalway.ie