'Dare the adventure, it's worth it!' St Andrews Erasmus Student
'My Erasmus experience was a really positive one: I have met great people, had the opportunity to study at a world-renowned centre of academic excellence and learnt a lot about Dutch culture.' St Andrews Erasmus Student
Erasmus Opportunities
- What is Erasmus?
- What is Erasmus Student Mobility?
- What Erasmus opportunities are there for St Andrews students?
- What are the eligibility criteria?
- How do you assess my Erasmus eligibility?
- Can I go on more than one Erasmus placement?
- I'm on an Erasmus Mundus programme - am I eligible for an Erasmus study grant?
Erasmus Fees and Funding
- As an Erasmus student, do I pay tuition fees?
- What is the Erasmus Mobility Grant?
- How much is the Erasmus Mobility Grant?
- What do I need to do to receive my Mobility Grant?
- How will I receive my Mobility Grant?
- When will I receive my Mobility Grant?
- What happens if I have to come home early?
Erasmus Documents
Erasmus Opportunities
What is Erasmus?
Erasmus is the EU's educational programme for Higher Education students, staff and institutions. The scheme is funded by the European Commission as part of the Lifelong Learning programme. It exists to promote student and staff mobility in higher eduction, principally within the European Union, although some non-EU countries also participate.
The UK Erasmus National Agency is the British Council.
What is Erasmus Student Mobility?
There are two key types of Erasmus Student Mobility: Study Mobility and Placement Mobility. Study Mobility involves participation in a student exchange with one of our partner universities in Europe, either for a semester or a full year. Placement Mobility means a work placement undertaken for academic credit in another European country participating in the Erasmus programme.
What Erasmus opportunities are there for St Andrews students?
Study Mobility
Several Schools in Arts and Science have Erasmus links, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level, with other European institutions; see Thinking About Study Abroad for details. Several of our European partners offer courses in English as well as the host language. Please note: you may only study at an institution with whom the University has an exchange agreement.
Placement Mobility
Students undertaking WIYA placements in Europe through the School of Modern Languages may be eligible for Erasmus funding. Chemistry students completing an Industrial Placement for credit in another European country may also be eligible.
What are the eligibility criteria?
Students must be registered on a St Andrews degree programme and have completed at least one year of higher education. Students must be on an approved, credit-bearing study or work placement in order to be eligible for Erasmus funding. Internships and other placements undertaken over the summer vacation are not eligible.
Students must study or work in a country participating in the Erasmus programme. For 2012-2013, this means: EU member states; Iceland; Liechtenstein; Norway; Switzerland; Turkey; Croatia.
To be eligible, students must spend at least three months abroad, and no more than 12 months.
For full information on Erasmus funding for study and placement mobility, and eligibility criteria, please see British Council Erasmus funding.
In addition to the general eligibility criteria, students undertaking a Language Assistantship or a work placement should note the following:
British Council Language Assistants
British Council Language Assistants, provided they meet the general eligibility criteria, are considered full Erasmus students.
Comenius Language Assistants
Comenius is a part of the EU Lifelong Learning programme and, like Erasmus, is funded by the European Commission. As a result, students on Comenius Language Assistantships are not eligible for Erasmus status or Erasmus funding. For further information on the Comenius programme, please see British Council Comenius.
Work Placements
Please note that the following types of organisations are not eligible as host organisations under the Erasmus programme:
- EU institutions and other EU bodies including specialised agencies;
- Organisations managing EU programmes;
- Diplomatic representation (embassy/consulate) of the student's home country.
IAESTE Work Placements
Students on work placements under the IAESTE programme are not eligible for Erasmus Mobility Grants.
How do you assess my Erasmus eligibility?
The Collaborations & Study Abroad team will assess your eligibility once you complete the relevant forms. Please see Erasmus Documents below for further details.
Can I go on more than one Erasmus placement?
During the course of his or her higher education, a student may receive one Erasmus grant for study and one for work placement. The total duration of all grants may not exceed 24 months.
Students may participate in a period of study at different host institutions, where this forms part of a single course of study. These periods must be consecutive. For example, a student may spend Semester One at a French exchange partner and Semester Two at a Spanish exchange partner - this would count as one study placement.
I'm on an Erasmus Mundus programme - am I eligible for an Erasmus study grant?
Students enrolled in an Erasmus Mundus programme at St Andrews may apply for an Erasmus study grant for study at other consortium institutions provided they meet all of the following conditions:
- They are matriculated students at St Andrews;
- St Andrews is their ‘home’ institution on the Mundus programme;
- They are not in receipt of an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship;
- They have not benefited from an Erasmus study mobility grant before (including previous Erasmus funding on the Mundus programme).
- If eligible, students must meet all normal conditions of the Erasmus programme.
Please note that only ONE institution, the 'home' institution, may pay students an Erasmus study grant. This funding is provided to assist with the costs of study when students are away from the home institution. Grants cannot be provided for study at other institutions prior to matriculation (registration) at the 'home' institution. Grants cannot be provided for two separate semesters over two academic years. To use a typical route on one of our Mundus programmes as an example:
- Semester 1 - Institution 1
- Semester 2 and Semester 3 - St Andrews (home institution)
- Semester 4 - Institution 3
In this example, St Andrews would pay an eligible student an Erasmus Mobility Grant for Semester 4 only.
Please see How much is the Erasmus Mobility Grant? for information about grant rates.
To apply for an Erasmus study grant, please email studyabroad@st-andrews.ac.uk by the end of October for mobility in second semester and by the end of April for mobility in first semester.
Erasmus Fees and Funding
As an Erasmus student do I pay tuition fees?
As an Erasmus exchange student you will not pay tuition fees to your host university, though you may be asked to pay extra costs e.g. lab costs.
There will be a St Andrews tuition fee generated for every Study Abroad, Exchange, WIYA and Industrial Placement student, whether you pay your own tuition fees or have them paid on your behalf. Please see Tuition Fees for further information.
For 2012-2013, tuition fees for first degree eligible students who are subject to the UK student support arrangements and spend a full academic year abroad as an Erasmus student will be met by the relevant Funding Council. However, you should ensure that you notify your funding body of your intention to go abroad. SAAS students must apply to SAAS for tuition fee funding. Please be aware that, where the Funding Council does not meet the full costs of tuition, students will be liable.
One semester Erasmus students are not eligible for tuition fee funding, and will be liable for their normal St Andrews tuition fees for the full academic session.
For advice about arrangements with your funding body, please contact the University's Money Adviser.
What is the Erasmus Mobility Grant?
Erasmus students normally receive an Erasmus grant provided by the European Commission which contributes towards the extra costs arising from studying or working abroad for credit. It is not means tested, and nor is it a loan.
How much is the Erasmus Mobility Grant?
Mobility Grants amounts are determined by the UK Erasmus National Agency, not the University. Grants are calculated on a monthly rate and amounts vary from year to year depending on demand from UK participants in the Erasmus programme. Mobility Grants are intended to contribute to the extra costs of study abroad. The initial grant rate for 2012-2013 is 370 Euros per month.
What do I need to do to receive my Mobility Grant?
You must ensure that you have:
- Completed the relevant documents before you leave St Andrews so that the CSA team can assess your eligibility (see Erasmus Documents below).
- Submitted your UK bank details on your student portal.
- Completed, signed and returned your Erasmus Mobility Contract (see Erasmus Documents below).
- Completed matriculation at St Andrews.
While you are abroad you must complete a number of documents in order to meet the requirements of your Erasmus mobility. Failure to do so may delay your second grant payment (if relevant) or may mean that you will be required to return your Mobility Grant.
How will I receive my Mobility Grant?
Mobility Grants are usually paid in Sterling directly into students' UK bank accounts. The University will pay grants at the Oanda rate of exchange on the date we receive funds from the UK National Agency.
In order to receive the Mobility Grant, students must submit their UK bank details in e-Vision.
When will I receive my Mobility Grant?
Students going abroad for the full academic year will normally receive the first instalment of their Mobility Grant at the end of September/ beginning of October and a second instalment in January.
Students going abroad for semester one only will receive their Mobility Grant at the end of September/ beginning of October, and second semester students will receive their Mobility Grant in January.
The University may receive extra funding from the UK National Agency around May, and if so, students will receive a further grant allocation at this stage.
Note: payment of the Mobility Grant is dependent on students returning all necessary documentation to St Andrews. Failure to do so will delay payment and may even mean forfeit of the Mobility Grant.
What happens if I have to come home early?
Students who return home early may have to return some or all of the Mobility Grant. This will depend on the circumstances in each individual case. If you have to leave your study or work placement for any reason, please otify the CSA team immediately.
Erasmus Documents
What is the Erasmus Mobility Contract?
If you are eligible to receive Erasmus funding, the Collaborations & Study Abroad team will send you a personalised Erasmus Mobility Contract before you go abroad. You will be required to complete, sign and return it to the CSA team. You should be aware that in signing the contract you are agreeing to meet the obligations of the placement period stated and to return all documents by the stipulated deadlines to avoid any delay in the payment of your Mobility Grant.
Your Mobility Contract will advise you to read the following appendices before you sign and return it:
Erasmus General Conditions (PDF, 11 KB)
Erasmus Student Charter (PDF, 47 KB)
What other documents must I complete?
If you are studying abroad, you must complete:
- Learning Agreement
- Student Acknowledgement of Receipt of Grant
- Student Report
- Certificate of Attendance
PLUS other CSA documents for all students. The above documents are available at Study Abroad Documents.
If you are working abroad, you must complete:
- Work Placement Agreement OR Personal Details (Language Assistant) and Work Placement Agreement (Language Assistant)
- Student Acknowledgement of Receipt of Grant
- Student Report
- Certificate of Attendance & Record of Work
The above documents are all available at Work Abroad Documents.
The Erasmus programme is operated with the support of the Commission of the European Communities within the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme. The University is solely responsible for all Erasmus information available on the University website and in any University publications.