International Office EUR eur.nl/studyabroad eur.nl/studerenbuitenland /EurCentralInternationalOffice Studying & Internships Abroad Practical Guide 2015 - 2016 1 Amy Fransz Went on exchange to USC, USA 2 Index 1 Orientation ................................................. 5 2 Gathering information ............................ 7 3 Studying abroad ........................................ 9 4 Internships abroad ................................. 11 5 Volunteer work ........................................ 13 6 Financial matters .................................... 14 7 Pre-departure matters .......................... 18 8 Upon return .............................................. 22 9 Useful websites ....................................... 23 Appendix 1 Checklist .................................. 24 Appendix 2 Contact information ........... 25 Appendix 3 Partner institutions ............. 26 3 “The entire world is my temple…” Desiderius Erasmus, 1466-1536 4 1 Orientation Going abroad can be a valuable experience both academically and in general. Before deciding you want to go abroad, you should ask yourself two essential questions: Why do I want to go abroad and what do I hope to achieve from going abroad? The next step is deciding what form of experience you would like to have abroad: educational or work-related? Take your time collecting information; 1.3 When? do not underestimate the fact that Generally speaking, the third year of going abroad can be challenging. your Bachelor’s programme will be the It takes a lot of preparation and not best time to go abroad as an exchange everything will necessarily go student. However, if your faculty allows according to plan, but the experience it, it may also possible to go during is worthwhile. Just ask any student or after your Master’s. Other options who has been abroad; his or her eyes are an internship, a summer course or will immediately light up, memories doing volunteer work. Of course, will come flooding back and a huge it all depends on your plans. Your smile will appear on his or her face… faculty coordinator can advise you on Next time that could be you! this matter. Whenever you decide to go abroad, 1.1 Who? you should always be aware of the fact To anyone considering, thinking of that it will take time to prepare. Some or dreaming about going abroad, deadlines are very strict and only we strongly recommend following occur once a year. Consequently, it the advice offered in this guide. is advisable to start preparing a year Going abroad during your study at in advance! Erasmus University Rotterdam is definitely the best way of gaining 1.4 Where? some international experience. If you would like to study at a specific university or enhance your skills in a 1.2 Why? certain language, you may know quite For some students it is obligatory to quickly where you would like to go. Do go abroad, as it is part of their study not forget that though many countries programme; others know that some do not have English as their main organisations stipulate you spend a few language, they often do offer courses months abroad. Some students hope in English. For an overview of our to find an academic challenge, while partner universities, see appendix 3. others prefer a personal one. Sometimes students simply want to improve their foreign language skills. 5 1.5 What? 1.6 How? Once you have made up your Whatever path you decide to take, you mind about why you would like will almost always have to apply for a to go abroad, it is time to decide place. Monitor the deadlines, as you on the destination and the type of definitely do not want to miss them! activity (study, internship, summer Faculties have selection procedures course or volunteer work) outside and you should bear in mind that there the Netherlands that best suits your may be a maximum number of places ambitions and requirements. Have available. You can find the selection a look at the different options for criteria on your faculty’s website. broadening your horizons in chapters 3, 4 and 5. Do you want to increase your chances of being selected? Some faculties find it important that you have been active Jon Duifhuis in an international environment, such Went on as the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) exchange to City Rotterdam. More information about University London ESN-Rotterdam can be found on their website: www.esn-rotterdam.nl. 6 2 Gathering information At the start of the orientation process, it is recommended to visit your faculty’s website and to have an extensive look at Nuffic (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education) website: www.wilweg.nl. Your faculty’s international office will be able to answer specific questions and provide you with detailed information about partner institutions. 2.1 Information fair and sessions (on studying in the US) and other Each year in November, the organisations. International Office Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and the international In April, further information sessions offices of the various faculties organise will be held about grant or scholarship an information fair: the “Studying possibilities for exchange programmes. and Internships Abroad Fair”. At this To find out the dates of these sessions, information fair, the faculties provide check the following websites: information about the application www.eur.nl/studyabroad/ (English) process and deadlines. Many or www.eur.nl/studerenbuitenland organisations will also be present, (Dutch). such as the Language & Training Centre, organisations offering 2.2 Student reports internships and several funding bodies. You can find written student reports You will also be able to meet other on the website of your faculty’s students from partner universities and international office or on: EUR students who have recently come www.iris.siu.no/iris.nsf/reports (reports back from an exchange programme or from students who have been abroad an internship abroad. In addition, as part of their Erasmus+ Programme). a number of grants are awarded to students in a lottery organised by 2.3 Studying abroad with the A.A. van Beek Fund. All in all, a functional impairment attendance is highly recommended as If you have a functional impairment it will enable you to gather information, and you would like to study abroad, useful tips, material and perhaps even you might need extra facilities. Please a grant for your future study abroad. refer to: www.handicap-studie.nl/ or www.european-agency.org/ for more In December, the International information. Office EUR organises an information session about following a full degree programme abroad after you have completed your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. During this session, there will be presentations by Nuffic (on financing), the Fulbright Center 7 “In leaving home one learns life. Travelling is victory! You shall return with so much wisdom.” Joseph Conrad 8 3 Studying abroad If you would like to study abroad, there are several options to consider. For example, you can study at another university as an exchange student or as a free mover. Other options are to attend a summer course, apply for a Master’s programme or go on a study trip with your study association. See for yourself which option suits you best. 3.1 Exchange programmes + Advantage This can be tailored to As an exchange student, you can study your own educational wishes or abroad for one or two semesters at choice of university outside of the one of your faculty’s partner universities. EUR partner agreements. You will gain Student exchanges take place as part experience by arranging your own of a collaborative agreement or on admission, recognition of credits etc. a bilateral basis between universities - Disadvantage It takes longer to (see appendix 3 for an overview of prepare, because you need to go the partner universities). through the admission procedure of the university in question, there is no + Advantage Many practical matters exemption from tuition fees, and you have already been dealt with (e.g. need to arrange your own funding exemption from local tuition fees, and accommodation. Moreover, there possibility of obtaining a grant or is no guarantee that the completed scholarship, recognition of credits courses can be converted to the EUR based on the European Credit Transfer programme. System (ECTS), on-the-spot coaching, and sometimes accommodation). 3.3 Full Master’s degree - Disadvantage You can only choose After completing your Bachelor’s from current partner universities. degree, you may be admitted to a Master’s programme abroad. You 3.2 Free movers can find more information about As a free mover you can study abroad international Master’s programmes on: outside of the official exchange master.wilweg.nl (Dutch only) or on: programme. This is the option for you www.mastersportal.eu. You may also if you have a strong desire to study at find a suitable Master’s degree course a specific university, or if the partner by looking on the countries’ page university you would like to go to does of the Nuffic website: not have any available places. You can www.wilweg.nl/landen. also decide for yourself how long you would like to remain abroad. + Advantage It looks impressive on your résumé if you follow your full Important tip before deciding to go Master’s degree abroad. In addition, abroad as a free mover, you must in some other countries, the discipline check with your faculty‘s international you would like to specialise in might office to ascertain whether this is actually be offered in a study possible within your programme. programme while it is not offered in 9 the Netherlands, or in another 3.5 Study trips country the discipline might be Several study associations organise further developed. Another advantage international study trips at least once is that several funding bodies offer every academic year. Check if your grants or scholarships to students study association organises one of going abroad for their Master’s these trips and join the international degree.