ERASMUS - Student Mobility

Introduction to Mobility

Erasmus seeks to enhance the quality and reinforce the European dimension of Higher Education, by encouraging transnational cooperation between higher education institutions, promoting mobility for students and higher education teaching staff, and improving transparency and academic recognition of studies and qualifications throughout all member states of the European Union and other countries participating in the Socrates Programme.

Students following undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral degrees registered at the University of Malta are eligible for academic placements at partner universities and higher education Institutions with whom the University of Malta has signed a bilateral agreement duly included in the annual Institutional Contract.

Students are being offered the opportunity to follow a period of study in a European University ranging between 3-12 months. During that period of study they follow a number of credits or conduct research in relation to their thesis or dissertation. That period of study is recognised as part of their final degree issued by their home university (the University of Malta in this case). The student chosen for an Erasmus experience does not have to pay academic fees to the hosting university. Moreover, he is given a grant to partially finance the expenses that are incurred in travelling, accommodation and living abroad.

When do I apply?

Each year the Socrates Office at the University of Malta issues applications together with the list of placements for students interested in pursuing an Erasmus period abroad. The applications are usually issued at the beginning of the year (January/February) for Erasmus exchanges taking place in the following academic year (October-June).

Which are the Universities abroad?

Specific contracts are signed between universities enabling students to proceed on Erasmus placements. These contracts (called Erasmus Bilateral Agreements) specify the area of study, the number of students and the duration of the placement. (Eg: the University of Malta holds a Bilateral Agreement with the Universita' degli Studi di Perugia, Italy, in the field of Law. Two students can spend a period of 4 months each following courses in the Faculty of Law at Perugia each year. On the same grounds, the University of Malta accepts two students from Perugia to study at the local Faculty of Laws for a period of 4 months). Such Erasmus Bilateral Agreements bind the two universities involved in accepting students under Erasmus conditions (non fee paying, equal academic rights to local students, etc..) and to cooperate within the Socrates framework.
The Bilateral Agreements must be renewed on a yearly basis to ensure continuation. For this reason, the list of placements available changes from one application round to the next. The number of placements varies each year, however, for each of the academic years 2001/2, 2002/3 and 2003/4 approximately 300 places were offered for University of Malta students.

How do I get selected for an Erasmus period?

Each application received at the Socrates Office is checked for eligibility (that the student has chosen the right placements according to the subject area, year of study, etc..). A selection board is then held with representatives from the Faculty/Institute and the Socrates Office. During the selection board, the academic record of each applicant is viewed and the Faculty/Institute provides the recommendations on:

• the academic background of the student

• the time period chosen

• the University chosen (in accordance with the student's specialisations)

The linguistic capacity of the applicant is also crucial. Students are therefore encouraged to develop fluency in foreign languages other than English. The aim of the Erasmus programme is to bring students in contact with new cultures that are different to those they have been brought up in. Moreover, involvement in Erasmus activities organised locally indicate a general approach towards this area of cooperation and exchange. Although the main criterion for selection is academic, one's preparation, interest and initiative are proof of qualities that are necessary to sustain a period of study in a foreign university.
The selection results are communicated by postal mail to each applicant. Successful students are called up to start the necessary preparations, whilst unsuccessful applicants are given clear reasons why their application was not accepted.

Who makes the necessary preparations?

Prospective Erasmus students receive help from the Socrates Office and their Faculty/Institute to coordinate all necessary preparations. The University that will be hosting the student abroad provides academic and other logistical information (accommodation, orientation, travel arrangements, etc.). With the help of academic coordinators, the programme of credits that a student will follow abroad is drawn up. The student then compiles the Learning Agreement - a contract containing details about the credits that will be followed abroad with the necessary ECTS equivalency. The student, the Faculty and the Socrates Office of the University of Malta and the Faculty and Socrates Office of the hosting University, signs this contract. The acceptance of this document ensures that the period of study that a student will follow abroad will be recognised and the results that the student brings back duly endorsed in the student's transcript of records.
The Socrates Office also assists in the logistical preparations giving each student the necessary information and advice regarding visas/residence permits, travel arrangements, financial management, reporting, etc.

What is ECTS?

The European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS) was developed within the framework of the Socrates Programme guaranteeing the reciprocal recognition of qualifications awarded by its signatory institutions. Universities participating in Erasmus advise prospectus students the weighting of credits in ECTS. This helps the student to work out the necessary conversion, ensuring that students obtain the amount of credits that is necessary for them to complete their studies locally and abroad. (Eg: the University of Malta has adopted the following scale - 1 Maltese credit is equivalent to 2 ECTS. Every University however, has a different scale that it works out according to the ECTS regulations set out by the European Commission).

What form of financial assistance is available?

Grants are awarded to Erasmus students through financing received from the European Commission and are calculated yearly on the basis of the budget received from the European Commission. However, as a general guideline the minimum grant is 200 euros per month rising to a maximum of 500 euros per month. Students with particular socio-economic constraints or physical disabilities are entitled to the maximum grant if the necessary funds are available. The student retains his Government maintenance grant during the period of study abroad. Even if the grant amounts awarded by the University of Malta are above the European average, the grant will only partially fund the students' stay abroad. Therefore students should make sure that they have other forms of financing to cover the expenses incurred whilst abroad.

Can foreign students apply for Erasmus exchanges?

According to regulations stipulated by the European Commission foreigners registered as full-time students at the University of Malta from the 15 EU-Member Countries, from Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein and from EU-Candidate countries (Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus) can participate in the Erasmus Programme. Refugees and students from countries not mentioned above but who are recognised as permanent residents of Malta are eligible for participation. If selected for the Erasmus programme, foreign students obtain equal rights to local students, thus being eligible to receive Erasmus funding. During their stay abroad, they must however, continue paying tuition fees to the University of Malta.

What is the difference between Socrates and Erasmus?

Erasmus is one part (formally called Action) within Socrates. Socrates is actually a very large programme encompassing all areas of formal education - the other actions involved are Comenius (School Education), Lingua (Language Learning), Gruntvig (Adult Education), Minerva (Open and Distance Learning), Joint Actions (Projects in conjunction with Youth and Leonardo), Observation and Innovation.
Erasmus focuses specifically on Higher Education and is therefore of interest mostly to University students, academic and administrative members of staff.

Are Scholarships available?

Erasmus is not a scholarship programme. Funding is not given to individuals interested in following a whole course of study in a European University. The Erasmus Programme can only offer help to students who are following a course at our University and wish to study part of that course in another EU country.

Can I study in a country that is not an EU-member state?

Students registered at the University of Malta are allowed to follow Erasmus placements in EU-Member states only. Erasmus regulations do not as yet allow exchanges between Universities in EU-Candidate countries and between Universities in EU-Candidate countries and EFTA countries.

What are the benefits of going abroad on Erasmus?

Since its launch in 1987, more than a million students have been able to take advantage of mobility arrangements under Erasmus. All over Europe, the Erasmus label is regarding as a prestigious award signalling an individual's openness to cultural diversity and interest in developing a European dimension on a personal and an academic level. A semester abroad provides a student with a wealth of knowledge and experience, also giving him new tools and proficiency that are certainly useful in today's highly competitive job market.

Extracts from reports received from Maltese students who went on Erasmus during 2000/1:

" Ultimately the seeming language problem was not too great an obstacle. Lectures were easy to follow as I was particularly familiar with the subjects being taught. It must also be stressed that all my lecturers were especially kind and patient with Erasmus students, especially with those whose mother tongue was not French. Studying abroad was a unique cultural encounter and was also an opportunity to face new challenges which I undoubtedly have gained invaluable experience from".

Angelica Coppini, B.Sc (Hons.), Communication Therapy, 3rd yr - Institut Libre Marie Haps, Brussels, Belgium

"I don't know how it happened but it actually did and now it is all over. It was my dream to live and study abroad for a couple of months and now the impossible dream came true. It is surely the best experience in my life yet and I am looking forward to travel abroad again if not for study purposes it would be for work"

Noah Agius, B.A (Hons.) History, 2nd yr - University of Exeter, UK

"Living alone was a new experience; the nicest thing was that we learnt to look out for ourselves in every way while also living together with our differences… The teaching method always consists of a theoretical and practical part, the enchanting natural environment in the north certainly made our extensive fieldwork trips with the geography classes stunning.. I could appreciate more the cultural and social heritage of what I came across during these five months - other ways of life, people with quite distinct cultural identities and histories too".

Noelle Cardona, Elysia Borg, Marlene Vella, B.A. (Hons.) Geography, 2nd yr - Universidad de Cantabria, Spain>

"Besides the academic excellence of the University and the wealth of resources in its libraries, the human element of Erasmus exchanges is incredibly important.. Unity in diversity makes sense and the importance of these exchanges is that they put this principle into practice. Tomorrow's Europe, which we all hope will be based on peace and cultural understanding is being built today by means of these exceptional exchanges and I feel that Maltese people with their good grasp of various languages and exposure to diverse cultural influences have a role to play in the building of a united Europe"

David Friggieri, LL.D, 3rd yr - Universite' de Rennes I, France

"One of the reasons why the Socrates program was put into being was so that the different students of the European Union could experience the different cultures of each member and thus foster more understanding and unity in the European Union, this I think is being fulfilled, and fully successful at it. Where I was living there were at least 200 students living together in a block of residence halls, and the number of nationalities present was incredible, and all of these students made an effort to appreciate every culture that was present and friendships have thus fostered between people whose countries are on opposite sides of the globe".

Stefan Muscat, B.A (Hons.) 2nd yr - University of Plymouth, UK

Other Sources

Two other very good sources of information are the Maltese students who have already been on Erasmus and the European Erasmus students who visit the university on semester and yearly placements. These students can provide you with first-hand knowledge on the university and country you are interested in visiting through their own experience. Taking part in activities organised by and for foreign Erasmus students currently in Malta will not only help you form a wider vision of the programme but also help you to forge new friendships and experiences.