Erasmus - anyone got any experience of this?

[GrumpyOldBag]

DS is in Lower 6th and we are looking at University options. I have heard a little about the Erasmus programme enabling him to study abroad for a year as part of his degree (we would look at a Greman-speaking country). But the website is hard to follow and school not great at giving out info.

Anyone got any direct experience they can help with please?

ERASMUS is an EU programme, funded by the EU. It is possible to do exchanges via universities to countries all over the world but they are not part of the ERASMUS programme and will have their own funding arrangements.

I did it as a student in the late 90s and it was an amazing, horizon-broadening experience. Also, fantastic for consolidating the learning of a European language. I did it in the days pre-tuition fees at UK universities and it cost me nothing extra. I lived in student accommodation at my exchange university that was cheaper than my accommodation in the UK.

I think it is best to look for a course that has an MFL component as they often already have well-established exchanges set up.

In your DS's case, the best thing to do is to look for a Maths with German course ( does he already speak German?). These are generally 4- year courses with a year abroad built-in.

However, do ask questions if the UK does vote to leave the EU. I'm sure universities won't stop doing exchanges, but these would probably not be through ERASMUS as countries are only permitted to take part if they fully accept the free movement of people (see the reference to Switzerland upthread). I'm not sure what the consequences would be for funding etc.

My friend's DS is studying maths at the University of Hertfordshire and has the option of a year abroad on the Erasmus scheme. It's a sandwich year in addition to his 3-year degree, not replacing a year.

Thanks, DS is doing German & Maths A levels and is strong in both.

We have some German relatives on DH's side.

Didn't even know that Maths with German was a thing, definitely worth checking out ...

What is DOMTOM?

Contacting Goethe Institute also a great idea - I learnt German there myself years ago.

In your DS's case, the best thing to do is to look for a Maths with German course ( does he already speak German?).

These courses are good, but do require A level German.

Many UK maths degrees are not keen on Erasmus exchanges which involve missing part or all of a year of UK education, as the students on their return generally have not covered all prerequisite material for third year modules - maths is a subject in which one really needs certain prerequisites to proceed, and transferring in and out of universities is not easy. So indeed Erasmus is often done as an extra year, rather than replacement year. (And I agree with other posters that Brexit will almost certainly affect our access to Erasmus; we will be treated similarly to Switzerland.)

And if Britain did leave the EU, I doubt exchanges would stop.

But Erasmus funding would stop, as this is not given to those from non-EU countries (since the latter do not pay into the EU budget).

DOMTOM is an acronym for French territories overseas. Someone I know did an ERASMUS exchange to the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean!

I did an Erasmus year in Italy 20 years ago - brilliant experience, in fact I'm still here.

esornep he will have A Level German.

Interesting about the Maths not being keen on Erasmus for replacement. How does the additional year work?

I did a lang + other course and spent a year abroad. I ended up becoming great friends with a lot of ERASMUS students and still am.

The focus definitely seemed to be on the social aspects rather than learning. We went out constantly. This was about 6 years ago now.

My best friend did Maths + French and walked into a graduate scheme job with a major supermarket with a starting salary of 35k.

Another friend did Maths + German and works for a big commodity trading firm in Germany, focusing on statistical analysis and is absolutely coining it in.

We're 25/26 so not like it was a million years ago that we graduated.

Would definitely recommend Maths + lang combo if he is interested.

Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield were all popular with my friends who did JH Languages.

If the vote goes for Brexit, Erasmus will stop because the funding could be pulled retrospectively

a shame because my DD was looking at it

There are many exchange schemes between countries which do not use Erasmus - Switzerland and the EU have set-up an alternative. It will not change the practicalities.

My son does Maths at Bath and has just come back from a year at a US uni.

... realise that's not German speaking lol

Courtesy of Google

www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/undergrad/erasmus/

Warwick claim to be the biggest supporter of the Erasmus programme nationally, plus have a very strong maths department. Note only very strong students seem to be able to count their year abroad as part of their degree, rather than take it as an addiitonal year.

But note that Warwick maths ask for extremely high grades - if you aren't looking at obvious A stars in maths and further maths, then Warwick maths is not for you.

(And not true that Warwick is the biggest supporter of Erasmus - this is just marketing. Also the maths departments they are exchanging with are for the most part not terrific.)

My daughter did French and Economics with erasmus yr in France . She went to Sheffield Uni .

Was a really good experience for her and she now has a great graduate job .

My son is due to do an Erasmus year in September as part of his mech eng degree. It varies a lot between universities and departments. His is not an exchange scheme but he did apply to do mech eng with a year abroad initially through UCAS. He had to write a piece on why he wanted to study abroad and choose 3 unis. 2 of his were in Europe and one in the US. His department decided which ones they put him forward for depending on his grades over the first 2 years. Unfortunately he didn't do well in his Jan exams which probably ruled out his first choice particularly as it would have been in German. The course he is going for in in English within the EU. He then had to fill in the Erasmus form for that particular university and they had to accept him.
Once accepted he had to look at which modules he wanted to do over the year and get them approved by his UK uni and also apply for accommodation. He gets a grant for Erasmus.
He's excited but has still to ensure he's passed his May exams (or passes September resits) before he can definitely go.

I did an Erasmus year in 2007 and absolutely loved it. You get a grant to help with some of the additional costs but its not much, you need extra money on top of the usual student loan, plus the grant.

I made a lot of friends with other Erasmus students, they tend to stick together and have a reputation for the wildest parties - certainly true in our case! We met up once a year in placement town for a few years after the Erasmus year ended as a kind of reunion and keep contact on facebook - I'm better friends with those people from that one year than with the friends I made at Uni in the UK. Several couples were formed in that year and a few have got married now.

A word of warning though - I never actually went back home after my Erasmus year, been nearly 9 years now and I've made my life here!

Thanks everyone, some really great advice here.

Will definitely look at Warwick, hadn't previously considered it. DS is hopefully on course for A* in both his Maths.

I would also check if the student really wants to do Maths and German as this will mean doing German as well as Maths for the degree and will obviously be a lot of work. You can do Maths with a year abroad, but then the student just studies maths. This is a different degree and you need to know the difference and what the options are. The lessons (if any) in the language will not count towards the degree. Research what might be best . It is poor the school cannot advise.

There are very good universities in Germany and the Erasmus system works well there. They are well organised exchanges. Some universities have links outside Erasmus, eg Oxford. It is also possible to do sim ruins like Mechanical Engineering with a year abroad and the year abroad is the third year of a four year degree. All options are worthwhile but make sure the German universities are rated for Maths. The best universities here are not necessarily going to link with the best universities in Germany.

A subject like....

My son's mech eng degree (5 years as Scotland) linked with Stuttgart which was highly rated for engineering (too highly rated for his exam performance in the end sadly). I agree that the countries the unis have links with do vary a lot.
He's now going to Prague but is very excited by the white water course there (he's a kayaker) and the small robot module he's doing, plus some of his uni friends from other courses are also going there.