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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Erasmus+ any experience

26 replies

BeyondMyWits · 02/05/2022 11:52

Dd is going to be doing a year's study abroad in Europe as part of her degree... and was wondering what happens about banking, paying rent, mobile phone etc.

If anyone has experience of being on a study year, any tips or info would be most welcome.

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 02/05/2022 12:37

Hi, OP -

Is she going this Autumn and still lacking this information? Her university should be providing in depth briefings on this kind of thing, as well as the local learning environment and expectations and the important question of accessing health care.

I have participated in these briefings for countries where I have taught uni, but not for Erasmus. I hope someone will be along with concrete answers for you soon. I also suggest that your DD join TheStudentRoom online forum where I expect she can get good information. Best wishes

everybodystalking · 02/05/2022 12:41

I think Erasmus has been replaced by Turing scheme as we are no longer part of the EU. (unless you are not in UK).
My child is going abroad next year and uni have briefed but also there's a lot of unknowns as yet.
If you google Turing Scheme 2022 it will give you basic information, individual unis usually have a link on their website also.

Original poster
BeyondMyWits · 02/05/2022 13:10

Thank you... She is in Wales which adds its own complications, but it is really just the life admin she'd like some tips on , if anyone has experience of study abroad in Europe.

OP posts:
Glittertwins · 02/05/2022 13:12

I hope things have improved since I did a year out as part of my degree, we got nothing from the university- they couldn't even get the term start dates to us in time!

Original poster
BeyondMyWits · 02/05/2022 13:15

Glittertwins · 02/05/2022 13:12

I hope things have improved since I did a year out as part of my degree, we got nothing from the university- they couldn't even get the term start dates to us in time!

That is a familiar bit of a worry, she's had a few "briefings", but it all seems a bit woolly right now. Hoping things will improve.

OP posts:
Wotagain · 02/05/2022 13:24

Two of my DC did Erasmus years in Europe. We loaded euros onto currency cards rather than open bank accounts and they bought local SIM cards for their phones, iirc
One dc lived as a lodger and paid her landlady in cash. I’ll check with the other how she paid her rent and come back to this thread.

cakebaker39 · 02/05/2022 13:29

My daughter is in Germany at the moment. British passport holders need a visa now, which requires a bank account called a blocked account, into which you have to put enough money for the year, then open a current account to use everyday once in the country (the blocked account pays into this monthly).

Original poster
BeyondMyWits · 02/05/2022 14:59

Thank you. It is Germany that she has applied for, so that will be interesting money wise.

Using a local sim for phone is something we thought may have to be done as her provider (most I think) doesn't really allow for more than a holiday abroad.

It is all a bit overwhelming to be honest. She is doing something new to any of us, but expecting me (muuuuuuuuummmmm) to just know what she needs to do, when I have not got a clue.

OP posts:
cakebaker39 · 02/05/2022 15:51

@BeyondMyWits I have sent you a private message

Original poster
BeyondMyWits · 02/05/2022 18:16

Thank you.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 02/05/2022 19:18

My DD went to Switzerland and Italy. We did nothing other than pay for flights and have holidays where she was based. I appreciate it’s different now but you still need a motivated DC. My DD got everything from her uni or her unis abroad. The Swiss one had everything sorted. The Italian one left you to it. DD had a hall of residence in Switzerland and private room in a flat in Italy. Both rents were paid in advance.

DD will need to keep looking at her uni website for info and make sure she applies for accommodation if it’s available. DD got a SIM card abroad. I can’t remember if she had a Swiss bank account!!! I guess not.

pinklavenders · 03/05/2022 11:25

My DD is also going to Germany next year! Her UK Uni has been very helpful in providing information regarding visas, funding etc. some Unis have Erasmus funds left, others will claim via Turing.

Housing is being organised by the host Uni.

We haven't thought about mobile phone contracts though.... Is it best to buy a less cal SIM card?

pinklavenders · 03/05/2022 11:27

Local (not less cal) Blush

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 03/05/2022 11:36

DS1 was in Belgium for 5 months at the start of this academic year under deferred Erasmus scheme funding.
Organisation was more than a bit chaotic, and he had no help in finding accommodation in Antwerp... (that worried us more than him 😁)
Getting a visa was a complete nightmare, took weeks and cost over £700 in fees and admin charges.
But he had a good time and is hoping to study postgrad under the tutor he had there, so definitely worthwhile.

pinklavenders · 03/05/2022 11:38

£700 for a Visa Shock? But glad he had a great time there!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 03/05/2022 12:03

£700 for a Visa ?
Oh yes.
Fees to four (from memory) separate Begian Government Agencies.
Fees for UK police check
Fees for UK Health check (at a private hospital approved by the Begian Government)
Getting endless copies of documents notarised at a solicitor's office.
Postage to securely send his passport to Belgium and return.
Travel to Belgian embassy in London twice.

And it took weeks, and the documents had to be completed in Flemish... And they changed the format of the final document over the weekend it was filled in. So it got rejected and had to be resubmitted...

Mitsouko67 · 03/05/2022 12:12

Omg. My DD is going to Belgium in Sept.
All going well. We are still at the paperwork stage, application, learning agreement etc. We have applied for housing but waiting to hear.

Not at life admin stage yet.

Didn't expect to be doing this but turns out she needs the help.

Good luck all. In Ireland here so thankfully still in EU!!

Snoopsnoggysnog · 03/05/2022 12:15

To be honest OP figuring this stuff out on your own is part of the life experience you get when you do a year abroad.
having to open a bank account, sort out your accommodation, get a local phone contract etc - in another language - it’s stressful but that’s how you develop character and life skills. I would let your DD figure it out.
I did Erasmus 20 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did.

Original poster
BeyondMyWits · 03/05/2022 14:36

pinklavenders · 03/05/2022 11:25

My DD is also going to Germany next year! Her UK Uni has been very helpful in providing information regarding visas, funding etc. some Unis have Erasmus funds left, others will claim via Turing.

Housing is being organised by the host Uni.

We haven't thought about mobile phone contracts though.... Is it best to buy a less cal SIM card?

Nice to see some more Germany students. Dd is going to Bonn, they do not seem to be doing a lot in the way of support accommodation wise, but early days I guess.

She will probably do as people have suggested and pick up a local sim from somewhere like lidl. She is currently with Tesco who have a "fair usage policy" on European roaming (you must be considered a permanent resident of the UK. This is defined as not staying within an EU country for more than 2 months within a 4 month period), the policy seems widespread with many providers, so she will have to do something anyhow, though it does allow some time to get sorted.

OP posts:
colouringfoxes · 03/05/2022 14:50

Easy enough to buy a local sim.
She needs to triple check visa requirements and make sure she starts collecting relevant documents well in advance.
Use German flatshare type sites to find somewhere to live, if it's a uni city there will be options.
People say you should book an airbnb or similar for a couple of weeks and look for a flat in person when you get there to avoid scams, but I knew that wouldn't work for me. If you commit to renting somewhere without seeing it in person like I did, make sure to do basic checks and have a video call with the landlord to see their ID etc. She'll need to check German housing law about maximum deposits etc to make sure she's not getting ripped off (expat sites will be useful for this).
My uni provided next to no useful information, and in fact gave us a link to a fraudulant GHIC provider (it should be free). But it works out, your DD is an adult.
N26 is a good bank, think it's actually based in Germany. It's online only and you can download the app in English, so no stressful miscommunications at the bank. They send you a card when you've registered your account and done the security checks etc.
Uni will tell her how funding works, but it should be Turing scheme. Might come in last minute though so she'd be wise to save some of her loan from this term and/or get a job this summer, to cover visas and flight costs which can really add up.
Settling in is hard, but that initial period where you feel like you know nothing and noone and can't speak the language really doesn't last long. She can look for language exchanges which are often in bars or cafes, and make friends with other students if she's studying. If she's working it's a bit harder but there will be students in the town who she can meet via language exchanges etc. There will also be groupchats of those on similar courses or schemes, and at the beginning people are always desperate to meet up.

Malbecfan · 03/05/2022 18:08

My DD is currently in Japan (I know that's not Europe). She hasn't bothered sorting a bank account there as she has a Monzo account and is using that card. She uses her bank's app to transfer money onto her Monzo card and spends that. We gave her £200 of Yen in cash to get her started.

She hasn't bothered getting a SIM card. She is in an international student house owned by her Japanese university which has wifi. She doesn't have anyone to call so we communicate by WhatsApp. When she first arrived, we had a video call so we could see her room. Now she just sends photos and messages. She emails her grandfather.

She got money from the Turing scheme and it was completely unexpected. It was all sorted by her UK university.

TizerorFizz · 03/05/2022 18:32

Rooms at the host university in the Europe are rarely sorted by uk university. Plenty don’t offer accommodation at all. They don’t have it available. Far too many go for the uk universities to get into accommodation details but they give advice. Book it early is always the advice! SIM card bought abroad is useful if you need one.

Japanopen · 03/05/2022 22:42

I am going to go slightly against the grain of some of the posts on this thread and say that I did get involved with researching visa requirements and Covid-related entry requirements for both of DS's placements. Both times we were in a bit of a race against the clock scenario re getting the formalities sorted. Once students have actually met the requirements to be allowed into the country they will have plenty of opportunity to develop independent life admin skills. If students are very organised with researching entry requirements independently, so much the better, but I don't think it's wrong for parents to offer a bit of help.

OP, I would suggest your DD tries to find out whether there are any students from her UK university who are currently on a year abroad at the German university she's going to. If she can link up with any such students, they are likely to be a useful source of advice.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 03/05/2022 23:02

Fair enough - I guess in my day we didn’t have to deal with visas / Brexit or Covid!

TizerorFizz · 04/05/2022 08:43

I would certainly help as a parent post Brexit and Covid. Going abroad has become so much more difficult.

We did pay for DD to stay in a little hotel in Italy so she could have a base and sort out accommodation. Luckily she had contacted a landlady when she was still in Switzerland and when DD visited the flat she was happy and took the room. She didn’t waste any more time looking. The lady who ran the hotel stood in as ‘mum’ for a few nights! It’s best not to waste any time booking accommodation at a university or looking for private accommodation. University accommodation is often subsidised in expensive cities and not getting it can really be expensive..