University of Newcastle upon Tyne  Faculty of Science Agriculture and Engineering School of Computing Science For Students
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Study Abroad
Study in EuropeClick here for a brief slide show about the ERASMUS Programme Socrates is the European Union's programme for education in Europe. ERASMUS is the particular programme that encourages exchanges in higher education. The participating countries are the 15 Member States of the European Union, the 3 countries of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and all the Associated Countries in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Cyprus and Malta. The School is actively involved in the programme. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students can spend up to twelve months studying at another University in one of the participating countries. We currently have exchange arrangements with a number of universities including Munich (in Bavaria), Rennes (in Brittany), and Madrid (Spain). If you are interested in the Socrates scheme, you are advised to discuss the choices and procedures with your tutor, and the Erasmus Co-ordinator. You are not necessarily expected to have studied the appropriate foreign language beforehand, but with some planning, there is the opportunity of doing so as part of Stage 1 of an undergraduate course. However, free language training can be given before and during the period of study abroad as well. More details can be found in the frequently asked questions. Study Outside EuropeThere are opportunities for students at Newcastle to participate in exchange programmes with Universities outside Europe. More information can be found on the University website. ERASMUS - Frequently Asked QuestionsHere are answers to some frequently asked questions. I hope that you will be encouraged to participate in the Erasmus programme.
What is Erasmus?Erasmus stands for the EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. It is an EU-funded programme which links universities in the member states of the EU (European Union). The key objectives of the Socrates programme are (to quote from material supplied by the Socrates Bureau in Brussels) to
Erasmus is part of the Socrates programme which covers both secondary and tertiary education. How does the student mobility element work?Each university submits a bid for an Institutional Contract (IC) covering interested departments to support bilateral exchanges. Money is then provided for
Am I eligible?A student must be a citizen of one of the member states of the EU (or be recognised as having an official status of refugee or stateless person or permanent resident). The following (not exclusive) categories of student are eligible to participate in the programme:
For undergraduates the period spent abroad is normally restricted to the final year of study. Conversion Course M. Sc. students can work on their summer dissertations at one of the listed institutions. The Newcastle degree programmes have sufficient flexibility to cope with Socrates; if the Degree Programme Director is happy with your proposed programme of study whilst abroad then there is no problem! Where can I go?We support exchanges with Computer Science Departments at:
Why these particular institutions?The School has long-standing relationships with these institutions, originally based on research links. What are their courses like?Potential flows between institutions have been agreed on the basis that the course offered by the Host institution is compatible with that offered at the Home institution. You can be confident that you have the correct prerequisites to follow a course at any of the Hosts. Many of the courses offered by a Host will have exact equivalents at the Home institution, although the emphasis may be rather different. There will be other courses that the Home institution does not offer, but which reflect the research interests of staff at the Host. Computer systems and languages will, for the most part, be familiar to you. How many student flows are involved?Each year an application is made for an IC renewal stating the number of intended student flows linking pairs of institutions, and the total length of stay. Typically, we might, for example, propose that 3 Newcastle students will study in Rennes for a total period of 15 months. For this direction of flow Newcastle is classed as the Home institution and Rennes as the Host institution. Formally, the mobility programme is expected to be an exchange program in that the number of student flows out of an institution is supposed to be equal to the number of flows in. In practice it doesn't quite work like that. In particular the UK is a net importer of Socrates students. How long would I have to go for and when?The minimum period is 3 months, the maximum is one year. Typically a student will spend either the whole of a year, or the first or second semester of a year abroad, or a shorter period for project dissertation work. Semester schedules are roughly (but not exactly) equivalent. What about fees?It is a condition of the Socrates programme that no fees are payable to the Host institution. Where appropriate, normal fees are payable to the Home institution. What about grants and loans?Students in receipt of grants, loans, etc. continue to receive them as though they were at their Home institution. In addition to any other funding, students who participate in an Socrates exchange are normally eligible for funding (a student mobility grant) expected to cover
Don't expect too much. The amount awarded in 2000/01 for a period of study abroad lasting 3 months was around £250 for Spain, and £480 for France and Germany. The University is able to provide some funds to offset a portion of the costs associated with retaining your accommodation in Newcastle; around £23.80 per term week was the figure for 1994/5. What about insurance?You should discuss the University's insurance scheme with in the Finance Office. What about the language problem?It is clearly important that you are properly prepared in terms of language skills before you spend a period of study abroad. You may have a school qualification in a foreign language, or you may have taken some modules in a foreign language at your university, or you may simply have spent some time living (and possibly working) abroad. Whatever you have done (maybe even none of these) there are limited funds available that can be used to provide language training in the Home institution prior to the period spent abroad. Costs for language training in the Host country are supposed to be covered by the student mobility grant. Where the exchange covers project work only, language skills are much less important. Language courses are offered by the University's Language Centre. In addition, with the permission of the Degree Programme Director you may be able to take modules in French, German or Spanish that count towards your degree. You will find that many of the text books used in institutions in other EU member states are either in English, or books for which English versions exist. In any case, a technical book written in a foreign language is much easier to follow than a non-technical book as long as you are familiar with the basics. You will find that most of the staff and students in the host institution speak excellent English and that if you fail to understand a point in their language they will willingly express it in English. The language barrier is less important with respect to project work (M. Sc. dissertation or final year individual project). What happens about my degree?All students continue to be awarded a degree by their Home institution, in the same way that they would have done had they not participated in the exchange. Because of differences in semester schedules, this may happen a little later than would otherwise be the case. What about examinations?The examination procedure you will follow will be that adopted by the Host institution. This may involve written papers and/or oral examinations. Unless there are good reasons to do otherwise, the language of the examination will be that of the Host institution. However, it is normally acceptable for project reports to be written in English. The period spent abroad will count as though it were spent at the Home institution in all respects, including examinations. Examination marks awarded by the Host institution will be reported back to the Home institution for consideration by the appropriate examining body. Institutions are encouraged to adopt the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which, amongst other things, provides a common scale for reporting marks. Socrates students should additionally be provided with a transcript covering their period of study abroad. How will this affect my employment prospects?Your prospects for employment will be increased considerably if you spend some time abroad. If you are in your final year of study then it must be admitted that you will be away from your Home institution at a crucial time. It is probably a good idea to contact potential employers before you go away. Tell them what you are doing and ask them to keep your name on file. Then write to them again when you return. How do I apply and when?Under ECTS Socrates students are expected to complete a Learning Agreement to be signed by themselves and the Home and Host institutions. The Learning Agreement is an informal contract that indicates precisely what modules the student will be studying, and this should be completed well before they arrive at the Host institution. Subsequent modifications to the Learning Agreement are permitted as long as they are agreed by all parties concerned. The University's Socrates Office likes to know by mid-September numbers, and preferably names, of those who are going abroad during the following academic year. Make sure you let it be known as early as possible that you are interested in spending some time abroad. If you are seriously interested, think about signing up for a foreign language module in your first or second undergraduate year; embark on some private study; spend some time abroad during the summer vacations. We are keen to send students that we know will cope well both socially and academically. In the latter case, examination marks provide an indicator and students will be selected on this basis. It would be helpful to the co-ordinator of the Host if you supplied a brief curriculum vitae. How do I find out more?The best way to find out more about what study in another university is like is by talking to Socrates students who are here at Newcastle, or by establishing e-mail contact with co-ordinators for the programme in that university. The co-ordinator for each site can be found by following the links below. In addition there is some specific information for students intending to travel, including some reports (giving details about both academic and domestic arrangements) by students who have previously spent some time abroad under the Socrates programme.
You should also contact Chris Phillips (email ), who is responsible for Computing Science exchanges at Newcastle. More information about the Socrates programme can also be found on the University website. Are there any other similar programmes?The IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) programme enables students to spend some time (usually during the summer vacation before the final year of study for an undergraduate degree) working in industry in a foreign country (which may be other than an EU/EFTA country). A salary is payable by the employer which, at least, is expected to cover the cost of living. There is some information about IASTE available in The Mill. Note that students who wish to participate in the programme in a given year have to register their interest with IAESTE UK by the first week in December of the previous year. |
There are opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduates following taught courses to study abroad through the Socrates-Erasmus programme.
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