Careers Centre ERASMUS Work Placement grant

Careers Centre What is Erasmus?  European Commission scheme to increase mobility of Higher Education Students around Europe  Two sections - Study and Work Placements  Support given to help University students to undertake work experience in Europe, as a part of their course Isn’t this just for language students?  Aimed at everyone, not just language students!  Change to industrial year variant of course (eg POLIS PIED8800 Work Placement) and get extra funding if work placement in Europe.

Careers Centre What do I get from Erasmus Work?  1. ERASMUS GRANT, flat-rate, based on n o months of placement: 2009/10: €365 (£325) per month  Not a maintenance grant; help towards extra costs of living abroad  2. A TUITION FEE WAIVER * 2011/12: worth £900  For a full year (7 months) spent in Europe.  Must be EU national & eligible for UK ‘Statutory Student Funding’ ( ie Student Loans; dependent on residency criteria ).  International & Islands students NOT eligible for this.  3. MAINTAINED STUDENT LOANS/GRANT  See next slide *Subject to annual governmental review

Careers Centre  3. MAINTAINED STUDENT LOANS/GRANT  As an Erasmus student, you have special status regarding Student Loans / grant:-  You have the right to have your student finance package maintained (ie not reduced, unlike other “sandwich” course students).  So, you must tell your assessing authority that you will be an Erasmus student (there is a box to tick on the Student loan application).  4. PAY & BURSARY  Students also receive payment from job (being paid doesn’t affect your right to the grant in any way).  If you normally get a Leeds bursary, you still get this (reduced)

Careers Centre How do I qualify for Erasmus Work?  You must be a student registered at the University on a degree course; this includes international students.  You must be registered at the University before AND after the Placement (usually students go away after their 2 nd year). How do I arrange a placement?  You are responsible for arranging your own placement.  You need to be organised and start planning early!  Check with School what kind of placements are suitable  Go to Careers Centre to get help with searching, CVs etc.  Research organisations and get applications in.  Observe deadlines

Careers Centre Will my work placement qualify for Erasmus?  Your work placement must be  a part of your degree ( approved by dept & recognised by the University eg in degree title / supplement – no summer jobs! )  in an EU country  3 – 12 months long (but can do 3+6 or 4+5, if agreed)  a full-time job (25 hours per week)  timely ( must fit into cycle, eg 1 Jun 2011 to 30 Oct 2012 )  Your work placement must NOT be  a job working directly for the EC, or representations / public institutions of the home country of the student ( eg embassies, consulates, national agencies, cultural institutes, schools)

Careers Centre How do I apply for the grant and fee waiver?  Most important thing is to concentrate on getting your PLACEMENT ARRANGED!  Application for the Erasmus grant & fee waiver is through the Careers Centre (from May/Jun).  Application Form ed to you.  Copy of documentation about your placement and its dates needed as proof.  Co-operation! If you apply, you will need to regularly check your and do as I ask, as there is a lot of paperwork to get through…

Careers Centre Where can POLIS students go? Previous/current/future Erasmus Work students:-  ECAS (European Citizen Action Service), Brussels – defending European citizen rights  Stichting ActionAid International, Brussels – anti-poverty agency  ETUI (European Trade Union Institute), Brussels – labour research, education & support at European level  Allianz, Munich – financial services  Fleishman-Hillard, Brussels – International communications agency NB: does not include Joint Honours languages students

Careers Centre Erasmus Work If you want to know more, please contact: Contact details (Angie Willshaw) Telephone (0113) Webpage (

Careers Centre Other Stuff  POLIS talks – proposed talk by Michael Dennison who directs research for Control Risk  Leeds City Council Internships s/case-study-alexander-pearson.php s/case-study-alexander-pearson.php  p p

Careers Centre Other Stuff – Continued!  New POLIS Careers Module

Careers Centre Any Questions?