Erasmus+ Pre-Departure Briefing

1. Global Opportunity Centre Erasmus+ Pre-Departure Briefing Wednesday 7 May 2014 Paola Moruzzi – Study Abroad Advisor EU

2. Summary of presentation • Documentation: • Travel documents • Insurance • Erasmus Paperwork • Finances–including Erasmus • grant • Studying at your host university • Accommodation • Safety • Learning agreement • Question and answer session

3. Travel Documents • PASSPORT • Applying for first time – interview • as part of process • Check the expiry date – make sure • doesn’t expire while abroad • Take a photocopy of passport with • you and leave copy with family. • Take another form photo ID • ISIC card – from STA Travel • online: www.statravel.co.uk

4. Travel and Health Insurance • Cardiff University provides all UG students • studying overseas with Insurance • Receive Insurance Certificate and Insurance • Summary via email • Read summary carefully – you may want to • take out additional cover • Work placement students – may not cover • you while at work • Make sure you have an EHIC card • www.ehic.org.uk • International students – need to check if host • institution require you to take out their own • policy

5. Travel Arrangements • Check arrival date • Book early and shop around • Find out if airline allows you • to cancel or alter departure • dates • Don’t arrive on a public • holiday • Travel with other students?

6. Doctors, Dentists and Opticians • Dental care is not usually covered • – get a check-up before you go • If you wear glasses make an • appointment with your optician – • make sure your prescription is up • to date • If you take prescription medicine, • see your doctor about getting • enough for time abroad • Complex medical conditions – • take copies of records

7. Finances • TUITION FEES • Erasmus+ students going on • placement for the full academic year • will pay 15% of your full fee to • Cardiff University • If you are studying for one semester only, you will be charged full fees to Cardiff University • Not required to pay to host university

8. Finances • STUDENT LOAN • Entitled to same level of student • loan • You may qualify for a travel grant • through Student Finance – • reimbursement for travel expenses • – contact them directly • Letters for LEA / Student Loans

9. Finances: Erasmus Grant • Paid directly into bank accounts in • pound sterling • Grant amount has been confirmed n • by the British Council • Study placement grant and work placement grant are different amounts. • Dependant on country • 75% paid in November • 25% paid in April • Not a maintenance grant!

10. Finances: Erasmus Grant • Erasmus+ Student Mobility: Study Placements • Funding • Students receive a monthly grant paid in two lump sums during their placement • Group 1 countries(Denmark, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) - €400 per month • Groups 2 and 3 countries(Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) - €350 per month • Widening Participation • Students from disadvantaged backgrounds (WP)- €100 per month supplementary grant

11. Finances: Erasmus Grant • Erasmus+ Student Mobility: Traineeship • Funding • Students receive a monthly grant paid in two lump sums during their placement • Group 1 countries(Denmark, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) - €500 per month* • Groups 2 and 3 countries(Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) - €450 per month* • *includes a monthly top-up of €100

12. Erasmus Grant: Paperwork • MUST return all documentation to receive grant! • Student Mobility Agreement (for each • placement) • Certificate of Arrival (for each placement) • Certificate of Attendance (for each • placement) • Report Form (online, for each placement) • STUDY PLACEMENTS ONLY: • Learning agreement for studies • WORK PLACEMENTS ONLY: • Learning agreement for traineeships

13. Studying at Your Host University • PRE-ARRIVAL • Receive information pack from host • university • Ensure take all relevant information • with you • Contact them with any questions • ARRIVAL • Ensure arrive in time for • registration/events • The first few weeks will be an • expensive time • Remember – you are an • ambassador for Cardiff University

14. Research your destination • Read all information from Host • University • Go on websites – university, • town / region • Contact other students going to • the same destination • Contact students currently • abroad • Contact students from your host • university that are in Cardiff

15. Accommodation • Many universities offer student accommodation • in halls • - Information pack from university • - Website • Ensure you know where to collect keys on • arrival and the opening times/days of the • Reception area • Private accommodation • - Research in advance • - Make use of University’s Housing Office • - Ensure arrive in plenty of time • - Arrange cheap temporary • accommodation • - Ensure fully understand any contracts • you sign • - Make sure you receive a receipt for any • payments • Don’t go alone

16. Safety • Pay attention to advice from host • University and discuss with local • students • First few days – be over-cautious • Ensure you know country’s emergency • numbers • Can seek consular advice – • http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/ • Range of services: • - Contacting friends and family on • your behalf • - Issuing replacement passport • - Provide help if victim of crime • Risk assessment form

17. While you are away • Stay in touch with the Erasmus+ Office and • your academic school • Inform us if any changes to dates / • placement • We will be in touch: • - Write a summary sheet of city • where you studied • - Erasmus Student Society • - Erasmus essay and photo • competition • Chasing forms!!

18. Contact us!! • The Global Opportunity Centre The Erasmus+ Programme 37 Park Place Cardiff CF10 3BB • Email: erasmus@cardiff.ac.uk • Tel: 029 20 870432 / 879674 • Paola Moruzzi • Annika Axelsen

19. Thank you