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Erasmus Exchange Programme for Students

General information
ERASMUS is one of the four strands of the Life-long Learning Programme (LLP) a large European programme dedicated to the fields of Education and Professional Training which aims at contributing, through life-long learning, to the advancement of the European knowledge society, sustainable development, more and better jobs and better social cohesion.

The ERASMUS programme is dedicated to student mobility among European Universities for the purpose of studies. Currently around 90% of European universities take part in Erasmus and 2 million students have participated since it started in 1987. The annual budget is in excess of €440 million, more than 4,000 higher education institutions in 31 countries participate and more are waiting to join.

Erasmus became part of the LLP in 2007 and expanded to cover new areas. At present, ERASMUS funds the following activities:
  • Student (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctorate) mobility for the purpose of studies abroad.
  • Student mobility for the purpose of practical training at a Higher Educational Institution, private enterprise or other type of institution/organization based in participating countries.
  • University staff mobility for professional training
  • University staff or enterprise staff mobility for teaching abroad

The IHU has held the Extended Erasmus University Charter (EUCX) since 2009, which means that it is authorized to participate in any of the above activities.

Erasmus ID number International Hellenic University: GTHESSAL-14

EUCX number International Hellenic University: 251700-IC-1-2009-1-GR-ERASMUS-EUCX-1

Erasmus Funding for IHU Students for Practical Training Abroad-Student Placements



What are the objectives of student placements?
  • To help students to adapt to the requirements of the EU-wide labour market;
  • To help students perform research or data collection activities related to their studies at the IHU and particularly to their final dissertation project;
  • To enable students to develop a specific skill (including language skills) and to improve understanding of the economic and social culture of the country concerned in the context of acquiring work experience;
  • To promote cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises;
  • To contribute to the development of a pool of well-qualified, open-minded and internationally experienced young people as future professionals.

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Who can apply? (Eligility Criteria)

The student must either be

  • a national of a country participating in the Lifelong Learning Programme or
  • a national of another country who is enrolled in regular courses in institutions of higher education in a participating country, under the conditions determined by each of the participating countries, taking into account the nature of the programme.

The student applying must be registered at a higher education institution which holds an Extended ERASMUS University Charter.

All IHU students normally enrolled in one of the IHU masters courses, regardless of nationality. In order to be eligible, however, the student must have at least one course requirement pending. Such a course requirement might be, for example, the final dissertation project, where applicable. Students who have successfully completed all course requirements are NOT eligible to apply for an ERASMUS scholarship.

 

For how long can students go abroad?

IHU students can apply for a placement of between 3 and 4 months. Placements for a period less than three months are not allowed under ERASMUS regulations. The exact duration, to be approved by the School, depends on available funds and the justification provided by the student in the application.

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Deadline

The deadline for completing applications for the academic year 2011-2012 is 15 May 2012.

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Where may placements take place?

Host organizations for student placements must be based in one of the 31 ERASMUS participating countries and may be:

  • any small, medium or large (private/public) enterprise
  • training centres, research centres and other organizations
  • A Higher Education Institution holding an Extended or Placement Erasmus University Charter (EUCX or EUCP). Please contact the Career Office for a list of universities that fulfil the requirement.

Excluded are: European Union institutions and other EU bodies including specialized agencies, organizations managing EU programmes (in order to avoid possible conflict of interests and/or double funding) and diplomatic missions or public institutions of the home country of the student (e.g., embassies, consulates, cultural institutes, schools, etc.) due to the requirement of transnationality (i.e., the added value of a transnational placement as compared to a national placement). Also excluded are Higher Educational Institutions not holding an Extended or Placement Erasmus University Charter.

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What financial support is provided?

An ERASMUS grant helps students cover the travel and subsistence costs incurred in connection with their placement period abroad. More specifically, the following are covered:

  • All travel costs for one return trip to the host institution
  • Subsistence costs as a fixed monthly allowance (amount depends on destination country). Students with disabilities receive higher allowances
  • Visa costs (if required)
  • Health insurance costs

In some cases, students may receive an extra financial contribution or a contribution in kind from the host enterprise/organization.

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Other restrictions to ERASMUS financial support?
  • A student may only receive two ERASMUS grants in a lifetime: one for a study period and one for a placement period. If you have already received ERASMUS funding for studies at another institution before you came to the IHU, you are still eligible to receive a second grand for a student placement from the IHU.
  • IHU Students receiving a national or private grant/scholarship for their studies at the IHU may continue receiving these grants for the entire duration of their ERASMUS placements abroad.
  • Students already receiving an Erasmus Mundus grant, however, are NOT eligible for a parallel ERASMUS grant during the same period.

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How to apply?

Interested students should:

  1. Look for one or more prospective enterprises, universities or other institutions based in one of the 31 ERASMUS participating countries where you would be interested in carrying out your practical training, field trip or senior project. It is advisable that you contact them yourselves and receive at least a tentative approval for your visit and work there.
  2. Contact the IHU Career Office, sending a list of your selected institutions containing all necessary details (name of institution/company, type of institution/company, city, country and address). The Career Office will confirm whether these institutions are eligible.
  3. Fill in the application form declaring a single selection from amongst the eligible institutions and submit it to Careers Office, together with the following documentation:
    • An original document showing Acceptance of the Placement by the destination institution/enterprise, stating their approval of your visit, the exact period of your stay and the details of the project you will carry out there, duly signed (and stamped, if applicable).
    • If the destination institution is a higher education institution there needs to be a Bilateral Erasmus Agreement specifically for this type of mobility between the two universities
    • The Work Plan to be undertaken by the visiting student, agreed by both institutions, (a scanned version sent by e-mail or fax will be provisionally accepted. The original must be submitted as soon as it is received). The document must include the original signatures of the applicant, the IHU’s Erasmus Coordinator and the destination institution.
  4. Wait for results: There will be a selection procedure among applicant students, which will be carried out by the School General Assembly.

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What are the IHU’s Selection Criteria for the ERASMUS programme?
  • Proof of language proficiency in the language of the destination
  • Review of each candidate’s transcript with all courses taken (passed and failed, if any) Students with the most courses passed will be selected;
  • Candidate’s overall average grade;
  • Consistency between the candidate's work placement action plan and the content of the Masters programme attended at the IHU.
  • Preference order of the Host University/Organization as selected by the candidate.
  • Candidate interview to establish not only academic and language ability but also personality attributes.

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What arrangements are made for the students who are selected to receive an ERASMUS grant?

Prior to their departure, the students are provided with:

  • A Placement Agreement covering the mobility period, signed by the student and the IHU.
  • A Training Agreement regarding his or her specific programme for the placement period. This agreement is endorsed by the IHU and must be endorsed by the host organization too;
  • A Quality Commitment setting out the rights and obligations of all parties relating to the placement abroad.
  • The ERASMUS Student Charter setting out the student's rights and obligations with respect to his/her period abroad.

At the end of the period abroad:
After returning to the IHU, and within a period of one month, a student must complete a standard evaluation report and submit it to the Career Office. The report will include information about the activities carried out abroad and how the student benefited.


For more information on how you can receive ERASMUS funding through the IHU, please contact the Career Office: T: +30-2310-807506, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it