The Erasmus Programme
The Erasmus Programme/Scheme is the EU’s exchange programme to encourage students and university staff to consider spending some part of their academic year abroad, living and studying in a foreign country. It is an exciting prospect and could be very enjoyable, as well as adding impressively to the list of things on your CV! Exchanges can be made between universities in 33 different countries in Europe. Over two and a half million students have used the scheme since it was introduced in 1987.
The thrill of experiencing life and culture in a European city can hardly be exaggerated. Life is lived quite differently in France and Italy, for example. You won’t be on holiday, of course, but the novelty of everything, the chance to make new friends and to enhance your language skills, are very attractive. Furthermore, the fact that you have lived and studied abroad is something that prospective employers might well find interesting. The British Council, which runs the scheme in the UK, claims that employers around the world particularly welcome applicants who have shown their ability to adapt and to work alongside people from foreign cultures. The world is becoming increasingly international and business is a globalized affair these days, so the ability to make cultural leaps and to have an international view of things is increasingly valuable. The new world also values language skills very highly, and there is no more effective way of mastering a foreign language than being totally immersed in it for a few months.
University experience
Most students who have been on the scheme have described their time abroad as the best part of their university experience. Some have even met their future life-long partners in the process! It is not a gap year or a holiday, it is part of your degree course, and it is full of benefits for your future as well as chances to enjoy yourself now. What is more, analysis has shown that students who have participated in the scheme generally achieve better degrees and go on to earn higher salaries.
If you are interested and would like to find out more, contact the British Council or look at their website: www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus-about-erasmus.htm
