If you are a student looking to study abroad, the Erasmus program may be an excellent option for you. Designed by the European Union to allow students to work and study in other European countries during the length of their degree program, the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, or Erasmus, the program provides many benefits to the students who choose to participate in it. The goal of the Erasmus program is to foster community between EU nation-states through educational and cultural exchange.
Students in the undergraduate and post-graduate levels are eligible for participation in the Erasmus program if they attend a European university that supports the program. Students who participate are not required to study a specific subject during their exchange. Exchanges last between 3 months to a year, and participants are eligible for scholarships to cover some of their expenses.
One of the benefits of the Erasmus program is that students can design their study plan with an academic advisor. By doing so, students can get the most out of their stay in another country. Students are also offered intensive language support before their exchange if they choose to study in a country whose language is not widely utilized throughout EU nation-states. Students can also gain work experience during their exchange as Erasmus offers many internship programs as well. During their exchange, students get to truly immerse themselves in their studies as well as in the culture of the country or countries they have chosen to study abroad in. Through the Erasmus program, Europeans can foster positive relationships through cultural exchange. Furthermore, the Erasmus program can help to strengthen the bond between EU member-states by allowing EU citizens to explore the many counties that exist within it.
Many participants in the Erasmus program believe in the overwhelming benefits that the program has brought both to their studies and their lives. In 2016, the Guardian interviewed six former Erasmus program participants to get their perspectives on the program. Participants gushed about their time abroad, and all of them expressed their deep gratitude for the program. Some stated that the program offered them the opportunity to truly get to know the intricacies of the languages they were learning as part of their degree program. Others said the program allowed them to grow as an adult, as it enabled them to explore another country on their own.
The Erasmus program can allow European students the opportunity of a lifetime to connect with others across the continent. The experiences one will receive because of this program will carry them through the rest of their schools years and life and help them to become truly global citizens. Europe is a diverse place, and the Erasmus program is essential to helping students in Europe experience that diversity through language and cultural exchange. If you are a student attending a European university who has ever wanted to travel abroad, Erasmus can give you the experiences you are looking for.