DMU GLOBAL STUDENT EXCHANGE GUIDE

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CONTENTSYour options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Why go on exchange? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Your journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fees and financial support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Documentation and practical planning . . . .

FAQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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7

8

10

12

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YOUR OPTIONSErasmus+ The Erasmus+ programme supports university students to study or work in Europe for up to one year as part of their studies. Participants also receive Erasmus+ funding to help with the costs of living overseas. The two options for you are:

• Study – spend a year abroad studying at one of our partner universities in Europe

• Traineeship – work abroad for a year in European business or organisation of your choice

International exchange International Exchange offers you the chance to study overseas for a full academic year at one of our partner universities in the USA, Canada, Japan, China and South Korea.

‘Taking part in this exchange helped me become more confident, independent and gain a better understanding of cultural differences.’ Maria Bouazouzz on her Erasmus+ exchange at Charles University, Prague

Eligibility Students are able to study on exchange for a full year after completion of their second year of full-time undergraduate study at DMU. You will then return to DMU to complete your final year of study, making your degree 4 years in duration.

Recognition Students that pass their year studying abroad receive formal recognition and will graduate with the degree award ‘BA/BSc XXX with year abroad’.

Students completing a traineeship may gain credits that can be used towards their degree. Please check with your Faculty Placement Team.

Applications Applications to study on exchange in 2020-21 open in October 2020 and close on Monday 18 January 2021 at 9am.

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WHY GO ON EXCHANGE?Students who spend time study or working abroad achieve better degrees, get better jobs and enjoy a range of other benefits such as:

Studying in a different

educational environment

will help expand your subject knowledge

You will stand out in the job market

as many employers look for graduates with international

experience

Discovering and experiencing

new cultures will help you gain

an international perspective

It boosts your self-confidence,

independence and resilience

You can learn or improve foreign language skills

You will develop a global network

of friends and professional

contacts

‘The thing that I enjoyed most was choosing what to study and mould together my own learning experience for a year […] I thrust myself into a different country and culture for a year and now I feel like I can take on anything.’Oliver Luscombe on his exchange at Georgia College, USA

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YOUR JOURNEY

Submit your application via the DMU Global website

(September-January)

Receive application outcome and details of

chosen institution (February)

Attend DMU Global briefing sessions for details about your

next steps (March-April)

Complete the host institution application form (April-June)

Sign and submit all relevant documentation

upon arrival

Enrol and complete registration at your

host institution

Update DMU Global with any changes to your

studies or situation

Provide transcript of records when requested

Complete and sign all relevant documentation

upon departure

Return to DMU, complete online survey and submit all

outstanding paperwork

During and after your year abroad

Finalise all documentation, visa applications and make flight and accommodation

arrangements (April-August)

Before departure

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FEES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORTTuition fees There is a tuition fee for students that study on exchange for a year; this is instead of the usual DMU tuition fee. This fee includes the ongoing support from DMU Global, and all other services offered by DMU such as the Library, DSU and Student Services.

The current fees are:

• Home/EU students - £650*

• International students - £750*

*This is the current fee for 2020-21 and may be subject to change

For Erasmus+ and International Exchange, no tuition fees are payable to the host university. Please be aware that some host universities may have some additional fees which you will be required to pay.

Scholarships and grants Any loans, grants or scholarships you are entitled to are not affected by taking part in exchange. This includes the tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and maintenance grants. You should apply for the funding using the same process as in previous years, via the appropriate funding body.

Students who have not been eligible for a maintenance loan or grant in the first two years of their study may still be eligible for their year abroad and are recommended to check with the relevant funding body. You may also be eligible for the reimbursement of travel and essential requirements through Student Finance.

Financial support Eligible students working or studying in Europe as part of the Erasmus+ programme receive a grant to help cover some of the costs of their time spent overseas. The current financial support on offer for Erasmus+ participants (2020-21) is as follows:

Erasmus+ Study

• Up to €420 per month for higher cost of living countries OR

• Up to €370 per month for lower cost of living countries

Erasmus+ Traineeship

• Up to €520 per month for higher cost of living countries OR

• Up to €470 per month for lower cost of living countries

Although the Erasmus+ grant is quoted as a monthly amount, the payment is made in two instalments, 70% will be paid after your arrival at the host university and the remaining 30% will be processed after your return home (subject to completion of all required documentation).

International exchange Students participating on International Exchange are eligible for DMU Global funding of up to £800 for a full year studying abroad. You will receive the bursary in two instalments (50% before leaving the UK and 50% after completion of your first semester).

Students are also encouraged to apply for the DMU Global International Exchange Scholarship, a merit-based award that recognises and supports exceptional students.

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DOCUMENTATIONAs part of the planning and preparation for spending a year abroad you will be required to complete a range of documents related to your learning and funding arrangements. Outlined below are some of the key documents you will encounter whilst preparing to go abroad…

International exchange module choice form For students travelling outside of Europe, you will need to complete a Module Choice Form, providing details of the proposed course/s and modules you intend to study. The form will be reviewed and approved by your Programme Leader before you leave DMU.

Certificate of attendance All students participating in Erasmus+ or International Exchange are required to complete the Certificate of Attendance. This should be completed upon your arrival and prior to your departure from the host institution. It should be stamped and signed on your first and last day. For Erasmus+ participants, this will allow us to calculate your grant allocation accurately.

PRACTICAL PLANNINGFlights All students studying or working abroad for a year are required to book their flights independently.

Accommodation For students studying at a partner university, we recommend that you apply to stay in the university’s halls of residence or through a recommended private accommodation provider.

If you are doing a traineeship in Europe you will need to arrange your accommodation independently. The Faculty Placements Team and Global Mobility Office will provide guidance on how to search for accommodation.

Insurance All students will need to purchase appropriate medical insurance for the duration of time spent overseas. The host university in cooperation with the Global Mobility Office will provide details of the necessary insurance cover needed.

International Exchange students specifically will need to purchase this as part of the visa and host university application process. We also recommend that you purchase travel insurance to cover personal possessions.

Foreign language support Students studying or working in Europe can request access to Online Language Support (OLS), an online tool for all Erasmus+ participants to help improve and assess your language skills. In addition, most partner universities offer language classes for exchange students, and we recommend that you sign up to these where available.

‘I would say to anyone considering studying abroad, they have to do it. When you graduate you can be so busy with new jobs you may not get the chance to do something similar again.’Saminee Foster on her exchange at East Carolina University, USA

Erasmus+ learning agreement This is an essential document for Erasmus+ participants to complete (before, during and after their mobility) in order to receive your grant payment. This document outlines what modules you will study (or your workplan for traineeships) whilst overseas. This will need to be approved by your Faculty Exchange Coordinator or Placement Team, and the host institution before the final version is sent to DMU Global.

If you make any changes to your planned study or work whilst overseas, these will need to be agreed with the Global Mobility Office.

Transcript of records After completing your study exchange you will need to obtain a transcript of records obtained from the host institution, outlining your programme of study, dates of study and your academic performance.

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FAQWhat modules should I choose to study? Your Programme Leader or Personal Tutor will offer advice, as they will approve your choices.

How many credits do I need to achieve and how will they be recognised? If you study abroad for a full year, we expect that you will achieve 60 ECTS (120 credits at DMU). If you pass your year abroad, you will receive formal recognition in your degree title which will read ‘BA/Bsc xxx with year abroad’. The credits will not contribute to your degree classification.

For Erasmus+ traineeships that last for a full academic year, you will receive credit recognition. We recommend that you speak with the Faculty Placement Team for further details.

Is it possible to study abroad for one semester only? The option to study abroad for just one semester is not available. Students participating on exchange must complete the full academic year abroad.

What happens if I don’t pass an exam? Contact the Global Mobility Office in the first instance, and we will liaise with your Faculty Erasmus+ Coordinator to discuss your options..

Do I have to speak another language? Most of our partner institutions provide modules in English; however we encourage all students to learn the basics of the host country language to help them integrate.

How will I receive my funding? As part of your application process you are required to provide us with your bank details, which we will use to pay in your grant. All payments are made in Pounds Sterling (but calculations are made in Euros for Erasmus+).

Will the funding cover all my expenses? The purpose of the funding is to help cover additional costs associated with studying abroad. We recommend you create a personal budget plan to ensure you can afford the costs.

Will I need a visa? You are responsible for checking the visa requirements for studying abroad. EU citizens do not require a visa to study within the EU, but all students will require a visa to study on International Exchange.

CONTACT US: Global Mobility Office Portland Building De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH, UK

+44 (0) 116 257 7613studentexchange@dmu.ac.uk dmuglobal.com

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@DMUglobal