Studying abroad with Erasmus+ as part of an undergraduate degree at the University of Luxembourg

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The University of Luxembourg has embraced the principle of international mobility for students, which calls for a mandatory period of studies at a university or other institution of higher learning abroad. International mobility gives students an opportunity for genuine academic and personal enrichment, allowing them to experience a different university culture.

The University of Luxembourg offers its students a range of options for study abroad:

Among the university’s mobility offerings, the Erasmus+ exchange programme allows students at the undergraduate level to complete a portion of their studies (coursework or internships) in another European country in order to further their education and/or gain professional experience.

Who is concerned

All students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme at the University of Luxembourg are required to spend one semester abroad at a university or other institution of higher learning (usually during their third, fourth or fifth semesters).

Students enrolled in other degree programmes may also spend one semester abroad at a university or other institution of higher learning, although they are not under any obligation to do so, which is the case for bachelor’s students.

Waivers/exemptions from the study-abroad requirement:

A waiver is granted by the university dean upon a recommendation from a student’s academic advisor if the student:

  • suffers from an illness requiring a specific treatment and/or has a permanent or temporary disability that impairs mobility;
  • has family obligations making it impossible to leave the family residence for an extended period;
  • is from a country that is not a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), and has earned a secondary school leaving diploma (issued in a non-EEA country);
  • can show proof of employment involving at least 20 hours of work per week for the period in question.

An exemption is granted to any student who has:

  • earned a degree after at least 4 semesters of university study abroad; or
  • earned at least 25 ECTS credits at a foreign university (nearly equivalent to one semester of studies).

Waivers and exemptions are not automatic. Requests must be filed as early as possible with the secretary’s office at the academic department of the university where the student is enrolled.

Prerequisites

Erasmus+ is a European programme that aims to encourage mobility for students in Europe.

The 33 Erasmus+ Programme Countries are:

  • the 28 EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom;
  • 2 candidate countries currently engaged in the EU accession process: Turkey and Macedonia;
  • the 3 EEA EFTA States: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

A temporary solution has been put in place for Switzerland, an Erasmus+ Partner Country. Since academic year 2015/2016, the Erasmus+ mobility grants for students studying abroad in this country have been awarded by Switzerland and not by the European Commission. 

To sign up for the Erasmus+ exchange programme, students must be:

  • enrolled at the University of Luxembourg, which remains their home university throughout their stay abroad, and through which all administrative matters must be handled (in most cases, tuition fees are paid to the home university);
  • be enrolled in university courses corresponding to at least 30 ECTS credits (equivalent to one semester of studies).

The ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is a cumulative and transferable point system that facilitates and guarantees the academic recognition of periods of study abroad at institutions participating in the programme.

Deadlines
Through Erasmus+, students spend between 3 and 12 months abroad, at a university or another institution of higher learning, or as an intern in a company, in one of the countries participating in the programme.

How to proceed

Registration procedures for the Erasmus+ programme

Students enrolled at the University of Luxembourg who wish to study abroad under the Erasmus+ programme are required to follow the steps listed below:

Before leaving

  • obtain information on the existing Erasmus bilateral agreements between the University of Luxembourg and foreign institutions, either from the mobility unit of the university’s Studies and Student Affairs Department (Service des Etudes et de la Vie Etudiante - SEVE), or from the resource person for mobility questions within their academic department;
  • inform the university of their desired mobility option. Once the Erasmus selections have been made by the university’s academic advisors on the basis of academic criteria (number of credits obtained and grade point average), the SEVE’s mobility unit contacts the students selected to participate in the programme in order to explain the application procedures;
  • draw up "learning agreements" with their advisors. These agreements specify the courses to be taken at the chosen host institutions. When they return to their home university, the learning outcomes achieved abroad by the students will be validated. The agreements also serve to guarantee that the students receive recognition for the activities successfully completed abroad.

Deadlines:

  • for study abroad during the autumn semester: application procedures must be started in March;
  • for study abroad during the spring semester: application procedures must be started in October.
  • submit, to the SEVE’s mobility unit, the following documents required for the mobility application:
    • a photocopy of their identity card;
    • a photocopy of their student card;
    • a cover letter;
    • a curriculum vitae;
    • copies of transcripts for the previous semesters;
    • a copy of the "learning agreement" signed by the student and their academic advisor;
    • an identity photo;
    • the Erasmus+ grant application form—which may be downloaded from the University of Luxembourg website—properly filled in and signed by the student;
    • a language test (except for French- and German-speaking countries).

These documents together constitute the application file unless otherwise specified. Some foreign institutions require the use of their own forms: the SEVE’s mobility unit will inform the students concerned where this is the case.

  • after their application is accepted, students will also need to visit the office of the SEVE’s mobility unit to sign the mobility contract, which specifies their departure date and destination for study abroad;
  • enrol at both institutions. Applicants in Luxembourg will be officially considered as ‘outgoing’ students (departing from the University of Luxembourg). A University of Luxembourg student card will be issued to each outgoing student for the duration of the mobility period.

Upon arrival at the host institution

  • have the host institution sign their certificate of arrival proving that they have actually begun their mobility period;
  • send that certificate of presence to the SEVE’s mobility unit in order to receive the first instalment of the Erasmus+ grant, calculated on the basis of the estimated end date of their stay.

Upon returning to the home university

  • submit their certificate of completion to the SEVE’s mobility unit. This certificate attests to the duration of their stay and must be signed by the host institution. It can be downloaded from the University of Luxembourg website. Submitting this certificate is an essential step in order to receive payment of the balance of the Erasmus+ grant;
  • complete the final report form. This report is an evaluation of their experience while abroad. It is submitted by email at the end of their stay.
  • meet with their academic advisors to validate the learning outcomes of their mobility period.

Obtaining an Erasmus+ grant

To provide financial assistance for their stay abroad, students may apply for an Erasmus+ grant as a contribution to travel and installation costs. The grant may be combined with other forms of assistance, such as government scholarships.

Eligibility criteria

To obtain an Erasmus+ mobility grant, students must:

  • be enrolled full-time in courses leading to a qualification or a diploma delivered by an institution of higher learning recognised by competent national authorities as eligible for the Erasmus+ programme.

Erasmus+ mobility grants cannot normally be awarded:

  • for stays abroad shorter than 3 months (90 days) and under no circumstances for periods of less than 3 consecutive months spent abroad;
  • for stays abroad of more than one year. In the case of programmes for which the total length of the stay abroad is more than 1 year, the mobility grant only covers the first 12-month period;
  • to students completing their mobility requirement in their country of origin, if they are not temporary residents of Luxembourg.

Example: a student whose official residence is in Metz and who does not have an address in Luxembourg cannot receive funds from the Erasmus+ grant if the mobility requirement is being met in France. However, this student will still be considered an Erasmus student, with access to all the other related advantages.

Amount of the grant

The amount of the grant depends on the length of the mobility period and the country of destination rather than the income level of the student’s parents.
Furthermore, the amount of the grant may be reduced if the length of the mobility period turns out to be shorter than that estimated in the student’s application.

Who to contact

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