Erasmus scheme

a year at a European University

Overview

What is it?

The Erasmus scheme, which is part of the EU's Socrates programme, exists to promote study abroad principally within the European Union although it also extends to some countries outside the Union.

In Biology the period abroad forms part of a four year course with a built-in year in Europe and our current partner institutions are:

The Erasmus scheme in Biology is co-ordinated by Dr Michael Schultze (Room L218, tel ext 8690) and administered by Mrs Annette Lamb (Biology Year-Away Office, tel ext 8542). If you have any questions about this scheme please contact either Michael Schultze or Annette Lamb.

Information on this scheme is also available from the University Study Abroad Office.

Why would you be interested?

  • To come into close contact with a foreign culture
  • To develop your spoken and written language skills
  • To take lectures and courses on topics that are not covered in as much detail in York
  • To develop your organisational skills
  • To gain self-confidence
  • To improve your chances on the international job market

If you would like to read comments from non-York students who have undertaken an Erasmus placement, take a look at the Experience Erasmus website, where you will find comments by country.

You may also want to look at the iAgora website where students review particular institutions and give scores and comments on various aspects of the experience such as the physical and social environment and the academic experience.

The Study Abroad Office have a useful section on where to find and who to talk to for information about the scheme.

Practical advice on living and studying within the E.U can be found on the Monetos website, which also contains European Rental Guides as well as information on Money Management for Students, Visiting a Doctor in the EU and Opening a Bank Account in the EU- and offers detailed information and advice on topics such as finding accommodation, the cost of living, and council tax exemption.

Course choices

At the host University you will attend lectures and practicals, worth about 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) points. 1 ECTS point corresponds to 2 credits in York.

You will carry out a research project worth 30 ECTS credits. It is acceptable to do this in a laboratory outside the University, for instance with a company or a research institution.

Finance

During the year away you remain registered at York, but tuition fees are neither due at York nor at the host institution.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites and academic performance

It is obviously essential to have some knowledge of German, French or Spanish on entry (AS level is the course requirement, except for the exchange to Denmark, where teaching is in English). Languages for All (LFA) at the Language Teaching Centre courses (2 hours per week), during the First and Second year are compulsory to prepare students for a year in Europe, and we expect students intending to partake in the scheme to achieve a minimum of Level 3 in their chosen language by the end of Term 6.  Students with an existing A level in a language are encouraged to continue to Level 4.

If you think another level would be more appropriate, could you please contact Michael Schultze. When registering at the Language Teaching Centre, your current level will be checked, and you will be admitted to a course at a level that is most suitable for you. At the end of each LFA course there will be an assessment which you are required to pass.

If you have not yet done so, could you therefore please make sure you enrol for one of the courses (the courses run through the whole academic year).

Tuition fees for the language courses will be reimbursed at the end of the second year, as long as you have completed the course satisfactorily, and are registered to take the Year in Europe.

Note: if you are fluent in the foreign language already (because it is your native language, for example), then you do not need to attend LFA courses.

Academic performance

In order to be eligible for a year in Europe, you will normally be expected to achieve a minimum academic standard (average of 50) in continuous assessment over terms 1-4. Upon poorer performance you will be requested to transfer back to a 3-year programme.

Timetable

First year students

Throughout this year attend the language courses and use the facilities provided (e-Lab self study, satellite TV on campus, news papers, movies, CDs, tapes).

Autumn Term

  • Register for language courses at the Language Teaching Centre.
  • Introductory meeting with returning students and visiting students (time and venue to be specified).

Second year students

Throughout this year continue to attend Languages for all courses.

Autumn Term

  • A meeting will be arranged with students who were abroad during the previous year, and the current visiting students from the partner Universities. This will give you the chance to discuss with them what it's really like doing the year away. You are encouraged to remain in contact with these students during this year, as they can provide first hand information on the host University, the town and the country.

Spring term

  • We will provide you with application forms for the host University. Deadlines can vary; for Grenoble it was in April, for Bayreuth July!
  • Make sure you have a passport valid for the year away and 3 months beyond.

Summer term

  • Fill out the accommodation form, visiting students and previous year's students will be able to suggest the best places. You will receive the forms after your application has been processed by the host University. This may take quite some time.
  • Fill in application forms for the Socrates grant (amount will vary, about £500). Deadline towards end of June.
  • Get an International Student Identity Card from NYS Travel; this will get you reductions on travel fares, and other things.
  • Another meeting with students who have returned so that you can discuss with them any open questions.
  • Register for intensive language course in the host country. In Germany, this is free; in France you have to cover the costs yourself.
  • Arrange your travel.

Summer vacation

  • Get the book on health advice for travellers from your Post Office; this will have details about the forms you need for health and dental cover. There are no costs.
  • Check the documents required by the institution you are visiting to make sure that you have everything you need to take with you (e.g. birth certificate, lots of passport-sized photos, etc.).
  • Organise your registration at York for the following year (no tuition fees required).

Third year students

Your placement year

  • On arrival, make contact with the Erasmus/Socrates co-ordinator in the Department you are visiting. You will need to organise your course in consultation with him/her.
  • Organise e-mail back to York, so that we can be in regular contact with you.
  • You will need to organise a research project, as this constitutes an important part of your work.

Fourth year students

Final year back at York

  • Basically back to normal at York. Any help you can give to the first and second years would be much appreciated. Continue to practise your language skills, as this will help for jobs later on.

Assessment

The year away contributes a total of 10% to your final degree mark:

  • Module exams (4%), weighted according to ECTS credits (e.g. a 9 credit course will contribute 1.5 fold compared to a 6 credit course). The marking scale of the host University (for example 0-20 in France) will be converted to the York scale (0-100). If required, the marks are moderated to bring the median of the class into the range expected at York (54-65).
  • Project mark (6%): Your project mark is based on the written report (80%) and a project director's mark for your general performance in the lab (20%). The report is double marked in York, with comments from your project director taken into consideration.

Please read the guidelines for layout, presentation and submission of your project report carefully.

Project

Your placement project report

The writing of a good project report is very important from all points of view. Viewed purely as a contribution to your exam marks, a poorly prepared report can detract substantially from the credit possible for a successful project, and a well prepared report can more than offset disappointing results.

Your report should provide a clear account and analysis of your methods and results, and place them clearly in their scientific context. Your placement supervisor should give you some advice on the general form, arrangement of contents, presentation of data and style of writing appropriate to your project. He/she may, if you request, read an early draft and make general comments concerning content and style on up to half of your project.

The information below is intended to provide basic advice on the preferred format and style for your project report. Although these recommendations are usually applicable, there are always exceptions; if in doubt consult your placement supervisor.

It is well worth trying, as far as possible, to write up as you go along - not only your Introduction section, but also relevant parts of other sections. As already stated, this is not only good for morale and helps avoid a last minute rush, but also gives you a good idea of how much space is needed to write up your research. Even more importantly, it may show up gaps in your plan and arguments at a stage when you can do something about them.

Submitting your project report

Two bound copies of your report must be submitted to the Biology Undergraduate Office by 16:30 on Monday 7 October 2013.

You must submit your reports in person and obtain an official receipt. Under no circumstances should you post your reports through the mail (internal or otherwise) or leave them in the Biology Undergraduate Office if it is unattended.

Penalties (see below) will be applied for late or incomplete submission of project reports.

You are advised to keep a personal copy of your project report.

Penalties for late submission of your project report:

All work submitted late (without valid mitigating circumstances) will be penalised by the
deduction of marks after the project has been marked out of 100.

  • 10% of the available marks will be deducted for each day (or part of each day) that the work is late;
  • this penalty will be imposed for a maximum number of 5 days, which will include weekends and bank holidays.
  • After 5 days the work is marked at zero.

If you require an extension and have valid reasons you should contact the Biology Undergraduate Office before the deadline.

Penalties for excessive length of your project report:

Project reports of excessive length will be penalised by the deduction of marks after the paper has been marked out of 100.

Project reports should be between 4,000 and 8,000 words. The maximum permitted length is 8,000 words.

Projects longer than 8,000 words will be penalised 1 mark for every 200 extra words.

You must display a word count at the end of your project and misrepresentation of the number of words will be treated as academic misconduct. The word count should include main text, including reference citations, but not the title page, abstract, tables, figures, legends, reference lists, appendices or acknowledgements.

Map of Europe