1. No category

The B.A. International option
for non-language students
A Student Information Evening
29th January, 2014
BA INTERNATIONAL OPTION
• Students not studying a continental language
• Full Third Year Abroad
• All Subjects through English (usually)
• Europe
• US and Canada
Faculty of Arts
THE FOUR-YEAR B.A. INTERNATIONAL
Final
Arts
B
C
THE YEAR ABROAD
Second
Arts
First
Arts
B
Subject
A
Subject
B
C
Subject
C
Subject
D
Studying Abroad:
If you are nominated …
• You go abroad after having successfully
completed Second Year, and you transfer
from the 3-year B.A. programme to the 4year B.A. International Programme.
• While abroad, you must pass sufficient
courses to secure a minimum of 40 ECTS
credits (20 credits in each subject).
Studying Abroad (continued)
• In this way, your period of study abroad is
recognised as in integral part of your BA
International Degree.
• After spending the year abroad, you return
to complete your fourth and final year at
NUI Galway.
Requirements
• Period of study must be 1 academic year.
• Students are not required to pay tuition
fees to the Host University – however,
they are required to pay normal
registration fees to their Home University.
• You remain registered as an NUI Galway
student while studying abroad.
• The year abroad must be completed
successfully (40 ECTS credits).
Some terms we use ...
Home University: NUI Galway
Host University: the university abroad with
which we have an exchange agreement,
and to which we may send our students
Bilateral / Exchange Agreement: a “contract”
between 2 universities that allows a
particular number of students to be
exchanged in a particular subject area
Possible study destinations
• The College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic
Studies and its disciplines are linked – through
the Erasmus Programme - with a number of
partner universities in Europe that offer courses
through English.
• There are also some links with the USA and
Canada.
Things to bear in mind
• Most of our European partner universities
offer courses through English in specific
subject areas only.
• Limited number of study places available,
i.e. competitive process:
• Academic record (2:1 average, at
least, is recommended)
• Statement of motivation
• Possibly also a short interview
ERASMUS
EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the
Mobility of University Students
So far, across Europe, over 3,000,000 students have participated.
Bilateral Agreements between universities in various subject areas
allow EXCHANGE of students – NO TUITION FEES.
Workload of study period abroad is set out in student’s LEARNING
AGREEMENT and is recognised by the Home University.
A MOBILITY GRANT may be available to assist with costs.
Who can go on Erasmus?
• Regardless of nationality, if you are
registered at NUI Galway and have
completed 1 full year of study, you are
eligible to apply for Erasmus.
• Non-Irish European citizens will not
normally be nominated to study in their
birth country.
The Advantages of Participation in
the Programme
• Academic development
• Personal development
• Cultural and social aspects:
– Get to know another country & its culture
– Perhaps learn some of the language
– Make new friends
– Expand your horizons….
• A positive addition to your CV
What former Erasmus students say …
“I have become more independent and have
had time to decide on the possible paths I
wish to take once I finish my degree.
Enjoy every single minute; it is a chance of a
lifetime. You will have so many memories
and friends from this.”
Katrina Nee, who studied Soc. & Pol. and English
at Abo Akademi University, Finland
Katrina Nee,
Erasmus in Finland
2012/13
“Erasmus – the adventure of a lifetime!”
Molly Aitken studied Classics and English at the
University of Malta in 2012/13.
There follows a list of Erasmus
links by country, university and
subject(s)
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
1. You will be expected to take 20 ECTS in
each of your degree subjects while
abroad.
2. Where a particular subject is indicated in
purple on this list, you MUST be taking
that subject as one of your degree
subjects if you wish to apply for a place at
this partner university.
also important ...
• Having satisfied requirement #2, you will
have to ensure that you can take 20 ECTS
worth of credits in your second subject at
that particular host university.
• Investigate this by referring to (i) the
application form, page 4; or (ii) the host
university’s website. You will need to get
approval from your 2nd subject dept here.
(1) Universities with courses available through
English
• Belgium – KU Leuven
(Soc. & Pol.; Legal Science)
• Czech Republic – Charles Uni, Prague (Archaeology)
• Finland - Abo Akademi (Soc. & Pol.)
- Helsinki (Soc. & Pol.)
• Hungary - Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
(Legal Science)
• Malta – (University of) Malta
(a. Various; b. Maths)
Courses available through English (continued)
• Netherlands - Leiden (History; Legal; Soc & Pol.)
- Utrecht (various)
- Groningen (History; Legal Science)
• Sweden
- Uppsala (Gaeilge; various)
- Karlstad (IT)
• Turkey - METU (Ankara) (Philosophy)
• UK
- Aberystwyth (Irish)
- Glasgow (Irish; Archaeology)
Legal Science students applying
for Erasmus ...
... should bear in mind the fact that the Law
School’s exchange places are also open
to students of Corporate Law and Civil
Law, and so there will be competition for
these places.
Erasmus Links by country, university and
subject(s)
(2) Good command of French or German required for the following
exchange places
• Austria - Vienna (History)
• France
- La Rochelle (IT)
• Germany - Bonn (Gaeilge / Celtic Civilisation)
- Göttingen (various)
- Heidelberg (Soc. & Pol.)
- Mainz (History)
Websites for European Universities
• Please see the ERASMUS application
form where we have listed all the
university websites along with subject
combinations that are possible in each
university.
Look for links such as “International”,
“Exchange/Visiting Students”, etc
Other links
1 year Exchange Options:
• Boston College, USA
3 places
• University of Richmond, USA
1 place
• University of Ottawa, Canada
4 places
Websites for North American
partners
Boston College website http://www.bc.edu/offices/international/
University of Richmond website –
http://studyabroad.richmond.edu/?go=URExchange
University of Ottawa website –
http://www.international.uottawa.ca/en/index.html
Studying abroad – some terms we use
HOME University:
NUI Galway
HOST University:
the university where the student spends the year
abroad
Academic/Subject Coordinator:
A designated staff member in each
School/Discipline who will provide guidance on
course choice etc, and with whom students are
expected to keep in touch before and during
their study visit.
Requirements (cont’d)
• Must consult with BA International coordinator
in each of your subjects regarding the selection
of modules to be taken at the host university
• Target: 40 ECTS in total - that’s 20 in each
subject, distributed over 2 semesters (subject to
availability and the structure of courses).
• Students are responsible for completing the
Year Abroad requirements, and making sure
that the results are returned to their academic
coordinator.
Compliance
Failure to fulfil the requirements of the
Year Abroad will have the following
consequences:
1. The student will be obliged to pay fees
for the final year of the BA Omnibus.
2. The student will be deprived of the BA
International Degree and, on completion
of their final year at NUI Galway, will be
awarded the BA (Omnibus) degree only.
3. May have to repay Erasmus grant.
EILC courses (Europe)
• Erasmus Intensive Language Courses
• Less widely-used languages – e.g. Dutch,
Swedish, Finnish, Flemish, Maltese
• Short course before academic year
• No tuition fee
• Small additional grant (€300)
• Will be advertised in May
Costs of going to Europe on
Erasmus
• Total cost for the year will be between
€7,000 - €10,000 approx.
This includes accommodation, household bills, food,
travel, academic materials etc.
• Some partner university websites will have
information about the costs associated
with spending a year studying there.
What you should budget for … & what funding
is available
• General Costs of Living
(accommodation;
heat/electricity/household bills;
food)
• Travel costs
• Books, etc
• Non-tuition fee to NUI
Galway
• Erasmus Mobility Grant
€1,700 (approx.) for the
year
• Disability/Special Needs
Grant (if applicable)
• Local Authority Grant (if
applicable)
• Back to Education Grant
(if applicable)
Examples of Erasmus grant in
2013/14 for 9-month study visit
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
UK: €2,280
Finland: €2,000
Sweden: €2,000
Netherlands:€1,760
Belgium: €1,700
Czech Republic: €1,400
Turkey: €1,390
Malta: €1,395
COSTS for North American
universities
(with tuition fee waiver)
$
€
(approximate
equivalent )
Boston College
US $22,748
€16,900
Richmond
University
US $15,500
€11,500
CAD $13,000
€9,500
University of
Ottawa
Funding for North American
Exchanges
• Boston College – US $5,000 bursary
The Application Process –
both EU and non-EU
• Carry out some research on the
destinations available by consulting the
different universities’ websites.
• Complete the appropriate form (there are 2,
one for ERASMUS and one for non-EU).
• Return your application form to Catherine
McCurry in the College of Arts Office by
4pm on 14TH February (strict deadline).
Criteria for Selection
• Your Examination results: First Arts and
Semester 1 of 2nd Arts
• The extent to which you demonstrate
having researched your selection
• The strength of your Personal Statement
• The ‘fit’ between your subjects and your
selection (especially for ERASMUS)
Selection of candidates
• Where a particular Discipline “owns” an
exchange link, we will refer the relevant
students’ applications to the International
Coordinator in that Discipline for his/her
recommendation.
• Shortlisted candidates for Malta, Uppsala
and Utrecht may be requested to attend
an interview.
What happens then …
• The College of Arts, SS & CS and the
International Affairs Office make an offer of
places by mid-March (earlier for US universities).
• If you accept the offer, you will be officially
nominated to the relevant Host University as an
International student for 2014/2015.
• You will need to follow the application procedure
for the host university. NUI Galway International
Office or your departmental coordinator will
advise.
Application Material for North
American Exchanges
• Completed application form from host
institution
• Examination transcripts from NUI Galway
• Up-to-date passport
• Proof of Finances (bank statements etc)
• Academic reference
• Personal Statement
North American Exchanges - Visas
• Richmond University & Boston College –
J1 visa from US Embassy, Dublin
• University of Ottawa – Study Permit from
High Commission of Canada, London
More Information on Erasmus
• Erasmus website:
www.nuigalway.ie/erasmus
“Outgoing Students”
• Contact Gisèle Farrell or e-mail
erasmus-office@nuigalway.ie
North American Exchanges
Contact:
International Affairs Office
international@nuigalway.ie