Outgoing Students

Outgoing Students on Erasmus

Participating in the Erasmus programme for student mobility can provide an exciting and enriching opportunity to become familiar with a different culture, country and system of education. The objectives of the Erasmus programme are to enable students to experience life and study in another European college of education and country, for at least a three-month continuous period.

Students from Froebel College are eligible to participate in the Erasmus programme during the period September-December only of their Senior Freshman year.

These students who decide to go on Erasmus can choose to take their first Teaching Practice of the Senior Freshman year in September (and therefore leave to attend the foreign host university in early October) or to spend September to December in the host university abroad and thus to take their Teaching Practice in June at the end of their Senior Freshman year. This decision may be influenced by issues of adequate finances and also the different start dates of different foreign colleges's academic calendars.

The International Officer will present the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus programme to Junior Freshman students in February of each academic year.

All interested Junior Freshman students will be invited to a series of sessions from February to May explaining the application process, the choice of host universities and the criteria for admission.

All participants in the Erasmus funding receive financial support from the Higher Education Authority in order to enable this period of study abroad. However, as this funding will not cover all the travel, accommodation and living expenses at the host institution, outgoing students must be prepared to fund the remaining costs themselves.

The International Officer will provide more information regarding available levels of funding for each outgoing year-group.

Criteria for admission
All prospective candidates must fulfil the academic and professional requirements in order to be eligible to participate in the Erasmus programme.

A minimum of a P2 academic profile in all assignments and academic work in all subjects at the point of confirmation of application (late May) is required in order to be eligible.

Also a minimum of a P2 profile in Teaching Practice (for both preparation and performance) and successful completion of Teaching Practice is required in order to be eligible.

Because students spending the first semester of the Senior Freshman year abroad will not have access to the classes for Irish language tuition and language support at Froebel College, and therefore may be unprepared for the standard of Irish required from all Senior Freshman students upon their return from January onwards, all prospective candidates must satisfy at least a P2 level of oral and written Irish in order to be eligible.

Each successful student must complete a Student Exchange application form and also a Learning Agreement in consultation with the International Officer.

This Learning Agreement lists all the courses that the outgoing student wishes to take at the host university. This Agreement must be approved by the Froebel College International Officer as providing an appropriate level of work and content to be studied during the student's stay abroad. The International Officer will send this Agreement to the host university in order to be approved as a viable and available programme of study.

The outgoing student keeps a copy of this Agreement to bring with them to the host university in case the proposed list of courses are not available or if the student wishes to make any changes and therefore the Agreement must be revised before it is officially finalised.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak the language of my host country?
You do not need to be previously familiar with the language of your host country in order to study there. However, familiarity or unfamiliarity with the relevant language can be a significant factor to consider when students are deciding at which country and host insitution they would like to study.

Students are strongly encouraged to be proactive in their learning and development of their relevant language skills during the preparatory period of March- September/ October in order to minimise confusion and incomprehension of both courses and day-to-day life abroad. 

Intensive language courses in such lesser-known languages as Finnish, Portuguese, Greek and Dutch are available during the summer months preceding the semester abroad. These residential language courses are designed specially to help Erasmus students prepare linguistically for their stay abroad. The Froebel College International Officer can provide more information about applying for these free language schools, which are held in different European cities from June to August each summer. Partial funding is available to help students pay for their travel costs to the city and their living expenses during the language school.

They may not always show it but people like visitors to their country to make an effort to use their language, even in small ways - greetings, expressions of thanks, good wishes etc. Using their language is a sign of respect for their culture. Taking for granted that everyone in the host country will know and use English can be offensive.

Some host colleges provide obligatory or voluntary free language courses for international students, and students are strongly recommended to attend these courses.

How do I find accommodation abroad?
Advance planning and consideration of accommodation abroad can greatly facilitate your settling-in period upon arrival. Students should obtain a travel guide book about the local area in order to help find information about the size and layout of the host town/ city. Many host colleges possess on-campus and off-campus students halls of residence, and applying for a room in these halls for the duration of your stay is often the simplest option. Different host colleges have different deadlines for applying for college accommodation but usually applications must be received by the end of June in order to stay there from September to December. The Froebel College International Officer will provide advice about obtaining accommodation abroad, as will the International Office of the host university upon your arrival.

Should I renew my passport? Do I need a visa?
Your passport is a very important and valuable document. Always bring your passport when crossing national boundaries. But do not carry it round in the host country. Keep it in a safe place. If you plan to do any travelling while abroad, please check to ensure that there are at least 6 months left before the expiry date of your passport after the proposed date of your return to Ireland, as the Customs Office of some countries will not admit anyone whose passport is due shortly to expire.

No visa is required for outgoing Irish students to study and live in the countries of our partner colleges of education. However, in some countries (e.g. Germany) you must present yourself to the local police and authorities in order to register yourself as a local resident within a short period of arrival.

Do I need health insurance or travel insurance?
Froebel College strongly recommends and advises that outgoing students should apply for both baggage insurance and health insurance for their period of study abroad before departure. It costs little but can be very helpful in the event of loss of baggage etc., and even in case of accident.

Students are strongly recommended to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (which has superseded the old E111 form). This Card can be obtained from your Health Board and provides emergency care only in the local hospitals. In order to receive a higher level of medical attention and support, students are advised to apply for full health insurance, which can be combined with baggage insurance for the period of stay abroad. BUPA and VHI, as well as USIT and other travel agents, offer competitive rates for health and baggage travel insurance.

What money do I need? How expensive will living abroad be?
The International Officer will send you your allocation of funding from the Higher Education Authority in later September/early October. You must sign a receipt of Grant form as soon as possible and return it to the International Officer.

Different countries have different costs of living, and your rent, food, entertainment and travel costs will vary for different host locations. However, you should plan a financial budget, and become familiar with the local currency in advance of your visit.

Bring at least 100 Euro in the currency of the host country for immediate expenses.

Withdrawing money from your Irish current account while abroad is very expensive: Irish banks take 3 Euro or more each time cash is withdrawn, whether from an ATM or in a bank. This means that if you withdraw as little as 10 Euro from your Irish current account in the currency of the host country, you will pay a charge to the Irish bank.

To avoid this you might open a bank account in the host country; the Erasmus Coordinator at the host college will assist you, if necessary. Once the account is set up, have someone at home transfer enough Irish money for your entire stay.

Another possibility would be to lodge money in a credit card (VISA etc.) account.

What happens when I arrive in the host country?
Hopefully someone from the host college will meet you on arrival at the airport or station. If not, get yourself and your luggage to your address (student halls of residence, prebooked B&B etc) as conveniently and efficiently as possible. A taxi would be best. However, if you haven't too much luggage, you could save money by taking an airport bus to the city centre and then using a taxi for the remaining shorter distance to your address.

In most countries you need to take care before you get into a taxi to get a clear indication from the driver as to how much the journey will cost - even if you're only going a few blocks. Try to have a supply of the local currency in small denomination notes in order to facilitate these immediate travel costs.

When travelling by bus or train, even for a small journey in the city, make sure you have a ticket, properly stamped, punched etc. Not having a ticket is a serious offence - and an expensive one - which can cause needless distress. It is also an opportunity for fraudulent checkers to demand more than the normal spot fine, give you no receipt, or take your passport (which you should not carry round).

Usually bus- and underground train-tickets can be bought at newspaper/cigarette kiosks, at airports etc. Find out about day-, week-tickets, and you can use your student card or ISIC card to get student discounts on these tickets.

What documentation/ useful items should I bring with me?
The following items are important to bring with you, as forms of identification etc:

• Always bring your passport which should have at least 6 months of duration after the planned date of your return to Ireland
• Copy of your birth certificate may be necessary in order to complete forms abroad
• Your international driver's licence (if applicable)
• At least 4 passport photographs (for all the forms you must complete while abroad)
• Your ISIC student card (you will get discounts on travel, entertainment etc while abroad)
• Remember to check the voltage of your host country and bring the correct adaptor for any electronic equipment (e.g. laptop, mobile-phone recharger, hairdryer etc).
• Bring anti-mosquito cream, suncream, a 4-month supply of relevant medication, a 4-month supply of contact lenses (or a spare pair of glasses or your glasses prescription)
• Your Learning Agreement (signed by the Froebel College International Officer and yourself)

Remember to stay in contact with Froebel College
While settling in to the host college abroad during your Erasmus visit, it is easy to forget to stay in contact with Froebel College. However, you must stay in regular contact (usually via email) with the Froebel College International Officer  throughout your stay abroad. The International Officer will want to know how you are getting along, how your courses are going, and will be able to offer advice on any difficulties encountered while abroad.
Likewise, the host college will have an Erasmus Coordinator and Erasmus Office or International Student Office. Do not hesitate to use their services, to seek advice and assistance on all practical aspects of your stay at that college, or any matter.