Erasmus - is it really that scary?

Paper part.

    For those of you who have never crossed on a term like this, Erasmus is a European Union's organization giving students an opportunity to study abroad for one or two semestres. Of course there are a few conditions to be met but it's not as hard as you might think, but i will tell you more about it later on.

     I'm sure many of you that have not yet flew out of the country to have their erasmus experience are writing down the prons and cons of a possible departure and i am here to help you out and dispel your doubts.

    It was back in High Shool when on one of my history classes i have first heard about this whole Erasmus thing. Since i was always into different ways of travelling the world, i automatically knew i would have to try Erasmus once i get to the University and that's exactly what i did.

     Beginnings were indeed not easy but only because everything was so new, even before i left Poland. After handing the first application there was not much more i could do but wait for the list with the accepted students. When the list finally was made available i could proceed with the further documentation. I would like to send you to the website where you could read about all the necessary papers that you need to fill in before and after your Erasmus but each University have different demandings so i advice you to check it there. Here are some general websites that you can use:

• erasmusprogramme.com

• erasmus.org.pl

Very often meetings are organized for those who are interested in participating in the students' exchange program so it would be good for you to follow facebook groups and have your eyes wide open for the coming information about the enrolement process that might appear on the Internet and your departments' walls, probably somewhere in January or February. 

     If you are afraid you get lost in those oceans of documents it would be good if you keep it in one folder or print it all twice and put it in a separate file. Don't forget about the accepeting e-mails from your receiving University because it is the number one confirmation and without it you might not be able to study abroad, so check your spam and don't allow any email to get deleted like i did. 

     There is also a fun part of the whole paper part which is choosing subjects. Usually they have to be similar to the ones you have in your sending institution but very often it is not possible due to the fact that they might be assigned to different courses and you will not be able to attend them if they are held at the same time. Don't worry about it, there is a benefit you can take from that, which is choose some cool subjects that you can really enjoy!You not only can choose for the subject meant for your degree but from any other you feel like you might learn something useful at. For example, even though during myErasmus i was a Spanish Philology student, i was attending subjects like the History of the cinema or Women in culture and many others which seemed much more interesting for me than the ones talking about the language theories from different points of view. Your coordinators not always will gove you a permission to do that but try to persuade them because you are out on your Eramsus to experience the culture and have fun and not sit with your nose in books barely passing the subjects :D!

     OH, and keep in mind that before signing everthing with both of the Universites, you will have to obtain the Europen Insurance Card and also buy additional Insurance in case of emergency. The first one is for free and the second has its price but it depends what type you are going to chose. 

     After all the paper work is done, it's time to find a flat and book your flight! 

Here are two websites that you can use while looking for apartamente:

• idealista.com

• milanuncios.com

• erasmusu.com

 
      Beside that you can always ask your receiving institution to help you with finding a place to stay that because i am sure they will be more than willing to do so. What's more  for Erasmus studetents in every city there should have to be facebook groups where people put announcements that you might be interested it!

      Hope i didn't scare you with all of that and you won't hesitate for too long about making the only right decision to start your Erasmus experience abroad!

Xoxo,
Anett Crity Joane