Study Abroad

Eligibility

Applicants for the Erasmus programme are required to secure a minimum of 58% in History of Art in their Junior Fresh year. ELAN requires a 2.1. Competition for non-EU places is College-wide, so you will usually require at least a 2.1 in Junior Freshman and/or Senior Freshman years.

In general, priority goes to year-long applications, but you should discuss options with the Departmental Study Abroad Coordinator. Every effort is made to give as many students as possible their preferred option. However, in the case of places at host universities being over-subscribed, students with the highest-ranking academic performance in the history of art will be given first refusal.

Programmes

Three types of Exchange Programme are offered to History of Art and Architecture students:

1. Erasmus exchanges established by the History of Art and Architecture Department with several leading European universities
2. ELAN exchanges, also to leading European universities, as part of the European Liberal Arts Network
3. Exchanges arranged centrally by College to some of the most prestigious universities outside Europe

Erasmus

The Erasmus Programme is an EU student exchange programme established in 1987. It permits students in their JS year to study for up to a year in another EU University as a contribution to their Trinity College degree. The Department of History of Art and Architecture has arrangements with the following Universities:

• Universität Wien
• École du Louvre (Single Honors students only)
• Sorbonne Université
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Università di Pisa
• Universitat de Barcelona
• Universidad Complutense de Madrid
• Universidad de Salamanca
• Koç University

Students are required to attend lectures in the language of the host institution (except for Koç Üniversitesi, which teaches in English) and must possess the necessary linguistic fluency. Outgoing Erasmus students must discuss their Sophister subject choices with the Head of Department before departure to ensure consistency with Departmental regulations.

It is essential that you research your options at each of the collaborating Universities and that you discuss your proposed exchange. To approve your selection, the Department must be satisfied that you will attain the appropriate level of art history education at the host institution. You will also discuss with the Study Abroad Co-ordinator the credits you need to pass while abroad to continue in your chosen pathway and to progress with your year on your return to TCD.

Note that if you are a Joint Honours student, both Departments must approve your exchange, but you can also choose from the list of collaborating Universities in either Department. You must discuss your application with Co-ordinators in in both Departments.

ELAN

The European Liberal Arts Network is an interdisciplinary network of European higher education institutions designed to promote the mobility of students and scholars in the field of the arts and humanities. The following universities are members of the network:

• University of Bristol (England)
• Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
• Universität Graz (Austria)
• Universität Heidelberg (Germany)
• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)
• the Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris (France)
• Charles University Prague (Czech Republic)
• Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
• Università degli Studi di Siena (Italy)
• University College Utrecht (Netherlands)
• Turun Turun Yliopisto / University of Turku (Finland)

Students from TCD may participate in an exchange with any ELAN university. These are part of the EU’s Erasmus network, and students receive the same support as students participating in any other Erasmus programme. (Note, however, the term and conditions for students going to Bristol will depend on the outcome of Brexit negotiations.) Student exchanges can be for one term only, for the whole year in the same institution or for two terms in two different institutions. TSM/joint honours students must study both of their subjects while abroad.

To qualify for an ELAN exchange, you must have an overall II/1 grade from your first year of study at TCD.

Several of the partner universities teach modules through the medium of English. These are: Charles University Prague, Utrecht University College, University of Bristol, University of Graz and University of Siena. Previous cohorts of TCD students have successfully spent the year in each of these institutions. For the other partners, some knowledge of the local language is advisable.

Students visiting ELAN partner institutions, while continuing study of their own discipline(s), can also enrol in interdisciplinary modules or undertake a supervised programme of study exploring questions of broad importance in the humanities and society today. In some institutions short-term internships can be arranged for students while abroad. You are encouraged to think about an independent study project which you can undertake while abroad. This can be a preparatory exercise to the dissertation which you complete in your final year at TCD. Your chances of being accepted are greater if you devise such a project, though a project is not a requirement, except for students who wish to study in Paris. See the ELAN web pages at European Liberal Arts, or contact TCD’s ELAN coordinator, David Ditchburn.

Non-EU Exchanges

It is also possible to go on an exchange outside Europe, but these non-EU exchanges, or ‘College-wide’ exchanges, are not run by the History Department and, instead of competing with your fellow History students for a placement, this scheme is open to eligible students from all Faculties at Trinity. These exchanges are agreed at College level with universities in the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, etc. Trinity’s ‘College Wide’ (or non-EU exchanges) are academically competitive and allow students to demonstrate their initiative, flexibility, and willingness to adapt to new cultures.

We strongly encourage students thinking of going on non-EU exchange to investigate and research all of their options before choosing to which exchanges to apply. While non-EU exchanges can be integrated into many degree pathways, there are some restrictions. Please also note that the deadline for non-EU exchanges tends to be very early, so you should regularly check their web pages for updates: Study Abroad: How to apply.

Course Requirements whilst Abroad

Students going abroad normally take modules to the equivalent of 60 ECTS. The absolute minimum requirement for a full-year exchange is 45 ECTS in History of Art (and 22.5 ECTS in History of Art for half a year abroad) but students are strongly advised to take more than the minimum 45 ECTS in case of failure in some elements. Joint Honours and others taking two subjects must obtain a minimum of 22.5 credits in each subject in order to rise with their year (and those on half-year exchanges at least 10 ECTS in each subject while abroad).

Module Choices

Make sure that you are clear about the modules your TCD Department(s) require you to take in your host university. Make sure you attend any information sessions for Erasmus students planned by the the History of Art and Architecture Department (and your other Department if you are Joint Honours, etc) and Trinity’s International Office. Meet with your Department Coordinator before you go away and you may be able to fill in part of your Learning Agreement (see below) at this stage. The Department of History of Art and Architecture in general will not accept non-History of Art modules: however, modules can be discussed with the coordinator as there is generally some flexibility within reason. You should also consider enrolling in a local language course to help you navigate through daily life at your host country, though this is typically outside of your modules for credit.

As soon as you have settled on a module loading, complete the Learning Agreement, send it to your Department Coordinator at Trinity and ask him/her to approve your choices by email. It is most important to ensure that you receive sufficient credit at your host university to rise with your year at Trinity following your return from abroad.

NB: When selecting modules, you must bear in mind that your transcript showing all grades obtained must be returned to the Department of History of Art and Architecture Office and the Study Abroad Coordinator in March (for Semester 1) and in July (for semester 2 and Full year) at the latest. Without your grades from the year abroad it will be impossible to register in Trinity for the new academic year. It is your responsibility to meet this deadline.

The Learning Agreement

The Learning Agreement is an important document which sets out your study programme at your host university. With the guidance of your Trinity Study Abroad Coordinator you must fill in the modules which you wish to study at your host university and the ECTS weighting for each module. It must then be signed by the Coordinator at your host university, by you, and returned for final approval and signature by your Trinity Coordinator. Your Trinity Department should hold a copy of the Learning Agreement for its records, and forward a copy to the Trinity International Office for signature by the Institutional Coordinator.

It is a requirement of the European Commission that all students participating in the Erasmus Programme must complete this Agreement to gain credit for the year. The Learning Agreement will be included in an information pack sent to you before departure. It also ensures that there will be no misunderstandings regarding module choices at the host university when you return to Trinity. Among other data, this agreement details the courses of study and credit weightings of these which you will be taking at the host university. There is a section of the form which allows for any reasonable changes to your courses of study while abroad.

Erasmus Mobility Grant

The Erasmus Mobility Grant is issued by European Commission through the National Agency in Ireland and the universities have no control over the amount allocated. Monthly grant rates are determined by the National Agency prior to the beginning of Academic Year in accordance with national priority and criteria. It ranges from €270 to €425 per month dependent upon the type of Erasmus+ mobility and the cost of living in the destination country. In some of the other EU countries the government subsidises study abroad schemes, so students from those countries are likely to receive larger grants than the usual Erasmus grant.

Students receive the grant in instalments. The first instalment will be transferred to your bank account shortly after we receive the completed Confirmation of Arrival form, the Erasmus Grant Agreement, and the Learning Agreement from you. These forms will be sent to you in an information pack before departure. The last instalment will be issued at the end of the exchange, following receipt of the Confirmation of Departure form and the completion of the Participant Report.

If for any reason you withdraw from the Erasmus Programme earlier than planned, and after you have been issued with the first Erasmus Grant, you must contact the International Admissions and Study Abroad Office so they can update your student record and to organise a reimbursement of the Erasmus grant.

Registration/Fees at Trinity College

While abroad you are still a registered student of Trinity College and you must pay the usual Trinity fees or Student Contribution. If you are eligible for the Fee Remission scheme, you will pay the Student Contribution. Erasmus students do not pay fees at their host university. If you are a non-EU national spending a year abroad as an Erasmus student, full tuition fees must be paid to Trinity College. You will be able to pick up your Trinity ID card in College at any time following completion of online registration.

How To Apply

Erasmus

At the start of Michaelmas Term, all Freshman students will be invited to attend a meeting with the Study Abroad Coordinator for History of Art and Architecture. At this meeting, the various programmes and application processes will be explained. If a Joint Honours student, you might have two of these meetings to attend. You will also receive an Expression of Interest upon which you will indicate your preferred location(s) for exchange. This must be returned to the Coordinator by the end of week 9 of Michaelmas Term. Early application for exchanges is recommended, given the competition for places.

At the start of Hilary term, the Departmental Coordinator will contact you directly with the result of your application and, if successful, an offer of exchange.

In February, the Departmental Coordinator contacts Academic Registry nominating the students who wish to take up an Erasmus or other exchange. The Registry will then contact you to guide you through the next stages in the process, which will include completing an online form.

Only once this stage is complete do you apply to your host university. The application procedure will be sent to you via email by the host institution. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they submit their application by the host university’s deadline.

Check the website of your host university to make sure you are aware of any admission deadlines, to check if they have an application form, and if you can apply for accommodation at the same time.

Subsequently, Trinity’s Erasmus office will organize a pre-departure meeting for all Erasmus students. Further details will be communicated to you in April/May. At this meeting, we will discuss the paperwork you need to sign for the Erasmus grant.

ELAN
To apply for ELAN, please contact Dr David Ditchburn for a formal application form It is likely that this will be required by early January. The ELAN board meets in the final week of February to consider all exchange applications. They will ordinarily be able to inform you if you have been successful in your application by the first week of March.

Non-EU Exchanges
As non-EU exchanges are established and run at a College-wide level, the History of Art and Architecture Department has little direct role in the application process (though it will have to approve your choice). For the most part, you will deal with College’s Study Abroad office. Information sessions explaining the programme are normally arranged for mid-October. In practice, the deadline for non-EU exchanges tends to be considerably earlier that that for EU exchanges. Therefore, please consult, as a priority, the relevant College web pages.