Erasmus
What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Since it was established in 1987 more than 5 million higher education students have studied, trained, and gained experience abroad through Erasmus+ in in one of 33 participating European countries.
Trinity has been a very active participant in the Erasmus+ programme since it was launched, and we strongly believe in the educational value of student exchanges, where students participate in learning alongside their peers in universities abroad. The student community in Trinity is truly enriched by having Erasmus students as part of our diverse community for part of their studies.
Studying abroad, for one semester or a full year, is a central part of Erasmus+. While on Erasmus students study at one of Trinity’s 180 European partner universities which has been shown to have a positive effect on students’ later job prospects. It is also a chance to improve language skills, gain self-confidence and independence and immerse yourself in a new culture.
Erasmus+ also offers the chance to carry out a traineeship (work/lab placements, internships, etc.), from 2 to 12 months abroad – even during the Summer, or to combine studying abroad with a traineeship.
Opportunities are available for students at Bachelor, Master or Doctoral levels.
While on Erasmus, students are exempt from paying tuition fees at the host institution and receive financial support from the European Commission to help cover their expenses.
Trinity’s Erasmus Policy Statement can be read here.
Why go on Erasmus?
The academic, cultural, social and personal benefits of participating in an Erasmus are enormous. Feedback from returned students shows that the intellectual challenge of studying/working in a European environment is exceptionally rewarding and that language skills improve dramatically. Employers, in our increasingly internationalised job market, are increasingly on the lookout for graduates who have a demonstrated ability to succeed in an international environment. What better way to demonstrate your global credentials than study abroad in one of Europe’s top universities?
Where can I go on Erasmus?
Where you can study abroad on Erasmus is dependent on the subjects you study since most of our Erasmus exchanges are Subject-Specific, though we do have a small number of General agreements. Opportunities are available in almost all subject areas.
Subject-specific exchanges are set up between a particular School or Department here in Trinity and an equivalent at the partner university. They are only open to students studying a degree in that particular School or Department.
With Erasmus exchanges you have much better certainty that the university you go to will offer courses suitable to your degree, as this is an agreement your School or Department has established with their students in mind.
Applications may also be less competitive as you will only be competing against other students from your School or Department.
Erasmus isn’t just for language students - in fact, fewer than half of Trinity students on Erasmus exchanges are studying on language degrees and we have a number of exchange partners where students may study in English.
Of course, if you do have skills in a language other than English, this may open up even more options for you!
Thanks to Trinity’s membership of various networks and consortia, students are also permitted to apply to go on Erasmus under the terms of General exchanges, which are open to almost any student whose degree permits study abroad and who can find a suitable course combination. Some restrictions apply. The Coimbra Group’s Student Exchange Network is open to almost all Trinity students and ELAN, the European Liberal Arts Network has an exchange open to all students from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Students of the School of Engineering can take advantage of exchange opportunities thanks to Trinity’s memberships in the prestigious UNITECH and CLUSTER networks.