What do you know about ERASMUS? If your answer is “not a lot” then we suggest you read on! Erasmus is a study abroad programme operating throughout 33 countries in the European Union that facilitate students in both studying and working abroad.

The ERASMUS programme is a great way to get ahead in the job market by standing out from the crowd. You’ll learn a whole host of new life skills, and get a fresh outlook on your subject of study. You’ll also make a whole network of international friends and challenge your adaptability by moving to a different country.

Leah, who studies Accounting and Financial Management here at Loughborough, is one such student who took advantage of the ERASMUS scheme and went to study in Grenoble, France. We caught up with her to find out what she made of the experience…

Deciding to do ERASMUS

In my first year I hadn’t really considered ERASMUS as an option; I was solely looking down the placement route. We had a presentation about ERASMUS at the start of our second year and I thought the opportunity was really interesting and something I’d be interested in doing.

One of the main reasons that this is the option I chose was because I didn’t feel ready to start working. I was used to the university environment and I’ll be working for the rest of my life when I leave university. I saw ERASMUS as an opportunity to experience a new culture, meet people from other countries and travel – something that isn’t as easy to do once you start working.

One of the other reasons that I chose the ERASMUS scheme was because I was still quite reliant on my parents. I used to go home a lot at the weekends because I live close to Loughborough. ERASMUS provided me with the opportunity to gain more independence and confidence – I now believe that I can deal with challenges a lot better than I previously could have.

Applying for Erasmus

When I decided to apply the first thing I had to do was indicate my interest and then make the decision on where to study. I found this one of the most difficult decisions; my choices were limited more to Europe as I didn’t have the funds to go further abroad – but the ERASMUS grant helped me greatly.

I had a lot of support from the exchange team whilst completing my application and could go and ask any questions that I needed answering. Once the application was submitted I had a meeting with the Exchange Coordinator; this was just to expand on my choices of location and why I believed I was a good applicant. I would stress that, not only is it important to have enthusiasm about studying abroad and understand how it will help you, but it is also important to consider how your first year grades will impact on whether you will be selected.

The experience

I ended up being selected to go Grenoble and I was thrilled. The best thing about studying abroad was being able to travel to countries across Europe; in the time that I was in France I visited 9 other different countries. I met people from lots of diverse backgrounds – my best friends whilst studying there were Bulgarian and I’ve already been to visit them and had a holiday in Bulgaria.

I also joined a football team there; in a competition, we progressed to the final 6 which the team had never previously achieved. We got to go and play the final games and stay the weekend at Clairefontaine (which is where the French national football team play) and we got to meet Emmanuel Petit. That experience is one that I will truly never forget! Also due to the location of Grenoble there was the ease of access to the Alps so I went snowboarding most weekends.

What did you learn?

I believe I developed a number of skills whilst studying abroad!

• I learnt responsibility: when I initially got to Grenoble it wasn’t possible to get accommodation in advance as there were no halls of residence. Everyone in the city spoke French and all of the paperwork that I was required to complete for bills and other grants etc. were in French. But, I was able to sort out my own accommodation and bills!
• I learnt interpersonal skills and confidence. I am now much more outgoing when meeting new people. Meeting people who speak different languages and getting along with them has given me more confidence – these days I can easily start conversations.
• I developed my organisation skills: I was able to organise all of my own travel arrangements and trips to other countries, as well as managing to organise all of my paperwork.

I gained so much from this experience! It wasn’t without its challenges; but I understood and overcame each of them, I learnt how to be more prepared, and I learnt a new language. I believe that all of these improvements will aid me when I try and get a job and the experience of living abroad will widen my opportunities for seeking employment in other countries.

Any final comments?

I’d recommend the ERASMUS program to anyone that has an interest in living in another country. I think that undertaking this program has really developed me as a person and significantly increased my employability. The experiences were some of the best of my life so far!

If you think that the ERASMUS scheme sounds like something you’d like to be involved in, visit our website or the Erasmus+ page for more information, and check out the student experience videos.

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