SOCRATES/ERASMUS PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE FIELD OF HIGHER EDUCATION

 WHAT SHOULD THE STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT SOCRATES/ERASMUS PROGRAMME

 Please, read the following instructions carefully:

 1.     European Union Socrates programme

The Socrates programme is the largest one for educational and cultural co-operation having started on 14^th March 1995.

By the end of 1999 the programme was known as Socrates 1. Over half a million students and 10.000 educational institutions from all the EU countries have participated in the programme.

Bulgaria is part of Socrates since April 1999. A number of successful projects were prepared and started functioning during the period May 1999 – March 2000. For more detailed information about those projects: http://socrates.hrdc.bg/

The Socrates programmes continue in its second phase Socrates 2 – from 01.01200 to 31.12.2006. 31 countries take part in the programme amounting to 1.850.000.000 EUR for all activities and sub programmes during the 7-year period. Our country pays membership fees for this and all the other programmes it takes part in.

The following European countries participate in the programme:

§        the 25 countries form the EU: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta.

§        the 3 countries from The European Free Trade Zone: Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

§        the 3 associated countries: Bulgaria, Rumania, and Turkey.

2.         Erasmus subprogramme

Erasmus is a Socrates subprogramme in higher education co-operation. It started in 1987 as a European Union programme for Erasmus student mobility. 600000 European students were given Erasmus subsidies during the period 1987 – 1995 and completed modules in other European countries.

There are a number of possibilities offered in the subprogramme for universities, students, teachers and administrative staff to participate in European educational projects as well as individual student and teacher mobility grants.

The second phase of Socrates / Socrates 2 / Erasmus subprogramme has the following goals:

·        Increasing the quality of education;

·        Strengthening the European standards for higher education;

·        Learning and practicing foreign languages;

·        Acquiring professional and personal experience.

 3.    How are subsidies for student mobility under the Erasmus subprogramme provided?

Erasmus provides monthly individual grants. The sending institution only pays for the education period, which is from 3 to 12 months within an academic year.

The number of Erasmus student grants is a result of bilateral agreements between a Bulgarian university and EU universities.

NB! It is only Bulgarian higher institutions – participants in the program, which negotiate the number and character of the student motilities. The Socrates National Agency does not participate in the negotiation.

The bilateral agreements fix the number of Bulgarian students who can participate in the program, their level of education and the period of their stay in the host institution, and vice versa the agreements fix the number of all the incoming European students. Bilateral agreements are initiated on faculty or department level and are signed by the Rector of the University or a person authorized by him/her.

All bilateral agreements are included in a University application form and are obligatory preliminary condition for student mobilities. In a year’s period of expertise, approval and negotiation of financial parameters, the Socrates National Agency sponsors the Bulgarian university about the student mobilities in the bilateral agreements. If students are approved for mobility, they sign a contract with the Bulgarian University on the basis of which they get the finances for their education in the European partner university following the bilateral agreement. Students do not pay tuition fees in the host institution. In some cases, students’ residence is provided which is paid from the Erasmus grant.

4.    Which students can get Erasmus grants and what should they do to apply for one?

Students from Bulgarian universities can apply for an Erasmus grant when the number of student mobilities are approved by the European Commission and sponsored by the National Agency. Then, the Bulgarian university should announce the approved numbers and the periods of study in the respective departments and faculties as well as the monthly Erasmus grant and organize a procedure for selection of students. The general selection criteria are:

       Higher schools-participants in the sub programme have the institutional right to ask additional competences from the candidate-students and to introduce additional selection criteria. All competitions are held at the university.

For administering the sub programme at university level there is a requirement for the university to have a qualified personnel who would manage ERASMUS activities. Normally, this task is carried out by the International Relations Office. This the place you should go to in case you are interested in participating in the sub programme and where you will get assistance in preparing your mobility. Some Bulgarian universities, participants in the programme have a separate ERASMUS office.

5.     Zero-grant students!

ERASMUS programme allows a study at a European partner-institution to students who do not get an ERASMUS grant. All ERASMUS rules and regulations apply to this type of mobility as well. Zero-grant students have equal rights with other ERASMUS students and follow the same obligarions of the ERASMUS student mobility.

 6.    Contract of the student with the Bulgarian university.

       Each student approved for an ERASMUS grant signs a contract with the Bulgarian university in which he/she is a full-time student. All their rights and obligations about the grant and their study in the host institution are covered by the contract.

7.    How can students get the grant?

There are two possibilities:

 8.    Does studying at a European University interfere with my student rights at the Bulgarian university at which I am a full-time student?

No. ERASMUS student mobility recognises the period of study at the European university. Though an overseas student you are a full-time student at your university, i.e. you have to pay you tuition fees and have the right to get a scholarship at your university in case you are entitled to one.  

9.    In what way does the student provide a record for his/her study abroad?

After their return, students should provide an individual mobility report for their study. The report should be in Bulgarian as well as in the language the study has been conducted. Students should present a transcript of records from the host institution which will confirm their contact hours and exams (in case there are any held).

10.  Is it possible for a student to get an ERASMUS grant more than once?

No. A student is only allowed to get an ERASMUS grant from the Bulgarian university in which he/she is a full-time student once in the course of study. It is possible for the grant to be paid in installments.

11. Can the ERASMUS grant be an additional part of scholarships/grants allotted from other European Union programmes or from other foundations or organizations?

No. Additional grants are possible only at national, institutional or regional level.  As stated in item 8, the institutional scholarship (in case you get one) from the Bulgarian institution can be an additional financial source.

 12.  Is it possible for a Bulgarian citizen who is a student at another European university to get an ERASMUS grant?

         No. Grants are allotted on the basis of bilateral agreements between the partner institutions and the Bulgarian universities as stated in item 4.

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