Socrates/Erasmus Study Abroad Frequently Asked Questions Akademisches Auslandsamt International Coordinators Frau Hahn-Eisenhardt Frau Dichtl Baumgartnerstr.16

Socrates/Erasmus Study Abroad Frequently Asked Questions

Akademisches Auslandsamt International Coordinators

Frau Hahn-EisenhardtFrau Dichtl

[email protected]


Prof.Dr.W.SchönfelderDepartmental Coordinator Erasmus/SokratesSchool of [email protected]


Prof.Dr.A.FrantzkeDepartmental CoordinatorEx Europe/Double [email protected]

Socrates/Erasmus Study Abroad

FH-Augsburg School of Business

International Co-operations

Ulster

Waterford

Great Britain/

Ireland

Modena

Lecce

Viterbo

Cordoba

Madrid

Valencia

Italy Spain

Sweden/Finland

Lulea

Rovaniemi

Lahti

Kajaani

Benelux

Paris ESCE

Montpellier

Avignon

France

Rotterdam

GroningenEstonianBusinessSchool

Polonia University

NonSokratesUSAAUSUkraine

Kansas

Oklahoma

Newcastle

OdessaEastern Europe

Luzern

Zürich-Winterthur

Wallis

Switzerland


> Why go abroad for a study period?

> your chosen subject, business administration, can hardly be seen in a national context only;

> any job career in the line of business administration asks for international experience, asks for flexibility, mobility; > to look at ones own (business) culture from a different

perspective; > to take in, learn about cultures different from yours;

> to improve your language abilities; > to survive in a ‘strange world‘


> Where shall I go?

depending on your focus - cultural, language - climate, geography - cost - academic value

- quality of lifeyou have to analyse as much information about the possible places/ partners as you can to establish your preferences


> How long can I study for? - Socrates provides for a 5-month or 10-month study period

- most choose a 5-months period (winter or summer term)not every partner offers summer term!

- for students doing a Double Diploma a 10-months period is compulsory;

- a 10-months period for students, not doing a DD, can be granted, if the study project seems feasible and will clearly

profit your study career


> Where will I be living?

- we have arrangements with all our partners that accommodation will be provided;

- halls of residence, student flats, house sharing.....

- depending on the partner, student housing is always more or less ‘problematic’;

>> It is important…

to carefully analyse the information that is passed down from previous students; and follow strictly and

timely the procedures which the partner asks for on applying.


> Who will ‘look after‘ me?

- our partners offer various measures to ‘look after‘ their international students;

- induction weeks, language courses, buddy systems,international coordinators a. o.

>> Important again isthat one carefully studies the communicated information of the prospective place of study!


> How much does it cost?

add 25 % to your usual budget and you should get by;

places like the UK (with exchange rate fluctuations),Sweden, where cost of living is generally high,or any large city (London, Paris, Madrid) will demand

additional financial means.


> Do I get financial help?- you will receive a Socrates grant which presently isat € 65 per month;

- students who receive ‘Bafög’, will receive an increased grant;

- students who do not yet receive Bafög, can still apply for increased Bafög as the maximum income on which Bafög isgenerally based is different for studies abroad;

- for students with an excellent track record there is a

possibility for additional funding


>How do I get my grant?

- once you have been sent as Socrates student and accepted by our partner you will have to contact the institutional coordinator (Auslandsamt) on arrival;

- they will need a confirmation of registration as a student and your bank account details; your Socrates grant will then be transferred.


> How do I get information?

- via this ppt on the homepage Prof. Schönfelder you can link into all our partner‘s web pages (first slide)

- reports of students who have been abroad can be read by linking into the student web pages (first slide)

- your international coordinator

- search engines


> What can I study?

- you may study anything abroad that is beneficial to your studies here;

- some partners, have special international programmes which are designed for the visiting international student;

- a >learning agreement< has to be prepared and oked by both the FHA and the receiving partner;

- generally 3 to 4 lectures are sufficient


> How do I find out about which lectures to take?

- www homepage of partners

- contact students who have been there before you(student connection)


> Will I get credits for my studies?- yes, everything you have successfully studied can be accounted for your studies here;

- there are differences as to the relevant levels however!

- presently (almost) anything can be accredited as so-called ‘FWP-Fach‘

- certain ‘hard core‘ subjects can be accredited 1to1 e.g.> business strategy< = >Unternehmensführung<;

- for some other subjects 1to1 accreditation might not be possible;

>> this has to be carefully thought about and planned before one leaves for the study period abroad (learning agreement) !


> How do I get my credits?

- on returning you have to fill in an accreditation form and apply for accreditation.

- this is best done together with your international coordinator where you can decide which accreditation you

want to actually have.


> How do I apply?

step one research your prospective partner well; if you need an interview for that see me in my office hours.

step two send an application mail to me (from the international web page of the FHA BW) with your first and second choice.

step three confirm your reservation latest by the deadline in March with the following documents:- Socrates application- current grading certificate- CV in English (if possible in the language of the partner)


> How do I apply?- Motivation: 5 lines in which you state the

reasons why you want to study there.

- Learning Agreement- One recent photo- Application documents from the partner university

For confirmation of your application you will have to arrange for an interview with me and have the documents ready (Starting January…)

- depending on your chosen partner there might be a few more documents from the partner directly.


> How do I apply?- this application pack is then sent to the partner who will contact

you directly for any further paperwork.

- here it is important that you keep a watchful eye on any deadlines, or anything that might not come back to you on time;

- it will be necessary to contact your chosen partner‘s coordinator, accommodation officer, or individual lecturers.

- COMMUNICATION right down to informing when and how you are going to arrive is essential;

- a certain >common sense< and respectful behaviour as well!


>What are the criteria that I may go and study a term abroad?

- you need a minimum of 80% of your ‘Vordiplom‘ in order to be eligible (old study system);- you need 100% Vordiplom and a set of lectures from your 3rd term;- you can go abroad earliest in your 4th term of study

- you may only take lectures that count for your ‘Hauptdiplom‘;

- if there are more candidates for one particular partner than we may send, your grades and number of terms studied are criteria for selection


> Which is the best term/time to go and study abroad?

- generally term 5 in your 3rd year of study is most suitable, but that will also depend on when and if you will need to take a practical placement.

- this will also depend on the chosen partner as some partners only accept students in winter term.


>When do terms start?- that information will be sent to you with all the other details, or can be researched on the www.

- generally partners start similarly to us here, plus you are supposed to be present something like 2 weeks earlier; more if you are doing a language course:

- so for winter term you can expect to arrive between end of August and mid September

- for the summer term between mid January and mid February


> Can I do a practical placement when I am abroad?

- only students doing a DD will have the chance to do an integrated practical placement in the year they are abroad.

- anybody can however use the contacts whilst being in the country to establish a possibility for a practical placement and in fact there are quite a few students who have done exactly that!


>What is a Double Diploma?

- with a few partners: Paris ESCE, Rotterdam INHOLLAND; (Ulster Ireland, Montpellier, Modena) we have bilateral agreements that set a fixed course curriculum;

- students who study this curriculum successfully for a year ( in some cases that means 12 months plus extra weeks for exams)and then come back to successfully complete their studies here at the FHA BS will be awarded two diplomas.


>Who is eligible for a DD?

- students with an above average study record


>What is the advantage of a DD?

- successful students have a second degree, and have proven that they can study on a truly international level;

- the integrated practical placement/internship is a further advantage for some students


>Do I have to go abroad?- no, no student has to go and study abroad;

- if you have applied for a place and have been acceptedyou are however expected to see that through!!!!!;

- if you have to change your plans on short notice thancommunication to both the partners and myself is obligatory; you will be asked to personally provide proof of the reasons for cancelling and only serious reasons will be accepted; idleness or just sloppiness are not only a matter of bad

style, but will incur consequences ranging from being barred from any other international engagement to paying for costs incurred!


>Do I have to take an ‘Urlaubssemester‘?

- not necessarily;

- if you intend to study according to plan; then your time abroad counts as a full term which happened to be studied not with us but abroad;

- you can thus also return to the FHA BS and sit regular exams;

- to apply for an ‘Urlaubssemester‘ is then useful if you have already taken more terms than planned, so you keep the ‘statistics‘ low! But then you will only be able to write exams you have already once tried before.


>Anything else??

- do not come and see me for an interview with any of those FAQs;

- before you come and see me research as best possible, so that in the interview we can concentrate on the individual details!!

- establish a clear cut focus before you come and see me!


>Anything Else?

- if there are any more questions of a general nature, please ask me !

Documents

Socrates/Erasmus Study Abroad Frequently Asked Questions Akademisches Auslandsamt International Coordinators Frau Hahn-Eisenhardt Frau Dichtl Baumgartnerstr.16