So, you’ve decided to do your Erasmus? Well, that’s great! But, have you made up your mind about whether you want to do an internship or study? In this article, we will clear up any doubts about Erasmus. We will present the difference between Erasmus Internship and Erasmus Education. First of all, let’s start with the basics. Erasmus Education is an EU student exchange program that enables students to study at a university in a different country. For a duration of a semester or an academic year.
An Erasmus Internship is a placement that lets students gain work experience in a company or organization in another country.
Erasmus Internship
Now that we know the basic differences, it’s time to move on to the details. It is worth noting that the Erasmus Internship must take place between semesters or up to one year after graduation. It is important to remember that the internship cannot interfere with the course of study at your university. The second very important thing is to find an internship place. It is your responsibility to choose the country you want to go to and then find a place to work.
This is undoubtedly a much more difficult task than going to Erasmus Education. Usually, your university has a list of partner universities you can go to. If you are currently on the lookout for an internship, take a look at our internship page. You may just find something that suits you. We have a wide variety of positions available.
Because the Erasmus Internship is a bit more up to you it also gives you more freedom to find a job. You also get an extra EUR 100 when you go on an Erasmus Internship than when you go on an Erasmus Education. Your grant base depends on which country you are going from. You will always get an extra EUR 100 than if you were going for studies.
As I mentioned earlier on internships you have more freedom, but this also often involves finding accommodation. If you go for Erasmus Education, the universities provide dormitories for foreign students. In the case of an Erasmus Internship, your employer may or may not help you find accommodation. It is a good idea to find some potential apartments before you arrive in the country and check them out in the first few days. We wrote about how to find accommodation in Turkey recently, if you are currently in the process of preparing for your trip to Turkey, you will definitely find some practical advice there.
Erasmus Education
When it comes to Erasmus Education, on the other hand, you could say it’s a little easier when it comes to organizational issues. Of course, you will probably have to deal with some paperwork to get to the university, but this is unavoidable. Besides, you use practically the same documents for the Erasmus Internship. It is also much easier to choose because there are usually many offers from universities all over Europe or from partner countries such as Turkey.
During the Erasmus Education exchange, you can also count on the support of the host university coordinator. You will also be assigned a buddy. Buddy often helps with everyday problems, such as the purchase of a SIM card, city card, or obtaining a residence permit.
So which one should I choose?
The answer is simple, both! Erasmus Education is a great choice if you want to try student life abroad and enrich your English with academic vocabulary. Internship, on the other hand, is a great way to start your career where you can gain experience in an international team. Erasmus Internship also allows you to live more on your own abroad and get a taste of adult life in a foreign country. For many this is a turning point in their lives, individuals often decide to stay in the country even after the internship is over and try to move. As a former Erasmus Education and current Erasmus Internship participant, I would 100% recommend both programs. I spent both in Turkey and if I had the chance to do it again, I would not hesitate.
