I'm an Erasmus student... now what? Part 3.

In my previous discussions about the Erasmus documents which you need to submit before taking off in September, I already mentioned the application form, accommodation, the learning agreement, the commitment to academic achievement from your region, and the mobility grant contract. I will now finish up with this article about the remaining documents you need to send before starting your adventure and once you have arrived so that your head can stop spinning regarding this topic.

Once you arrive at your chosen destination, it doesn't stop there - you have to roll up your sleeves yet again and fill in more and more paperwork throughout the year. But I will get to this later so as not to complicate matters further right now.

6: Insurance coverage for accidents and repatriation. This insurance is obligatory at the University Pablo de Olvaide. This might not be the case at your university, but I will explain what it is for and how you get it anyway. If it is obligatory, you must take out private insurance which is valid in the country you are going to and which lasts for the duration of your stay, and which covers medical assistance and repatriation.

On your university's website, there is sure to be a list of the contact details for a variety of insurance companies who have offers specifically for residencies abroad. For example, my university has the following link: Insurance I should also point out that sometimes home insurance includes this type of coverage, or you can add it as an extra. If you want to make the most of this, you need to buy it directly from your insurance company. It will be much cheaper than the other options. If you have home insurance like this, or a similar type of private insurance, it will cost you around 12-15 euros to add this clause, which you can easily remove once you return from your Erasmus year. If this is not the case for you, adding the clause to your current insurance will cost you around 60 euros.

The reason why this is obligatory for an increasing number of universities is because it is extremely expensive for a student to receive repatriation, regardless of the circumstances. The situation doesn't have to involve death (even though this is one of the things which will be covered, and I hope that nobody ever has to go through this). But whether you break a leg, have a heart attack or a family member becomes critically ill, the average cost to you will be 18, 000 euros. Therefore, at cost of a few more euros for insurance, you can avoid this economic blow for all of your family.

7: European Health Card. According to the website of Spain's social security department, the European Health Card ("la Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea" - TSE) is a personal and non-transferable document which gives you the right to receive any medical treatment which, in the opinion of a medical professional, is necessary during a temporary residency for work, study or tourism. This is valid within countries belonging the European Union and to the European Economic Zone, and in Switzerland, taking into account the nature of the treatment and the duration of the stay in accordance with the legislation in the country which you are in.

In addition, on the website it clarifies that this card will not be valid if you are travelling to a country with the aim of receiving medical treatment there. To apply for a card in Spain, you need to go to the homepage of the social security department: (https://sede.seg-social.gob.es/Sede_1/ServiciosenLinea/Ciudadanos/232000. It is not necessary to have digital copies of any certificate to access this service. Generally, you will be able to complete the process online. In some cases it is not be possible to respond to the needs of each individual this way, in which case you may be asked to present additional documentation in person at the administration centre of your city.

Once you have completed the application, the card will be sent to your home within ten days. It will be valid for two years, and will show the expiry date on it. Of course, before going to any foreign country within the the European Union, the European Economic Zone or to Switzerland, you should check that your card is within date to avoid any nasty surprises once you get there. If your card has run out, you will have to apply for a new one in order to guarantee coverage throughout your stay.

The card is valid in many countries, for example: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

It is obvious why we have to apply for this card and I don't think it really needs explaining, especially as we belong to the European Union, which promotes the ideas of unity etc.

8: Enrolment in your destination university. If it is possible to do this before you leave for your residency abroad, this is definitely the best option, as you will be able to choose the subjects you want to study once you are there (well... maybe not study, but at least take the exam). Once you have enrolled at the university, filling in your learning agreement once you're there will be much more straight forward, as you will have one less worry buzzing around your head and you will go informed of what is happening in both of your universities at the same time. All of this will depend on which date you are leaving for your year abroad and on which date you can begin to enrol at your host university.

There is no doubt that taking as many modules as you can is a good idea. As a general rule, it is easier to pass the subjects which you choose at your host university than at your own one. Because of this, it is a great opportunity to get up to date with your studies and fit in a year and a half's worth of courses during your stay, or even more (as many as you want to or are able to). Of course, you will have to study and work hard whilst you are on your year abroad, but if it was more difficult to pass in host universities than in your own, very few people would apply for this grant. They would have to study a lot and control their amount of free time, which is the main thing which students are looking for when they embark on a year abroad.

Basically, those are the forms and documents which need to be filled in before leaving to begin your Erasmus experience miles and miles from home. But it doesn't finish here, as once you arrive at your destination, nobody can save you from the insufferable amount of paperwork which will be piled upon you throughout your stay. But finally, like everything in life, it will be over and you will be able to breath easily again. In my next post, I will talk about this topic, in order to put an end to the saga of paperwork and to ensure that everybody is clear on what they need to do. I don't want there to be any nasty surprises for you in what should be an amazing experience!

To be continued...

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