How to get an Erasmus placement in Düsseldorf

Hello everyone!

My name is Carmen and today I am starting this blog about Düsseldorf. It has occurred to me that the most appropriate thing to do would be to make a guide with all the basics steps to follow in order to request for the grant and to find accommodation.

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When does Erasmus start?

Practically a year before your flight to your destination. You must have it clear in your mind that you want to go on an Erasmus placement at approximately the November before your next year of University. It is more or less around these dates when you will be needing to start with the paperwork. At the Complutense University of Madrid (a business school), they organise an informative lecture about everything Erasmus-related at the end of November (during which they don't clarify anything, apart from the deadline for submitting your application, which is usually mid-December).

Basic requirements for being able to get the grant:

• Have Spanish or any EU country nationality. If this is not the case, you must have a valid residency permit and be responsible for processing the necessary visa and permits for the country of destination.
• Have passed at least 80% of your approved credits.
• Have more than 30 credits (1 semester) or more than 60 credits (if you want to go the whole year) to finish the degree. (Although they usually turn a blind eye with this and simply tell you to enrol in more electives, even if you exceed the credits needed to finish the degree).
• Not have already been on another Erasmus-studies placement and received a grant.

The first thing you need to do is fill in an application for the grant. This is usually on your home University's website and if not, you can request it at the International Relations Office.

You need to include with this application:

• A photo
• A photocopy of your ID
• Your CV in the Europass format
• Level of language skill test certificate*

You can provide the level certificate if you have an official qualification (EOI, Advanced/ Tefl... ). For destinations with English, a B2 is usually required in reference to the Common European Framework, for other languages a B1 is sufficient (if there aren't any people with a good level, they will lower the bar until someone can go).

If you don't have a certificate, the university gives you the option of taking an exam and giving you the level (The first exam is free, if you want to do it for two or more languages you will have to pay 40€ for each extra language).

At the end of the application period, 15 days later, a provisional list will appear, indicating who has all the correct documents and/or what is missing. There is a deadline of a couple of days to complete the documents (being on this list does not mean that you are going to receive the scholarship! ).

From there, all that is left to do is wait until the end of January for those who have to take a level test, or until April for those who have already given in a certificate. IMPORTANT: If you have requested a level test and you do not turn up, the possibility of being awarded the scholarship will be taken away from you.

Once the provisional admissions list comes out there is a 10 day deadline to accept the place. If it is not accepted, they think that you have rejected it! In this period, you have to be quite careful, because if you are on the waiting list, it is likely that you will be able to obtain a place, since many students reject thiers for not having obtained their first option requested.

The next step will be for your home university to "nominate" you to your host university. My recommendation, which is what I did, is to get in touch with the International Relations Office of the host University as soon as possible.

In the case of FH Düsseldorf, Jessica Olheide is in the International Relations Office (SHE SPEAKS SPANISH! ) and will solve all of your problems. She will send you an email with the documents you have to fill in and send back COMPLETED ON THE COMPUTER AND BY ORDINARY MAIL. It is a fairly simple form to fill in, which you will also have to attach:

• A photo
• A photocopy of your ID
• A photocopy of your student card
• A photocopy of your language level certificate
• A photocopy of your certificate of study

As she speaks Spanish, you won't have to translate, but normally she will ask you in your destination language or in English.

The forms, apart from you signing them, your University Coordinator will have to sign them too.

There are two deadlines, depending on if you would like to apply for accommodation or if you want to do it by yourself. If you want accommodation the deadline is the end of May, but if you want to find it by yourself, it is the end of June.

In Düsseldorf there are 6 residences that are run by studentenwerk, you cannot choose either the residence or the type of room, you are just assigned one. It is best to apply as soon as possible, as there is not acommodation for all applicants.

In the same email in which they will send the German form, they also send a list with the subjects they offer in English and German, and from there you will have to make a selection that suits you best to fill in the Learning Agreement form.

You have to bear in mind that Learning Agreement is not definitive and that when you arrive at your destination University you will most likely have to modify it because some subjects are not going to be taught, due to overlapping schedules or because you don't like it (although this reason we should avoid mentioning when requesting to change! ). So put your heart into it, but don't go crazy doing it either. The best thing may be that in the office of international relations you request the emails of the people in your degree and they will be able to show you the subjects with "good professors".

Once you have signed everything, you will have to wait until the beginning of June. This is when you will be informed whether you have been granted a place in the Halls of Residence (the prices vary between 250 and 300€ ). You can get a single room with bathroom and kitchen, an apartment of 2 or 3 people sharing the bathroom and kitchen or in the worst case, a room with a sink only, and showers and a kitchen to share with the whole building, or floor. NOTE: WG: means shared flat.

If you have been one of the lucky ones (like me! ), you will have to read the paperwork that they send you (this time in German) and sign it, pay the deposit along with the first month's rent. Make sure you send the proof of payment together with the signed rental contract, again by mail.

If you weren't lucky and you need to get a flat, here are some websites where you can start your search:

• http://www.immobilienscout24.de/
• http://www.duesseldorf.e-rent.de/en/dusseldorf-flat.htm
• http://www.wg-gesucht.de/wg-zimmer-in-Duesseldorf.30.0.0.0.html

Having the Learning Agreement signed, the deposit paid and your heart set... BUY THE TICKET and wait for D-Day!

If you have any doubts... ASK ME! I would be delighted to lend you a hand!

• http://www.immobilienscout24.de/
• http://www.duesseldorf.e-rent.de/en/dusseldorf-flat.htm
• http://www.wg-gesucht.de/wg-zimmer-in-Duesseldorf.30.0.0.0.html

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