Triangle European Exchange (Outgoing)

What is ERASMUS?


Erasmus is a scheme sponsored by the European Union which facilitates the exchange of students during their training and is based upon the concept of European Credit Transfer .
Where can I go on exchange?
Current exchange countries are France, Austria and Spain. The Dean's office is in negotiation with other European countries. As soon as these links are formalised we will post details on this website.

University webpages:

Paris:  Université Pierre et Marie Curie IV
Strasbourg: Université Louis Pasteur
Bordeaux:  Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
Grenoble: Université Joseph Fourier
Angers: Université d'Angers
Vienna: Medizinische Universität Wien
Granada: Universidad de Granada
Pamplona University of Navarra

Travel Webpages: Paris, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Angers, Vienna, Alicante, Granada and her is a presentation from Angers

 

What are the benefits of spending part of my course in another university?

 

Student Experiences

To gain a better understanding of the experience you could have, we have included a recent report from a previous ERASMUS student:-

Vienna and Angers

We have also created a guide for students intending to go to Paris.

Here is an excellent Handbook written by students who participated in 2005-2006. N.B. This handbook contains much useful information but arrangements and academic requirements have been reviewed and have undergone changes since it was written.

Also there is information on the International section of the Galenicals website

Here is the presentation on the Erasmus programme recently delivered to Second Year students. and for your interest here is an article written about the Bristol Erasmus experience up to 2007

Who can participate?
Students selected will have had an unblemished academic record during the first two years of the MB course and have an average mark of 60% or more in course examinations at time of application. All applicants will be interviewed to ensure that they are suitable to participate successfully in the scheme and that they have an adequate level of conversation in the appropriate foreign language.  Students accepted must successfully complete the first unit of the third year or the placement will be forfeited.

Students will be able to speak the appropriate foreign language to approximate A-Level standard.

Academic year 2009 to 2010 (subject to revision)

Year 3
Students may apply to study 9 weeks of their Medicine and Surgery plus the whole of the MDEMO unit abroad - a total of 18 weeks . It is planned that students will study the first 9 weeks of medicine and surgery before going abroad.  Some will also study psychiatry and ethics before departure others on return. The units to be studied abroad are

  • Musculoskeletal Disease, Emergency Medicine & Ophthalmology (MDEMO)
  • Half of the 18 week Medicine & Surgery unit.

The periods of study overseas will vary. Some students will study a combination of two  during blocks 2 and 3 (November to March) while others will be overseas for blocks 3 and 4 (January to May).

In the academic year 2009 -10 the arrangements for the Medicine and Surgery unit(s) is changing so that the Erasmus scheme will not operate exactly as in previous years.  Students will be expected to achieve the learning objectives and competencies partly through the completion of a clinical portfolio.

Before progression to Year 4 students will need to have passed the assessments for all four Year 3 Units in Bristol and should have completed the Year 3 SSM portfolio.

Year 5
Students can opt to use their Elective and final year SSC period to visit any of the ERASMUS exchange universities. The same regulations apply as Year 3 applicants.  Very few students have taken this option.

Please note that there is likely to be competition for placements in particular universities and that if demand is high it may not be possible to include all students in the scheme (even if they qualify in other respects).

Successful students will carry the responsibility to ensure that the aims and objectives of the unit/SSC have been met by seeking out learning experiences whilst abroad.

Placements for students who participate in Erasmus whilst in the UK may be in any academy.  Efforts will be made to give them one Bristol placement but this is not always possible.


What if I don't speak the language?
The University Language Centre is available for updating your foreign language to the required standard.

Will I receive academic credit?
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) means that the approved credits are awarded by your host university and converted to our system on your return.

What about fees and funding?
You will pay the same fees as non-participants.  There is no re-imbursement of top-up fees for short periods of study abroad.

The European Office administrates the exchange at university level.  At Faculty level there is a Director of Student Mobility who is on the academic staff and an administrator.

How do I find out more?
Speak to the Erasmus administrator in the Curriculum Office - 39 St Michael's Hill, telephone 0117 3311842
                                                                            or
Pick up a leaflet from the Student Union's European Office.
                                                                            or
The University has an International Centre where you can reference wide-ranging information such as prospectuses, student guides, etc.

How do I apply?

In the first place you need to

1) Apply on line to the European office by mid January 2010

2) Send in an application form to the Year 3  coordinator at the Centre for Medical Education by end January 2010

Who are the key people within the faculty?

The Director of the Erasmus programme is currently Dr Clive Roberts

The administrative assistance is through the third year coordinator