Erasmus+ International Opportunities
Discover what Erasmus+ could mean for you
DCFE, as an Erasmus+ accredited college, is excited to offer students and staff the opportunity of foreign exchange programmes under Erasmus+.
No matter where you’re from, what you do, or how old you are, it’s never too late to discover what Erasmus+ could mean for you.
What is Erasmus+?
The Erasmus (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) Programme is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987.
Erasmus+, or Erasmus Plus, (2021-2027) is the new programme combining all the EU’s current schemes for education, training, youth and sport.
Who can go on an Erasmus mobility with DCFE and what is provided?
You are eligible to apply for an ERASMUS+ exchange (mobility) if:
- You are a student in DUNDRUM CFE enrolled on a full-time course
- You are in good financial standing with DUNDRUM CFE
- You have graduated from DUNDRUM CFE less than 6 months ago
Your time abroad will be accredited and fully recognised by DUNDRUM CFE as part of your requirement for the work experience module.
You will be provided with:
- Flights and accommodation
- Individual financial support
- Any other specialist support outlined in your application, such as sign reader, personal assistant etc.
What countries does DCFE offer exchanges in?
DCFE has Erasmus+ academic partners in the following countries:
| Norway | Trondheim Kristen Videregående skole Trøndelag KVT | Website |
| Norway | Orkdal Videregående Skole | Website |
| Estonia | Haapsaluu Haapsalu Vocational Education and Training Centre | Website |
| Netherlands | MBO Utrect | Website |
| Spain | European Era Malaga | Website |
| Germany | Marienhain Vechta | Website |
| Germany | Anna-Freud Schule Ludwigshafen | Website |
What are the aims of Erasmus+ at DCFE?
DCFE was one of the first PLC colleges in Ireland to be awarded the Erasmus+ Accreditation by Léargas. This accreditation recognised the operational capacity of DCFE to plan, manage and implement high quality mobility projects for learners and staff.
Research shows that a period spent abroad not only enriches students’ lives in the academic field but also in the acquisition of intercultural skills and self-reliance. DCFE students are registered at DUNDRUM CFE and undertake work placements on the same basis as non-Erasmus+ students. Our work placements offer our students a wonderful opportunity to develop their cultural and educational expertise while also completing a work placement in their vocational area. It is a unique learning experience for our students and one they embrace fully as it allows them to develop skills and knowledge they may use in the future.
Our goals:
- To offer some of our students the opportunities to study/engage in workplace activities abroad
- To allow some of our educators to observe teaching and learning in another European jurisdiction
- To enrich the learning experience
- To promote intercultural experiences for our students
How do I apply for Erasmus+?
To start the application process you will need to complete an online application form and upload a personal statement.
You will also need to upload your EHIC card and a Europass CV
Your application will be assessed by the College Erasmus+ team and will be based on the date of application, your personal statement will be assessed and the successful upload of all the relevant documents.
DCFE is committed to ensuring diversity and equality of opportunity and the Erasmus+ team will have oversight of the process to ensure all applications are assessed through an anti-bias and anti-racism lens
Conditions
- You must be over 18 to travel
- You must be available to travel on the dates organised
- You will be away for 2 weeks
- You will need to ensure that you have a current passport, as well as an EHIC card and upload this to the portal
- You must agree to be part of the group supporting our partner students if and when they come to Dundrum CFE
How much is the Erasmus Grant? What about other funding?
Students participating in the Erasmus+ Programme are entitled to receive an Erasmus grant, provided that DUNDRUM CFE receives funding to support all students going abroad on a mobility. Please note that it is possible to go out on an Erasmus mobility without an Erasmus grant.
The Erasmus grant is intended as a contribution to the overall cost of your time abroad, but it may not cover all your expenses/costs abroad.
Living abroad costs vary from country to country. Some countries are more expensive than others, as are some cities, and the extra expenditure involved will usually be covered by your individual support grant.
If you are in receipt of a SUSI grant, local authority grant or Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), you will continue to receive this whilst you are abroad. You must inform SUSI/Local Authority/BTEA of your time abroad.
If you are in receipt of any other Social Welfare benefits, please check that you will keep these benefits with your Social Welfare Office.
What to know before you travel on your Erasmus+ mobility
Before you depart you will need to provide DCFE with the following documents:
- Copy Passport
- Copy and private health insurance
- You will be asked to sign a Grant Agreement
- You will be asked to sign a learner agreement
- You will be required to have your certificate of attendance signed by your work placement and return the original to DCFE
- You will be required to complete the DCFE post mobility survey
- Any other documents to ensure an excellent placement can be provided
Make sure you get your dates right! Your host company/organisation will inform you when your mobility is due to start.
Do I need insurance before I travel on my Erasmus+ mobility?
Yes, this is compulsory.
You must have adequate insurance that covers all health/medical and repatriation costs during your stay abroad. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is accepted, but it may not cover the full cost of medical or hospital expenses and it does not cover ambulance costs or air transport to Ireland, if necessary, or funeral expenses. If you are covered under your own or your family health insurance plan, you should check the level of cover that you have while abroad.
If you need to purchase private insurance, you can check any Irish provider (GloHealth, VHI, Laya, etc.).
You can also check Dr Walter Insurance Brokers in Germany. They specialise in providing insurance to students out on Erasmus for as little as €30 per month:
- Their insurance package, PROTRIP-WORLD, consists of health, liability, accident, assistance, and luggage insurance and provides comprehensive coverage in all areas. The underwriting insurance companies are Allianz Worldwide Care, Generali and EUROP Assistance.
- They also have an emergency preparedness app, called MY-SAFETY-ASSISTANT, which provides up to date local emergency assistance information in all languages, as well as geo-tracking for parents and caregivers. This service is free of additional charge for their customers.
For more information, visit: www.my-safety-assistant.com
Travel Insurance
DUNDRUM CFE will secure private travel cover for the duration of the period abroad. Just because you have health insurance, it does not mean you will be covered for delayed or cancelled flights, loss of luggage or money while you travel.
Erasmus+ Paperwork (forms)
You can access all the Erasmus+ forms and paperwork below:
DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE SOON
DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE SOON
Tips for arrival in your host country
Firstly let us in DCFE know that you have arrived!
Settling in
- Don’t judge your destination until you’ve settled in properly – and this will probably take a few days. It will take a while to adapt to a new system, the language, new culture and customs and to make new friends, so you may experience some home-sickness at first.
- Be open-minded about people and new experiences. Don’t judge everything in terms of the manner in which it compares with Ireland. You will experience some advantages and some disadvantages. You will gradually adapt to new ways and what seems strange at first will soon become quite familiar – so much so that when you return home you will miss aspects of being abroad.
- If you have personal problems and would need support with these, you should in the first instance seek help in your host company/organisation.
Stay in contact while abroad
It is important to keep in touch with us while abroad. Please note that if we need to contact you, we will do it mainly by email.
You should establish who your point of contact is at the host company/organisation as soon as you arrive.
If you experience any significant problems at your host company/organisation (e.g., your training plan is not being followed), please talk to your point of contact in the company/organisation in the first instance.
Personal safety
Please consider carefully your own personal safety. Follow the same precautions as you would at home (hold on tightly to your bags; watch out for pick-pockets; report robberies or items lost to the police; if you lose your credit cards / bank cards, get in touch with your bank asap; etc.)
If you find yourself without any access to cash, without your passport, or in any other serious kind of trouble, the Irish Embassy/Consulate in your host country will try to help.
Code of Conduct
Remember that, while you are away, you are ambassadors for your country and for DCFE. As a registered student of DCFE while abroad, you will be subject to the policy and procedures of both DCFE and of your host company/organisation. You are expected to observe their regulations and code of conduct.
What to know before returning to DCFE from an Erasmus mobility
1. Before you leave the Host Company/Organisation
Ask your supervisor to complete your:
- Certificate of Attendance.
- DCFE survey is completed.
Once these are complete, you must then forward both documents to erasmus@cfedundrum.com for review.
2. Evaluation
On completion of your Erasmus+ Traineeship you will be emailed a survey form to complete online. This survey will help the EU in the development of the Erasmus+ Programme. It is compulsory to complete this survey.
Payment of your final grant installment will only be organised when you complete the Erasmus survey and submit your Certificate of Attendance and have completed the DCFE evaluation survey.
