The Project
FAQ
2. What are the differences between CE and Erasmus?
3. Who can participate? What fields of study are covered?
4. What kind of financial support can CE students obtain when they go abroad?
5. Why should I go abroad as CE-mover?
6. What are guarantees for academic recognition?
7. How will I learn the foreign languages?
8. Can I take my exams in English?
9. Why do I need to learn the language of my host country?
10. Is it possible to start my CE exchange during the second/summer semester?
11. I study in a CE-member university but my faculty says I cannot go abroad...
12. When should I apply?
13. How can I get more information about CE? Who should I contact?
1. What is the aim of Campus Europae?
Campus Europae’s fundamental aim is to foster the idea of European citizenship among university students by allowing them to experience Europe’s unity and diversity. Campus Europae seeks to emphasize the fundamental civic implications of student exchange for European societies, rather than regarding it as a mere feature of the European Higher Education Area (more information).
Because only a profound and meaningful contact will significantly influence students’ attitudes and values enabling them to develop a closer understanding of the culture and language of the host country, Campus Europae also strives for its students to go abroad for one or two full academic years rather than one semester or less.
Campus Europae builds upon the financial and administrative infrastructure of Erasmus (CE movers usually fulfill all the Erasmus requirements provided they are moving from and to countries where Erasmus is available). However CE member universities feel they can achieve higher standards of excellence in student mobility through more intensive mutual cooperation. Combining European best practices and resources with a bottom-up commitment to enhance student mobility led former European Commissioner Ján Figel to coin the notion “Campus Europae = Erasmus +”.
The cooperation within Campus Europae is first and foremost focused in rendering student mobility more enticing, therefore students moving within the CE network are entitled to the following additional advantages:
- the award of a unique academic Degree which distinguishes the most motivated and talented students
- the assurance that credits earned abroad under the aegis of the Campus Europae Subject Committees are recognized without fault or exception
- tuition through online and intensive language courses to develop the language skills that will allow them to successfully pursue studies abroad
- the possibility of working abroad by means of study-related internships intended to enhance their European-wide employability.
3. Who can participate? What fields of study are covered?
Campus Europae is open to the participation of all BA and MA students from the CE member universities. In some instances internal selection processes may apply. A list of the participating universities can be found here. Students from universities which are not listed may not participate in the programme.
For the time being and due to the intensity of the required preparation, features like the equivalences database remain subject-specific. The recognition database can be accessed here.
Students who wish to partake in an internship while abroad should check which destinations offer such a possibility. Please consulte the pages of the member universities in this website (see “overview”).
4. What kind of financial support can CE students obtain when they go abroad?
At present, the financial support awarded to CE students is identical to the grants given within the Socrates/Erasmus framework. Please contact the CE Coordinator of your university for further details.
Campus Europae acknowledges that the financing of students interested in going abroad for a second year is a challenging issue. More information on this matter will be made available shortly. Students undertaking an internship may be eligible for complementary financing if they cannot benefit from an Erasmus grant.
5. Why should I go abroad as CE-mover?
Spending a year abroad studying in a new university using a different language is as much of an extraordinary experience as a challenge that requires sufficient motivation as well as an open mind. Studies show that the academic performance of students going abroad with CE remains excellent with an average of 49 ECTS acquired abroad out of 60 possible.
Additionally, most Campus Europae Universities have in place a network of students to show you your way around the new University upon arrival and help you to integrate. They are also available to answer questions and doubts which may arise before your arrival. The participation in the online language courses enables you to meet and study with students from other universities going to the same host university and to be in contact with a local language teacher who can also answer many questions.
To help its students, Campus Europae maintains an online living cost database aimed at facilitating the financial planning of a year abroad as well as a collection of Pocket Guides with practical information about each of the network universities.
6. What are guarantees for academic recognition?
Campus Europae takes the recognition of studies abroad very seriously, as this is an issue of paramount importance for the members of the network and one of the project’s cornerstones. Mobile students must not be exposed to any complications with regard to the recognition of ECTS credits earned abroad which could lead to the prolongation of studies.
During your time as a CE mover, you will be asked to fill in two questionnaires to monitor whether recognition is working as planned. You are also strongly encouraged to contact the Campus Europae Ombudsmen if you feel your rights have not been respected or that a lack of recognition may lead to the prolongation of your studies.
7. But how will I learn the foreign languages?
Campus Europae has developed a language learning gateway called “Hook Up!” which provides online language courses starting months ahead of the beginning of the exchange The online courses combine self-learning with virtual interactive group classes and generally takes place before the student travels to a new host country in order to equip students with the sort of linguistic survival skills that will ease their integration and prepare them to study abroad. The e-learning is then completed with intensive language courses provided upon arrival at the host university. The combination of both is meant to allow exchange students to follow courses in the language of the host university, normally with the help of multilingual bibliography and further support from their professors, tutors or fellow students.
8. Can I take my exams in English?
In most cases yes; however, local regulations and professor's discretion may prevail in some universities or areas of study. Please have such details carefully checked with your academic coordinator prior to or at the beginning of your stay abroad.
9. Why do I need to learn the language of my host country? Why not use English all the way?
Campus Europae puts great emphasis on language learning for the simple reason that without a good command of the local language it is not possible to develop a full symbiosis with the surrounding culture, customs, history and social dynamics. And if such know-how is of great interest for personal and intellectual development, it can also certainly be valuable for academic and professional purposes!
10. Is it possible to start my CE exchange during the second/summer semester?
That option is hardly feasible because an exchange spanning two academic years usually entails intricate administrative procedures. However, if it is the only possibility you have to study abroad (notably during the MA), discuss the matter with your academic coordinator to see whether you can be helped with the preparations.
11. I study in a CE-member university but my faculty says I cannot go abroad! Why is that?
If a given faculty is refusing to engage in cooperation, the most likely cause will be the lack of learning agreements. Please contact the CE Secretariat if such issues threaten to keep you from going abroad.
Students moving within the CE network should register here to benefit from the supplementary advantages offered to them. Early registration is a crucial success factor for a relaxed and successful stay abroad, to allow accommodation to be booked, internships to be found, language courses organised, and should ideally be completed before mid-March, even if a definitive decision has not been taken yet.
Furthermore both home and host universities have internal deadlines for processing applications; indicative dates can be found on the CE website but these should be checked with both universities.
The best way to acquire a comprehensive and up to date overview of the whole project is to browse this website. Here you can find the contact details of the CE coordinators of each member university, who are the first link to the programme and who will answer your questions. In addition you can also establish contact with student representatives, in case you prefer a more informal approach. The Campus Europae Secretariat in Luxembourg will also be happy to help you with any questions you may have.