ELAN Network
The University belongs to the European Liberal Arts Network (ELAN), which is a consortium of European universities promoting a Liberal Arts approach to education.[1] Not all of them have Liberal Arts programmes like we do, but they all share the ideals and values of such an approach. The network promotes Liberal Arts education by encouraging students everywhere to work towards the ELAN certificate. We judge that this certificate will be a valuable addition to your academic transcript, attesting a student possessing enterprise, initiative, a broad outlook and a range of skills, in addition to your strong academic record.
The requirements are listed below. Many of them reflect what you are already doing to earn your degree, and that is no accident – the degree was designed with just this kind of template in mind. But you will need to do more, particularly outside the classroom. Your Year Abroad presents opportunities to do this, which you can discuss with your Study Abroad Academic Director before you go, and while you’re there.
Requirements for the ELAN certificate
Requirements may be completed at one’s home institution, or at a partner institution. Activities may be double-counted between this list and the student’s work for their degree (e.g., no. 3, the individual project may also be a final-year dissertation meeting a requirement for the BA or MLibArts) but they may not be double-counted within this list except where specified (see no. 2). The ELAN board may accept ECTS[2] equivalents where appropriate.
Compulsory
1. Enrolment in at least 30 ECTS of ELAN modules, from a list designated by the network.[3]
2. Study abroad. Minimum of 15 ECTS to be completed at an ELAN partner institution or an alternative accepted by the ELAN board. NB requirements 1 and 2 may be combined i.e. the 15 ECTS done during study abroad, if ELAN modules, may count towards the 30 in no. 1.
3. Study of or in a foreign language. Minimum of 10 ECTS.
4. Liberal arts individual project on a topic that is interdisciplinary and/or considers the relevance of the arts and humanities in the contemporary world. Minimum of 5 ECTS. Must achieve a mark of at least II 1 or equivalent. Students are encouraged to do some or all of this project while abroad.
Optional
Students must complete at least 3 of the following requirements.
5. Internship or placement with a partner outside of HE for a minimum period of one week, or working with a partner from outside HE on a piece of assessed work as part of a credit-bearing unit.
6. Participation in Intensive Study Programme offered or endorsed by ELAN.
7. Participation in a MOOC offered or endorsed by ELAN.
8. Participation in a student conference organised by students under ELAN auspices.
9. Participation in a summer school offered or endorsed by ELAN.
10. Participation in a group project on a topic that is interdisciplinary and/or considers the relevance of the arts and humanities in the contemporary world. Minimum of 5 ECTS. Must achieve a mark of at least II 1 or equivalent.
11. Study of a second foreign language. Minimum of 10 ECTS.
12. Community work.
13. Students may suggest additional forms of extracurricular activity to the ELAN board for approval.
[1] The European ELAN website.
[2] ECTS = European Credit Transfer System. 1 ECTS = 2 Bristol credits. The ELAN board consists of one representative from each participating institution.
[3] ELAN modules may be in any discipline, or span disciplinary boundaries, but wherever located they are inter- or cross-disciplinarity in outlook, ask questions of general importance in the arts and the humanities, and/or explore the significance of the arts and humanities in contemporary society.