YEAR ABROAD

• Study
• Work
  • Working abroad, is it right for you?
  • Find a placement
  • How do I apply?
  • What will it cost?
  • What happens next?
  • Useful resources
  • Paperwork
• Your Questions
• Timeline
• Other Opportunities

Working abroad, is it right for you?

What you need to know

The major learning outcome of a work placement remains the student's intellectual training and the enhancement of their skills set, in line with the key objectives of a degree in Modern Languages. The skills developed are transferable into a broad range of professional activities, and include: linguistic fluency; cross-cultural communication; international understanding; self-management; and personal maturity. Such skills are integral to the Erasmus scheme's promotion of life-long learning, employability, mobility, and social inclusion.

Consequently, the School of Modern Languages requires all potential employers to offer our students total immersion in a foreign language alongside native speakers. Such employers may be organisations involved in either of the public or private sectors (including voluntary organisations), and they should offer clear job content with full-time hours (minimum of 25hrs per week and maximum of 40hrs), professional facilities, mentoring and support. Whilst students are welcome to take on work during vacations in bars and restaurants (in locations where this is deemed safe by a department), as well as in a family as an au pair, such employment is evidently not in keeping with the requirements for an Erasmus work placement during the Year Abroad.

Examples of past work placements include (but are certainly not limited to) marketing groups, financial services, auction houses, community groups and charities. Students are of course encouraged to be imaginative in their planning and to think carefully about how such a placement will fit in with their long-term goals. Both the SML and SWAP webpages provide details of past student placements for consultation.

Erasmus Rules

You will also need to make sure that your placement meets Erasmus rules. Because if it doesn’t, you won’t receive an Erasmus grant or benefit from the Erasmus fee status.

So, here’s what you need to know:

• Your placement can take place in any EU member state, the EFTA countries or Turkey (this also includes places like La Reunion and the Spanish Islands).
• Your placement needs to last for a minimum of 3 continuous months (with the same employer), and can last for up to a maximum of 12 months.
• Understandably, it needs to be an integral part of your degree and the equivalent of full-time working hours (minimum of 25hrs per week and maximum of 40hrs).
• Your host company cannot be associated with the EU, national embassies/consulates or organisations managing EU programmes. If in doubt, check with the SWAP Team.
• At least 3 months of your placement(s) must take place between 1 September and 30 June of the year you go abroad.

For more information on planning your Year Abroad, please view the School of Modern Languages Year Abroad Handbook for your relevant year.