Financial assistance for exchange programmes
There are some grants and financial assistance packages which are provided to help students participate in Erasmus or bilateral exchange programmes.
The European Commission awards Erasmus students a monthly assistance package which is administered by the National Erasmus Agency and issued by the Department of International Relations of the UIC. This assistance package normally amounts to an average monthly sum of approximately €120, which is dispatched in three separate bank transfers over the course of the academic year.
The Ministry of Education and Science also offers assistance packages to Erasmus students who meet all necessary requirements. The Department of International Relations of the UIC issues these funds to eligible participants once they have returned from abroad. The total amount offered to each student is lower than the package provided by the European Commission, although students are not made aware of exactly how much they will receive until they have completed the academic programme.
The Autonomous Government of Catalunya also offers an assistance package of €200 per month (maximum available €1200) for students studying overseas. This financial assistance is aimed at students participating in bilateral exchange and Erasmus programmes. Although the Department of International Relations helps students prepare their applications for the grant, it is the students themselves who must assume responsibility for sending their applications to the Agència de Geastió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR).
Things to do prior to departure and enrolment at the overseas university
After accepting the offer and before leaving for their destination, each outgoing Erasmus student must sign and return a mobility contract which specifies their duties and obligations, regardless of whether or not they qualify for financial assistance from the European Commission.
Outgoing Erasmus students must also collect copies of the certificate of stay and the student report or questionnaire for the purpose of obtaining signatures and official stamps from the relevant representatives of their respective institutions. These three documents can be obtained from the Department of International Relations, which normally distributes them during information sessions held in June.
It is the outgoing student’s responsibility to sign and submit their mobility contract before their departure. On their return to Barcelona, they must submit the certificate of stay, together with the completed, signed and stamped student’s report. If this is not done, students may be refused participation and/or financing of the programme.
Once students have received the letter of acceptance from their respective universities, they may begin organising other important aspects of their exchange programme, such as travel, accommodation and intensive language courses.
It is very important to remember that, prior to their departure, outgoing UIC students must enrol at this University for the following year, and that on their return they must provide their respective academic department with the transcripts of the marks attained in all the courses studied abroad as early as possible. Both the enrolment form and the transcript of marks attained must reflect the subjects that each student committed to study in the Learning Agreement.