All posts by Samantha Jane Logan

Editor of the International Students' Bulletin.

Erasmus +

Erasmus+ is the European Commission’s programme for higher education students that allows you to study or work abroad as part of your degree course in one of 32 other countries in Europe. Over 2 million students across Europe have taken part since 1987.

There are opportunities for many students to complete a study or work placement abroad as part of their degree at Sheffield Hallam University. We have study exchange agreements with over 100 institutions and well-established links with placement companies across the world, so there has never been a better time to participate in a study or work placement abroad. Where you can go depends on the subject and course you are studying.

A study or work placement abroad can provide:

  • a fun and challenging experience
  • an international network of friends
  • the confidence to live abroad
  • travel opportunities across Europe
  • new or improved language skills
  • academic credits
  • new perspectives on your subject
  • transferable employment skills

If your study or work placement is in Europe, you may be eligible for financial support through the Erasmus+ programme. The grant contributes towards the extra costs arising from studying or working abroad and is paid in addition to the standard grants or loans to which students are entitled. Please note the Erasmus grant is not guaranteed.

The grant available to students studying or working abroad in Europe varies each year and according to the country you are visiting – please see the Erasmus+ advice for participants for information on the grant rates for the current year. Students identified as widening participation students also currently receive supplementary funding for studying abroad.

There are opportunities for Sheffield Hallam students to study or work abroad outside of Europe (e.g. Australia, Canada and the USA) but currently the Erasmus+ grant is not available for students studying or working outside Europe.

Funding for students with special circumstances

If you have any special circumstances that you feel should be taken into consideration when your Erasmus grant is calculated you should tell your tutor straight away. Discretionary payments may be made to students who, for example, have a disability which results in extra costs; have a health condition which results in extra costs or need to make special child care provision during their study/work abroad. Discretionary payments cannot be made on account of a student’s financial situation alone nor because of non-payment or part-payment of the parental contribution.

Which countries can I go to?

Where you can go depends on the course you are studying at Sheffield Hallam. Please check with your Faculty for the most up-to-date information on the opportunities that are available for your course.

Can I go to more than one country?

If you are undertaking two work placements in Europe in one academic year you may be eligible to apply for the grant twice providing the placements are continuous. These placements could be in two different countries – please check with your Faculty placement team to see if your course allows for more than one placement and which countries are available. If you undertake a study exchange through Erasmus+ and then go onto a work placement the following year in Europe, you can apply for the grant for both of these years up to a maximum of 12 months.

How do I apply?

You can study or work abroad and qualify for an Erasmus grant if you are:

  • fully registered on an undergraduate or postgraduate course at the University
  • in the second, third or final year of your course
  • on a course which is part of an approved Erasmus exchange programme (your course tutor should be able to advise you of this)
  • undertaking a period abroad that lasts for at least 2 months (for work) and 3 months (for study) and not more than 12 months in total.

You should ask your tutor as early as possible whether your course provides the opportunity for a study or work period abroad. If it does, you will need to discuss with your tutor whether you will be able to go abroad, and, if so, for how long, where and when.

When and how will I receive my grant?

You will receive your grant in two instalments. You will receive the first payment (80%) of your grant before your study/work placement starts. The remaining 20% of your grant will be paid to you towards the end of your study/work period when all your paperwork is complete (students are required to submit certain documentation as part of the conditions of receiving the grant).

Further information for students studying abroad

Further information about students working abroad

Useful contacts and links

For general information, please contact the Erasmus co-ordinator in the Directorate of International Development at Sheffield Hallam University, telephone 0114 225 3880, email erasmus-exchange@shu.ac.uk.

For enquiries specifically relating to work placements, please contact the Erasmus Administrator in Careers & Employment, telephone 0114 225 4033, email erasmus-exchange@shu.ac.uk.

Here are some useful Erasmus-related websites:

Rochelle MacKenzie-McQueen – Erasmus exchange

Rochelle MacKenzie-McQueen

The exchange is a great way to make one’s CV more attractive to prospective employers and to stand out from the crowd. This is due to the wide range of valuable life and education skills that you gain.

Rochelle MacKenzie-McQueen, Studied LLB Maîtrise en Droit Français at Université de Paris-Est Créteil, France

“I chose to study at Sheffield Hallam University because of my course which not only gave me the opportunity to study LLB Law but also allowed me to spend two years in Paris, obtaining fluency in French and an M1 in French law.  For me, the Erasmus programme was a part of my course, but had it not been compulsory, I would still have chosen to take part.

The exchange proved invaluable in helping me to develop my language skills. I am now more confident in my ability to speak French and have learn various slang words and local dialect which have helped me to better understand the language. Without the exchange, I would not have been able to do this.

My Erasmus experience also helped me to develop skills such as managing heavy workloads and finding new ways to study.  I became more independent through the experience of living and studying abroad. Although I have lived abroad before, this was the first time when I had to be truly independent. I had to learn how to do things such as open a bank account where the system was completely different.

I would definitely recommend taking part in the Erasmus exchange to other students. In my opinion, there is no better way to learn about different cultures and (where applicable) languages. I also developed a great deal academically.

The exchange is a great way to make one’s CV more attractive to prospective employers and to stand out from the crowd. This is due to the wide range of valuable life and education skills that you gain.

I feel that I learnt more about myself in the nine months that I spent abroad than I have during the past three years of university.

Erasmus exceeded my expectations!”

Mitesh Mistry – Erasmus exchange

The Erasmus exchange programme went beyond my expectations. I made new friends from France, Mexico, United States and China – all of whom I stillMitesh Mistry keep in contact today. I met and worked alongside some of the world’s most distinguished academics, politicians and leaders in the global arena. I got the opportunity to travel across the Netherlands and experience a different lifestyle.

Mitesh Mistry, Studied BA Hons Politics at The Hague University, the Netherlands

“I decided to undertake the Erasmus exchange programme because it was too good an opportunity to turn down. Being able to live abroad, study at a foreign institution and meet people from across the world seemed like an exciting prospect and I benefited greatly from doing this in terms of my academic, professional and personal development.  I had to adapt quite quickly in order to get going with studying in a foreign learning environment.  Working with students from other countries also helped me to become better at communication. I acquired a placement at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic which definitely helped me to develop my communication, interpersonal, leadership and decision making skills.  I never thought I would be able to undertake a placement whilst I was there – by doing this I proved to myself more than anyone that I could succeed in this field of work – one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The Erasmus programme allowed me to step outside my comfort zone, living, working and studying in a foreign country. Before taking up this opportunity, I would have never considered going abroad to seek employment. Now I can’t wait to graduate and find out what opportunities are waiting for me in the international political arena.

I would definitely recommend taking part in Erasmus. Living and studying abroad was such a great experience mostly because I learnt a lot about myself and what I was capable of.

Erasmus defined 2013 for me and is an experience I will never forget! The people I met, the friends I made and the Diplomats I worked alongside all made this seven month extravaganza a phenomenal experience. I would recommend this to everyone! It was truly a remarkable experience.”

Hannah Gaunt – teaching abroad

Hannah Gaunt, Final year student in Sports Coaching, Sheffield Hallam University

“I learnt how to be innovative and my confidence grew so much because of this experience. I believe it makes me stand out and along with my other scHannah Gaunthool experience contributed to succeeding in gaining a teach
er training year.

I have been studying sport since college and will continue my studies when I graduate to train to be a teacher. I have volunteered at many events, including sports days, coaching and giving presentations on my time in Tanzania.

I spent 2 months in Tanzania and I got this opportunity through the University. It was a formal application process and I was selected to go. I was a sports coach to an under 16’s girls’ football team, a teacher in colleges and schools and helped in the community with HIV awareness.

My most memorable experience was turning up to teach at a college. We were never told how many people would be there or what we would be doing until the day. When we arrived and got to class there were 98 students which 4 of us had to teach. They didn’t speak much English and didn’t always want to input so it was very challenging. I learnt how to be innovative and my confidence grew so much because of this experience. The hardest thing for me was the realisation of how much I take for granted. Some of the children I worked with had very little but were still the happiest children I have ever taught or come across. The experience taught me to be thankful for everything I have and to respect and value people a lot more.

The best thing about the experience was seeing the children’s faces every day when we turned up to coach or at school. They were always so happy to see you and never wanted us to leave. The worst thing about the experience was probably being away from my family although at the time I wanted to stay longer and wouldn’t change one minute of the trip.

The experience has given me so much confidence and passion in what I do and what I want to achieve. I learnt how to live in a completely different culture for 2 months and adapted to their way of living. I gathered so many new idea about running lessons, games and how to communicate effectively when you are faced with challenges such as language barrier.

I feel more motivated to achieve the things I want to achieve and I strongly believe that this experience has made me more employable as I have developed a range of skills that are essential in teaching jobs. I believe that this experience makes me stand out and along with my other school experience contributed to succeeding in gaining a teacher training year.

If I were to give advice to anyone who was planning to volunteer, I would say to do as much as you can while you are out there in order to gain the most from the experience. If you go in half-heartedly then you will not develop as a person and learn new skills.”

If you’re inspired by Hannah’s story, then like our Facebook page for all the latest exciting opportunities and news!

Oli Porter – Working Abroad

My advice to anyone contemplating doing something like this is: do it! Get there as soon as you can. Africa is a fantastic place: the people are so friendly and will help you with anything. I would love to go back and see how sustainable my projects have become in the community. It is an experience of a lifetime and a memory you will never forget.

Having the opportunity to have my university work placement in Tanzania has made me more self-assured about applying for sports teacher jobs in the future, developing my personal and professional skills.

I spent two months coaching rugby and football teams in a variety of age groups in Arusha. I was with a group of other students, also from Sheffield Hallam University and we would spend most of our time within the community.

I visited orphanages, primary, secondary and disabled schools in the area, introducing mini activities and coaching multi-skill and fundamental sessions in a variety of sports. I also coached sport sessions in international schools around Arusha throughout the eight weeks, as well as leading HIV/AIDS Awareness sessions, hosting leadership programmes and teaching

The work placement was fantastic, I was able to meet new people and enhance many of my skills. I had the opportunity to go on safari, go to Zanzibar (an island off the east coast) perform for Arusha’s first team and much more.

The hardest part of my trip was that I had to leave; it’s safe to say I caught the Africa bug, I loved my experiences there and I made some great friends who I really want to see again.

The best thing about it was the challenge; I was in a country I had never been before, with very little knowledge of Swahili. I had to push myself to ensure that I got the most out of the opportunity and was able to develop my skills. I feel like the trip enhanced my cultural awareness and my independence hugely.

Having this Tanzania experience written on my CV and having worked with a variety of different organisations, any application I make for future roles would instantly stand out as distinctive and unique.

Oli Porter is a final year student on the Sport Development with Coaching degree. He spent eight weeks in Tanzania working at a school as a sports coach with young people.

Michael Overton – working abroad

Michael Overton is studying for a BSc. in Geography at Sheffield Hallam University

“There is no doubt that any experience working towards a goal in a foreign country will benefit me in this career choice.

Michael Overton

I am a final year Geography student at Sheffield Hallam, director of my start-up company Sealsafe Ltd., a qualified pilot, parachutist & diver, an Army Reservist, experienced traveller and writer.

I have worked on yachts in the Middle East, trained and managed sales teams in Australia, climbed remote peaks in Central Africa, Borneo, Nepal & New Zealand, picked up duck eggs & fixed tractors in Lincolnshire, video recorded shelling on Syrian towns, worked in a casino in Sheffield, collected lobsters in the South Pacific and explored ancient burial caves in Papua New Guinea.

During my semester abroad at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, I studied modules with an Australian twist and got a feel for the country within a global context including economics, environments and politics. I also worked a few hours a week making crepes. The cost of living is high in Australia. I was there for 6 months but the hardest thing was staying focussed on assignments with great surf beaches just down the coast!

The best experiences on a personal development level were gaining an insight into areas of the world I might never have otherwise e.g. a fascinating module on the broad history and current threat/opportunity posed by China to countries across Asia and Oceania.

It gave me the fantastic opportunity to travel to wild places across the continent e.g. Papua New Guinea – exploring ancient burial caves!

Each experience builds on the last in life to make you a more interesting, resilient and ambitious person with the right attitude. There is no doubt that these experiences multiply 10 fold when you throw yourself at life in a foreign country. The worst thing I had to manage was a crazy land-lady

I am keen to work as a research executive for a global branding agency so ability to work in totally unique environments and analyse the cultural dynamics that play into both conversations and reports is important.

Recently a student came to me for advice on studying abroad, I was happy to help but the detailed questions on everything from phone network recommendations to options on washing facilities just went on and on until I stopped replying. My advice is don’t panic, you are not flying to Mars – a little mystery and open planning can enhance your overall experience.”

Mike has been a Regional Ambassador for Virgin Media Pioneers for the past year.

This week’s news

Monday 29 September 2014
Support
  • Beware of scams! If you receive a suspicious email or phone call, do not give out any personal information and never make any payments.
  • Would you like some maths and statistics help?
  • Want some help with studying at university level or to update your skills in research and writing? Find out about Masterclass sessions.
Employability
Social 
  • There are lots of social activities coming up including  Conversation Club, which is a fortnightly networking event and an Indonesian Cultural Event, organised by students.
  • Find out about Navratri Festival Celebrations taking place in Sheffield from now until Friday 3 October.
  • Remember to check the events calendar regularly and book your place at events.
  • Would you like to meet new people and experience other cultures? Join SHU GoGlobal Facebook group to chat with Sheffield Hallam students.
Immigration
Student voice

Best wishes,

International Student Support Team

Help for international graduates setting up a business in the UK

Tier 1 launch presentation

  •  Date -Tuesday 30 September at 3pm
  • Location – Unit 11 Science Park

Attend this presentation to find out more about the scheme. No need to book, just turn up.

Tier1What is the Tier 1 Graduate  Entrepreneur Scheme?
The scheme gives non-EEA international graduates the opportunity to set up their own business in the UK after finishing their studies.

How does the scheme work?
If you have a business proposal, you can compete to join the scheme. If you’re successful you will be endorsed by the
University, and you can apply for the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa which allows you to be self-employed in the UK for 12 months.

Download the Tier 1 leaflet

 

Hallam Award presentation evening

What is Hallam Award?

The Hallam Award is a skills award that recognises and rewards students who have developed their skills through extracurricular activities within the Students’ Union or university. The Hallam Award is designed to help students reflect on and develop transferable skills that will help them in their university career and beyond.

On Friday 3 October The Students’ Union will be hosting a presentation evening for students to celebrate their volunteering achievements during the 2013-2014 academic year and collect their certificates.

Winner of Platinum Hallam AwardDSC00832

Samantha Jane Logan from International Student Support and also a part-time MSc Coaching and Mentoring student will receive Platinum Hallam Award due to her volunteer work with international students. Samantha independently mentored five international students in her spare time, who were  from Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and China in order to help them to settle into life in the UK and make friends. She also had a mentor on the Career Mentoring Scheme, who helped her to prioritise her time and utilise her ideas to design a peer mentoring scheme at her workplace called Culture Connect.

‘Hallam Award has been a fantastic way to help me to reflect on my volunteering experiences and demonstrate the skills I have been developing along the way, while remaining focused on my career ambitions. As a result, I feel more confident  to articulate my abilities to future employers during interviews’. Samantha Jane Logan

Winner of Gold Hallam Award

GuinevereGuinevere Chan, a student from Hong Kong, who studies BA (Honours) Business and Human Resources has received Gold Hallam Award for participating in various volunteer activities alongside her studies such as being a mentee on the Culture Connect pilot scheme, she was a Student Rep and member of the the International Student Standing Committee and Union Council, where she organised cultural events for home and international students called Café  Cultural. Earlier in the year, Guinevere received the International Student of the Year Award from the Hallam Union and Café Cultural won the Best Event of the Year and Volunteering Gold Award.

‘I am really proud of my achievements. I had a very busy schedule with my academic course, working part-time and volunteering. Being a mentee on the Culture Connect scheme helped me to manage my time effectively and stay motivated. It also helped me to complete Hallam Award, which involves submitting reflective accounts of my volunteer work, because I had the opportunity to reflect on my skills and progress with my mentor during mentoring sessions. I recommend that students who take part in volunteer work complete Hallam Award, as it will help them to stand out to employers!’ Guinevere Chan

Watch a video about how Guinevere balanced Culture Connect volunteer work around her studies and other activities

Are you interested in applying for Hallam Award?

If you take part in SHU GoGlobal extracurricular activities such as Culture Connect, Global Friends, SHU Fest, Conversation Club and Hallam Union societies, then we strongly recommend that you apply for Hallam Award. For more information go to http://go.shu.ac.uk/HallamAward 

 

Deadline approaching for peer mentoring scheme

Would you like to apply for our new volunteer peer mentoring scheme called Culture Connect? It will help you to meet people from different countries, develop your cultural awareness and gain valuable experience for your CV.

Your commitment

The scheme is very flexible around your studies. You will  meet your mentee/mentor a minimum of 4 times from October to April. You will receive an induction to ensure you get off to a good start, then there will be regular optional employability skills training and networking events to meet wider participants on the scheme. By taking part in Culture Connect, you will be eligible to apply for the prestigious Hallam Award.

Would you like to apply to become a mentor (student helping)?

You will help mentees settle into university life and gain volunteering experience for your CV. Ideal candidates will be familiar with university services and will have taken part in extracurricular activities.

Would you like to apply to become a mentee (student being helped)?

You may be a new international students who would like to learn about other cultures, adapt to life in the UK and improve your language skills.

You may want to discuss

  • ways to meet people from different countries
  • British culture and differences from your home country
  • extracurricular activities and community events
  • small talk and making friends
  • other places to get support

Watch a video summarising the scheme

More student videos and case studies 

Previous participants on the scheme described mentoring as ‘learning through sharing’. Both mentees and mentors reported improving their cultural awareness, time management and communication skills. As well as gaining volunteer experience.

Deadline to apply

The deadline is Wednesday 8 October at 5pm, fill out the online application form at http://go.shu.ac.uk/applycc 

Find out more

Email the scheme coordinator Samantha Jane Logan at CultureConnect@shu.ac.uk