Studying and Working in Europe

 

One of the main principles of the European Union (EU) is to support the free movement of people to work and study abroad and it offers a range of funding opportunities in this area. The European Unions website gives detailed information on all EU activities .

Studying in Europe

The main programmes that fund study in the European Union are ''Socrates'', which funds the educational sectors, ''Leonardo da Vinci'', which funds opportunities related to vocational training and ''Youth'', which funds a variety of opportunities for young people.''Socrates'' is divided into sub-programmes, each dealing with a different sector of education. ''Comenius'' funds students and teachers from schools and colleges, ''Grundtvig'' supports learners and teachers in adult learning and Erasmus promotes the quality of higher education and staff and student exchanges.

The British Council administers the funding programmes listed above and full details can be found on their websites:

• Socrates Website
• Leonardo Website
• Leonardo 2 Website
• More detailed information on individual sub-programmes

Other funding programmes support work exchanges include The Culture 2000 programme, which supports exchanges between cultural workers and also meetings of citizens from different countries in the European Union. For more detailed information see the European Unions Culture website

• Also see education and culture calls

Working in Europe

All citizens of the European Union have the right to work in any other member state, with some exceptions for members of the countries who acceded to the European Union in May 2004.

 

The EURES website  offers support and advice for people seeking to work in Europe and it offers a job matching service for job hunters and employees. The EU is supports the mobility of citizens to work and study abroad and one of its initiatives is Europass, (UK National Europass Centre Website),which is a common CV formula recognised across the EU. Each country has an organisation to support the Europass and offer advice and guidance on working in Europe.

Your local Jobcentre Plus can also offer advice and support see their website for information and advice

Young people will find a wealth of information on working in Europe at the Youth Information website pages.

If you are interested in working for the European Union you will normally need to have competency in a second language to level 3 (A level) standard. There are opportunities for both graduates and non-graduates. The European recruitment site gives full details.

 

Eligibility

 

Most opportunities to study abroad are only available through an organisational project as funding for study and work in the European Union is usually linked to a wider range of activity and reciprocal agreements between institutions.

However there is support for individual teachers and trainers to study abroad through the Comenius 2 programme.

Young people seeking to work or travel abroad should visit the European Union's Youth Portal if looking for a volunteering opportunity or youth exchange.

 

Websites

 

European Union websites
Main EU website
Department General Education and Culture,
EU Education website home page
EU Home page for support for young people to study in Europe
EU site for Leonardo Da Vinci

EU pages for Higher Education,
Erasmus sub-programme - Students
Erasmus sub-programme - Teachers

EU pages for schools and college 'Comenius' sub-programme, Individual Training Grants.
European Union's Youth Portal
EU Culture website Home page
European Employment network website EURES
EU Europass website

UK Websites
British Council - Youth Exchanges
British Council - Vocational Training programme, Leonardo Da Vinci
British Council, Socrates programme homepage
British Council -  International projects and exchanges
Jobcentre Plus Information about working abroad:
European Union recruitment website
UK Europass Centre website

 

Charges and fees

 

There are no charges or fees.

The individual's costs to cover travel and accommodation abroad are usually covered by the European Unions' mobility funding.

However an organisation's wider project costs are not usually fully funded. The European Union will usually only fund a given percentage and will require the remaining project costs to be match funded by the organisations(s) in receipt of the grant.

 

Reponse times and next steps

 

The Council does not administer these grants and enquiries should be made in the first instance to the British Council, who manage the Socrates programme on behalf of the European Union.

The European Union would normally allow 3 months between publishing a call for proposals and the deadline date. Organisational applicants should allow approximately 3 months between submission of their proposal and finding out the result.

Individual requests for support should be made a minimum of 6 weeks before the event for which funding is requested.

 

Helplines

 

Individuals should contact The British Council in the first instance on 0161 957 7755

Schools or other educational and training organisations can receive additional help and advice from the European and Regional Strategy Team at BMBC. Please e-mail education@barnsley.gov.uk and mark it for the attention of the ESF Strategy Co-ordinator.

 

Procedure

 

Studying in Europe

In the first instance you should contact your school, college, university or training provider and ask if they are involved in any European funded projects.

If your institution is does not operate an EU funded project, teaching staff have the opportunity to access individual training grants through the Comenius programme and Young People may be able to link in with a broader programme or volunteering opportunities. Contact the British Council for more information.

Working in the EU

Undergraduates and graduates should contact their University Careers Centre, as it will have information on working in the EU.

Any UK worker can work in any member state on either a temporary or permanent basis.

The European Union's EURES website offers a job placement service and an internet search will bring up a range of recruitment sites offering to link you to work in other European countries.

If you are currently claiming benefits you should discuss your plans to seek work in Europe with your local Jobcentre plus. There are reciprocal arrangements in the EU for receipt of your benefits whilst you are seeking work in another member state.

Individuals seeking to work for the European Union should look at the EU recruitment website

 

Owner officer contact details

 

European and Regional Strategy Team
Chief Executive's Department
Town Hall
Barnsley
Tel: 01226 773048
Email: education@barnsley.gov.uk

 

Last modified on 15/9/2008