School of Languages, Linguistics and Film The Year Abroad French Meeting for 2 nd year students Wednesday 23d October pm, Laws 2.07

Overview compulsory for all students with French in their degree title minimum 6-7 months studying and/or working abroad in total Minimum individual placement duration = 3 months Studying French AND another language: recommend spending time in the country where your weakest language is spoken. (Also possible to split your Year Abroad between two countries) Worth 120 credits and you will have to complete an assessment for Queen Mary whilst you are abroad (accounts for 12.5% of your degree)

Year Abroad options Study placement at a university under the European exchange programme in France or Switzerland (ERASMUS) or independently Work placement (including Teaching English as a foreign language assistant (British Council)) within Europe (ERASMUS) or beyond (non European French- speaking countries)

ERASMUS Study placements Study at our ERASMUS partner institutions. We have ERASMUS agreements with 7 universities in France and Switzerland (Geneva). ERASMUS grants available to support your studies for the duration of your placement (375 Euros per month in 2013/14) Open to ALL students, regardless of nationality or fee status. Numbers are limited on individual exchanges. Application is competitive. There are 3 placements possible for Business Management students and 5 placements that offer Portuguese language.

French-speaking study places All Erasmus partner universities offer modules in Modern Languages (language and content modules) but incoming Erasmus students can also pick modules from other Departments (UFR), like History, Psychology, etc. Université François-Rabelais à Tours (6) (BUS MAN) (POR) Université de Provence Aix-Marseille 1 (3) (POR) Université d’Avignon (2) (BUS MAN) (POR) Université Paris Sorbonne-Paris IV (3) (POR) Université Catholique de Lille (2) (BUS MAN) Université de la Réunion (2) (POR) Université dé Genève (2) Ecole de Traduction et d'Interprétariat (Switzerland)

Competitive Erasmus study placements (1) There are only 20 Erasmus study places in total. ERASMUS Study Placements are competitive. When allocating ERASMUS study places (as a first choice), departments will consider the following factors: - overall strength of students’ application - the fact that some student projects or study interests can only be undertaken, or are best undertaken at a given university will be taken into consideration (some of ERASMUS study placements are discipline-specific and students’ degree programmes therefore need to fit in with these agreements) - students’ first year exam results and students’ current performance in the second year, especially in French language - special factors such as health and welfare issues.

Competitive Erasmus study placements (2) Students will be informed which placement they have been allocated by the end of the first semester. Students will be required to accept their placement by by a given deadline. Failure to accept this placement by the given deadline may result in them losing their place. Students who choose an Erasmus study placement as their back-up option are not guaranteed to get one of their 3 preferred choices since study places are allocated in priority to students who choose Erasmus study placements as their 1 st choice. Students who choose an Erasmus study placement as their back-up option are guaranteed to get one but the location will depend on places still available after having allocated placements as 1 st choice.

Erasmus study placements- funding issues Students on Erasmus study placement(s) for a minimum of 24 weeks : -will have to pay 15% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £ will be able to take out tuition fee loans to cover these fees. -will NOT have to pay any fees to their host institution(s). -will be entitled to an ERASMUS grant since their study or work placement(s) is within the EU (including Switzerland). (in 2013/14, the Erasmus grant was 375 € /month)

Independent study placements (non-ERASMUS) This option is for those who: wish to study at any other French-speaking university within the European Union that we do not have an ERASMUS agreement with OR wish to study at a French-speaking university outside the European Union (e.g. Quebec). Students on study placements outside Erasmus for a minimum of 24 weeks* : will have to pay 15% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £1350. will be able to take out tuition fee loans to cover these fees. will have to apply to the institution(s) independently and pay tuition fees to their host institution(s). won’t receive an Erasmus grant.

If you split your YA between France and Spain or France and Germany We recommend that you spend your 1 st semester in France, and your 2 nd semester in Spain or Germany. It is essential that you check the academic calendar of the universities you’re interested in to avoid clashes with beginning of classes and final examinations.

Language Assistantships Teaching English as a foreign language assistant Teaching in primary or secondary schools or in universities Locations: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada (Québec) Decent salary & ERASMUS grant if placement is within Europe BC registration forms must be downloaded directly from their website: Students must get a reference from a member of academic staff and therefore they must ask this person as soon as possible!

Language Assistantships Eligibility criteria: - Students must have completed their secondary education in the UK (age in England, in Scotland). If students spent all of their secondary education abroad they must hold a valid UK passport. - Students must be native speakers of English. - Students cannot only do 1 semester as a language assistant. Students on British Council placements outside Europe (i.e. in Québec) and on non-Erasmus work placements: -will have to pay 20% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £ will be able to take out tuition fee loans to cover these fees.

Students on British Council placements in Europe (including Switzerland) and on Erasmus work placements: -will have to pay 15% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £ will be able to take out tuition fee loans to cover these fees. -will NOT have to pay any fees to their host institution(s). -will be entitled to an ERASMUS grant since their study or work placement(s) is within the EU (including Switzerland) (in 2013/14, the Erasmus grant was 375 € /month) If a student splits his/her Year abroad between 2 placements which involve different fees (for example an Erasmus study placement in semester 1 and a non- Erasmus work placement in semester 2), then this student will have to pay 20% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £ Language Assistantships

Work placements - criteria Office-based/classroom based opportunities mainly Must demonstrate exposure to the target language Any French-speaking country Needs to be approved by the Year Abroad Committee: work placement details form, job description and confirmation from the employer to be submitted by Friday 16 th May 2014 at the latest Once approved – complete training agreement (convention de stage)

Work placements - Back up plan You are responsible for sourcing your own placement, which will have to be approved by the Year Abroad Committee. The School does provide some support via practical workshops and one-to-one meetings with Birgitta Hall. You will need to provide a back up plan (e.g. an Erasmus study placement) in case you don't manage to secure a placement by the deadline or if your placement falls through You need to fill in and return a FORM indicating whether you intend to find a work placement and in which sectors of activity. This is an indication of intent to work not a final arrangement!

Country-specific CV and interview workshops Placement/job-hunting and making applications in FRANCE Wednesday 15 th January 2014 Going for interviews in FRANCE Wednesday 22 nd January 2014 CV surgeries -sign up sheet Register for workshops by ing Birgitta stating which country workshop you’re interested

Fees and funding – Overseas students (1) Overseas students on Erasmus study and/or work placement(s) (incl. British Council**) for a minimum of 24 weeks* : -will have to pay 50% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £ will NOT have to pay any fees to their host institution(s). -will be entitled to an ERASMUS grant since their study or work placement(s) is within the EU (including Switzerland). (in 2013/14, the Erasmus grant was 375 € /month) * This can include split placements although each placement MUST be at least 3 months long. ** There are certain eligibility criteria to be able to work as an English language assistant through the British Council.

Fees and funding – Overseas students (2) Overseas students on study placements outside Erasmus for a minimum of 24 weeks : - will have to pay 50% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £ will have to pay tuition fees to their host institution(s). Overseas students on work placements (incl. British council) outside Erasmus for a minimum of 24 weeks : - will have to pay 50% of the full time QMUL tuition fee rate, i.e. £6375.

Santander scholarships The Department of French can award 1 Santander scholarship of 1000 Euros if the placement is in the only Santander French-speaking country, i.e. Belgium. Students can apply by writing a statement of support (not exceeding 300 words) and sending it to the French Year Abroad Co-ordinator, Dr Elsa Petit, during the application period ( 21 st to 28 th of July 2014). Criteria for the Santander awards application: -35% Academic performance -35% Involvement and attendance -30% Financial need

YA Deadlines First stage: all students need to submit at least 2 forms by Wednesday 20 th November in Arts 1.08 : first choice and back-up option ERASMUS study placement students will be informed of the outcome of their applications on Friday 13 th December Students need to confirm their ERASMUS study placement by by Wednesday 8 th January 2014 British Council applications are externally administered and students are informed. Applications for Santander scholarships (to be handed in to the French Year Abroad Coordinator: last week of July 2014

YA Deadlines FOR ALL STUDENTS If you have not started yet, you should begin your research NOW!

Decision time! Log in to QMPlus 'Year Abroad ' and read the powerpoint presentations if you're unclear about anything Talk to final year students about their experiences abroad Contact students currently on their Year Abroad by going on QMUL Facebook group: ‘Help! I’m on my Year Abroad’ Research your placement options by looking at thirdyearabroad.com If you’re interested in studying abroad, visit our partner institutions’ websites