ERASMUS+ HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT AND STAFF MOBILITY FOR LEARNING PURPOSES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

 

 

Can all higher education institutions in Turkey benefit from higher education student and staff mobility?

In order to benefit from higher education student and staff mobility, higher education institutions need to apply for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) and be awarded the ECHE. ECHE applications are made once a year to the European Commission Executive Agency located in Brussels. The next ECHE application date is set for May 22, 2014. Detailed information can be obtained from the link below:

https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/erasmus-charter-for-higher-education-2014-2020_en

 

What are the procedures to be followed prior to applying for higher education student and staff mobility?

The institutions applying for the program must have an ECHE (Erasmus Charter for Higher Education). Additionally, all institutions applying for the program must obtain a PIC (Participant Identification Code) number before the application process. The following documents must be uploaded to the Participant Portal (URF) for the PIC number to be valid:

Legal Entity Form: This is a document that must be uploaded to the European Commission's Participant Portal (URF) by all institutions, regardless of public or private status.

Financial Identification Form: This is a document that must be uploaded to the European Commission's Participant Portal (URF) by all institutions, regardless of public or private status. This document contains the organization's banking information. It is not mandatory to upload it during the application stage, but it can be uploaded during the process.

 

How can we access the Application Form?

The Application Form is published on the TURNA Electronic Project Management System. To access the form, registration to the TURNA Electronic Project Management System is required. The TURNA Electronic Project Management System can be accessed at https://turna.ua.gov.tr/turna/.

Will we send the project application form by mail?

No, the project application form will be submitted only online. It will not be sent by mail or courier.

 

Which countries can mobility be carried out within the scope of higher education student and staff mobility?

During the first year of the program, mobility activities can be carried out only between EU member states and program countries that are not EU members (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, North Macedonia, and Turkey). It is anticipated that the number of countries where mobility can be carried out will increase in the following years.

 

Does Erasmus+ offer different opportunities for higher education students?

With the Erasmus+ period, opportunities such as "Joint Master Degrees" and "Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans" have been introduced for students at the higher education level who are planning to pursue a master's degree. While our website (http://www.ua.gov.tr/programlar/erasmus-program%c4%b1/merkezi-faaliyetler) provides a summary of information on this topic, it should be noted that these specific activities are not carried out by our Center. Therefore, for more detailed information, it is recommended to refer to the following links provided by the European Commission:

 Joint Master Degrees:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/opportunities/higher-education/joint-master_en.htm

 Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/opportunities/higher-education/masters-loans_en.htm

 

Can graduate students benefit from learning and internship activities?

For student learning mobility, students need to have student status. On the other hand, with a recent change in the program, new graduates are now allowed to benefit from student internship activities. This allows students who have applied for an internship program while still being enrolled as students to participate in internship mobility for a period of 2-12 months within 1 year after their graduation. If a student wants to benefit from post-graduation internship activities, they should apply and be selected by their higher education institution while still being enrolled as students. Post-graduation applications are not accepted.

 

As a student, how long can I benefit from funded learning and internship activities?

Students can benefit from funded student mobility activities for a total of up to 12 months at each level of study (undergraduate, master's, and doctoral). However, during the Lifelong Learning Program period, if a student has received funding for a certain period of study or internship, the amount of funding that can be received for the same level of study will be 12 months minus the previously received funding duration. There is no time limit for benefiting from the activity without funding. However, in order to prioritize as many individuals as possible to benefit from similar activities, the higher education institution may give priority to students who have never benefited from Erasmus mobility activities rather than those who have previously benefited. During the Erasmus+ period, the priority application should involve deducting 10 points from students who have previously benefited from the activity, following the calculation of the points to be used in student selection.

 

Who can assist me regarding accommodation?

Arranging accommodation for individuals benefiting from higher education student and staff mobility activities is not the responsibility of our Center or higher education institutions. However, the AB offices of the host institutions, where students are enrolled or will be visiting, can provide information on where to stay and share their experiences if available.

 

Who can assist me with visa procedures?

Visa procedures are the responsibility of the beneficiaries. It is important to complete the required documents requested by the consulate/embassy of the destination country during the visa application process. In order to facilitate visa procedures for students receiving grants under our program, if requested, universities can provide an official letter stating that they have been selected within the scope of higher education student mobility and will receive a monthly grant of ...

Is it possible for me to benefit from higher education student and staff mobility independently of the higher education institution I am affiliated with?

No, higher education student and staff mobility activities can only be accessed through the higher education institutions that students or staff members are affiliated with.

 

Is it possible to receive additional grant from your center in addition to the grant I will receive from the higher education institution?

No, our center, the Higher Education Coordinatorship, has already allocated its entire grant to the higher education institutions. Individual applications are not accepted, and we do not have a separate grant allocation specifically designated for individual applications.

 

Can I choose the country or higher education institution where I will go?

Within the scope of higher education student mobility and staff teaching mobility, it is only possible to go to partner higher education institutions abroad that have agreements with your own higher education institution. However, if you communicate your requests and connections to the authorized individuals responsible for inter-institutional agreements at your affiliated higher education institution, you may have the opportunity to initiate the process of establishing an agreement with the relevant institution.

 

How are inter-institutional agreements made?

Inter-institutional agreements are signed between faculties/departments of higher education institutions, facilitated by authorized personnel of the institutions, to enable a certain number of students/staff members to engage in mobility for specific periods. While students do not have the ability to make inter-institutional agreements themselves, they can assist university officials in finding potential partners. However, any agreement made, even if initiated by a student, cannot be specific to an individual. Each agreement is made on behalf of the institution and is open for the benefit of all students.

 

Can I go to my own found internship place with the student internship program?

Students can both do their internships at the places recommended by their higher education institutions and find their own internship places and apply to their institutions' EU Offices. Students who apply to the internship places recommended by their higher education institution, as well as those who apply with their own internship places, can benefit from the program based on the selection criteria for the relevant academic year.

 

Who can benefit from staff training mobility activities?

Academic and administrative staff members of higher education institutions can participate in this activity to enhance their professional development and engage in experience sharing with their European counterparts.

 

How can I improve my foreign language skills before benefiting from Erasmus+ student mobility? What kind of assistance can my university provide in this regard?

The student who will go abroad is required to have a certain level of proficiency in a foreign language. It may not necessarily be the language of the country they will be visiting. While English serves as a unifying language within European countries, there are instances where knowledge of the language of instruction at the host institution is also necessary. Therefore, students should ensure they are aware of the language of the country they will be going to and the language of instruction for their studies before starting the mobility activity, and they should strive to improve their language skills. If selected students wish to further enhance their language skills, they can contact their university's International Relations Office to inquire about language support services provided by their institution. Some universities organize language courses to help students improve their language skills, while others provide financial support for students to attend language courses. Additionally, during the Erasmus+ period, the European Commission plans to offer online language support in specific languages for students. As details regarding this support are determined, they will be shared with our higher education institutions.

 

What are the student selection criteria?

In order to benefit from the internship mobility within the Erasmus+ Program, you need to meet the following conditions:

• Be enrolled in one of the regular programs (including Evening Education) at Bingöl University.
• If you have already participated in Erasmus+ and Lifelong Learning (LLP) mobility activities in the current educational level, the total duration should not exceed 12 months, including the new activity.
• Have a sufficient foreign language score; achieve a minimum score of 55 or equivalent in the International Exchange Programs Foreign Language Exam administered by the School of Foreign Languages (YDYO), or have an equivalent score from recognized exams.
• Have a sufficient cumulative academic grade point average: at least 2.20 for associate's and bachelor's degrees, at least 2.50 for master's degrees, and at least 3.00 for doctoral degrees.
• Have a minimum Erasmus+ qualification score of 55, which is determined based on the cumulative academic grade point average and foreign language exam score.

 

Calculation of the Erasmus ranking score

The general grade point average contributes to 50% of the score, while the foreign language score contributes to the other 50%.

Important Notice!

For students who have previously benefited from higher education student or traineeship mobility under the Lifelong Learning Program or Erasmus+, within the same level of education, a deduction of 10 points is applied for each previously benefited activity (without distinguishing between study and traineeship).

For disabled students (with documented disability), 10 points are added to their ranking score.

For children of martyrs and veterans (with appropriate documentation), 15 points are added to their ranking score.

For students who have been granted protection, care, or accommodation decisions under the Social Services Law No. 2828 (with appropriate documentation), 10 points are added to their ranking score.

For students participating in mobility in their country of citizenship, 10 points are deducted from their ranking score.

Students who meet the eligibility criteria have the option to waive financial support and participate in the program as self-funded students.