How to go ? Leaving affiliated to a programme

Leaving with a programme or in an international stream is the most practical and secure solution as you remain affiliated to your school or institution. You must hold the status of secondary or higher education student and be studying for a diploma at a French institution.

Advantages:

you benefit from cooperation agreements between schools or institutions, the groundwork is done (course content, conditions of your stay) and some procedures are facilitated (recognition of qualifications, enrolment, search for accommodation, financial aid, logistical assistance).
Going out, recognition of qualifications is guaranteed in the exchange agreements and, coming back, your period of study abroad will be validated by your school or institution which will supply the equivalent French diploma.

However, you will only be able to go and study at a partner institution, especially if you are in higher education, after your first year and only in the European Economic Area (although opportunities are being extended to North America and Asia).

Going with the ERASMUS+ programme

Collége or lycée students: Erasmus+ Higher education

From the age of 14, a student in troisième (year 10) up to terminale (year 12) can study or do a school exchange within the framework of a cooperation agreement between education institutions in Europe. Individual mobility is permitted for anywhere between 3 and 10 months in an institution in another European country provided that both institutions are partners. Language preparation, travel and insurance expenses are covered and students receive a monthly allowance. Contact your school or institution.

Vocational school students or apprentices: Erasmus+ Vocational education

Students at vocational college (lycée professionnel) and apprentices can study or train abroad, which includes work experience of two weeks to 12 months in a European vocational training establishment.

Contact your school or institution.

www.agence-erasmus.fr

Note that while many countries offer apprenticeship pathways, this type of training is not very common in Europe and varies from one country to another. http://mavoieproeurope.onisep.fr

Students: Erasmus+ Higher education

Reserved for students enrolled in at least the second academic year of higher education, this programme allows a student to study for three months to a year in a school or institution in another European country. You remain affiliated to the school or institution which arranged the exchange, which guarantees your overseas study will be recognised in your French curriculum. While grants are available, they are not always guaranteed.

Contact your institution’s international relations department.

See the map of the Erasmus+ French higher education institutions and the main destination countries : www.statisticsforall.eu/maps-erasmus-institutions.php

Students : Erasmus+ Joint Master’s

For students holding a Bachelor’s degree, this high-level, prestigious Master’s programme allows students to obtain a double, triple or joint diploma with a period of study in at least two of three institutions in three different countries. While grants are available, they are not always guaranteed.

Contact your institution’s international relations department.

Leaving with bilateral programmes and international streams

Bilateral, trilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements between institutions exist outside of Erasmus.

They provide a framework for student exchanges and ensure a period of study abroad (often a single term) is recognised back home. Most of these exchanges take place within Europe but opportunities are being established further afield. The courses lead to the attainment of double or joint diplomas.

These agreements generally exonerate the student of registration fees charged by the host institution.

Similarly, there are international streams at certain schools or institutions that proposes periods of study abroad to follow a double programme and obtain two diplomas.

Contact your institution’s international relations department.