Information and Instruction for outgoing Students 1. Objectives of ...

Information and Instruction for outgoing Students
1. Objectives of ERASMUS International Study visit:
The aims of your visit to the partner institution are:
· TO CONTINUE YOUR STUDIES IN YOUR TWO DEGREE SUBJECTS
· TO EXPERIENCE LIFE AND WORK IN A FOREIGN COLLEGE AND COUNTRY CONTINUOUSLY (WITHOUT
BREAKS) FOR THREE MONTHS
· TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE HOST COUNTRY
· TO IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE OF THE HOST COUNTRY
2. Communication with College
You will tend to forget SPD and Ireland while abroad, but you MUST stay in contact with
College during your Erasmus/International visit. The following are a list of the Heads of
Departments. You will agree your study programme with the Head of each subject areas.
Should you encounter a problem with a course that you had chosen to take abroad this must
be communicated to the Head of the Department immediately so that alternative arrangements
can be agreed i.e
· When you arrive in your host university your selected and agreed course is not
running, This must be communicated in the first week of your arrival.
Education: Dr. Mark Morgan
Gaeilge: Dr. Mairin Nic Eoin
English: Dr. Brenna Clarke
French: Dr. Alan English
History: Dr. Mary Ann Lyons
Music: Dr. Marion Doherty
Geography: Dr. Gerry O’Reilly
Maths: Dr. Maurice O’ Reilly
Religion: Dr. Raymond Topley
Human Development: Dr Joseph Dunne
3. ERASMUS/INTERNATIONAL PERSONNEL AT YOUR HOST COLLEGE
Host college Erasmus/International Coordinator
The host college has an Erasmus/International Coordinator and Erasmus/International Office.
Do not hesitate to use their services, to seek advice and assistance on all practical aspects of
your stay at that college, or any matter.
Host college Academic tutor
The Erasmus coordinator will tell you who your academic tutor is, that is who will advise you on
your courses at the host college, assessment of work done as part of courses, grades,
certificates/transcript of records, language courses etc. Make sure you find out who that person
is ­ if possible before your departure.
4. Study Programme and Learning Agreement
Your entire study programme for the semester of your Erasmus/ International study visit must
be approved by the appropriate lecturers in your two academic departments at St Patrick's
College. For example, if you intend taking a course on Sociology at the host college, it must be
approved by the Education Department and in particular by the relevant lecturer in
Sociology. The same applies for all academic subjects.

Agreement must be documented and signed by the student and co signed by the Head of the
Department. This form must be stamped in the International Office in the host institution and
returned to us.
Should you make agreed amendments to this form, Page 2 should be completed to reflect
these changes signed and returned to the Interantional Office, St Patrick’s College.
5. Teaching Practice
Second­year students now receive one third of their marks for Second and Third year TP in the
second year. For the moment second­year TP must be undertaken in Ireland. This means
second­year Erasmus students miss Spring TP and must make up for this later in the year. It
should be noted that so far this arrangement has worked very well.
It is strongly recommended that B.Ed. Erasmus students avail of TP while in the host college.
They should arrange their TP before arrival or as soon as possible afterwards. This will be
necessary particularly if TP takes place in your host college on a one­ or two­days a week basis
­ which is better for ERASMUS students. Students going to University of Northern Colorado and
California State University, Chico will undertake a Teaching Practice while away and this will be
supervised and graded in each of those Universities.
6. Practical Issues
Passport
Your passport is a very important and valuable document. Always bring your passport when
crossing national boundaries. But do not carry it round in the host country. Keep it in a safe
place.
Security
Take care not to have a mishap while abroad. Be mindful of personal security at all times.
You can take precautions by using public transport or taxis at night, thinking about where you
are going and avoiding places which might be present danger. Take care not to attract the
attention of bag­snatchers, muggers etc. in large cities where tourists and visitors can be easily
identified.
Your security, health, and safety are your responsibility. Make a rule to avoid while abroad any
substance that may adversely affect your judgement and performance socially and
academically.
Have addresses, tel./ fax numbers, e­mail addresses of the Irish embassy or consulates in your
host country.
7. Medical Care
Health insurance U.S.A.
You must obtain Travel insurance before you travel to the U.S.A covering Baggage, Medical,
repatrication in the event of an accident and it is also advisable to include Adventure Sports. Do not
leave without it as medical expenses are very costly in the States.

Getting necessary healthcare in other EU / EEA countries
As an Irish resident you are entitled to get healthcare through the public system in countries of the
European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland if you become ill or injured
while on a temporary stay there.
Until now, you needed an E form – such as the E111 or the E128 ­ to get such treatment. Now, these
paper forms are being replaced by the European Health Insurance Card. One Card is needed for each
individual or member of the family.
The Card was introduced on 1 June 2004. It means that you can get necessary healthcare
in the public system of any EU / EEA country or Switzerland, if you become ill or injured
while on a temporary stay in that country.
Apply for the European Health Insurance Card if you:
· Plan to go on holiday to another EU / EEA country or Switzerland
· Regularly visit any of these countries, for example, on business, as a transport worker or for
leisure
· Plan to go to any of these countries to seek work
· Are being sent by your employer to work in any of these countries temporarily but will continue
to pay tax in Ireland
· Intend to undertake a course of study in any of these countries but still consider yourself as
ordinarily resident in Ireland
· Intend to visit any of these countries for any other type of temporary stay where healthcare
in itself is not the aim of the visit
Travelling to Great Britain or Northern Ireland
You don’t need a European Health Insurance Card to get necessary healthcare while on a temporary
visit to the UK. It is enough to show proof that you are ordinarily resident in Ireland – in practice, this
means a driving licence, passport or similar document.
Apply for or Renew your EHIC ­ Going to Europe Do not leave without it
Click to apply online EHIC
If your card needs renewal please Click Renew EHIC
EU member states
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden,
UK (the Card is not essential for access to necessary healthcare in the UK – proof of
residency in Ireland is sufficient)
Other EEA member states
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Other states, Switzerland

8. Money
Your Erasmus grant will be sent to your home before your departure, along with a Receipt of
Grant Form, Financial Agreement, and Report Questionnaire. Please sign the Receipt of Grant
Form as soon as possible and return it to the International Affairs Committee.
Bring at least 100 Euro in the currency of the host country.
It's easy to make a distressing mistake in a new currency, especially at the beginning of your
stay. Study the currency before your departure.
Check the rate of your host country currency against the Euro, you can do this on
Currency Check
Withdrawing money from your Irish current account while abroad is very expensive: Irish
banks take 3 Euro or more each time cash is withdrawn, whether from an ATM or in a bank.
This means that if you withdraw as little as 10 Euro from your Irish current account in the
currency of the host country, you will pay a charge to the Irish bank.
To avoid this you might open a bank account in the host country; the ERASMUS Coordinator at
the host college will assist you, if necessary. Once the account is set up, have someone at
home transfer enough Irish money for your entire stay.
Another possibility would be to lodge money in a credit card (VISA etc.) account and keep that
account in the BLACK. You can withdraw from ATMs or at banks anywhere you wish without
any charge, as long as you do not go into the RED. You can also make purchases without
having to pay interest. Your contact person in your hpost institution will be able to advice you
on this, perhaps it may be better to open a bank account in your host country.
9. Arrival in the host country
Hopefully someone from the host college will meet you on arrival at the airport or station. If
not, get yourself and your luggage to your address as conveniently and efficiently as possible.
A taxi would be best. However, if you haven't too much luggage, you could save money by
taking an airport bus to the city centre and then using a taxi for the remaining shorter distance
to your address.
In most countries you need to take care before you get into a taxi to get a clear indication from
the driver as to how much the journey will cost ­ even if you're only going a few blocks. There
is very little you can do if you are grossly overcharged. Therefore avoid having your local
currency reserve dwindle significantly on your first purchase in the host country.
10. Travelling
The name on your passport should appear on your flight­tickets, otherwise you will not be
checked in at airports and will not be allowed to travel.
When flying, bring important items (passport, tickets, money etc.) as hand luggage, just in
case your bags do not arrive with you and you are delayed for a day or two. Having bags
stolen or taken by mistake at airports or stations is very distressing. Do not leave them even
for a second.
Buying goods on flights can put a serious dent in your cash reserve.
Do not carry goods across frontiers for strangers.
Hunger slows you down, mentally and physically. If you don't get a meal during the flight ­ this
happens quite a lot now ­ have a snack at the airport on arrival, before moving on to your
destination. At airports and main stations there are Information counters. A few minutes

getting clear advice about connections, trains, buses, and directions or getting maps will be
well spent.
11. Bus­ train­tickets
When travelling by bus or train, even for a small journey in the city, make sure you have a
ticket, properly stamped, punched or whatever. If you risk it you may find that that is the very
time checkers come on board and ask you for your ticket. Not having a ticket is a serious
offence ­ and an expensive one ­ which can cause needless distress. It is also an opportunity
for fraudulent checkers to demand more than the normal spot fine, give you no receipt, or take
your passport (which you should not carry round). Usually bus­ and underground train­tickets
can be bought at newspaper/cigarette kiosks, at airports etc. Find out about day­, weektickets.
12. The host country's language and culture
They may not always show it but people like visitors to their country to make an effort to use
their language, even in small ways ­ greetings, expressions of thanks, good wishes etc. Using
their language is a sign of respect for their culture. Taking for granted that everyone in the
host country will know and use English can be offensive.
13. Language course
If the host college offers a course in the national language take it. If not, see if courses are run
in the town or city and take every opportunity to learn about the culture of the country. You
may never get as good a chance to learn about life in another country.
People in the host country who are only interested in practising their English with you should
be avoided.
14. Galleries etc.
Make sure you get to see the cultural highlights of the host city and country, e.g. galleries,
museums, historical landmarks, the capital city etc. With three months at your disposal you
should be able to do this.
15. Food
Be prepared for differences in food. Dishes in the host country may tend to be lighter or
heavier, sweeter or saltier, more bland, fishier, spicier, fatter, larger in size, smaller etc., etc.
Courtesy and discretion are absolute musts in this regard.
15. Punctuality
Be punctual for classes, appointments, invitations etc., even if punctuality seems not to be a
priority in the culture of your particular host country.
17. About Ireland
Being overseas gives you an opportunity to think about your own country, its culture, its
history, its strengths, its problems etc. Comparisons with the host country are inevitable.
Thinking about these things before you travel will be helpful, because people in the host
country will be quite curious about Ireland and will ask questions.
They know already about Guinness, The Corrs, U2, the Celtic Tiger etc. They will want to know
about other aspects of our country: politics (party differences, Northern Ireland), history,

Gaelic games, the Irish language, Irish music, the school system, food, the regions outside
Dublin etc.
A travel guide or general pictorial guide to Ireland might be very helpful when you are talking
about Ireland.
18. Tokens, gifts
You can save money before your departure by getting a supply of inexpensive items which are
typically Irish. They will come in handy ­ as a talking point and a token of gratitude when
someone does you a favour, invites you to dinner, brings you on a tour etc.
19. Books on your host country, Web sites etc.
A book such as The Rough Guide to... or The Lonely Planet Guide to ... will be invaluable when
you arrive in the host country ­ for finding out about all aspects of the country, its history,
availability of accommodation in towns and cities etc.
There will also be lots of web sites with information on your host country.
Students going to the U.S.A
Student going on International exchange to the U.S.A. must obtain a visa to study there.
You will receive all of the necessary documentation from your host institution together with
your passport and supporting letter from St Patrick’s College which you will be able to take to
the U.S Embassy in Ballsbridge in Dublin from where your passport should issue within 1 week.
There is currently a charge of Euro 100 for this.
Please visit the Student visa information webpages of the US Embassy website
Click Student Visa
Returning back to St Patrick’s College
Your host Institution will return a Transcript of Records for grades awarded. This will be used
in the exam system whereby grades will transfer for courses you have taken while abroad.
B.Ed Students ­ Teaching Practice missed while abroad will be done in September in Dublin,
please liaise with the Teaching Practice Office about same.
Your exchange visit should be a very enriching experience, living in a new country, new
culture, meeting and making friends, travel etc. Make the best of it academically,
socially and culturally.
Best of luck