Southampton students going abroad under the erasmus scheme

Why study abroad? Really because it is an adventure and a way to take a closer look at another part of the world. It will also look good on your CV, and may come handy for all kinds of other things, at work and in your private life.

While exceptionally you may organise your own stay abroad, it is a good idea to go to one of our Erasmus partner universities, because we have good local contacts there. You'll also be able to talk to students from these places that are currently visiting Southampton, and to Southampton students that have returned from there. The partners of the Southampton Mathematics Department are currently Liege (Belgium), Lille (France), Trier and Hamburg (Germany), Universidad Complutense Madrid, Santiago de Compostela and Malaga (all Spain), Uppsala (Sweden), METU Ankara (Turkey) and Bergen (Norway). The last three teach in English.
 
The semester abroad is usually either the first or second semesters of the third year. Keep in mind that you will need to do MATH3032 (CRM) in Southampton - so you might choose to do it in the 2nd year or in the third year semester you spend in Southampton. Please consult your personal tutor or the Erasmus coordinator to see if a semester abroad is compatible with your compulsory modules.  
 
If you go to a partner university, we can probably arrange accommodation in hall for you before you go. You will also be able to take a language class there before term starts. You'll be in touch with Erasmus coordinators here and in the host universities. The financial aspect of the Erasmus scheme is that you pay your tuition fees to Southampton while abroad, but pay no tuition to the host university. (MML students abroad for a full year do not pay Southampton fees.) In principle you will also be entitled to an Erasmus grant while abroad. In past years this grant was given to all applicants but this (or the amount) is not guaranteed. The cost of living is roughly the same in Belgium, France or Germany as it is here, and is lower in Spain.
 
The assessment rules are as follows:
 

• The student takes mathematics or mathematics and language courses abroad equivalent to a full load (60 CATS points).
• Students' work abroad is assessed on the basis of a portfolio which contains lecture notes (written up by the student), all coursework, examination results, and short report on their practical and cultural experiences abroad. The overseas examination results are taken into account but not in any quantitatively prescribed way. If the mark for the portfolio is below 40, the student fails those 60 CATS points and hence the year.
• For the purposes of degree classification, the portfolio counts as 1/3 of that year, and the four courses at Southampton count as 1/6 each.

The Erasmus coordinator in Mathematics is Dr Carlos Lobo (studyabroad.maths@soton.ac.uk).