Studying abroad, getting to know people from all over the world, learning a new language, travelling, etc. They are some of the advantages that an Erasmus year provide. Many students describe this experience, as one of the better parts of their lives. However, the advantage that we would like to highlight the most is how it promotes your professional profile.
According to a research conducted by the European Commission, those students who did an Erasmus Program have a 23% less of chances to suffer long-term unemployment. In addition, a 40% of the students who did their Erasmus ended up working abroad.
These advantages sound great, right? Come on! Swipe down that we have extra reasons for you!
Let’s start with 5 facts which will help you with the decision
Here you are an own survey to students who already finished their Erasmus year, students who start their Erasmus year shortly and students who didn’t take this chance.
The results are eye-opening, aren’t they?
These results always help students to be more confident, but we also have powerful reasons to facilitate the decision-take moment. Here you are 7 advantages (and 5 possible disadvantages) to understand that the Erasmus year is a worth-while experience.
7 reasons to invite you to the Erasmus Adventure
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Learning/Improving the language
To learn a new language or improve it with this program… and forget about Google Translate!
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Job opportunities
If you want to improve your CV, the Erasmus year will make you outstand in a job interview. Erasmus means maturity, adaptability and advanced language knowledge.
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Maturity level
Facing new challenges and being able to get out of your Comfort Zone will make you feel more competent in any situation.
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magic of travelling
Being part of an Erasmus program allows you to take the maximum profit of the experience, travelling is the greatest opportunity of growth and culture learning that the Erasmus year will provide you.
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Passing that difficult subject
This is the perfect opportunity to overcome that difficult subject that you failed (or you are afraid to face) in your country. Generally, the teachers of the host university understand the difficulty of studying abroad and they usually assess in a more comprehensive way.
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To find a home in other European locations
New friends of different nationalities will be your host family during your Erasmus experience. The opportunity to meet your friends again means to be welcome in a wide variety of destinations.
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Breaking with the routine
We are all aware that the latest years of the university degrees tend to be monotonous. We sometimes need new challenges and different stimulus to boost our motivation and keep growing in a personal and professional way.
5 reasons to avoid the Erasmus year
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Language difficulties.
This is the perfect excuse. However, you already know that the best way of language learning is by language immersion. As you can imagine, the Erasmus program is the perfect context to overcome these difficulties.
In my particular case, I have a good domain of the English language, so I decided to learn Italian. My biggest fear was to arrive to Italy and not being able to communicate. I enrolled a two months course of Italian and, after my Erasmus year, I am able to communicate in Spanish, English and Italian. I thank this experience as far as I would have never learnt the language by myself.
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Distance
It’s completely true that you will not have your family and friends next to you, but nowadays distance is shorter than ever. Low-cost flights mean that you can visit or be visited by your loved ones.
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Fear
As any change in your life, feeling fear is usual. Nevertheless, this fear disappears when you start doing new activities and meeting new people.
I have read in many places about the fear of moving abroad when in a relationship.Personally, I did my Erasmus year having a 5-year partner and we are still together. If your partner loves you and respects you and your personal growth, he or she will help you to take this opportunity.
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Leaving your new host family.
You will not have your family in the host country, but you will create a new family with the new friends. This friendship will last forever and the moment to say goodbye and come back to your country will arrive.
This situation was one of the things that I kept on my mind my last week. The idea that the experience has an end helped me to deeply live and enjoy every special moment during the Erasmus year.
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Post-Erasmus*.
The post-Erasmus crisis is a fact. Starting again with the routine will not be as easy as you can imagine. You have learnt a new way of living and being back needs re-adaptation. I had this crisis, but I overcame it in few weeks.
I hope that this post will be helpful. Maybe you don’t have enough context to take the Erasmus year, but at least you have a wider background to bear in mind now.
The last thing! If you are considering doing Erasmus in Spain I have another magnificent post that will at least help you imagine what your Erasmus experience in Spain would be like.
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