UAB preferred among Erasmus students studying in Catalonia

09/05/2012

In the past academic year, 1,088 foreign students came to UAB to study under the Erasmus programme. The total number of students in Spanish universities was 37,432 (16% more than in the previous year), placing Spain as one of the most sought-out countries of the European Union. Seven of the top ten universities receiving Erasmus students are in Spain.

During the 2010/11 academic year, a total of 231,000 European students took part in the programme and studies in another European university abroad. This year marks the programme's 25th anniversary; a programme which has consolidated itself as a highly successful and ever growing initiative (3,244 students participated in the first edition in 1987/88). Throughout this quarter of a century some 2.5 million university students have participated in the programme.

In addition to grants to study undergraduate courses abroad, the Erasmus programme also offers work placements for those interested in working in companies abroad. In addition, it also offers the possibility for both teaching and research and administration and services staff to participate in the international mobility programme. Erasmus Mundus, an intercontinental variety of the programme, is offered to students of master's degrees and doctoral programmes.

According to Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, the programme aims to increase its budget by 70% in the 2014-2020 period with the objective of growing further in the coming years.