Our mission is to represent international students, thus provide opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development under the principle of Students Helping Students.

We are 12.000 members from 339 local sections in 34 countries working on a volunteer base in Higher Education Institutions. We are offering services to 150.000 students.

 

What is ESN?

Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is one of the biggest interdisciplinary student associations in Europe, founded in 1989 for supporting and developing student exchange.

We are present in 339 Higher Education Institutions from 34 countries. The network is constantly developing and expanding.

ESN is working in Higher Education (HE)

* offering services to 150.000 students
* mainly on a volunteer basis
* with an average annual growth rate of 12,3% since 1990

ESN is operating on three levels, Local, National and International.

ESN works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible education environment by supporting and developing the student exchange from different levels, and providing an intercultural experience also to those students who cannot access a period abroad ("internationalisation at home")

 

Aims / Principles

In synthesis, ESN

* works in the interest of international students.
* works to improve the social and practical integration of international students.
* represents the needs and rights of international students on the local, national and international level.
* provides relevant information about mobility programmes.
* motivates students to study abroad.
* works with the reintegration of homecoming students.
* contributes to the improvement and accessibility of student mobility.
* cares about its members.
* values volunteering and active citizenship.
 

Who are we for?

Homecoming students
The students who are returning from exchange are being supported in reintegration process in their home countries by keeping contact with an international environment. Many local sections are set up by former exchange students, often because they have had good experiences from their exchange period or because they felt a lack of help during their exchange. They also understand better the issues and challenges in a foreign environment.

Exchange students
However, the main focus of ESN is placed on current exchange students, who often face problems (and feel abandoned) in their new environments. Therefore ESN offers help in academic, social and practical integration process. This is mainly done through activities in the local sections, which include cultural and social eventssuch as trips to various places within the country, film nights, buddy group and language projects and international food fests and last, but not least, parties. In addition to that, many sections have introduced mentor systems, which help the international students mainly in academic and practical integration.

ESN also provides relevant information and encourages the future exchange students to gain the international experience and gain relevant insight to different cultures.

Finally, ESN International is developing, from the Headquarters in Brussels,ambitious projects such as the Survey on the exchange students' rights or the ESNCard.

 

Why Study Abroad?

Studying abroad is just an amazing experience. It is unique from the personal as well as academic point of view. Being for a few months in an international environment is the best opportunity to establish intercultural contacts, have a valuable insight into a different culture, learn a language and grow as a person.

There are four main traits of those who passed some time at the university abroad: they are culturally competent, many speak foreign languages and possess good communication skills, they are mobile and, finally, they develop their personality.

 

Erasmus Programme

Have you ever wanted to live abroad and experience a foreign culture, meet new people and learn a foreign language?

Have you ever thought about enriching the period of your studies and having better chances while looking for a job in the future?

The ERASMUS Programme is a perfect choice for you!

The ERASMUS programme is a European student exchange programme established in 1987 offering university students a possibility of studying or working abroad in another European country for a period of at least 3 months.

The programme is open to the 27 Member States of the European Union, the three EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and to EU candidate countries (such as Turkey).

Each student receives a grant which covers partly the costs of the stay abroad. Students going on exchange under the ERASMUS programme do not pay any university fees. All rights and obligations of exchange students are described in theErasmus Student Charter. One of the basic rights each exchange student has is the full recognition of courses passed successfully abroad by the home university.

In addition, students can improve their language skills by participating in one of theErasmus Intensive Language Courses offered at the host university.

More detailed information on the ERASMUS programme is available at European Commission website

If you are interested in participating in Erasmus, contact the international relations office of your home university and ask about possibilities to go study abroad through the ERASMUS Programme. ESN sections can also be a valuable source of information and advice concerning your study abroad period.