STUDYING ABROAD

The Erasmus+ programme enables students to complete part of their regular study obligations at any level or cycle of study at a partner institution abroad, instead of at their home faculty. This includes the preparation of bachelor's, master's, or doctoral theses, but excludes research activities that are not part of direct study obligations.

Study mobility at a partner institution abroad must last at least two months and may last up to twelve months.

Under the Erasmus+ programme, students may participate in mobility for a total duration of up to 12 months at each level of study and may take part more than once in study and/or traineeship mobility. These rules also apply to mobility periods completed without an Erasmus+ grant (i.e. "zero-grant" mobility).

In addition to the conditions of the selection procedure, the home faculty may define additional criteria (e.g. student motivation, participation in international activities, foreign language skills, academic performance, etc.) when selecting suitable candidates for partner institutions. All requirements must be transparent, documented, and accessible to all interested applicants throughout the application process.

A student who meets the following basic requirements for obtaining the status of "Erasmus student", established by the Erasmus+ program, may apply for the selection procedure:

• during the entire period of study abroad, the active status of a student at the home faculty of the University of Novo mesto is maintained;
• during the study abroad, the maximum total duration of mobility (Erasmus study and practice) is not exceeded.

Other conditions:

• Under the Erasmus+ program, a student has the opportunity to be mobile for up to a total of 12 months at any level of study and may participate in studies and/or internships more than once.
• Together with the mobility requested for the call during the current studies at the same level at which the student will be enrolled during the study abroad, he/she cannot exceed the maximum number of months abroad (total duration of Erasmus studies and traineeships). These rules also apply to students without an Erasmus grant (i.e. students without a scholarship).
• Studies at a partner institution can/should last a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 months.
• The student must reside at the host institution for the duration of the Erasmus study.
• The period of study abroad must be part of the student's program of study towards the completion of the first cycle of study (undergraduate degree or equivalent), the second cycle of study (Master's degree or equivalent), or the third cycle of study.
• The study period abroad may also include an internship, if this is foreseen, and may be organized differently depending on the circumstances, i.e. the activities may take place consecutively or simultaneously. The combination is subject to the rules governing the allocation of funds and the minimum duration of study mobility.

Upon return to the UNM home faculty, the student will be recognized for successfully completed study abroad obligations agreed upon and confirmed by the UNM home faculty and the host institution in the Learning Agreement prior to departure abroad. Recognition of successfully completed study obligations may be denied only if the student has not achieved the level of knowledge or qualifications required by the host institution or has otherwise failed to meet the agreed upon obligations and conditions for recognition.

The minimum requirement of the Erasmus+ program is that all credits earned during the Erasmus+ study abroad are recognized upon return at least through enrollment in the Diploma Supplement.

ERASMUS+ GRANT

The Erasmus+ grant is intended to cover travel and living expenses abroad. An Erasmus student is not automatically eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, but must apply for an Erasmus grant according to the current call for applications.

The Erasmus+ grant only serves to co-finance the costs of the stay abroad and does not cover the full costs.

Deadline for submitting an Erasmus+ grant application: 30 days before the start of the participant's mobility period.

• THE DATE OF START OF THE ERASMUS ACTIVITY (which the student must indicate in the application and in the grant proposal) is the first day on which the student must be present at the host institution. This may be, for example, the date of the start of the first course, a welcome event organized by the host institution, or a language and intercultural course.
• THE DATE OF COMPLETION OF THE ERASMUS ACTIVITY (which the student must indicate in the application and in the financial aid application) is the last day on which the student must be present at the host institution. For example, this may be the last day of the exam period/lectures/work/attendance requirement.
• TRAVEL TIME cannot be included in the duration of the period for which the student is eligible for a financial grant, except in the case of green travel, in accordance with the program terms and conditions.

In accordance with the Guide for Applicants and the Guide for National Agencies, and with the agreement of the European Commission and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the National Agency CMEPIUS has established the amount of grants for individuals under Erasmus + as follows.

The amounts of the Erasmus grant for the academic year 2023/2024 for each group of countries are:

ADDITIONAL GRANTS

Support for students with fewer opportunities

Students from less-favored backgrounds can apply for additional Erasmus+ funding. The grant for the academic year 2023/2024 is 250 EUR/month.

Additional Erasmus+ funding can be applied for by students who meet the conditions of one of the 8 groups of students with fewer opportunities:

• Special needs: physical, mental, intellectual or sensory deficits, e.g. disability, blind and visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, etc.
• Health problems: health problems, including serious or chronic illnesses or other physical or mental condition.
• Cultural differences: persons with a migrant or refugee background, newly arrived migrants belonging to a national or ethnic minority, sign language users, persons with difficulties in language adaptation and cultural integration, etc.
• Discrimination-related barriers: Discrimination based on gender (gender identity, gender expression, etc.), age, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation, disability, or cross-cutting factors (a combination of one or more of these discriminatory barriers).
• Economic barriers: economic disadvantage, i.e., low standard of living, low income, and people who have to work for a living, depend on the social security system, are long-term unemployed, live in insecurity or poverty, are homeless, have debt or financial problems, etc.
• Social barriers: limited social skills, anti-social or high-risk behavior, offenders, drug or alcohol users or individuals who are marginalized, students, parents, guardians, foster parents or orphans, or individuals who have lived or are living in institutional care.
• Barriers related to education and training systems: individuals leaving education and training systems prematurely, low-skilled adults, problems arising from education systems that create structural barriers or do not fully address the specific needs of individuals.
• Geographic barriers: Living in remote or rural areas, small islands or peripheral/outermost regions, suburbs, less well-served areas (limited public transport, poor infrastructure) or less developed areas in third countries, etc.

Support for the inclusion of participants with special needs (PP).
Students with special needs who are awarded an Erasmus grant can apply for additional Erasmus+ funding.

Under the Erasmus + program, participants with special needs are entitled to special treatment, not only in setting the conditions for co-funding, but also in providing and comprehensive support in deciding on mobility, accompaniment during mobility and integration after return. Persons with special needs include those who need to undertake programs with additional professional support or adjustments according to the nature of the specific special need.

An Erasmus+ mobility participant with special needs submits an application on the prescribed form together with the required attachments to the International Office of the University of Novo mesto.

Additional funding for participants with special needs is based on actual costs, which must be supported by invoices. 100% of the actual eligible costs incurred will be reimbursed.

Green travel grant
Green travel refers to travel that uses low-emission vehicles such as busses, trains, or car sharing for the majority of the trip.

A declaration of honor signed by the person receiving the travel grant and the sending organization is considered proof of the use of sustainable transportation.

A one-time supplement to the individual green travel support is 50 EUR + up to 4 additional days for the trip.

Additional funds from the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability, and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia.
Students who meet certain conditions of the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability, and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia may apply for an additional Ad futura scholarship for the academic year 2023/2024.

The additional Ad-futura funds for the academic year 2023/2024 amount to 67.76 EUR/month.

OTHER FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
After receiving funding from the National Agency, the University of Novo mesto sends students who are admitted by the faculties for Erasmus studies in the academic year 2022/2023 and who submit a full application for an Erasmus+ grant to sign a grant agreement, which specifies the rights and obligations. Students will receive the agreements at the earliest one month before the scheduled start of the Erasmus activities abroad.

The University of Novo mesto is obliged to pay only the funds it receives from the National Agency CMEPIUS or the European Commission.

Online Linguistic Support (OLS) offers online language tests and language courses for Erasmus+ mobility participants, enabling students to improve their knowledge of the languages they will use during their studies.

The first OLS test within the new program period is mandatory for all students going on mobility for more than 14 days.

What is OLS?
Online Linguistic Support (OLS) is a free online language learning platform for participants in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Unit. OLS allows you to check your current level of proficiency in the language you will be using abroad. The results will not prevent you from participating in Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Unit mobility, but will give you access to OLS language courses! Students have the opportunity to participate in OLS language courses in their own mobility language and in the official language of the country, if available through the online language support.

What does it offer?
OLS complements face-to-face classes and allows you to improve your language skills outside the classroom. It offers a series of interactive and engaging language learning activities that help participants learn a new language or master a language they already know. The best part is that it is specifically designed for the needs of each participant. This means you can have a unique learning experience.

Using the new OLS is very simple, participants click HERE to get started. The first step is to log into the EU login account.

You can find out more about this online language tool on the EU Academy page.

• Application form for studying abroad
• Learning Agreement Student mobilitiy for Studies
• Learning Agreement Guidelines
• Application for a financial grant
• Application for additional funds (PP)
• Erasmus + Student Charter
• Green Erasmus+ leaflet
• Declaration of Honour - Green traveling

Useful links:

• Universities Worldwide
• Zavod študentska svetovalnica
• Erasmus Students Network (ESN)
• Mobile App: Erasmus+ App

OPEN CALL FOR TENDER:

• Call for co-financing of student mobility for the purpose of studying abroad (academic year 2023/2024).

EXPIRED TENDERS:

• Call for co-financing of student mobility for the purpose of studying abroad (academic year 2022/2023).

Can I apply for an Erasmus+ study exchange as a part-time student?
Yes, part-time students have the same rights for an Erasmus exchange as full-time students.

Can I apply for an Erasmus+ study exchange if I am working alongside my studies?
Students who are employed can apply for the tender only if their employer does not cover the costs based on the travel order issued during the duration of the study exchange.

Can I participate in an Erasmus+ exchange/internship if I repeat the year?
One of the requirements for an Erasmus+ exchange or traineeship is active student status, so repeating the year does not in principle jeopardize the possibility of an exchange or traineeship.

Can I participate in an exchange at two different institutions in the same academic year?
Of course, you have up to 12 months total at each level of study, and you can also attend the study and/or internship more than once. Students in the unified degree program have the opportunity to receive a financial grant for a total of 24 months of exchange during their studies.

What grants am I eligible for?
The student is eligible for a basic financial grant under Erasmus+, and may also apply for a scholarship under certain conditions:

• grant for students with fewer opportunities;
• grant for participants with special needs (PP);
• grant for green travelling;
• additional funds from the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia Ad futura.

What is a learning agreement (LA) or a study agreement?
A learning agreement is a document in which you enter the subjects you will take abroad (Table A) and the subjects that will be recognized at your home faculty upon your return (Table B). It must be confirmed by you, the domestic Erasmus+ coordinator and the foreign Erasmus+ coordinator.

Where can I select courses?
The student has to check on the website of the partner university what obligations he/she can fulfill in the chosen semester, in which language the lectures for the chosen courses are held at the partner institution and combine the suitable study agreement.

How many credits do I need to earn during an Erasmus+ exchange abroad and how many need to be recognized at my home institution?
The minimum number of credits a UNM student must earn during an exchange abroad that will be recognized at the home institution is 20 ECTS for one semester and 40 ECTS for two semesters.

Can I change the Learning Agreement during an Erasmus+ exchange?
Yes, provided that the Erasmus+ coordinator at the home faculty and the coordinator at the faculty abroad agree to the changes.

Will all my study obligations be recognized with certainty?
Upon return to the home faculty UNM, the student will be recognized for the study obligations successfully completed abroad that were agreed upon and confirmed by the home faculty UNM and the host institution in the Learning Agreement prior to the study abroad. The minimum requirement of the Erasmus+ program is that all achievements made during the Erasmus+ study abroad are recognized upon return at least through enrollment in the Diploma Supplement.

Where can I find accommodation?
The student checks the accommodation options, insurance conditions, visa and residence permits at the partner institution.

Can I cancel an Erasmus+ exchange at a later date?
You can. If you decide not to participate in an Erasmus+ exchange, send an email with a withdrawal notice and a justification to the coordinator of your home university coordinator and to the foreign institution.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE

Sabina Krsnik, MBA
Coordinator of international mobility

Telephone
+386 7 393 00 21

E-mail:
international.office@uni-nm.si