Erasmus/Socrates

Erasmus/Socrates exchanges

Students intending to undertake a Socrates exchange may do so, either in their Senior Freshman or in their Junior Sophister year, and should consult the Departmental Socrates coordinator, Dr James Hanrahan, on this subject. Information meetings are arranged, concerning such exchanges. Intending Socrates students are required to obtain at least a II:2 result (50% or more) in both their examination subjects, at the first examination session preceding their intended departure.

For further information and details on how to apply to an Erasmus/Socrates Exchange, please click here

The French Department Erasmus Co-ordinator is Dr James Hanrahan, Room 4107, Arts Building, email: hanrahaj@tcd.ie

In broad, general terms, students should aim at doing, in the host university, that which would have been done at home. This does not mean that students must perform exactly the same exercises, or study exactly the same authors. It does mean that there should be a half-and-half mix of language and content courses (literature, history of ideas or French linguistics).

Students intending to go on Erasmus should note the following:

The College Calendar, TSM Section, K2, Erasmus and Study Abroad states: 

“Two-subject moderatorship students are required to take modules amounting to a minimum of 20 credits for each two-subject moderatorship subject, with a minimum number of 45 credits overall, while participating in a full year exchange.  Students intending to participate in a half-year exchange should contact the TSM Office for guidance on credit requirements.

Departmental Erasmus Application Form will be available here in due course. Deadline for receipt of applications for 2013 will be posted at a later date.

A year’s work is defined in terms of ECTS (European Credit Transfer Units). A full year’s work is normally 60 ECTS. Since TSM courses are composed of two equally weighted courses, this would represent 30 ECTS per subject. In order to take account of the fact that working in a foreign environment, and in a less familiar language can be difficult, the French Department will accept 80% of the full quota (that is to say 24 ECTS), although for safety, we suggest students aim a little higher, say 26 ECTS. A student who sits examinations in 26 ETCS, but who passes in less than 24 will not normally be allowed to rise with his/her year and will be required to take repeat examinations in the host university, although the Department will review cases close to 24 ETCS on an individual basis. The precise split between language and non-language courses will vary from institution to institution, but both should figure prominently, and the language should count for at least 10 ECTS, except by specific agreement with the French Department. Where the student is away for less than a full year, these rates should be applied pro rata (13 ECTS for a semester).

Students are generally expected to select options appropriate to their year. Second-year students should take second-year courses and third-year students should take third-year courses. There is no objection to students taking a course above their equivalent year (second-year students taking third-year courses) but students should be aware that this comprises an element of risk, should they not be successful in assessments. However, the above not withstanding, JS students may well find third-year translation courses in France too advanced for their level, and by agreement with the Department, may then be advised to take a lower level course.

The course selected by students should be courses intended for and available to full-time students in the host university, and NOT special courses designed for Socrates students, except by special, specific and prior arrangement with the French Department. Students are required to submit themselves to the assessment provided by the host university. This may take the form of examination or continuous assessment, or any combination of the two. In order that the ECTS should count, students must be successful in their assessments. As a precaution, students should bring their marks with them on their return. However, only officially returned marks from the host institution can be counted at the end of the year. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain the dates and location of examinations, and failure to present for examinations will lead to a loss of credit.

Where a student is unable to take a course for a full year or up until the normal assessment in the host institution, a special assessment may be agreed, but should nevertheless be officially administered through the host institution, which should return the marks obtained in the same way as for a regular assessment.

For further information on living in France, please click here