Going abroad has many advantages: proof of dynamism, motivation and a true experience. The opportunity to study and/or work abroad is part of an EU program (EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) that was created in 1987 to ease cooperation between European universities and allow for full academic recognition of studies and qualifications throughout the Union for both staff and students. The chance to travel to countries outside of the EU and study in cities like Casablanca was provided under the Erasmus Mundus program, which merged with the Erasmus for All program. Built on the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP), Erasmus for All will replace LLP in 2014 in the hope that combining all the programs under one roof will reduce administration costs, duplication and fragmentation. The program is expected to last until 2020.

Who is Eligible?

The Programme is open to higher education institutions and organisation active in the field of higher education and research, as well as to students, doctoral candidates, teachers, researchers and university staff from any part of the world.

Note that the language of instruction may be different than that of your home institution. Some institutions organize tests and select the students based on their skills on the language, such as the Deutsches Sprachdiplom in German, Dele in Spanish, or TOEFL in English. Erasmus Intensive Language Courses may be offered at host universities.

Participating Countries

Participating countries include:

• Member States of the European Union
• Countries or potential Candidates on the same footing as Member States (includes Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244/99, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Switzerland) - only if they have an agreement (Memorandum of Understanding or an EEA Joint Committee Decision) establishing the participation of the country concerned in the EM programme is in force by the date of the selection decision
• Third countries (meaning a country that is not a European Country, but in an agreement with the European Union and the European countries), for example Morocco and Casablanca.

Programmes

There 3 primary action groups.

Action 1

Erasmus joint programmes of:
masters (Action 1 A) and
doctoral (Action 1 B) levels.
Open to students and doctoral candidates from all over the world. Scholarship/fellowships for students, doctoral candidates or scholars are only awarded for teaching, research or study activities in the framework of a previously approved Erasmus Mundus Action 1 Joint Programme.

Action 2

Partnerships between European and Third Country higher education institutions including scholarships and fellowships for mobility at all academic levels. Students (undergraduates to post-docs) and staff (administrative and academic) may apply.

Action 3

Promotion of European higher education through projects to enhance the attractiveness of Europe as an educational destination and a centre of excellence at world level. This includes activities related to the international dimension of all aspects of higher education, such as promotion, accessibility, quality assurance, credit recognition, mutual recognition of qualifications between European and third countries, curriculum development, mobility and quality of services for international students. The program is open to higher education institutions and to any organisation active in the field of higher education from any part of the world, and activities can take place anywhere in the world.

How to Apply

Action 1

Select the course that interests you from the program listings for masters or doctoral. Visit the partnership website to see which courses are available in which disciplines. Apply direct to the consortium via its website.

Action 2

Check the Erasmus partnerships currently open for nationals of your country at the EACEA site's info for Action 2. Visit the partnership website to see which courses are available in which disciplines. Apply direct to the partnership via its website. If you are registered at one of the partner institutions, you should contact your International Office.

Action 3

Proposals are selected through a competitive system based on their quality from the content and organisational points of view. Application must include letters of endorsement from each partner organisation. The endorsement letters demonstrate that the partners are aware of the project's structure, objectives and budget and are committed to actively participate in it.

There is no official format for these letters, but the endorsement letter should indicate how the project fits within the strategy of each partner organisation and what will be the added value for the organisation in question to participate to it. They should confirm the partner's agreement with the application as submitted. They are usually signed by the Legal representative of the partner organisation or another appropriate authority that is authorised to represent the organisation in legally binding agreements. The endorsement letters must also indicate the value of the financial contribution that the partner organisation has agreed to make to the project activities. The amount indicated in the endorsement letter is an estimation of the financial contribution made by each partner.

ECTS

The ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) system provides uniform credit across different educational institutions. ECTS grades make study programmes easy to read and compare for all students, local and foreign, with respect for the marks of the host institution.

Student workload consists of the time required to complete all planned learning activities such as attending lectures, seminars, independent and private study, preparation of projects, examinations, etc. 60 Credits represents the workload of a year of study, usually 30 Credits per semester and 20 credits per trimester. One credit stands for around 25 to 30 working hours). Those credits allocated to modules and courses can only be obtained after successful completion of the work required and appropriate assessment of the learning outcomes achieved.

Example of graduation:

It is important to note that the ECTS grade does not replace that of the institution. The ECTS grading system gives information which is in addition to that provided on the host institution's standard transcript, after agreement with the home institution. The ECTS grade is indicated alongside the mark awarded by the institution on the student's transcript of records.

Tuition & Grants

There is different coverage offered for students and doctoral candidates, scholars/academic staff, & universities. Scholarships are only available for full-time students.

For students and doctoral candidates:
• Tuition fees, participation costs (including insurance coverage)
• Travel cost contribution
• Installation cost contribution
• Monthly allowance

For scholars/academic staff:
• Living allowance (including travel costs)

For universities:
• Management /administrative costs

Planning for your Erasmus

Information regarding accommodation, health insurance, and living in Casablanca and in Morocco in general can be found in this guide. Refer to the sections listed in the menu.

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