§ Baroness Sharp of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list countries with whom reciprocal arrangements with the United Kingdom have been made regarding student support in higher education. [HL1928]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)The UK has reciprocal arrangements with each of the member states of the European Union under EC Directive 93/96. This requires a host state to guarantee "access to vocational training in a non-discriminatory manner". In practice this means that UK nationals attending undergraduate courses in the EU are entitled to equal treatment as "home" students, as are EU students in the UK. However, this only applies to tuition fee support. There is no requirement on a member state to provide grants or loans for maintenance to nationals from other member states.
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§ Baroness Sharp of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list higher education establishments external to the United Kingdom at which there is financial support for United Kingdom students attending courses there. [HL1929]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandStudents are eligible for tuition fee support and a student loan for undergraduate courses at the British Institute in Paris, France. Students studying on the Erasmus programme are not liable to pay tuition fees but are entitled to a student loan and can receive a grant towards the extra expenses involved in studying abroad. The Erasmus programme is a European funded student mobility scheme, which is part of Socrates, the European Community education programme. The member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) all participate in the Erasmus scheme and students will be at various locations and institutions within EEA. In addition, my department provides maintenance support and/or tuition fee support, depending on the institution, to students attending a number of postgraduate courses at three European institutions: the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium and the Bologna Center in Bologna, Italy.
§ Baroness Sharp of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list courses at higher education institutions external to the United Kingdom for which students from the United Kingdom can receive financial support. [HL1930]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandThe British Institute in Paris offers a three-year BA (Honours) in French Studies. It has a year abroad programme for undergraduates from other UK universities who need to spend a year, a semester or a term in an academic environment in France as part of their course.
Those undertaking study as part of the Erasmus (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) programme are enrolled on courses covering the entire range of a university's academic programmes.
Students at the European University Institute undertake postgraduate study and research in one of four departments: economics, law, history and civilisation or political and social sciences. Most students undertake a three-year doctorate, but there are some students who undertake a one-year Masters in Law.
College of Europe students follow a one-year course and enrol in one of four departments: economics, human resource development, political sciences or administrative sciences. All follow a compulsory programme of European general and interdisciplinary studies.
Students at the Bologna Center study an interdisciplinary course, including a modern language, international economics, international relations and European studies.