Report from the Commission - Survey into the socio-economic background of Erasmus students
Date: 2000-01-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, economic survey, foreign student, higher education, social survey

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 18.01.2000
COM(2000) 4 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

SURVEY INTO THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
OF ERASMUS STUDENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary of results and recommendations

I – Introduction

II - Response rates to the questionnaire

III - The interpretation of the statistical tables

- 1. General and academic issues
- 2. Social status of ERASMUS students and of their parents
- 3. Economic and financial issues

Annexes

- Annex 1 - Statistical tables (Tables 1 to 28)
- Annex 2 - The methodology used to conduct the survey
- Annex 3 - Selection criteria for country samples
- Annex 4 - Composition of the Steering Group
- Annex 5 - Questionnaire

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9

10

12

12
17
19

23

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SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The ERASMUS student survey

1. The Socio-Economic Survey was conducted at the end of 1998. More than 20,000
students or nearly one-quarter of those who took part in the ERASMUS Student
Mobility scheme in the 1997/98 academic year were invited to take part in the
survey which covered 300 institutions of Higher Education in 15 countries1.
Replies were received from nearly 9,500 students giving an overall response rate
of 46% - sufficient to ensure that the survey provides reliable information on the
ERASMUS chapter of the SOCRATES programme.

2. The ERASMUS mobility scheme, which has grown from about 3,000 students
when it first began in 1987/88 to over 100,000 today, is valued throughout the
Higher Education world in Europe and is now extending into many of the
countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The experiences available to mobile
students are many and varied and are not merely educational.

3. Many of the findings of the survey support widespread views about the strengths
of a study period abroad within the framework of ERASMUS and about the
impact of the programme on student mobility in Europe. This confirms that the
Community programmes in the field of education, training and youth play an
important role.

4. The main findings of the survey which are presented below are covered in more
detail in Section III of this report. The statistical tables including data for all
participating countries which are referred to are presented in Annex I.

A.

General issues

5. The work on the student survey has shown that there is a lack of harmonised
and comparable European statistics relating to the socio-economic situation
of students. There are also strong indications that the collection of such data on a
national level is incomplete in a number of countries. In order to monitor the
student population from a social and economic point of view and form
appropriate policies in this area, an improvement in the availability of statistics
would be required. The Commission hopes that
initiative by the
German Ministry of Education and Research to co-ordinate a large scale survey
concerning the socio-economic situation of the student population in Member
States will be realised. This initiative has received a positive reaction from many
EU Directors-General for Higher Education. The Commission will contribute to
this exercise as it did for its 1997 precursor, the Euro Student Report2.

the recent

1

2

For practical reasons, the three smallest countries which participate in the ERASMUS Student
Mobility scheme - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg - did not take part in the survey.
Euro Student Report. Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life, Synopsis of indicators for
Austria, France, Germany and Italy, Deutsches Studentenwerk, Bonn, 1997.

3

6. For the SOCRATES programme in general,

is an extremely encouraging
finding that the ERASMUS students show a very high degree of satisfaction
with the outcome of
the study period abroad both academically and
socially/culturally. Not surprisingly, nearly all (98%) of students who took part
in the socio-economic survey considered their ERASMUS experience to have
been positive or very positive from a social and cultural point of view (Table 4) -
and nearly as many (91%) - felt it was positive academically (Table 5).

it

However, the problems of an academic nature signalled by 9% of the students
deserve attention by the National Authorities, especially in those countries which
have a higher than average negative rating as there may be a variety of reasons
underlying the difficulties the students sometimes encounter: Differences
between the educational systems in the Member States as regards organisation
and the level of funding (which, in turn, have an influence on the material
conditions, the degree of teacher contact, access to computers, libraries and other
resources) may be a factor but so too may be problems of a linguistic and/or
cultural nature which no doubt play a role, especially in exchanges between
Northern and Southern Europe. Another well-known problem is that of academic
recognition by the home university of the studies undertaken abroad. The
introduction of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) on an increasingly
wide scale has already contributed to solving this problem, but more efforts are
still necessary to ensure its broader implementation.

7.

In 1997/98, although nearly 181,000 student places were available in the
framework of the ERASMUS Institutional Contracts in the 18 countries which
participated in ERASMUS Student Mobility, that year only 86,000 were filled
(which corresponds to an overall take-up rate (i.e. actual use of places) of only
about 50% (Tables 1-3)).

The discrepancy between places offered and places used can be related to a
number of factors, which vary in importance from country to country. It may
involve a possible overestimation of the student numbers by the universities
concerned at the time of application, but other factors also play a role, of which
two should be mentioned here:

(i) Countries with less widely taught and spoken languages are in general
more affected by low take-up rates for incoming students. There are
several measures that can be taken to improve the situation and they vary
according
preparation,
promotion/information, complementary funding, etc.

conditions:

linguistic

local

the

to

(ii) Furthermore, the high grants policy (whereby relatively high ERASMUS
grants are given to a small number of students, rather than smaller grants to
many students) observed particularly in the countries with the lowest cost
of living and limited direct national support schemes, may be one reason
why the full capacity of outgoing student places is not used. The possibility
of sending ERASMUS students without an ERASMUS mobility grant (but
with all the other benefits related to the ERASMUS student status) may be one
way of maintaining a policy of high grants to selected students while
encouraging an increase in student mobility in general. However, this should
be weighed against the economic situation of the individual student.

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B. Social and economic background of students

8. The relationship between the socio-economic background of students and
students’ access to the ERASMUS mobility scheme was one of the main concerns
that prompted the current survey. Unfortunately, it has been possible to make a
reliable comparison on a European level of the data from the ERASMUS student
survey and the Higher Education student population or the population in general
on only some of the aspects relating to this issue because of the lack of
comparative data mentioned above. Socio-economic background has several
meanings which must be considered independently. In the following, first the
parents'
income status, educational and professional background will be
discussed. One or several of these are commonly used to define a person's socio-
economic status. Secondly, other social aspects will be mentioned.

9. Figures from the Euro Student Report (1997) show3 that the foreign study rate of
students who come from higher income families is considerably higher than that
of students from lower income families and one might expect this situation to be
reflected in the ERASMUS survey. However, the survey does not appear to
the claim that ERASMUS students in general are more privileged
support
students from an economic point of view than other Higher Education students. In
fact, 53% of the surveyed students qualify their parents’ income as average or
below average (Table 19). Few direct comparisons with Higher Education
students in general are available but one of the Euro Student Report indicators
(Income of Students' Parents) suggests that ERASMUS students do not differ
greatly in this respect. The family economic background - in terms of parents'
income status - does not in general seem to be a selection factor for
ERASMUS students. However, there are indications that low parental income
does influence participation in countries where the students typically live with
their parents and where the availability of direct national student support
is
limited.

€

10. The results of our survey also show that the family economic background does
not have a significant effect on the personal income of ERASMUS students:
on average, the difference in income between students from the highest and the
lowest family income levels is only
70 per month, a figure which can safely be
qualified as low (Table 20). The income of ERASMUS students living at home is
not higher than that of other students living at home in the countries where
comparative figures are available. Furthermore, the findings seem to indicate that
the economic background of students is taken into account either by the
national student support systems (direct or indirect) or in the process of
allocating the ERASMUS grant or both. It seems reasonable to conclude that
any bias of ERASMUS students towards higher income levels to a large degree
reflects the situation amongst Higher Education students in general in the Member
States. Despite the efforts that have been made to provide opportunities for all
social groups, access to Higher Education is still somewhat biased towards higher
economic groups.

3

Figure 4: 'Study-related sojourn abroad by parental income'.

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11. Something similar

is found when the occupational status of parents is
considered. Two-thirds of the parents of ERASMUS students have managerial,
professional or technical occupations (Table 14) compared with less than two-
fifths of employees in general aged 45 and over (Table 15). The available figures
for the general student population (on the occupational status of heads of
households containing students) drawn from the European Labour Force Survey
(1997) do not appear to show significant differences compared with ERASMUS
students. Although the LFS figures have to be treated with some caution, it seems
reasonable to affirm that the occupational status of parents does not appear to
be a significant factor in the selection of ERASMUS students.

12. However, when family educational background is considered, the results do
suggest some bias towards higher educational levels of parents. Most of the
ERASMUS students (59%) have one or both parents with a Higher Education
degree, including both "short cycle" (less than 3 years) and "long cycle" (3 years
or more) degrees (Table 17). By contrast, the available data4 for Higher Education
students in general indicate that around 30% of heads of households containing
students hold a Higher Education qualification. Although the data have to be
treated with some caution, especially concerning the Nordic and other countries
where students do not normally live with their parents, there is some evidence to
suggest that parents of ERASMUS students are on average rather more
highly-qualified than the parents of other Higher Education students in
Europe and that this is indeed a significant factor in the selection of
ERASMUS students.

In modern societies, where the educational systems are open to all social classes,
it has in fact been observed that family educational background is becoming the
most relevant factor for explaining the educational achievement of children,
superseding the influence of economic factors. This general trend seems to be
even more pronounced in the case of ERASMUS students. It might be assumed
that
the most highly-qualified parents are more conscious of the need for
education in foreign languages and other cultures in order to provide opportunities
for their children to develop initiative and independence - in short, in precisely the
kind of experiences an ERASMUS study period can offer. It could also be that the
knowledge of the exchange programme is more wide-spread in these families.
Consequently, children from these higher social and cultural groups (but not
necessarily with high economic status) are more likely to participate in the
SOCRATES/ERASMUS programme.

13. The question of how to decrease the bias towards students from the
advantaged socio-cultural groups is in fact very problematic precisely
because it is not based on economic grounds, but cultural ones. Programmes
like ERASMUS can succeed in furthering economic equality, but cultural
inequality can only be solved in the long run by the actions of the whole society.
There is a need for an open discussion about how to ensure that the
ERASMUS programme is available to young people from a wider variety of
cultural backgrounds than seems to be the case at present. Student

4

From the 1997 European Labour Force Survey: analyses of students living at home with their
parents.

6

organisations acting at European level could be encouraged to be more actively
involved in identifying and conducting information campaigns targeted towards
these groups.

14. As far as gender equality is concerned, the developments observed in Higher
Education in Europe in recent years are reflected in the ERASMUS figures, which
in common with the student population in general, now show that women are in
(Table 9). Thus,
the majority (59% of ERASMUS students are female)
participation in ERASMUS is not, in general, influenced by gender. In fact, as
far as gender is concerned, the problem areas in student mobility may rather be
found in certain subject areas which are dominated by men and which are
underrepresented in mobility, reflecting the national situation in general.

15. As regards other issues related to equal opportunities, students with physical
disabilities, certain social groups like the immigrant population and other minority
peoples, these were not investigated in the framework of the ERASMUS survey.
Certain steps have been taken in the framework of ERASMUS to provide funds to
students with severe disabilities, but this is an area that remains to a large extent
unexplored and where there may be potential for further action.

16. Finally, it is extremely interesting to note that around 80 % of the students who
answered the survey are the first in their family to study abroad (Table 13).
This finding confirms that European programmes do bring an added value to the
educational system and to the lives of individual students as well as their families.
Other interesting facts to note concerning the family situation of students is that in
Southern Europe ERASMUS students normally live with their parents, while in
Northern Europe it is most common to live in a rented room or student lodging or
to live in shared accommodation with other students (Table 12).

C. Economic and financial issues

17. The analysis gives a clear indication of the extra costs involved during the study
abroad period. 57% of the students reported financial problems abroad (Table
24). Students who normally live with their parents in their home country – around
one-third of ERASMUS students - and students who come from countries with
low direct public support for students and who therefore rely largely on parental
contributions, are particularly affected by financial problems.

18. The difference in the modes of living and the national student financial
support systems seem to be the main factors explaining the financial
difficulties of ERASMUS students. Students who normally live with their
parents in their home countries spend, on average, an extra
310 per month during
their study period abroad - more than twice as much as at home. Not surprisingly,
accommodation costs represent two-thirds of this extra amount. For students who
normally live away from the parental home, the additional costs of a study period
abroad represent an average increase of 25% or
130 over their normal monthly
expenses. For these students, the additional accommodation costs are still a
substantial proportion (about one-third) of the extra costs they face whilst abroad
(Table 27).

€

€

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19. In general, the survey confirms that the ERASMUS grant is a necessary
financial supplement for mobility and that it does to some extent cover the
extra costs of studying abroad. In certain countries, it can be observed that
the ERASMUS grant is used to compensate for the lack of public funding for
It is also worth noting that it is the group of students which
studies abroad.
receives the largest ERASMUS grants which reports the highest degree of
financial problems. This finding may be related to the following phenomenon:
the ERASMUS students do not necessarily distinguish the ERASMUS grant from
other kinds of public funding that they receive when going on an ERASMUS
exchange, and their
low
ERASMUS grants. The expectations of students are often not realistic and so
there is a need for more information both on the aims of the grant (a contribution
towards the marginal costs of studying abroad) and on the actual costs they should
expect in the host country.

financial problems are perceived as a result of

20. The findings indicate that although an increase in the Community funding
for ERASMUS grants would be welcomed by the students it would not solve
all the problems in so far as they are structural and related to national
policies. Other ways to increase the funding for student mobility should also be
explored, such as for example:

–

–

–

the introduction of some kind of 'means testing' based on the experiences of
the countries which already have such systems;

the provision of alternative sources of direct or indirect support, for example:
reduced price travel tickets, fund raising from industry, business and local
government, etc;

the establishment of a system of student loans at national and/or European
level in order to cover the extra costs of mobility.

D. Further steps

21. The countries participating in the SOCRATES/ERASMUS programme are
invited to discuss the findings of this survey with a view to the continual
improvement of the programme and the widest possible access to it for all
categories of students.

The members of the SOCRATES Sub-Committee on Higher Education will be
invited to co-ordinate, in co-operation with the SOCRATES/ERASMUS National
Agencies, national follow-up measures including a more in-depth analysis of the
survey data concerning each individual country.

22. The Commission will review the results of the follow-up work and will discuss
with the relevant Committees any further steps to be undertaken at Community
level,
the provisions mentioned in the
implement
Decision on the second phase of SOCRATES concerning the consideration of
socio-economic factors in the allocation of ERASMUS student grants.

in particular how to best

8

I - INTRODUCTION

Background

As part of the negotiations for the budget revision of the first phase of the
requested the European
the European Parliament
SOCRATES programme,
Commission to present a report on the social and economic background of Higher
Education students participating in the ERASMUS chapter of the SOCRATES
programme.

The Commission therefore set up, in co-operation with the ERASMUS National
Agencies, a mechanism to collect
information by means of a survey of a
representative sample of ERASMUS students having participated in the programme in
the 1997/98 academic year. The whole exercise was carried out between May 1998
and March 1999.

This survey exercise provides a good basis for comparison with the national allocation
policies. A Steering Group (see Annex 4) assisted the Commission in this work.

Methodology adopted

The methodology to carry out this task consisted of the following phases:

Development
(cid:1)

The elaboration of a harmonised questionnaire (in 11 languages);

(cid:1)

The definition of a methodology for calculating the representative sample (see
Annex 3).

Collection of data and analysis
(cid:1)

Through the National Agencies and a selected number of Higher Education
institutions (see selection criteria in Annex 3).

(cid:1)

Processing of data and interpretation of the statistics.

Reporting

The present report deals with the survey, the interpretation of the data emerging from the survey, the
conclusions and the recommendations. The statistical tables are included at Annex 1.

Further analysis – especially at national level – are planned based on more detailed
results from the survey itself and comparative country profiles.

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II - RESPONSE RATES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE

(BY HOME COUNTRY)

On the basis of the criteria proposed by the Commission to the National Agencies for
selecting the Higher Education institutions to form the country sample (see Annex 3),
the following final results were obtained:

Response rates (overall results)

Country

Number of HEIs
which participated
in the survey

Number of students in
the initial sample

Number of
respondents5

Response
rate (in %)

Belgium(fr)
Belgium(nl)

Total Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

Norway

Total

15
6

21

38

26

10

17

15

18

15

14

23

17

14

7

26

33

470
787

1300

992

1704

979

1699

1682

1006

2000

1720

1300

1127

1024

1099

1700

1072

284
546

830

471

775

448

660

939

358

1380

334

791

475

529

741

442

290

301

20362

9463

60%
69%

64%

47%

45%

46%

39%

56%

36%

69%

19%

61%

42%

52%

67%

26%

27%

46%

The overall response rate of 46% is quite satisfactory compared to other surveys,
despite the fact that the distribution of the questionnaires took place during the

5

Only replies that were included in the analyses are included in these figures. Replies received by
the Commission after data inputting had been completed are not included.

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Christmas break. The length of this break varies between different countries (e.g. in
Norway, the Christmas break starts already in November and lasts until late January.
This could explain its low response rate). Only three countries have a response rate
below 30%: NO (27%) , UK (26%) and NL (20%). On the other hand, IT, BE, SW
and AT achieved a very high response rate.

The success of the survey is due mainly to the co-operation of the National Agencies
and the selected institutions of Higher Education. In addition, the European Student
Information Bureau (ESIB) undertook an information campaign amongst students in 8
of its member countries.

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III – THE INTERPRETATION OF THE STATISTICAL TABLES

Explanatory note on the interpretation of the data emerging from the
questionnaires

Some basic data asked for in the questionnaire (eg. country of host university, field of
study, age, year of study, duration of the period abroad) could be compared with data
supplied by the National Agencies as part of their normal annual reporting procedures
to the Commission. This enabled an assessment to be made of the extent to which the
composition of the achieved sample was representative of ERASMUS students in
general. Further biographical data were surveyed, such as gender, parents' educational
background and family status.

A set of issues was established allowing for the comparison of the data emerging
from the survey. This set comprises:
(cid:1)

General and academic issues;

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

Social status of the ERASMUS students and of their parents;

Economic and financial issues

In the cases where comparable European or national data were not available,
comparisons have been made only between the surveyed ERASMUS students in the
different countries.

1 - General and academic issues

1.1 - ERASMUS student mobility in 1997/98

(Tables 1-3)

In 1997/98 180,985 student places were available in the framework of the ERASMUS
Institutional Contracts in the 18 countries which participated in ERASMUS Student
Mobility that year. The
total number of ERASMUS students was 86,000 which
corresponds to an overall take-up rate of 48% (Tables 1-3) or about 1% of all Higher
Education students.

the
Take-up rates can be influenced by many factors: eg. student preferences;
language of the host country; the availability of linguistic preparation; the particular
features of the Higher Education system in a given host country and its general
appeal; the availability of mobility grants and loans and the length of the study
programmes. The highest take-up rates (by home country) were registered in Austria
(65%), followed by Belgium and Italy (both with 56%) and Spain (54%). The lowest
take-up rates were in the UK (39%) and Greece (35%). As for incoming students, the
highest take-up rates were in the UK (65%) and Ireland (61%), closely followed by
Spain (54%), while Greece (23%), Portugal (29%), Finland (32%), Iceland (32%),
and Norway (33%) had the lowest take-up rates for incoming students (Table 3).

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Nearly four out of five of all Higher Education students in the 18 countries
participating in ERASMUS Student Mobility in 1997/98 are registered in the five
largest EU Member States (Germany, France, UK, Italy and Spain). It is therefore to
be expected that these five countries will both send and receive between them a very
in 1997/98 71% of all
large proportion of all ERASMUS students.
ERASMUS students came from these five countries - a little less than their theoretical
capacity to send students abroad - whilst they hosted 74% of all ERASMUS students
that year - a little less than their theoretical capacity to receive students (Table 2).

Indeed,

By contrast, the four Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway)
account for about 6% of all Higher Education students but hosted more than 8% of all
ERASMUS students - rather more than might be expected.

Four EU Member States (UK, Ireland, Netherlands and France) host more ERASMUS
students than they send abroad. Portugal, Greece and Norway are the least chosen host
countries (altogether they hosted less than 4% of all ERASMUS students) (Table 2).
This is partly because they are small countries but also because they are relatively
unpopular with ERASMUS students. Italy and Germany also receive considerably
fewer ERASMUS students than their size would suggest they could manage.

The UK is the leading host country with 20,770 students (24%), followed by France
with 15,197 students (18%), Spain with 11,392 students (13%) and Germany with
10,969 students (13%). Italy, with 5,667 students (7%) hosted far fewer students than
Spain and only slightly more than the Netherlands (4,922 students which is 6%),
despite its large population.

The patterns of student mobility may be attributed to a variety of factors: for example,
language barriers; the academic reputation of particular institutions or programmes;
the flexibility of home programmes with respect to counting time spent abroad toward
degree requirements; and the limitations of Higher Education provision in the home
country. These patterns may also reflect geographical and historical links, cultural
aspirations and government and institutional policies to facilitate credit
transfer
between home and host institutions.

The historical, cultural and linguistic links between countries are reflected in the
ERASMUS student mobility patterns to a lesser extent than might be expected. For
example, the Nordic countries form a homogenous group from a number of different
points of view (history, languages, political and economic institutions, labour markets
and cost of living). Nevertheless, only 4% of ERASMUS students from these
countries go to other Nordic countries - 96% choose to study outside the region (Table
2). Similarly, only 1% of ERASMUS students from anglophone countries and 2% of
students from germanophone countries go to countries within their own linguistic
group (although it should be noted that many non-anglophone host countries offer
their study programmes in English).

On the other hand, the common languages between French-speaking Belgium and
France and Dutch-speaking Belgium and the Netherlands may play an important role
in the choices of out-going Belgian, and Dutch students. Overall, 17% of ERASMUS
students from Belgium go the France and 12% to the Netherlands although those from
francophone Belgium are more likely to choose the Netherlands than France whilst

13

those from Flanders are more likely to choose France than the Netherlands. About 6%
of Dutch ERASMUS students go to Belgium.

1.2 - The assessment of the ERASMUS period abroad

(Tables 4-6)

The vast majority (91%) of the surveyed students considered their ERASMUS
period abroad to have been 'positive' or 'very positive' from an academic point
of view. (54% assessed their experience as ‘Positive’ and 37% considered it ‘Very
positive’). The most satisfied students came from Greece (97%), Portugal (97%) and
Austria (96%). The highest proportions of students who considered their experience
‘Negative’ or 'Very Negative' were registered among the Norwegian (15%), British
(14%) and Danish (14%) students (Table 5).

However, when viewed by host country, the proportion of students who considered
their academic experience as ‘Negative’ or 'Very Negative' increases considerably for
those who went to Italy (17%); Greece (16%); Portugal (14%); Spain (11%) and
France (11%) (Table 6). The analysis of the data shows no correlation between this
assessment and the year of study, nor with the duration of the period abroad, nor with
the type of host institution. The most significant correlation was therefore by host
country. ERASMUS students who went to southern European countries were clearly
more dissatisfied from an academic point of view then students spending a study
period abroad in another country.

A number of factors could explain this ‘negative’ assessment: linguistic problems and
insufficient language preparation prior to the study abroad particularly in the host
countries with less widely taught and used languages; educational discrepancies
between Higher Education systems; different academic and organisational aspects of
the programmes of study; exposure to subjects not offered at the home university or
more demanding courses at the host university.

Different
traditions may also have influenced the students’ assessment: UK
universities put a strong emphasis on out-of-class communication between teachers
and students, whilst in German universities students’ freedom to work independently
is strongly emphasised, and less importance is given to regular class attendance. The
opposite happens in France and Portugal, which place high emphasis on regular class
attendance and on teachers as the main source of information.

However, from a social and cultural point of view (Table 4), 98% of all students
considered their experience in the host country either as ‘Very positive’(79%) or
‘Positive’ (19%).

It is interesting to stress that in those countries where the academic experience abroad
was considered less positively (the southern European countries), views on social
contacts and cultural life in those countries tended to be much more positive. Overall,
only 2% of students considered the ERASMUS experience (from a social and cultural
point of view) as ‘Negative’ or 'Very negative', in particular the British (4%) and the
Danish (3%).

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1.3 - Age of ERASMUS students and year of study

(Tables 7 and 8)

Age profiles of Higher Education students differ widely between countries. According
to the 1997 edition of OECD's publication 'Education at a Glance', Austria, Denmark,
Finland and Italy report about 75% or more of all university level graduates as aged
25 years or more. The typical university-level graduation age (i.e., assuming
continuous, full-time study) ranges from around 21 years in Ireland, Portugal, Spain
and the United Kingdom (short university-level programmes) to around 26 years or
more
university-level
programmes).

in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Germany (long

The ages of graduates reflect, in part, the lengths of degree programmes which vary
quite widely between countries. However, the ages of entrants to Higher Education
are also quite variable. In some countries the traditional idea that students enter
university immediately after secondary school continues to prevail. For example, in
France and Ireland more than 80% of first-time entrants to Higher Education are aged
under 20. A similar age profile occurs in Greece too. By contrast, in Denmark,
Norway and Sweden the opposite is true: 80% of first-time entrants are aged 20 or
over.

The pattern emerging from the survey corresponds to the overall picture, not only in
terms of all ERASMUS students, but also in terms of the whole student population.
According to the figures supplied by the National Agencies, in 1997/98 the average
age of all the ERASMUS students was 23.9 years. This pattern has changed little
since 1988/89 when the average age was 23.4. The average age of the surveyed
students was 23.7 years (Table 7). Male students are slightly older than female
students on average - which may reflect the continuing existence of compulsory army
service in a number of countries (which is often compulsory for men only and usually
takes place between the end of secondary school and the start of Higher Education
studies).

The highest average ages among the surveyed students were in Denmark (25.6 years),
Sweden (25.1) and Norway (25.0). Irish students were, on average, the youngest (21.4
years).

As far as year of study is concerned, it should be noted that some surveyed students
may have misinterpreted the question, having often indicated the calendar year.
Moreover, 3% of all surveyed students indicated that they were enrolled in the first
year, presumably meaning the first year of a second or subsequent cycle of studies as
students in their first year of Higher Education are not eligible to participate in
ERASMUS.

Nevertheless, according to the survey, at the time of the ERASMUS period abroad
students had been in Higher Education for, on average, 3.5 years. This varies
according to home country, from an average of 2.7 years in the United Kingdom to
4.4 years in Austria. The differences are likely to be due to differences in the lengths
of the main programmes of study in different countries: in those with short cycles,
studies abroad will tend to be undertaken earlier.

15

1.4 - Gender of ERASMUS students

(Table 9)

According to OECD (Education at a Glance,1997), over the last decade there has
been a clear upwards trend in female participation in Higher Education. Current entry
rates show that this trend is continuing. On average, about half of all 17 to 34 year-old
students in Higher Education are female, with 57% in Portugal and 55% in France,
Norway and Sweden. Both entry and graduation rates show a clear predominance of
women. Several factors may contribute to this discrepancy. In particular, men are
more likely to participate in programmes with a longer duration and/or take slightly
longer to finish their Higher Education studies.

A similar pattern was noticed in this survey: 59% of respondents were female. The
highest proportions of female ERASMUS students were recorded in Greece (70%),
Finland (69%) and Ireland (67%).

1.5 - Subject areas

(Tables 9 and 12)

While women have made important strides towards closing the gap in educational
attainment between men and women, significant gender differences in women's
participation in different fields of study still persist. The programmes least likely to
enrol women are those in the natural sciences and industrial and engineering fields; on
the other hand, women are more likely to enrol in fields related to the health
professions, education and the social and behavioural sciences. In the fields of
mathematics, computer science, engineering and architecture, women earn far fewer
university-level qualifications than men. The percentage of university-level degrees in
engineering and architecture that are awarded to women ranges from 6% in Germany
and 7% in Spain to 25% in Denmark and Portugal and 38% in Austria. However,
the analysis of the 1997 edition of OECD's Education at a Glance indicates
that
women have progressed in specific areas that are important
to domestic and
international competitiveness, and this is mainly due to encouragement from parents,
better preparation of mathematics and science teachers, interactions between teachers
and students, curriculum content, hands-on laboratory experience, self-concept,
changes in attitudes towards mathematics and resources available at home.

At a time when technological innovation is becoming an increasingly important
component of European industries' ability to compete in the global market and when
employment is growing in high technology and science based sectors, closing the
gender gap may be an important policy objective to ensure a sufficient supply of the
required skills and knowledge.

Amongst ERASMUS students, there are quite wide variations by gender in the
various subject areas too. Female ERASMUS students are much more likely than men
to be enrolled in Languages (84% are female) and Education Sciences (81% are
female) whereas men form the vast majority of ERASMUS students in Engineering
(77%) and Mathematics (65%) (Table 9). However, overall these variations are
reflected amongst Higher Education students in general and do not therefore suggest
any serious gender bias in the selection of ERASMUS students.

16

Overall, Business studies (24% of all ERASMUS students) and Languages (19%)
are much more popular among ERASMUS students than Higher Education students
in general. Apart from Social Sciences (10%), Engineering (9%) and Law (8%), most
other subject areas are somewhat under-represented amongst ERASMUS students.

By home country, the highest proportions of students enrolled in Business Studies
were registered in Sweden (91% of all outgoing Swedish ERASMUS students),
Ireland (34%) and France (28%). In Languages, the highest proportions were noted
in the UK (31% of all outgoing British students) and Ireland (22%) (Table 11).

1.6 - Duration of studies abroad

(Table 10)

The average duration of study abroad for ERASMUS students is nearly 7
months. Overall, 42% of the surveyed students spent between 4 and 6 months
abroad; 25% spent 7-9 months, and 21% spent 10-12 months (i.e. a full academic
year). Only 12% spent 3 months abroad, which is the minimum eligible period under
ERASMUS (Table 10).

The duration of the study period abroad is partly related to the subject area in which
the students are enrolled. The longest average duration of stay abroad is in areas such
as Business studies, Languages, Social Sciences and Engineering. The average
duration of study abroad is generally shorter in the subject areas which are
traditionally under-represented in ERASMUS. It is possible that other factors such as
type of activities undertaken during the period abroad have an influence on the
duration: work placements, thesis preparation and laboratory work.

2 - Social status of ERASMUS students and of their parents

2.1 - Family background

(Tables 12 and 13)

One-third of surveyed students reported that they normally live with their
parents in their home countries. This mode of living is especially common in
Southern Europe. The highest proportions were reported in Spain (75%), Italy (66%),
Greece (56%) and Portugal (55%). A further third of ERASMUS students live in
rented rooms or student lodgings - most commonly in Northern Europe - whilst a
quarter live in shared accommodation with other students (Table 12).

84% of ERASMUS students have brothers or sisters although nearly half reported
having only one brother or one sister. This proportion is fairly similar across all
countries except for Ireland where only 10% of ERASMUS students had one sibling
but 68% had two or more brothers or sisters (Table 13).

Three-quarters of students reported that one or more of their siblings have
undertaken Higher Education studies. The highest proportions were in Italy (93%),
Ireland (85%) and Belgium (85%). (Table 13). When compared with the highest level
of education attained by the students’ parents, these figures are particularly interesting

17

in the case of Italy where only 18% of ERASMUS students said that both their
parents had a Higher Education qualification (Table 17).

However, on average only 20% of the students reported that their siblings had
studied abroad, although one-third of Swedish students and one-quarter of those
from Spain and Ireland reported that at least one of their siblings had done so.
Furthermore, 82% of the students indicated that they were the first member of the
family to undertake a study period abroad (Table 13).

During their ERASMUS study period abroad, 86% of the surveyed students indicated
that their parents had 1 or more dependent children at home. The highest proportions
were registered in Greece (97%), Spain (95%), Belgium (94%), Ireland (94%) and
Italy (93%). Overall, nearly one in five students indicated that their parents had more
than two dependent children at the time of their study period abroad. In Ireland this
proportion was very high (47%) (Table 13).

2.2 - Parental occupations

(Tables 14-16)

Students were asked to indicate their parents' main occupations. The questionnaire
provided a comprehensive list of
(International Standard
Classification of Occupations) used by Eurostat and OECD. However, to facilitate the
interpretation and the reading of the data, occupations have been aggregated into 6
major categories: Managers and scientific staff ; Associate professionals and technical
staff ; Clerical, secretarial, service and shop workers; Craft and trade workers;
Inactive or unemployed; and Other occupations.

the ISCO codes

Nearly one-third of the surveyed students indicated that both their parents had
managerial, professional or technical occupations; almost the same proportion
(30%) indicated that only their father had such a job and a further 6% indicated
only the mother (Table 16).

The highest percentage of students with both parents employed in managerial,
professional or technical jobs were in Sweden (54%), Norway (46%) and Portugal
(42%). By contrast
in Spain, Italy, Austria and Ireland more than two-fifths of
ERASMUS students indicated that neither parent had such a job.

Overall, two-thirds of ERASMUS students have parents employed in managerial,
professional or technical jobs (Table 14). This proportion is rather higher than found
in the population in general. For example, less than 40% of people in employment
aged 45 and over have such jobs (Table 15). Similarly, at the other end of the scale
less than 10% of ERASMUS students reported that their parents were craft or trade
workers or employed in other elementary occupations (Table 14) whereas nearly one-
third of employed people aged 45 and over have such jobs (Table 15).

Only 2% of the surveyed students indicated that their parents were either
inactive or unemployed.

18

2.3 - Parental qualifications

(Tables 17 and 18)

36% of the surveyed students indicated that both their parents had completed a
degree or other Higher Education qualification; a further 16% reported that
only their father had such a qualification and 8% stated that their mother had
one (Table 17).

The highest proportion of ERASMUS students with both parents possessing a Higher
Education degree were registered amongst the Scandinavians (Sweden 57%, Denmark
55% and Norway 53%) and Germans (51%). The lowest proportion was registered in
Italy (18%) (Table 17).

The European Labour Force Survey (1995) indicates that only 19% of people in the
European Union aged 25-59 years have Higher Education qualifications and that this
proportion is even lower amongst those aged 45 and over (approximately the age
group of parents of ERASMUS students) (Table 18).

3 - Economic and financial issues 6

3.1 - Parental income status

(Table 19)

Students were asked to estimate the income status of their parents as compared to the
average income situation in their home country.

53% assessed their parental income as average or below average. The highest
proportions were registered among Finnish and Austrian students (both 61%).

Only 6% of surveyed students assessed their parental income as considerably
higher than average. This proportion varied between 2% in Spain and 18% in the
Netherlands.

6

Explanatory note: In order to define a common student population for the interpretation of the
questions and answers related to economic and financial issues, the following rules were adopted:

Students included who:
- Provided full information to all questions on page B of the questionnaire (amount of expenses at
home, share of expenses at home, amount of expenses abroad, amount of income at home, sources
of income at home, amount of income abroad and sources of income abroad).
- Stated the income of their parents
- Stated expenses and incomes within the following ranges:
expenses at home :
income at home:
expenses abroad :
income abroad:

0 - 1500
0 - 1500
100 - 2000
100 – 2000.

€
€
€
€

The establishment of a cut-off point at the upper end was necessary because after the process of
data validation some extremely high values could still be found in the database. The cut-off points
chosen eliminate the highest 0.5% of values. This procedure is justified for the reason that mean-
statistics are influenced by extreme values.

19

3.2 - Students' income in their home countries

(Table 20)

ERASMUS students who normally live away from the parental home estimated that
their average monthly income whilst studying in their home country at
530 of
which 27% was funded by a public grant or loan, and 51% by family
contributions.

€

€

€

330 in Portugal to

In cash terms, the average monthly incomes varied quite widely between countries
from
these figures are
strongly dependent on the cost of living in each country. If the local purchasing
powers are taken into account, the differences between students' incomes in the
different countries are less dispersed.

820 in Norway (Table 20). However,

€

€

Students' average incomes varied little with respect to the income status of their
parents from on average nearly
560 per month for students from the highest income
families to
490 for those from lower income families. Nevertheless, differences are
significant in relation to the origin of this income. Those from low income families
received nearly half (49%) of their income from public grants or loans and less than
one-quarter (24%) from family contributions, while those from the highest income
families received the majority of their income (62%) from their families and less than
one-fifth (19%) from public grants and loans.

The survey also reveals substantial disparities between countries in the relative
importance of public and private contributions (the latter represented mainly by the
family). In Greece family contributions represent on average 85% of the income
of ERASMUS students whereas in Sweden and Norway public grants and loan
amount to three-quarters of more of a student's income.

3.3 - ERASMUS grants

(Tables 21-24)

€

€

830 per student or

The average grants awarded to ERASMUS students for a study period abroad in
120 per month (Table 21). Greek and
1997/98 were
Portuguese students received the highest grants (on average approximately
1,600 per
student). By contrast, Finnish and Swedish students received the lowest ERASMUS
€
grants (around
80 per month). These differences reflect national
policies for distributing ERASMUS grants as well as differences in the cost of living
in host countries and the availability or otherwise of other forms of financial
assistance.

500 per student or

€

€

Each year a number of ERASMUS students go abroad without an ERASMUS grant
(Table 22). In 1997/98 nearly 9% of ERASMUS students had no ERASMUS grant
although variations between countries were large. In many countries more than 95%
of the mobile students had an ERASMUS grant but in a few (Norway, Austria,
Belgium and France) the figure was less than 80%. These are countries with national
and/or regional public grant schemes complementary to ERASMUS. It should be
noted that 13% of ERASMUS students from Portugal (a country with little public
funding for students) did not receive an ERASMUS grant.

20

Nevertheless, nearly half (47%) of the surveyed students who did not receive an
ERASMUS grant reported having ‘no financial problems’ during their ERASMUS
period abroad (Table 23) - only marginally more than surveyed students with an
ERASMUS grant (43%) (Table 24). However, there are clear differences according to
the type and level of public support systems available in their home countries. In those
countries with a high level of public support (Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands,
Norway and Sweden), 60-65% of ERASMUS students had no financial problems
abroad while the opposite was true in Greece, Italy and Portugal (the countries with a
low level of public support), where between two-thirds and three-quarters of students
reported having some financial difficulties (Tables 23-24).

their ERASMUS grant was
A sizeable proportion of students indicated that
insufficient especially students from countries with little or no other forms of public
support for studies abroad. However students with an ERASMUS grant were more
likely to complain of this problem than those without (34% compared with 25%).

Another significant problem for both ERASMUS grant holders and non-grant holders
during their period abroad was having to leave their accommodation in their home
country except for students from countries where it is most common to live with their
parents.

Overall, however, the students who did not receive an ERASMUS grant seem to have
faced fewer financial problems than other ERASMUS students, particularly those
from countries which have high or medium levels of additional public funding for
students.

3.4 - Students' income during their ERASMUS periods abroad

(Tables 25-26)

income abroad of
Family contributions accounted for nearly half (47%) of
students without an ERASMUS grant. The family contribution is particularly
important for Belgian (85%), Portuguese (84%), Greek (81%) and Italian (77%)
students (Table 25).

the

Overall, the average monthly income of the surveyed students during the ERASMUS
period abroad was nearly
600 (Table 26). Family contributions at 44% were the
main source of income, followed by public grants and loans (21%) and the
ERASMUS grant (20%).

€

570 compared with

The income status of parents appears to have had little influence on the students'
income abroad. Those from lower income families had an average monthly income of
€
630 for those from high income families although family
contributions formed a higher proportion of the income for those from wealthier
backgrounds whilst public grants and loans (including the ERASMUS grant) formed a
lower proportion (Table 26).

€

The relative importance of the ERASMUS grant as a source of income is influenced
by the varying allocation policies in the individual countries. Each ERASMUS
National Agency is responsible for determining the national policy for the distribution
of ERASMUS grants. They have the flexibility to decide whether to award high

21

grants to a smaller number of students or relatively small grants to a higher number of
students. This flexibility aims at allowing complementarity between Community
funds and national or other funds for student mobility. However, this flexibility is
clearly a factor that influences not only the take-up rates in each country but also the
choice of the country of destination and the duration of the period abroad, particularly
for students from countries with no national assistance for studies abroad.

two-fifths of the monthly income for
The ERASMUS grant represented about
Austrian, Portuguese and Greek students. Public grants and loans in general
(including the ERASMUS grant) represented at least two-thirds of the income of
students from Nordic countries. Only in Sweden however was the ERASMUS grant
less than 10% of the total income of ERASMUS students (Table 26).

3.5 - The additional costs of studying abroad

(Tables 27-28)

€

280 compared with an average income of

In the home country students living with their parents reported average monthly
expenses of about
270 of which less than
5% was for accommodation (Tables 27-28). During their study period abroad,
590 -
however, their monthly expenses more than doubled to on average of nearly
the main increase, of course, being accommodation costs although 'other expenses'
also showed a sharp rise. The additional monthly costs of studying abroad were on
average

310 for students who normally lived with their parents.

€

€

€

The highest additional costs abroad incurred by students who normally lived at home
390) students.
with their parents were reported by Norwegian (
The lowest were reported by British students (

420) and Swedish (

210).

€

€

€

530 per month on
Students normally living away from the parental home spent
200 on accommodation). During
average in their home country (including nearly
€
240 on
their study period abroad they spent on average
accommodation. Overall average monthly expenses for these students increased by
25% during their period abroad although accommodation costs were only 20% higher
on average.

660 per month including

€

€

€

The biggest increases in total monthly expenses were incurred by Portuguese (
and Greek (

250) students. The lowest were reported by British students (

30).

€

€

€

260)

For students living with their parents in their home country, their ERASMUS grant
covered nearly 40% of their additional costs. However, it covers nearly 80% of the
additional costs for students living away from parental home (two-thirds of all
surveyed students).

22

Annex 1

STATISTICAL TABLES

Table
numbers

General and academic issues

Title of the tables

Source

Table 1

1997/98 Total ERASMUS student places available

Commission

Table 2

Table 3

Table 4

Table 5

Table 6

Table 7

Table 8

Actual ERASMUS student mobility 1997/98: total
student numbers

Commission

Actual ERASMUS student mobility 1997/98: take-up
rates by country

Commission

Assessment of ERASMUS period abroad from a
social and cultural point of view, by home country

Survey

Assessment of ERASMUS period abroad from an
academic point of view, by home country

Survey

Assessment of ERASMUS period abroad from an
academic point of view, by host country

Survey

Age at the time of the ERASMUS period abroad, by
home country

Survey

Year of study at the time of the ERASMUS period
abroad, by home country

Survey

Table 9

Gender of ERASMUS students, by subject area

Survey

Survey

Duration of ERASMUS period abroad, by home
country

Actual ERASMUS student mobility 1997/98, by field
of study

Commission

23

Table 10

Table 11

Survey

Survey

Table
numbers

Table 12

Social status of the students and of their parents

Title of the tables

Source

Where ERASMUS students normally live, by home
country

Survey

Table 13

Family background, by home country

Table 14

Table 15

Table 16

Table 17

Occupations of parents on ERASMUS students, by
home country

Occupations of people in employment aged 45 and
over, 1997

Commission

Parents’ occupation: proportion of ERASMUS
students whose parents have managerial, professional
or technical occupations, by home country

Survey

Level of education/training of parents: proportion of
ERASMUS students whose parents have Higher
Education qualifications, by home country

Survey

Table 18

25-59 year olds with Higher Education qualifications,
by age band

Commission

24

Table
numbers

Table 19

Table 20

Table 21

Table 22

Table 23

Table 24

Table 25

Table 26

Table 27

Economic and financial issues

Title of the tables

Source

of
Assessment
ERASMUS students, by home country

income

status

of

parents

of

Survey

Monthly income and major sources of income while
studying in home country

Survey

ERASMUS
1997/98, by home country

student mobility:

average

grants

Commission

Proportion of ERASMUS students without
ERASMUS grant in 1997/98

an

Commission

Financial problems encountered by non-ERASMUS
grant holders during period abroad

Survey

Financial
students
supported by ERASMUS grants during period abroad

encountered

problems

by

Survey

Sources of income of students without an ERASMUS
grant during period abroad

Survey

Monthly income and major sources of income during
ERASMUS period abroad and financial status of
parents, by home country

Survey

Monthly expenses during study at home; additional
costs from studies abroad, by students' living mode
and by home country

Survey

Table 28

Additional costs during period abroad, by mode of
living while studying at home

Survey

25

Table 1

1997/98: Total ERASMUS student places available

Country of host institution

BE

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR

IRL

IT

LUX

NL

AT

PT

FIN SWE

UK

IS

NO

n
o
i
t
u
t
i
t
s
n
i

e
m
o
h
f
o

y
r
t
n
u
o
C

BE

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR

IRL

IT

LUX

NL

AT

PT

FIN

SWE

UK

IS

NO

205

1021

279

1325

1138

195

926

0

772

161

312

338

361

919

9

113

190

713

116

560

508

62

892

655

189

1008

1258

82

443

521

256

90

592

272

874

3792

6864

1106

3088

666

3501

5769

817

364

5162

364

459

682

48

664

5526

1046

3331

22

358

2847

485

3240

0

5

326

1547

97

83

184

155

750

21

138

456

556

1346

1373

4976

58

493

0

206

103

143

216

141

652

4

43

1

1066

1157

409

842

399

487

597

858

645

997

3475

7709

25

157

20

324

68

472

1176

272

0

259

101

58

179

153

344

9

68

407

3303

2720

188

1

515

448

447

288

311

1978

16

141

2

0

7

1

2

11

0

2

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

878

291

1854

226

1188

1210

191

714

0

195

210

584

668

2067

18

240

186

93

611

135

487

635

75

511

8

185

112

176

206

515

10

84

259

69

640

138

988

844

53

489

2

221

126

130

107

574

4

58

335

132

314

145

1085

809

1274

1449

6633

200

424

636

134

298

0

489

135

108

191

144

585

982

92

599

4100

8868

252

419

2482

0

653

193

93

225

0

2353

671

595

1557

1307

1295

1226

5

66

14

103

37

443

12

24

66

13

37

29

4

24

0

14

12

4

11

13

29

132

131

549

61

207

308

48

164

0

238

77

54

63

101

400

TOTA
L

7588

3962

30541

4081

23164

30678

3569

16562

39

10001

3783

4475

6341

6571

26909

250

2471

TOTAL

8074

4261 25957

4327 21234 31539

4611 14715

27 10534

4029

4702

5722

6637 31791

292

2533

180985

26

Table 2

Actual ERASMUS student mobility 1997/98: total number of students

Country of host institution

BE

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR

IRL

IT

LUX

NL

AT

PT

FIN SWE UK

IS

NO

TOTAL

BE

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR

IRL

IT

LUX

NL

AT

PT

FIN

SWE

UK

IS

NO

n
o
i
t
u
t
i
t
s
n
i

e
m
o
h
f
o

y
r
t
n
u
o
C

93

227

19

313

190

14

445

266

197

1719

2374

402

51

6

691

218

714

273

171

63

306

77

160

1941

2813

663

1096

169

248

2687

2574

181

533

130

160

12

23

370

786

123

1525

753

77

186

1375

113

2035

1798

192

5

460

169

205

618

663

105

71

29

37

26

1

44

32

14

85

32

9

585

339

340

194

264

21

568

403

324

267

520

182

1860

149

1706

3883

16

55

20

185

1

21

14

132

8

132

3

126

79

32

103

99

88

1

24

3

137

321

194

110

82

818

2

43

59

283

88

696

225

87

454

245

71

121

111

131

259

7

25

1

3

4

500

104

664

89

760

561

81

448

121

137

344

308

684

13

108

100

67

212

38

185

230

36

250

10

76

28

126

160

176

8

39

89

16

127

35

386

213

13

221

2

53

44

39

12

111

20

141

23

369

41

181

277

32

176

1

182

62

32

17

294

3

14

171

34

706

543

5

7

50

39

761

4259

17

192

15

89

108

2

97

1

81

44

15

12

28

64

19

4

2

13

6

9

2

5

5

46

310

410

13

300

3098

5953

79

240

1673

2

349

140

46

57

303

9

25

8

1173

533

317

947

917

11

248

4233

1795

13785

1431

12468

14821

1564

9271

66

4190

2442

1834

3052

3264

10582

113

1071

TOTAL 2862

1563 10969

1011 11392 15197

2824

5667

8

4922

1741

1381

1845

2916 20770

94

837

85999

27

Table 3
Actual ERASMUS student mobility 1997/98: Take-up rates by country (percentages)

Country of host institution

BE

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR IRL

IT

LUX
[1]

NL

AT

PT

FIN SWE

UK

IS

NO

49

32

16
56

37
23

52

32

73

35

20

17

24

76

40

37

50

41

30
49

41
49

48

30

37

37

46

48

37

34

38

42

27

7

18

28

23
25

23

21

31

10

39

23

23

25

49

23

69

49

51
46

50
50

63

55

83

40

49

54

49

56

84

54

57

52

41
37

49

51

54

49

68

38

41

52

50

40

41

48

67

70

60
34

78

67

71

49

78

55

58

65

26

11

35

61

52

28

35
30

46

28

41

27

72

43

38

26

41

13

30

39

29

28

32
53

20
45

49

32

44

39

33

36

28

78

22

35

57

36

36
39

64

46

42
63

62

65

59

46

33

72

45

47

54

72

35
28

38

36

48
49

41

25

72

78

34

80

46

43

34

23

20
25

39

25

25
45

24

35

30

11

19

0

34

29

42

17

29
21

43

44

24
59

37

46

30

9

23

60

21

32

54

23

53
32

53

42

14
57

53

73

49

25

25

64

24

44

65

67

64
50

76

67

31
67

50

79

53

61

70

30

56

65

30

42

29

26
0

51

14

50
54

43

75

0

18

38

17

38

30

35
25

43

35

4
59

34

57

28

19

28

16

32

33

n
o
i
t
u
t
i
t
s
n
i

e
m
o
h
f
o

y
r
t
n
u
o
C

BE
DK

DE
GR

ES

FR

IRL
IT

LUX [1]
NL

AT

PT

FIN

SWE

UK

IS

NO

Take-up
rates by host
country

[1] The breakdown by country has been omitted because of the small numbers of students.

Take-up
rates by
home
country

56
45

45
35

54

48

44
56

42

65

41

48

50

39

45

43

48

28

Table 4

Assessment of Erasmus period abroad from a social and cultural point of view (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Very positive

Positive

Negative

75

23

2

59

38

3

78

20

2

88

12

0

81

19

0

84

16

0

81

18

1

81

18

1

76

22

2

85

14

1

88

11

1

65

34

1

75

24

1

75

22

4

78

21

1

79

19

1

0
Very negative
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(415) (169)(1544)(1230)(1569) (178)(1007) (173) (416) (296) (186) (291) (365) (869)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(8796)

(89)

Question: Would you judge your ERASMUS experiences to have been from a social and cultural point of view
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

29

Table 5

Assessment of Erasmus period abroad from an academic point of view (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Very positive

Positive

Negative

37

55

6

24

62

12

32

56

11

47

46

6

39

55

6

43

53

3

45

49

5

31

59

10

28

61

11

41

55

4

57

39

2

26

64

10

29

61

10

31

55

13

28

57

14

37

54

8

1
Very negative
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

1

2

0

0

0

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(440) (182)(1544)(1246)(1573) (178)(1005) (174) (416) (299) (189) (301) (367) (943)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(8951)

(94)

Question: Would you judge your ERASMUS experiences to have been from an academic point of view
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

30

Table 6

Judgement of academic outcome of the ERASMUS period abroad by host country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Host country

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO Other

Very positive

Positive

Negative

38

54

8

48

49

4

39

54

6

28

61

10

34

55

10

22

62

14

34

49

16

33

58

9

44

53

4

32

62

5

33

53

14

42

49

8

44

52

4

42

51

6

45

49

4

51

49

0

37

54

8

1
Very negative
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

0

1

1

0

1

0

0

1

0

2

0

0

1

2

1

0

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(289) (211)(1035)(1136)(1548) (156) (581) (348) (472) (169) (162) (233) (362)(2044) (116)

(8881)

(18)

Question: Would you judge your ERASMUS experiences to have been from an academic point of view *All ERASMUS students participating in the survey

31

Table 7

Age at the time of the Erasmus period abroad by home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Up to 20 years

21 years

22 years

23 years

24 years

25 years

26 years

26

27

25

13

5

1

1

1

6

15

21

17

15

9

2

10

23

20

16

10

7

13

19

23

16

14

8

3

24

30

23

13

6

2

1

17

24

28

17

7

3

2

2

12

26

25

17

8

5

66

21

8

2

1

1

0

15

26

27

18

8

2

2

7

15

20

20

13

11

6

13

24

24

20

7

4

2

7

16

22

19

15

7

4

2

11

18

21

21

10

6

49

26

9

4

3

2

1

7

14

13

17

20

12

5

17

20

21

16

11

6

3

27 years and older
6
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15

11

13

10

2

5

6

5

8

7

9

3

1

1

3

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(457) (187)(1548)(1316)(1576) (178)(1006) (177) (416) (300) (188) (352) (369)(1054)
(n)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(9219)

(95)

Average age
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

23,1 25,6 24,7 23,6 22,9 23,0 24,2 21,4 23,1 24,2 23,6 24,5 25,1 22,7 25,0

23,7

Question: Your age
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

32

Table 8

Year of study at the time of the Erasmus period abroad by home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

First year

Second year

Third year

Fourth year

Fifth year

Sixth year

7

9

37

35

7

3

8

30

30

14

10

4

0

12

40

27

13

4

2

15

27

38

11

3

2

12

34

45

4

1

4

6

44

28

14

2

2

5

33

32

17

8

6

19

69

5

1

0

0

8

32

36

19

5

1

13

15

27

22

12

2

13

26

54

5

0

12

21

29

21

12

4

4

18

37

26

11

3

4

26

67

3

0

1

7

20

21

26

17

6

3

14

38

29

10

4

Seventh year or later
4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10

2

4

2

2

3

0

1

1

2

0

1

4

3

2

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(300) (178)(1496) (792)(1132) (133) (945) (158) (348) (290) (122) (309) (358) (941)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(7583)

(83)

Average year of study
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.5

4.0

4.4

2.8

3.8

3.4

3.6

3.4

2.7

3.5

3.6

3.2

3.1

3.6

3.7

3.4

Question: Your current year of study
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

33

Table 9

Gender of Erasmus students, by subject area (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Subject area

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Art Bus Edu Eng Geo Hum Lan Law Mat Med Nat Soc Com Oth

Agr Arc

Female

42

46

65

52

81

23

63

63

84

58

35

66

51

62

67

63

59

Male
37
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

38

54

49

37

34

33

41

65

58

19

48

77

35

16

37

42

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(235) (256) (342)(1626) (355) (861) (126) (417)(1520) (896) (259) (480) (460) (790) (206) (114)

(8943)

Question: Sex
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

34

Table 10

Duration of Erasmus period abroad, by home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

3 months

4 - 6 months

7 - 9 months

27

42

16

21

65

6

6

53

21

10

27

39

9

34

30

22

62

11

7

50

26

16

16

35

10

77

6

9

45

22

14

44

21

23

44

16

10

51

15

20

23

29

25

48

9

12

42

25

16
10 - 12 months
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28

24

24

14

20

18

17

28

21

33

24

21

9

7

5

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(461) (187)(1544)(1308)(1579) (178)(1005) (175) (416) (300) (189) (352) (367)(1006)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(9162)

(95)

Average duration
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6.5

6.7

6.0

5.4

6.9

6.9

7.8

5.8

6.9

7.1

5.7

7.5

7.6

5.1

6.8

5.2

Question: What was the duration of your ERASMUS study period abroad?
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

35

Table 11

Actual ERASMUS student mobility 1997/98 by field of study

Country of home institution

BE

DK DE GR

ES

FR IRL IT LUX NL AT PT FIN SWE UK IS NO

TOTAL

y
d
u
t
s

f
o
d
l
e
i
F

Agricultural Sciences

Architecture & Planning

Art & Design

Business & Management Studies

Education & Teacher Training

Engineering & Technology

Geography & Geology

Humanities

Languages

Law

Mathematics & Computing

Medical Sciences

Natural Sciences

Social Sciences

Communication & Information
Sciences

Other areas of study

Field of study unknown

21

68

54

312

210

145

17

119

369

124

17

75

31

127

167

165

984

263

315

19

109

678

347

46

335

64

455

104

125

481

516

48

35

92

286

456

451

253

283

331

13

9

36

3222

182

2150

4155

524

490

1448

224

551

2523

1363

359

614

537

48

99

29

91

255

106

56

96

78

423

189

1617

1982

171

439

2450

1075

267

620

490

167

391

3068

1054

406

216

867

145

631

411

996

192

776

186

623

27

51

8

60

342 1846

59

66

23

72

860

199

340

399

109

71

189

2

3

4 1144

19

3

1

3

5

6

1

1

375

168

112

71

268

340

26

259

80

59

136

106

558

268

155

24

105

370

242

75

86

99

183

1006

173

1221

1215

214 1250

34

161

18

266

155

47

56

14

4

802

111

80

30

66

125

81

36

88

179

40

11

6

66

165

568 17

165

814 2981

2206 10

97

201

38

29

249

71

39

186

107

279

67

209

381

45

110

221

112

50

341

83

289

62

14

63

2

20

6

20

15

7

15

46

16

321 10

546

149

3

2

275 13

875 20

1

2

4

9

203

229

364

1104

127

55

16

165

25

86

89

13

29

332

96

18

27

39

2

71

7

30

38

189

108

85

19

36

1446

2706

3250

20596

3263

8038

1213

3046

98

16

120

25

139

8

14

6773

1841

3550

3316

8515

1235

752

335

3313 23

139

16125

TOTAL

4233 1795 13785 1431 12468 14821 1564 9271

66 4190 2442 1834 3052 3264 10582 113 1071

85999

36

Table 12

Where Erasmus students normally live, by home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

With parents

Student lodging

Shared flat with other
students

37

52

4

36

12

33

75

3

30

46

56

18

66

5

44

9

16

68

27

21

55

14

3

74

12

70

12

34

10

33

9

25

43

19

17

17

26

43

13

35

23

7

10

48

37

34

32

26

Other
4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12

35

15

20

17

8

9

8

4

4

7

8

2

7

4

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(455) (181)(1544)(1282)(1576) (178)(1006) (175) (416) (298) (190) (334) (365) (929)
(n)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(9022)

(94)

Question: As a student do you normally live (in your home country)
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

37

Table 13

Family background, by home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Number of brothers and sisters

None

One

Two

13

48

33

16

53

31

15

54

21

20

43

30

16

48

33

5

62

24

17

53

21

22

10

29

7

51

29

19

44

29

15

54

20

18

48

30

12

52

32

17

48

31

16

43

35

16

49

28

10
More
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10

13

11

39

5

8

6

6

0

4

8

4

8

8

5

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(428) (167)(1548)(1250)(1437) (179)(1004) (175) (415) (285) (187) (324) (344) (984)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(8817)

(91)

Higher education of brothers
and sisters

Yes

85

64

62

75

73

74

93

85

76

57

70

49

70

72

73

73

None
7
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

29

51

30

28

27

27

36

15

38

25

27

26

24

43

15

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(374) (146)(1304)(1014)(1229) (165) (834) (138) (385) (230) (160) (269) (304) (838)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(7466)

(77)

Experiences abroad of brothers
and sisters

Yes

22

23

17

26

13

23

19

27

17

14

15

20

33

22

23

20

None
81
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

77

85

80

67

78

77

80

78

73

83

74

87

77

83

86

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(372) (145)(1268) (994)(1222) (159) (821) (135) (386) (223) (154) (264) (302) (826)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(7347)

(77)

38

(continuation of Table 13)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Number of children dependent
on parents while abroad

None

1 Child

2 Children

6

30

41

60

27

10

9

37

41

5

21

44

11

32

38

3

22

60

7

31

48

6

17

31

16

31

40

17

33

35

9

30

44

34

34

22

60

25

12

17

25

39

56

25

15

14

29

39

More than 2 children
14
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

18

29

15

13

19

23

47

15

18

10

13

16

4

3

3

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(446) (171)(1474)(1288)(1549) (176) (958) (177) (403) (282) (184) (330) (361)(1025)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(8914)

(90)

First member of familiy

to study abroad

Yes

80

79

83

79

87

80

84

81

83

86

86

80

70

83

73

82

No
16
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

20

27

14

30

18

21

17

20

13

21

17

19

14

20

17

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(431) (173)(1526)(1246)(1535) (177) (991) (173) (415) (290) (189) (338) (361) (989)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(8926)

(92)

Question: Number of brothers and sisters?
Question: Are they have been in higher education?
Question: Are they studying or have they studies abroad?
Question: During your ERASMUS period, how many children were dependent on your parents?
Question: Are you the first member of your family to study abroad?
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

39

Table 14

Occupations of parents of Erasmus students, by home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Managers and scientific staff

69

60

63

45

52

56

46

53

76

46

58

56

72

66

70

Associate professional and
technical staff

Clerical, secretarial, service
and shop workers

Craft and trade workers,
elementary occupation

Inactive or unemployed

6

8

11

9

12

9

10

7

4

12

7

7

9

11

6

16

24

16

26

23

17

29

26

12

28

22

29

13

16

19

7

2

7

1

6

3

15

3

11

2

13

1

11

2

12

2

5

2

12

1

11

1

6

2

5

1

4

2

5

0

57

10

21

9

2

Other
1
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

0

0

1

1

3

0

0

0

0

2

0

1

0

1

2

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(461) (187)(1548)(1312)(1566) (178)(1000) (178) (413) (298) (190) (353) (370)(1046)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(9194)

(94)

Question: What are your parents main occupations?
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

40

Table 15

Occupations of people in employment aged 45 and over, 1997

BE

DK

DE

ES

FR

GR

IT

IE

LU

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK

Total

Managers and scientific staff

Associate
technical staff

professional

and

34

11

26

18

24

18

23

7

24

16

23

3

14

13

27

4

28

13

39

15

22

11

17

9

27

15

23

21

33

8

Clerical,
and shop workers

secretarial,

service

27

25

25

27

28

44

33

40

26

21

33

43

30

30

29

and

Craft
elementary occupations

trade workers,

28

31

33

42

32

29

36

29

33

23

33

31

27

26

30

Other occupations

1

0

0

0

1

0

4

0

0

3

0

0

1

0

0

25

13

29

32

1

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Source: European Labour Force Survey, 1997

41

Table 16

Parents' occupation: proportion of ERASMUS students whose parents have managerial, professional or technical occupations, by
home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Both

Only father

Only mother

35

34

7

36

26

6

34

37

5

23

29

4

33

27

6

35

27

4

26

24

8

24

32

5

35

43

4

17

37

5

42

16

7

30

25

10

54

22

6

39

33

7

46

24

8

32

30

6

None
42
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

32

22

35

22

31

18

35

24

18

41

24

40

35

34

44

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(436) (180)(1492)(1240)(1477) (174) (940) (168) (385) (285) (182) (341) (361)(1018)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(8770)

(91)

Question: What are your parents main occupations?
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

42

Table 17

Level of education/training of parents: proportion of ERASMUS students whose parents have Higher Education qualifications by
home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Both

Only father

Only mother

49

15

11

55

12

9

51

17

3

28

17

6

29

13

8

41

21

5

18

13

7

25

17

13

37

27

5

27

20

7

33

11

9

34

12

12

57

13

10

37

15

12

53

15

10

36

16

8

62
None
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

46

23

42

21

35

23

41

25

46

46

28

31

48

50

33

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(450) (174)(1510)(1272)(1469) (175) (945) (170) (398) (291) (178) (328) (311) (989)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(8751)

(90)

Question: What is the highest level of education and/or training for each of your parents?
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

43

Table 18

25-59 year olds with Higher Education qualifications, by ageband (percent)

BE

DK

DE

ES

FR

GR

IT

IE

LU

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK

Total

All people aged 25-59

25

28

23

17

19

16

of which those aged:

45-49

50-54

55-59

22

20

14

32

25

21

25

23

19

12

9

7

18

14

10

13

10

8

8

9

7

5

21

16

22

17

14

12

17

16

12

22

18

16

8

7

7

5

12

22

29

22

11

10

7

20

23

17

30

29

21

22

19

16

19

18

16

12

Source: European Labour Force Survey, 1995

44

Table 19

Assessment of income status of parents of ERASMUS students, by home country (percent*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Considerably higher than average

Higher than average

Average

Lower than average

7

42

41

8

7

38

43

9

6

46

35

8

2

39

43

12

5

41

40

12

4

41

46

8

5

39

40

12

10

36

40

11

18

48

24

8

6

33

42

14

9

47

31

9

5

34

46

13

9

50

32

7

9

41

35

11

4

45

44

5

6

42

39

11

4
Considerably lower than average
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2

3

2

3

2

5

3

1

2

2

2

2

4

2

4

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
(448) (182)(1524)(1292)(1554) (174) (984) (172) (398) (295) (178) (345) (367)(1001)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(9003)

(91)

Question: Please estimate the income status of your parents as compared to the average income situation in your home country.
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

45

Table 20
Monthly income and major sources of income while studying in home country (mean of students living away from parental home)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Income status of parents
Average

Higher than
average
444
2
86

Lower than
average
415
34
46

BE

DK

DE

ES

FR

GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

680
55
4

581
4
77

383
1
88

489
5
77

475
1
88

490
2
86

533
5
70

520
39
38

535
7
71

371
8
76

657
58
3

531
13
60

370
20
63

481
17
62

385
2
88

451
11
73

381
34
42

524
55
20

515
31
44

Total

412
8
78

668
56
3

557
12
65

361
17
66

477
17
62

428
1
85

454
7
76

446
25
50

519
45
32

523
29
48

658
51
0

519
49
20

309
33
43

442
47
25

437
0
71

388
12
63

393
47
23

500
64
10

518
62
12

46

Table 20 (cont)
Monthly income and major sources of income while studying in home country (mean of students living away from parental home)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Income status of parents

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Higher than
average

Average

Lower than
average

PT

FI

SW

UK

NO

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

358
0
87

522
59
11

797
78
10

608
20
62

819
74
6

307
4
86

473
60
9

787
86
4

524
41
33

805
78
3

273
37
49

478
61
11

825
88
2

572
65
12

932
75
0

331
6
82

493
60
10

797
81
7

573
34
44

819
75
5

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Total

average income (Euro)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

559
19
62

507
30
48

489
49
24

530
27
51

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Weighted table

47

Table 21

Erasmus student mobility: average grants 1997/98, by home country

Home country

1997/98

1997/98

B

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR

IRL

IT

LUX

NL

AT

PT

FIN

SWE

UK

FL

IS

NO

ALL COUNTRIES

[1] Rounded to the nearest 10 ECU

110

120

120

310

110

120

90

130

390

130

120

260

80

80

140

390

340

220

120

570

600

890

1610

790

850

680

880

2380

700

780

1590

480

520

910

3130

2120

1170

830

48

Table 22

Proportion of ERASMUS students without an ERASMUS grant in 1997/98

Out-going
students

In-coming
students

Total number of
students

in 1997/98

of which % who
received no
grants

Total number of
students in
1997/98

of which % who
received no
grants

number

(%)

number

(%)

B

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR

IRL

IT

LUX

NL

AT

PT

FIN

SWE

UK

IS

NO

TOTAL

4233

1795

13785

1431

12468

14821

1564

9271

66

4190

2442

1834

3052

3264

10582

113

1071

85999

22,9

2,6

1,3

1,0

10,0

21,0

1,7

0,0

0,0

0,4

24,0

12,7

14,0

2,8

1,6

0,0

37,3

8,8

2862

1563

10969

1011

11392

15197

2824

5667

8

4922

1741

1381

1845

2916

20770

94

837

85999

49

5,1

6,1

12,0

8,8

8,8

6,1

8,7

7,6

25,0

8,6

8,1

6,2

4,4

5,6

11,2

4,3

6,9

8,8

Table 23

Financial problems encountered by Non-ERASMUS grantholders during period abroad by type of public student support systems
(percent*)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Public support system of home country

Total

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Low support Medium support High support
(DK, FI, NL,
(AT, BE, DE,
(GR, IT, PT)
NO, SW)
ES, FR, IE, UK)

No financial problems encountered

Unable to transfer a national grant or loan

Parents contribution was insufficient

Leaving accommodation in home country

Unable to continue paid work

33

1

9

6

9

The ERASMUS grant was insufficient

64

44

4

8

34

12

23

65

1

8

21

5

15

47

3

8

29

10

25

Other
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11

8

9

8

Total

133

133

122

131

(n)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(817)

(593)

(162)

(61)

Question: Did you experience financial problems in connection with your ERASMUS study period
*Only students receiving no ERASMUS support

50

Table 24

Financial problems encountered by students supported by Erasmus during period abroad by type of public student support systems
(percent*)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Low support Medium support High support
(DK, FI, NL,
(AT, BE, DE,
(GR, IT, PT)
NO, SW)
ES, FR, IE, UK)

Public support system of home country

Total

No financial problems encountered

Unable to transfer a national grant or loan

Parents contribution was insufficient

Leaving accommodation in home country

Unable to continue paid work

25

2

6

6

5

The ERASMUS grant was insufficient

72

44

3

7

31

13

28

59

1

8

20

9

22

43

2

7

26

11

34

Other
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10

7

4

8

Total

120

134

129

131

(n)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(1258)

(8097)

(5623)

(1216)

Question: Did you experience financial problems in connection with your ERASMUS study period
*Only students receiving ERASMUS support

51

Table 25

Sources of income of students without Erasmus grant during period abroad (mean of percentages*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country of home institution

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BE

DK DE

ES

FR GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW UK NO

Public grant

Public loan

Private grant

Private loan

Contribution from members of
your family

Own contribution

2

0

2

0

85

10

48

15

6

2

4

9

12

19

26

18

8

4

2

56

18

0

1

0

61

20

1

0

2

56

15

0

0

0

81

2

6

2

0

0

77

14

13

52

72

2

0

3

49

32

7

0

2

23

16

0

2

1

17

7

8

0

1

0

84

7

58

7

3

3

11

15

35

51

1

1

6

6

18

10

1

4

42

20

37

47

0

0

6

10

25

9

1

2

47

15

Other forms of support
1
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17

0

0

1

1

2

0

0

5

1

0

2

3

1

0

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

(n)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(42) (163)

(594)

(38)

(28)

(13)

(54)

(20)

(48)

(57)

(13)

(18)

(76)

(16)

(4)

(6)

Question: From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you received from
*All ERASMUS students participating in the survey
Weighted table

52

Table 26

Monthly income and major sources of income during Erasmus period abroad and financial status of parents, by home country (mean
of all Erasmus students responding to the financial questions)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Income status of parents

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Higher than
average

Average

Lower than
average

BE

DK

DE

ES

FR

GR

IT

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

584
17
2
72

670
14
51
6

649
15
4
70

533
28
2
64

603
18
10
58

687
35
1
59

588
25
8
62

529
27
4
55

698
15
53
3

581
17
12
53

474
29
9
51

571
21
18
46

602
38
2
54

552
28
10
53

559
23
4
61

681
15
52
4

613
16
12
58

505
28
6
55

584
20
16
48

645
37
2
55

562
27
10
56

555
33
16
33

670
16
49
2

550
17
42
25

520
27
13
39

559
22
30
23

648
45
1
40

517
28
15
44

53

(Continuation of Table 26)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Income status of parents

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Higher than
average

Average

Lower than
average

IE

NL

AT

PT

FI

SW

UK

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

606
10
2
59

608
18
34
35

638
43
8
41

664
39
1
56

624
18
49
11

831
7
73
10

634
19
17
48

490
16
17
35

539
20
49
18

632
45
21
25

576
43
2
49

588
18
53
9

814
8
81
4

580
23
38
25

542
13
12
44

584
19
40
29

642
44
19
28

631
40
2
52

603
18
51
10

828
7
77
7

611
21
30
34

484
17
29
22

528
19
59
13

675
44
37
9

586
42
11
39

591
16
52
9

861
7
83
2

610
25
52
11

54

(Continuation of Table 26)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Income status of parents

Total

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Higher than
average

Average

Lower than
average

NO

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

876
18
67
7

842
20
68
3

911
22
65
1

862
19
68
5

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Total

average income (Euro)
ERASMUS grant (%)
public grant / loan (%)
contribution from family (%)

628
20
16
53

573
24
23
40

571
24
34
25

599
22
21
44

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Weighted table

55

Table 27

Monthly expenses during study at home; additional costs from studies abroad, by students' living mode and by home country (mean
in Euro*)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

During study at home

During study abroad

Additional costs

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

BE

DK

DE

ES

FR

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

278
16
27
31
203

291
34
56
5
195

311
13
56
8
233

236
8
23
43
162

296
25
35
42
195

428
159
26
26
217

590
229
32
2
327

535
204
35
11
285

369
131
25
41
172

497
180
40
55
222

574
213
66
-
296

643
232
87
-
325

624
244
69
-
310

569
216
71
-
281

596
234
70
-
292

589
219
68
-
302

743
278
103
-
362

678
258
65
-
354

572
216
77
-
279

621
247
88
-
286

296
197
39
-31
93

352
198
31
-5
130

313
231
13
-8
77

333
208
48
-43
119

300
209
35
-42
97

161
60
42
-26
85

153
49
71
-2
35

143
54
30
-11
69

203
87
52
-41
107

124
67
48
-55
64

56

(Continuation of Table 27)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

During study at home

During study abroad

Additional costs

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

GR

IT

IE

NL

AT

PT

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

270
6
33
3
228

281
6
30
49
196

251
4
47
10
190

236
2
9
53
173

292
9
37
1
244

332
8
48
86
190

417
125
31
1
260

440
143
38
45
214

470
187
32
11
239

513
174
20
58
262

530
197
42
1
289

338
89
40
34
176

627
198
102
-
327

561
190
73
-
297

554
185
66
-
302

524
187
48
-
289

639
215
46
-
377

668
210
73
-
386

669
214
101
-
354

611
212
92
-
307

585
194
85
-
306

706
249
75
-
382

700
250
74
-
376

598
190
90
-
318

357
192
69
-3
99

280
184
43
-49
101

303
181
19
-10
112

288
185
39
-53
116

347
206
9
-1
133

336
202
25
-86
196

57

252
89
70
-1
94

171
69
54
-45
93

115
7
53
-11
67

193
75
55
-58
120

170
53
32
-1
87

260
101
50
-34
142

(Continuation of Table 27)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

During study at home

During study abroad

Additional costs

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

Living with
parents

Living on
their own

FI

SW

UK

NO

Total

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

354
6
46
1
301

375
29
67
8
271

376
31
113
10
222

492
194
41
3
254

751
253
54
9
436

594
260
41
6
287

655
224
87
-
344

767
244
86
-
437

585
176
69
-
339

656
224
109
-
324

812
249
105
-
457

627
207
96
-
324

301
218
41
-1
43

392
215
19
-8
166

209
145
-44
-10
117

164
130
68
-3
70

61
-4
51
-9
21

33
-53
55
-6
37

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

Total costs
Accommodation
Travel
Fees
Other expenses

402
43
69
26
265

277
12
35
37
193

739
239
54
12
434

526
197
37
25
268

826
200
169
-
457

586
212
71
-
303

838
241
148
-
449

659
238
85
-
337

424
157
100
-26
192

309
200
36
-37
110

99
2
94
-12
15

133
41
48
-25
69

* Mean of all Erasmus students responding to the financial questions
Weighted table

58

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Table 28

Additional costs during the ERASMUS period abroad by mode of living while studying at home (mean in Euro*)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yes
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

No

Living with parents while studying at home

Total

Income at home

Income abroad

Add. income abroad

Expenditure in home country

Expenditure abroad

Add. costs abroad

ERASMUS Grant

270

544

274

277

586

309

121

530

622

91

526

659

133

105

454

599

145

453

638

185

110

Percentage of additional costs covered by
the ERASMUS grant
39%
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

59%

79%

(n)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(1882)

(4521)

(6403)

Question: From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you received from
* Only Students who had received ERASMUS support

59

Annex 2

THE METHODOLOGY USED TO CONDUCT THE SURVEY

The methodology to carry out this task consisted of the following phases:

The development phase
(cid:1)

The elaboration of a harmonised questionnaire (in 11 languages);

(cid:1)

The definition of a methodology for calculating the representative sample.

Collection of data and data analysis
(cid:1)

Through the National Agencies and a selected number of higher education
institutions

(cid:1)

Processing of data, data analysis and interpretation of the statistics

The report

The report deals with the survey as such, the interpretation of the data emerging from
the survey and the conclusions. The statistical tables are at Annex 1.

The development phase

A questionnaire with a common structure was developed and distributed to the
National Agencies in their own languages (see version at Annex 5). The questionnaire
covered:
(cid:1)

The personal background of the student

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

Sources of students' income (including ERASMUS grants) and their patterns of
expenditure at home and abroad

Student accommodation

Income and occupational status of students' parents

Educational achievement of students' parents

N.B.: The questionnaire did not require the personal identification of the student.

The questionnaire for each Member State was adapted to its national circumstances.
All National Agencies were involved in this process and acted as the contact points
for consulting other relevant organisations in their countries (national authorities,
academic experts, offices for statistics, etc). It was essential
the issue of
comparability of the national systems was taken into account at the design stage.

that

60

Therefore, the text of the questionnaire and the different country and language
versions were subject to consultation with academic experts and national authorities in
the participating countries prior to finalisation and printing. A pre-test was also
carried out with a small group of students in different European higher education
institutions.

The 86,000 students who studied abroad under ERASMUS in 1997/98 formed the
sampling frame for this survey. Given time and resource constraints, it was considered
feasible only to produce a snapshot of the socio-economic background of ERASMUS
students for the year 1997/98. To produce a longitudinal survey would have required
the inclusion of ERASMUS students from previous years and would have increased
substantially the scope and complexity of this work.

Distribution of the questionnaire

to National Agencies for onward
The questionnaires were distributed by post
transmission to their selected higher education institutions. The students returned their
completed questionnaires to their National Agency in an unmarked pre-paid envelope.
It was considered preferable to send the individual questionnaires back to the National
Agency, to remove any grounds for the individual student to fear identification by the
university.

All questionnaires were produced in precisely the same format and layout because the
transfer of information from the individual questionnaire to the database took place
via optical reading. The questionnaires were produced in 11 languages and 16 country
versions (all EU and EEA countries, except Luxembourg, Iceland and Liechtenstein).

The National Agencies registered the serial numbers of the questionnaires sent to each
institution, in order to check the response rate. In the case of very low response rates
from specific institutions National Agencies encouraged them to send out reminders.

61

Annex 3

THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR COUNTRY SAMPLES

Given timing, resources and the complexity of the task, it was not practical to send out
a questionnaire to 86,000 individual students. This exercise was therefore based on a
sample study, which is the standard method for this type of socio-economic research.
The sample (20,000 students) was chosen to be representative of the whole population
of ERASMUS students.

Iceland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein did not take part in the survey.

In order to compose the sample, each National Agency was asked to select a sample
of higher education institutions in its country, on the basis of criteria proposed by the
Steering Group. In selecting the higher education institutions to form the sample,
National Agencies were asked to ensure that, taken together, they were representative
of the pattern of participation among outgoing ERASMUS mobility for the country. In
particular, they were asked to ensure that the sample of higher education institutions
was representative with respect to:
(cid:1)

Type of institution (university versus non-university)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

Size of institution

Subject areas represented in the institution (including an appropriate balance
between mono- and multi-disciplinary institutions)

Destinations (of out-going ERASMUS students)

Place (urban versus rural)

Institutional funding status (public versus private)

Institutional involvement in ERASMUS (active versus more passive)

The selected institutions were then asked to distribute the socio-economic
questionnaire to all students who took part in SOCRATES/ERASMUS mobility in
academic year 1997/98.

62

Annex 4

THE STEERING GROUP

1 - The members of the Steering Group:
(cid:1)

Mr Michel BOSQUET, Service des Relations Extérieurs, Facultés Universitaires
Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

(cid:1)

Prof. Dr. Patrick CLANCY, Associate Professor of Sociology, University College,
Dublin, Ireland

Mrs. Arlette DELHAXHE, Eurydice Central Unit, Brussels, Belgium

Mrs. Maria Emilia GALVÃO, Deputy Director, Gabinete de Assuntos Europeus e
Relações Internacionais, Ministério da Educação, Lisboa, Portugal

Mr. Michel JOUVE , Director of the French SOCRATES National Agency,
Bordeaux, France

Prof. Dr. Socrates KAPLANIS, President of the Technological and Educational
Institute of Patras, Greece

Prof. Dr. José-Ginés MORA, Department of Applied Economics, University of
Valencia, Spain

Mr Antti PENTIKÄINEN, National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB),
National Union of Finnish Students, Helsinki, Finland

Mr John REILLY, Director of the UK SOCRATES/ERASMUS National Agency,
The University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

Mr Dieter SCHÄFERBARTHOLD, European Council
General Secretary of the Deutsches Studentenwerk, Bonn, Germany

for Student Affairs,

2 - Mr. Pedro de SOUSA, Academic Coordinator of the project.

3 - Mr. Friedhelm MAIWORM, Statistician.

63

Annex 5

QUESTIONNAIRE

An example of the questionnaire in the language version(s) of the present report is
attached.

64

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65

INFORMATION TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE

This form will be analysed by optical reading. Mark the appropriate boxes (using a black biro)
with an "x", or insert figures. Try to follow as closely as possible the style shown here.

X

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

Please give just one answer unless otherwise indicated (“multiple answers possible”).

Please return the ORIGINAL questionnaire (not a photocopy). DO NOT FOLD, STAPLE or PIN
TOGETHER, etc.

01 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

06 ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY

12 MEDICAL SCIENCES

ERASMUS SUBJECT AREA CODES

Psychology, Dentistry,

Medical Sciences, Medicine, Psychiatry and
Clinical
Veterinary
Pharmacy, Nursing, Midwifery,
Medicine,
Physiotherapy,
Medical
Technology, Others Medical Sciences

Health,

Public

13 NATURAL SCIENCES

Natural Sciences, Biology, Physics, Chemistry,
Microbiology, Biotechnology, Nuclear and High
Energy Physics, Biochemistry, Astronomy,
Astrophysics, Oceanography, Others Natural
Sciences

14 SOCIAL SCIENCES

Psychology

Social Sciences, Political Science, Sociology,
Economics,
Behavioural
Sciences, Social Work, International Relations,
European Studies, Area Studies, Anthropology,
Development Studies, Others Social Sciences

and

15 COMMUNICATION

AND

INFORMATION SCIENCES

and

Communication
Information Sciences,
Journalism, Radio/TV Broadcasting, Public
Relations,
Library
Science, Documentation, Archiving, Museum
Studies, Conservation, Others Communication
and Information Sciences

Advertising,

Publicity,

and

Agriculture, Agricultural Economics,
Science
Fisheries,
Tropical/Subtropical
Agricultural Sciences

Technology,
Animal
Agriculture,

Forestry,

Food
Horticulture,
Husbandry,
Others

02 ARCHITECTURE, URBAN AND

REGIONAL PLANNING

Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning,
Interior Design, Urban Planning, Regional
Planning, Landscape Architecture, Transport
and Traffic Studies, Others Architecture, Urban
and Regional Planning

Engineering,
Mechanical
Technology,
Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical
Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic
Engineering,
Telecommunications,
Manufacturing Sciences (including CAD, CAM,
CAE),
Aeronautical
Engineering, Others Engineering, Technology

Materials

Science,

07 GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY

Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences,
Ecology, Soil and Water Sciences, Geodesy,
Cartography, Remote Sensing, Meteorology,
Others Geography, Geology

03 ART AND DESIGN

08 HUMANITIES

Humanities, Philosophy, Theology, History,
Archaeology, Others Humanities

09

LANGUAGES
PHILOLOGICAL SCIENCES

AND

Languages and Philological Sciences, Modern
EC Languages, General and comparative
literature, Linguistics, Translation, Interpretation,
Classical Philology, Non-EC Languages, Less
Widely Taught Languages, Others Languages
and Philological Sciences

10

LAW

Music

Art and Design, Fine Art (Painting, Sculpture,
Printmaking),
Musicology,
Performing Arts, Photography, Cinematography,
Design (Graphic Design,
Industrial Design,
Fashion, Textile), History of Art, Others Art and
Design

and

04 BUSINESS

STUDIES

AND

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Business
Science,
Studies, Management
Business Studies with languages, Business
Studies with technology, Accountancy, Financial
Hotel
Management,
Management,
and
Personnel Management, Secretarial Studies,
Marketing and Sales Management, Others
Business Studies, Management Science

Catering,
Relations

Tourism,
Industrial

05 EDUCATION, TEACHER TRAINING

Education, Teacher Training, Teacher Training ,
Primary Education, Secondary Education,
Vocational and Technical Education, Adult
Education, Special Education, Educational
Science, Comparative Education, Educational
Psychology, Others
Teacher
Training

Education,

Law, Comparative Law, Law with Languages,
International Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law,
Criminology, Constitutional /Public Law, Public
Administration, European Community/EU Law,
Others Law

16 OTHER AREAS OF STUDY

Physical Education, Sport Science, Leisure
Studies, Home Economics, Nutrition, Nautical
Science, Navigation, Other Areas of Study

11 MATHEMATICS, INFORMATICS

Mathematics, Statistics,
Science,
Science, Others Mathematics, Informatics

Informatics, Computer
Actuarial

Intelligence,

Artificial

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BE Belgium
GR Greece
AT Austria
Iceland
IS

DK Denmark
Italy
IT
Portugal
PT
Liechtenstein
FL

DE Germany
Ireland
IE
FI
Finland
NO Norway

Spain
ES
LU Luxembourg
SW Sweden

FR France
NL The Netherlands
UK United Kingdom

COUNTRY ABBREVIATIONS

In which country did you spend your 1997/98 ERASMUS study period? (do not mark your home country)

BE DK DE ES

FR GR IT

IE

LU NL AT PT

FI

SW UK IS

FL NO

Please give the ERASMUS code for the subject area of your study course
(see list of subject areas on the back of the cover - e.g. if you studied History, write "08" in the boxes)

What was the duration of your ERASMUS study period? (to the nearest month)

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

Would you judge your ERASMUS experience to have been

from an academic point of view

Very positive

Positive

Negative

Very negative

from a social and cultural point of view

Very positive

Positive

Negative

Very negative

Did you experience financial problems in connection with your ERASMUS
study period?

Yes

No

If you did, please specify (multiple answers possible)

Unable to transfer a national grant or loan

Parents’ contribution was insufficient

Leaving accommodation in your home
country
The ERASMUS grant was insufficient

Unable to continue paid work

Other

Other

As a student do you normally live (in your home country)

With your parents

In a rented room/student
lodging

In a shared flat with other
students

67

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII
SURVEY
SITUATION OF ERASMUS STUDENTS

ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC

EN UK

B

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

Please estimate your average MONTHLY expenditure as a student in 1997/98

In whole pounds sterling

£

From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you spent on (multiple
answers possible - if an option does not apply, please leave the boxes blank)

In your own country
HOME

During
ABROAD

ERASMUS

This space is for your workings

Accommodation

HOME
%

Travel

Food

Course fees

(remember to transfer the results
to the boxes)

Books and other educational equipment
(including computer hard- and software)
Clothes, other personal items, leisure and recreation

Other costs
(Including insurance, savings, etc.)

%

%

%

%

%

%

ABROAD

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Please estimate your average MONTHLY income as a student in 1997/98

In whole pounds sterling

£

From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you received from
(multiple answers possible - if an option does not apply, please leave the boxes blank)

In your own country
HOME

During
ABROAD

ERASMUS

This space is for your workings

ERASMUS grant

HOME

Public grant

Public loan

Private grant

Private loan

(remember to transfer the results
to the boxes)
Contribution from members of your family
(including parents, spouse, partner)
Your own contribution
(holiday/part-time job, savings etc)
Other forms of support

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

ABROAD
%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

68

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN UK

C

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

What are your parents’ main occupations?
(if retired, please give the main occupation before retirement)

Members of the Executive, legislators, senior officials
For example, members of the Executive, legislators, senior public service officials; company directors (directors and management
staff, production and other specialised management staff); directors and managers of small businesses

Father Mother

Intellectual and scientific professions
For example, physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals (physicists, chemists, mathematicians, statisticians, data
processing professionals, architects, engineers);
life science and health professionals (life science professionals, doctors and
equivalent occupations, nursing professionals and midwives); teaching professionals (university and other higher education teachers,
secondary school teachers, primary and pre-primary teachers); other members of professions (administrative and commercial
professionals in businesses, legal professionals, archivists, librarians, documentalists, writers, creative and performing artists,
members of the clergy, public service administrative staff)

Associate professions in the physical and engineering sciences
For example, physical and engineering science technicians (console operators and other computer operators, optical and electronic
apparatus technicians, sea and air transport technicians, building, health & safety and quality inspectors); other associate professionals
(finance and sales, commercial agents and brokers, customs, tax and similar services, criminal police inspectors and detectives,
associate professionals in social work, artistic creation, entertainment and sport)

Clerks
For example, office workers (secretaries and typists, library and mail service employees and equivalent occupations); receptionists,
cashiers, counter staff and equivalent occupations (customer service and information clerks)

Service workers and shop and market sales workers
For example, employees providing assistance (catering industry employees, carers and equivalent occupations, security workers);
models, sales assistants and demonstrators (mannequins and other models, sales assistants and demonstrators in shops, on sales stands
and on markets)

Skilled agricultural and fishery workers
For example, farmers and skilled agricultural and fishery workers in areas other than stockfarming; breeders and skilled stockfarming
workers; forestry professionals and equivalent occupations; fishermen, hunters and trappers

Craftsmen and craft trade workers
For example, craftsmen and craft
trade workers in the extractive and building industries (miners, quarryworkers, shotfirers,
stonecutters, construction workers and equivalent occupations, painters, facade workers and equivalent occupations); craftsmen and
craft trade workers in the metal and mechanical engineering industries and equivalent occupations (casters, welders, sheet metal
workers, boilermakers, steel erectors and equivalent occupations, blacksmiths, toolmakers and equivalent occupations); machinery
mechanics and fitters, electrical and electronic equipment mechanics and fitters, precision mechanics working on metal and similar
materials, potters, glassblowers, craft trade workers in wood, textiles, leather and similar materials, craftsmen and craft trade workers
in leather, hides and footwear)

Plant and machinery operators and assembly workers
For example, operators of plant and fixed-position equipment and equivalent occupations (operators of mining and mineral extraction
plant, operators of metal processing plant, operators of glassmaking and ceramics plant and equivalent occupations, operators of
chemical processing plant, operators of energy production plant and equivalent occupations, operators of industrial robots);
machinery operators and assembly workers; drivers of heavy lifting and handling vehicles and equipment

Unskilled workers and maintenance, supervision and handling operatives
For example, street vendors and equivalent occupations, shoeshiners and other workers in basic street trades (home helps, providers
of other forms of help, cleaners and laundry service providers, building service providers, window cleaners and similar occupations,
messengers, couriers, guards, caretakers, refuse collectors and other unskilled workers); agricultural and fishing labourers and
equivalent occupations; labourers in mining, civil engineering, manufacturing industries and transport

Armed forces

Not engaged in paid activity, not seeking employment
(for example, running a household)

Unemployed, seeking employment

69

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN UK

D

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

Please estimate the income status of your parents as compared to the average income situation in your home country

Considerably higher than
average

++

+

Ø

-

- -

Considerably lower than average

What is the highest level of education and/or training of each of your parents?

Left full-time education before 15 years of age

Father

Mother

Remained in full-time education to at least 15 years of age, with or without obtaining qualifications
necessary for progress to next level (e.g. O-level or equivalent)
Remained in full-time education to at least 17 years of age, with or without obtaining qualifications
necessary to progress to next level (e.g. A-level or equivalent)

Higher BTEC/SCOTBTEC, BEC/SCOTBEC, TEC/SCOTEC, SCOTVEC; HNC; HND; teaching and
nursing education without degree

Higher education degree or equivalent professional qualification

Your personal background

Your age

Sex

Number
children

years

Your current year
of study

Male

Female

Civil
Status

Single

Married

of

0

1

2

More

Your parental/household background

Number of brothers and sisters

0

Are they or have they been in higher education? Yes

Are they studying or have they studied abroad? Yes

During your ERASMUS period, how many
children were dependent on your parents?
(including yourself, where applicable)
Are you the first member of your family to
study abroad?

0

Yes

Thank you for your co-operation.

2

2

1

No

No

1

No

More

More

PLEASE DON'T FORGET to return this completed questionnaire no later than 16.12.1998 to the following
address:

70

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH

71

INFORMATION TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE

This form will be analysed by optical reading. Mark the appropriate boxes (using a black biro)
with an "x", or insert figures. Try to follow as closely as possible the style shown here.

X

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

Please give just one answer unless otherwise indicated (“multiple answers possible”).

Please return the ORIGINAL questionnaire (not a photocopy). DO NOT FOLD, STAPLE or PIN
TOGETHER, etc.

01 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

06 ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY

12 MEDICAL SCIENCES

ERASMUS SUBJECT AREA CODES

Psychology, Dentistry,

Medical Sciences, Medicine, Psychiatry and
Clinical
Veterinary
Pharmacy, Nursing, Midwifery,
Medicine,
Physiotherapy,
Medical
Technology, Others Medical Sciences

Health,

Public

13 NATURAL SCIENCES

Natural Sciences, Biology, Physics, Chemistry,
Microbiology, Biotechnology, Nuclear and High
Energy Physics, Biochemistry, Astronomy,
Astrophysics, Oceanography, Others Natural
Sciences

14 SOCIAL SCIENCES

Psychology

Social Sciences, Political Science, Sociology,
Economics,
Behavioural
Sciences, Social Work, International Relations,
European Studies, Area Studies, Anthropology,
Development Studies, Others Social Sciences

and

15 COMMUNICATION

AND

INFORMATION SCIENCES

and

Communication
Information Sciences,
Journalism, Radio/TV Broadcasting, Public
Relations,
Library
Science, Documentation, Archiving, Museum
Studies, Conservation, Others Communication
and Information Sciences

Advertising,

Publicity,

and

Agriculture, Agricultural Economics,
Science
Fisheries,
Tropical/Subtropical
Agricultural Sciences

Technology,
Animal
Agriculture,

Forestry,

Food
Horticulture,
Husbandry,
Others

02 ARCHITECTURE, URBAN AND

REGIONAL PLANNING

Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning,
Interior Design, Urban Planning, Regional
Planning, Landscape Architecture, Transport
and Traffic Studies, Others Architecture, Urban
and Regional Planning

Engineering,
Mechanical
Technology,
Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical
Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic
Engineering,
Telecommunications,
Manufacturing Sciences (including CAD, CAM,
CAE),
Aeronautical
Engineering, Others Engineering, Technology

Materials

Science,

07 GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY

Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences,
Ecology, Soil and Water Sciences, Geodesy,
Cartography, Remote Sensing, Meteorology,
Others Geography, Geology

03 ART AND DESIGN

08 HUMANITIES

Humanities, Philosophy, Theology, History,
Archaeology, Others Humanities

09

LANGUAGES
PHILOLOGICAL SCIENCES

AND

Languages and Philological Sciences, Modern
EC Languages, General and comparative
literature, Linguistics, Translation, Interpretation,
Classical Philology, Non-EC Languages, Less
Widely Taught Languages, Others Languages
and Philological Sciences

10

LAW

Music

Art and Design, Fine Art (Painting, Sculpture,
Printmaking),
Musicology,
Performing Arts, Photography, Cinematography,
Design (Graphic Design,
Industrial Design,
Fashion, Textile), History of Art, Others Art and
Design

and

04 BUSINESS

STUDIES

AND

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Business
Science,
Studies, Management
Business Studies with languages, Business
Studies with technology, Accountancy, Financial
Hotel
Management,
Management,
and
Personnel Management, Secretarial Studies,
Marketing and Sales Management, Others
Business Studies, Management Science

Catering,
Relations

Tourism,
Industrial

05 EDUCATION, TEACHER TRAINING

Education, Teacher Training, Teacher Training ,
Primary Education, Secondary Education,
Vocational and Technical Education, Adult
Education, Special Education, Educational
Science, Comparative Education, Educational
Psychology, Others
Teacher
Training

Education,

Law, Comparative Law, Law with Languages,
International Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law,
Criminology, Constitutional /Public Law, Public
Administration, European Community/EU Law,
Others Law

16 OTHER AREAS OF STUDY

Physical Education, Sport Science, Leisure
Studies, Home Economics, Nutrition, Nautical
Science, Navigation, Other Areas of Study

11 MATHEMATICS, INFORMATICS

Mathematics, Statistics,
Science,
Science, Others Mathematics, Informatics

Informatics, Computer
Actuarial

Intelligence,

Artificial

72

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN

IE

A

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

BE Belgium
GR Greece
AT Austria
Iceland
IS

DK Denmark
Italy
IT
Portugal
PT
Liechtenstein
FL

DE Germany
Ireland
IE
Finland
FI
NO Norway

ES
Spain
LU Luxembourg
SW Sweden

FR France
NL The Netherlands
UK United Kingdom

COUNTRY ABBREVIATIONS

In which country did you spend your 1997/98 ERASMUS study period? (do not mark your home country)

BE DK DE ES

FR GR IT

IE

LU NL AT PT

FI

SW UK IS

FL NO

Please give the ERASMUS code for the subject area of your study course
(see list of subject areas on the back of the cover - e.g. if you studied History, write "08" in the boxes)

What was the duration of your ERASMUS study period? (to the nearest month)

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

Would you judge your ERASMUS experience to have been

from an academic point of view

Very positive

Positive

Negative

Very negative

from a social and cultural point of view

Very positive

Positive

Negative

Very negative

Did you experience financial problems in connection with your ERASMUS
study period?

Yes

No

If you did, please specify (multiple answers possible)

Unable to transfer a national grant or loan

Parents’ contribution was insufficient

Unable to continue paid work

Other

Other

Leaving accommodation in your home
country

The ERASMUS grant was insufficient

As a student do you normally live (in your home country)

With your parents

In a rented room/student
lodging

In a shared flat with other
students

73

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN

IE

B

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

Please estimate your average MONTHLY expenditure as a student in 1997/98

In whole Irish pounds

IRL

From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you spent on (multiple
answers possible - if an option does not apply, please leave the boxes blank)

In your own country
HOME

During
ABROAD

ERASMUS

This space is for your workings

Accommodation

HOME
%

Travel

Food

Course fees

(remember to transfer the results
to the boxes)

Books and other educational equipment
(including computer hard- and software)

Clothes, other personal items, leisure and recreation

Other costs
(Including insurance, savings, etc.)

%

%

%

%

%

%

ABROAD

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Please estimate your average MONTHLY income as a student in 1997/98

In your own country
HOME

During
ABROAD

ERASMUS

In whole Irish pounds

IRL

From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you received from
(multiple answers possible - if an option does not apply, please leave the boxes blank)

This space is for your workings

ERASMUS grant

HOME

Public grant

Public loan

Private grant

Private loan

(remember to transfer the results
to the boxes)
Contribution from members of your family
(including parents, spouse, partner)
Your own contribution
(holiday/part-time job, savings etc)
Other forms of support

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

ABROAD
%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

74

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN

IE

C

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

What are your parents’ main occupations?
(if retired, please give the main occupation before retirement)

Members of the Executive, legislators, senior officials
For example, members of the Executive, legislators, senior public service officials; company directors (directors and management
staff, production and other specialised management staff); directors and managers of small businesses

Father Mother

Intellectual and scientific professions
For example, physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals (physicists, chemists, mathematicians, statisticians, data
processing professionals, architects, engineers);
life science and health professionals (life science professionals, doctors and
equivalent occupations, nursing professionals and midwives); teaching professionals (university and other higher education teachers,
secondary school teachers, primary and pre-primary teachers); other members of professions (administrative and commercial
professionals in businesses, legal professionals, archivists, librarians, documentalists, writers, creative and performing artists,
members of the clergy, public service administrative staff)

Associate professions in the physical and engineering sciences
For example, physical and engineering science technicians (console operators and other computer operators, optical and electronic
apparatus technicians, sea and air transport technicians, building, health & safety and quality inspectors); other associate professionals
(finance and sales, commercial agents and brokers, customs, tax and similar services, criminal police inspectors and detectives,
associate professionals in social work, artistic creation, entertainment and sport)

Clerks
For example, office workers (secretaries and typists, library and mail service employees and equivalent occupations); receptionists,
cashiers, counter staff and equivalent occupations (customer service and information clerks)

Service workers and shop and market sales workers
For example, employees providing assistance (catering industry employees, carers and equivalent occupations, security workers);
models, sales assistants and demonstrators (mannequins and other models, sales assistants and demonstrators in shops, on sales stands
and on markets)

Skilled agricultural and fishery workers
For example, farmers and skilled agricultural and fishery workers in areas other than stockfarming; breeders and skilled stockfarming
workers; forestry professionals and equivalent occupations; fishermen, hunters and trappers

Craftsmen and craft trade workers
For example, craftsmen and craft
trade workers in the extractive and building industries (miners, quarryworkers, shotfirers,
stonecutters, construction workers and equivalent occupations, painters, facade workers and equivalent occupations); craftsmen and
craft trade workers in the metal and mechanical engineering industries and equivalent occupations (casters, welders, sheet metal
workers, boilermakers, steel erectors and equivalent occupations, blacksmiths, toolmakers and equivalent occupations); machinery
mechanics and fitters, electrical and electronic equipment mechanics and fitters, precision mechanics working on metal and similar
materials, potters, glassblowers, craft trade workers in wood, textiles, leather and similar materials, craftsmen and craft trade workers
in leather, hides and footwear)

Plant and machinery operators and assembly workers
For example, operators of plant and fixed-position equipment and equivalent occupations (operators of mining and mineral extraction
plant, operators of metal processing plant, operators of glassmaking and ceramics plant and equivalent occupations, operators of
chemical processing plant, operators of energy production plant and equivalent occupations, operators of industrial robots);
machinery operators and assembly workers; drivers of heavy lifting and handling vehicles and equipment

Unskilled workers and maintenance, supervision and handling operatives
For example, street vendors and equivalent occupations, shoeshiners and other workers in basic street trades (home helps, providers
of other forms of help, cleaners and laundry service providers, building service providers, window cleaners and similar occupations,
messengers, couriers, guards, caretakers, refuse collectors and other unskilled workers); agricultural and fishing labourers and
equivalent occupations; labourers in mining, civil engineering, manufacturing industries and transport

Armed forces

Not engaged in paid activity, not seeking employment
(for example, running a household)

Unemployed, seeking employment

75

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN

IE

D

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

Please estimate the income status of your parents as compared to the average income situation in your home country

Considerably higher than
average

++

+

Ø

-

- -

Considerably lower than average

What is the highest level of education and/or training of each of your parents?

Father

Mother

Primary or lower education

Completed Junior cycle; Intermediate/Group/Junior Certificate

Completed Senior cycle; Leaving Certificate

Diploma from Regional Technical College, College of Technology or equivalent

Higher education degree or equivalent professional qualification

Your personal background

Your age

Sex

Number of
children

years

Your current year
of study

Male

Female

Civil
Status

Single

Married

0

1

2

More

Your parental/household background

Number of brothers and sisters

0

Are they or have they been in higher education? Yes

Are they studying or have they studied abroad? Yes

During your ERASMUS period, how many
children were dependent on your parents?
(including yourself, where applicable)
Are you the first member of your family to
study abroad?

0

Yes

Thank you for your co-operation.

2

2

1

No

No

1

No

More

More

PLEASE DON'T FORGET to return this completed questionnaire no later than 16.12.1998 to
the following address:

76

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH

77

INFORMATION TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE

This form will be analysed by optical reading. Mark the appropriate boxes (using a black
biro) with an "x", or insert figures. Try to follow as closely as possible the style shown
here.

X

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

Please give just one answer unless otherwise indicated (“multiple answers
possible”).

Please return the ORIGINAL questionnaire (not a photocopy). DO NOT FOLD,
STAPLE or PIN TOGETHER, etc.

ERASMUS SUBJECT AREA CODES

01 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

06 ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY

12 MEDICAL SCIENCES

and

Agriculture, Agricultural Economics,
Science
Fisheries,
Tropical/Subtropical
Agricultural Sciences

Technology,
Animal
Agriculture,

Forestry,

Food
Horticulture,
Husbandry,
Others

02 ARCHITECTURE, URBAN AND

REGIONAL PLANNING

Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning,
Interior Design, Urban Planning, Regional
Planning, Landscape Architecture, Transport
and Traffic Studies, Others Architecture, Urban
and Regional Planning

Engineering,
Mechanical
Technology,
Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical
Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic
Engineering,
Telecommunications,
Manufacturing Sciences (including CAD, CAM,
CAE),
Aeronautical
Engineering, Others Engineering, Technology

Materials

Science,

Medical Sciences, Medicine, Psychiatry and
Clinical Psychology, Dentistry, Veterinary
Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Midwifery,
Physiotherapy, Public Health, Medical
Technology, Others Medical Sciences

13 NATURAL SCIENCES

07 GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY

Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences,
Ecology, Soil and Water Sciences, Geodesy,
Cartography, Remote Sensing, Meteorology,
Others Geography, Geology

Biology,

Sciences,

Natural
Physics,
Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology,
Nuclear
Physics,
Biochemistry, Astronomy, Astrophysics,
Oceanography, Others Natural Sciences

and High

Energy

03 ART AND DESIGN

08 HUMANITIES

14 SOCIAL SCIENCES

Music

Art and Design, Fine Art (Painting, Sculpture,
Printmaking),
Musicology,
Performing Arts, Photography, Cinematography,
Design (Graphic Design,
Industrial Design,
Fashion, Textile), History of Art, Others Art and
Design

and

04 BUSINESS

STUDIES

AND

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Business
Science,
Studies, Management
Business Studies with languages, Business
Studies with technology, Accountancy, Financial
Hotel
Management,
Management,
and
Personnel Management, Secretarial Studies,
Marketing and Sales Management, Others
Business Studies, Management Science

Catering,
Relations

Tourism,
Industrial

05 EDUCATION, TEACHER TRAINING

Education, Teacher Training, Teacher Training ,
Primary Education, Secondary Education,
Vocational and Technical Education, Adult
Education, Special Education, Educational
Science, Comparative Education, Educational
Psychology, Others
Teacher
Training

Education,

Political

Sciences,

Science,
Social
Sociology, Economics, Psychology and
Behavioural
Social Work,
International Relations, European Studies,
Area Studies, Anthropology, Development
Studies, Others Social Sciences

Sciences,

15 COMMUNICATION

AND

INFORMATION SCIENCES

Communication and Information Sciences,
Journalism, Radio/TV Broadcasting, Public
Relations, Publicity, Advertising, Library
Science,
Archiving,
Documentation,
Museum Studies, Conservation, Others
Communication and Information Sciences

16 OTHER AREAS OF STUDY

Physical Education, Sport Science, Leisure
Studies, Home
Economics, Nutrition,
Nautical Science, Navigation, Other Areas
of Study

Humanities, Philosophy, Theology, History,
Archaeology, Others Humanities

09

LANGUAGES
PHILOLOGICAL SCIENCES

AND

Languages and Philological Sciences, Modern
EC Languages, General and comparative
literature, Linguistics, Translation, Interpretation,
Classical Philology, Non-EC Languages, Less
Widely Taught Languages, Others Languages
and Philological Sciences

10

LAW

Law, Comparative Law, Law with Languages,
International Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law,
Criminology, Constitutional /Public Law, Public
Administration, European Community/EU Law,
Others Law

11 MATHEMATICS, INFORMATICS

Mathematics, Statistics,
Science,
Science, Others Mathematics, Informatics

Informatics, Computer
Actuarial

Intelligence,

Artificial

78

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN NO

A

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

COUNTRY ABBREVIATIONS

BE Belgium

DK Denmark

DE Germany

ES

Spain

FR France

GR Greece

AT Austria

IS

Iceland

IT

PT

FL

Italy

Portugal

IE

FI

Ireland

Finland

Liechtenstein

NO Norway

LU Luxembourg

NL The Netherlands

SW Sweden

UK United Kingdom

In which country did you spend your 1997/98 ERASMUS study period? (do not mark your home country)

BE DK DE ES

FR GR IT

IE

LU NL AT PT

FI

SW UK IS

FL NO

Please give
(see list of subject areas on the back of the cover - e.g. if you studied History, write "08" in the boxes)

the ERASMUS code

subject area of your

the

for

study course

What was the duration of your ERASMUS study period? (to the nearest month)

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

Would you judge your ERASMUS experience to have been

from an academic point of view

Very positive

Positive

Negative

Very negative

from a social and cultural point of view
Positive

Very positive

Negative

Very negative

Did you experience financial problems in connection with your ERASMUS
study period?

Yes

No

Parents’ contribution was insufficient

Unable to continue paid work

Other

Other

If you did, please specify (multiple answers possible)
Unable to transfer a national grant or loan

Leaving accommodation in your home
country
The ERASMUS grant was insufficient

As a student do you normally live (in your home country)

With your parents

In a rented room/student
lodging

In a shared flat with other
students

79

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN NO

B

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

Please estimate your average MONTHLY expenditure as a student in 1997/98

In your own country
HOME

During
ABROAD

ERASMUS

In Norwegian Krone

NKR

From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you spent on (multiple
answers possible - if an option does not apply, please leave the boxes blank)

HOME

ABROAD

This space is for your workings

Accommodation

Travel

Food

Course fees

(remember to transfer the results

to the boxes)

Books and other educational equipment
(including computer hard- and software)

Clothes, other personal items, leisure and recreation

Other costs
(Including insurance, savings, etc.)

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Please estimate your average MONTHLY income as a student in 1997/98
In your own country
HOME

During
ABROAD

ERASMUS

In Norwegian Krone

NKR

From the total amounts you indicated above, please estimate the percentages you received from
(multiple answers possible - if an option does not apply, please leave the boxes blank)

This space is for your workings

ERASMUS grant

HOME

Public grant

Public loan

Private grant

Private loan

(remember to transfer the results
to the boxes)
Contribution from members of your family
(including parents, spouse, partner)
Your own contribution
(holiday/part-time job, savings etc)
Other forms of support

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

ABROAD
%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

80

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN NO

C

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

What are your parents’ main occupations? (if retired, please give the main occupation before retirement)

Father Mother

Members of the Executive, legislators, senior officials
For example, members of the Executive, legislators, senior public service officials; company directors (directors and management
staff, production and other specialised management staff); directors and managers of small businesses

Intellectual and scientific professions
For example, physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals (physicists, chemists, mathematicians, statisticians, data
processing professionals, architects, engineers);
life science and health professionals (life science professionals, doctors and
equivalent occupations, nursing professionals and midwives); teaching professionals (university and other higher education teachers,
secondary school teachers, primary and pre-primary teachers); other members of professions (administrative and commercial
professionals in businesses, legal professionals, archivists, librarians, documentalists, writers, creative and performing artists,
members of the clergy, public service administrative staff)

Associate professions in the physical and engineering sciences
For example, physical and engineering science technicians (console operators and other computer operators, optical and electronic
apparatus technicians, sea and air transport technicians, building, health & safety and quality inspectors); other associate professionals
(finance and sales, commercial agents and brokers, customs, tax and similar services, criminal police inspectors and detectives,
associate professionals in social work, artistic creation, entertainment and sport)

Clerks
For example, office workers (secretaries and typists, library and mail service employees and equivalent occupations); receptionists,
cashiers, counter staff and equivalent occupations (customer service and information clerks)

Service workers and shop and market sales workers
For example, employees providing assistance (catering industry employees, carers and equivalent occupations, security workers);
models, sales assistants and demonstrators (mannequins and other models, sales assistants and demonstrators in shops, on sales stands
and on markets)

Skilled agricultural and fishery workers
For example, farmers and skilled agricultural and fishery workers in areas other than stockfarming; breeders and skilled stockfarming
workers; forestry professionals and equivalent occupations; fishermen, hunters and trappers

Craftsmen and craft trade workers
For example, craftsmen and craft
trade workers in the extractive and building industries (miners, quarryworkers, shotfirers,
stonecutters, construction workers and equivalent occupations, painters, facade workers and equivalent occupations); craftsmen and
craft trade workers in the metal and mechanical engineering industries and equivalent occupations (casters, welders, sheet metal
workers, boilermakers, steel erectors and equivalent occupations, blacksmiths, toolmakers and equivalent occupations); machinery
mechanics and fitters, electrical and electronic equipment mechanics and fitters, precision mechanics working on metal and similar
materials, potters, glassblowers, craft trade workers in wood, textiles, leather and similar materials, craftsmen and craft trade workers
in leather, hides and footwear)

Plant and machinery operators and assembly workers
For example, operators of plant and fixed-position equipment and equivalent occupations (operators of mining and mineral extraction
plant, operators of metal processing plant, operators of glassmaking and ceramics plant and equivalent occupations, operators of
chemical processing plant, operators of energy production plant and equivalent occupations, operators of industrial robots);
machinery operators and assembly workers; drivers of heavy lifting and handling vehicles and equipment

Unskilled workers and maintenance, supervision and handling operatives
For example, street vendors and equivalent occupations, shoeshiners and other workers in basic street trades (home helps, providers
of other forms of help, cleaners and laundry service providers, building service providers, window cleaners and similar occupations,
messengers, couriers, guards, caretakers, refuse collectors and other unskilled workers); agricultural and fishing labourers and
equivalent occupations; labourers in mining, civil engineering, manufacturing industries and transport

Armed forces

Not engaged in paid activity, not seeking employment
(for example, running a household)

Unemployed, seeking employment

81

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EN NO

D

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XXII

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY

Please estimate the income status of your parents as compared to the average income situation in your home country

Considerably higher than
average

++

+

Ø

-

- -

Considerably lower than average

What is the highest level of education and/or training of each of your parents?

Left full-time education before 15 years of age

Father

Mother

Remained in full-time education to at least 15 years of age, with or without obtaining qualifications
necessary for progress to next level (e.g. “grunnskole”)
Remained in full-time education to at least 18 years of age, with or without obtaining qualifications
necessary to progress to next level (e.g. “videregående skole”)

Higher education lasting less than 3 years

Higher education degree or equivalent professional qualification (3 years or more)

Your personal background

Your age

Sex

Number
children

years

Your current year
of study

Male

Female

Civil
Status

Single

Married

of

0

1

2

More

Your parental/household background

Number of brothers and sisters

0

Are they or have they been in higher education? Yes

Are they studying or have they studied abroad? Yes

During your ERASMUS period, how many
children were dependent on your parents?
(including yourself, where applicable)
Are you the first member of your family to
study abroad?

0

Yes

Thank you for your co-operation.

2

2

1

No

No

1

No

More

More

PLEASE DON'T FORGET to return this completed questionnaire no later than 16.12.1998 to
the following address:

82