The Alcazar. Photograph TEFL Europe. |
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Courses: You must do a minimum of 4 courses, including the Erasmus Spanish language course if available. You may choose any course offered in the faculty, but we would recommend that you select at least one of the following:
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Accommodation: Bormujos is situated on the outskirts of Seville, the bus ride from the centre takes anything from 30 mins to an hour depending on traffic conditions. Nevertheless, most students prefer to live in the centre of town and travel out to Bormujos each day as there is little to do in Bormujos after class. Accommodation in flats is relatively easy to find through the local newspapers, faculty noticeboards, etc, though students who go for only one semester sometimes experience difficulties with landlords who are unwilling to let for less than an academic year. However, in the past it has often been possible for the faculty to help prearrange accommodation through personal contacts when given sufficient time to do so. |
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Transport: There are regular daily flights from the main UK airports to Seville. Within Seville the bus network is extensive and relatively cheap and of course there is an underground system under construction. Seville is also linked by high speed train to Madrid. |
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Good things about the city: Seville is a very lively place. There are lots of things to do and see both within the city - La Giralda, El Alcázar, el Museo de Bellas Artes and in the surrounding area - Pueblos Blancos, Coto de Doñana, Jerez etc. The city is most well known for its Holy Week religious festival and for the Feria de Abril, a week long non stop party! |
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Good things about the courses: The centre offers a wide range of courses for students who are interested in education and who are thinking of taking up a career in teaching. Apart from the courses on offer, it is usually possible for students to obtain a placement in a local school, helping out as a classroom assistant to a local teacher of English. |
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Iglesia del Salvador with the Alhambra in the background. Photograph Ayuntamiento de Granada |
Universidad de Granada Address: Website: http://www.ugr.es/ Contact person: Tourist information: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada.htm General information about Granada: http://granadainfo.com/
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Universidad de Granada- Facultad de Traducción e Interpretación (Translation)
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Universidad de Granada- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación (Education)
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Universidad de Granada- Facultad de Filosofía y Letras (Humanities)
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Registration, Teaching and Learning
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Arrival and Accommodation
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Basílica del Pilar and river Ebro. Photograph Daniel Marcos |
Universidad de Zaragoza Website: http://www.unizar.es/ ICP coordinator: Carmen Marcen Bosque Contact person: José Manuel Gurrero Postigo Academic year: Semester 1: End of September to first week of February Tourist information: http://cmisapp.zaragoza.es/ciudad/turismo/en/ |
Courses: You will need to do 30 ECTS credits which can be chosen from a range of subject areas such as marketing, International Business, Management, Logistics or Finance. Units that can be taken include:
You will need to consult with your contact person to build up your timetable. The campus is on a new site to the north of the city, with regular and inexpensive bus services to and from the centre of the city. Students doing French or German as a second foreign language will be able to follow classes in Francés empresarial or Alemán empresarial. |
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Accommodation: You could stay in university halls or residence (colegios mayores) for between €485 (full board) and € 250 (room only) or you can use the University of Zaragoza Accommodation Service who will be able to help you find a room in private lodgings. If you want to book a room in halls of residence you have to book well in advance to reserve a place. Private accommodation tends to be cheaper and will allow you to share a flat with Spanish students or with a host family. Notices about accommodation can be found on notice boards in faculty buildings on the main university campus and in the local newspaper Heraldo de Aragón. Details of the accommodation available from the University Accommodation Service is updated weekly and can be seen online at http://ebro3.unizar.es:8080/alojamiento/buscar.html and the service can be contacted at: Dirección - Address |
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Getting to and around Zaragoza: Ryanair does direct flights from Stanstead to Zaragoza. Alternatively you can fly to Madrid or Barcelona and catch a train to Zaragoza ; about 1 hour 40 minutes from Madrid and costing about €40, or about 3 hours from Barcelona and costing slightly less depending on which train you take. You could take the ‘Express’ trains, which despite the name is the slowest, albeit the cheapest. See http://www.renfe.es for timetables and prices. Buses from Barcelona are generally cheaper and run regularly from the ALSA bust station. Details can be found on http://www.alsa.es/portal/index.asp . Students are advised that during the fiestas in honour of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, which begin in the second week of October, classes are cancelled and the city gets crowded with visitors and hostal/hotel accommodation may be difficult to come by. However you should have finalised your accommodation arrangements by then and the festival is excellent fun. Zaragoza is easy to get around, in spite of having grown considerably in the last 15 years. There are good bus services around the city and from the city centre to the campus. There are many places of interest within a reasonable distance of Zaragoza including national parks, ski centres and towns and villages of historical importance. |
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Good things about the city: Zaragoza is a historical university town and the capital of the autonomous region of Aragón. It is a lively friendly city with a large student population which means that there a literally hundreds of bars, clubs and eateries which make for a lively social scene. As well as the bars there are, of course, theatres, cinemas, museums, art galleries and parks and all the usual diversions you would expect to find in a large city. However, even as a university city with many Erasmus links Zaragoza is not overwhelmed with international students, which makes it easier to use and practice your Spanish. The University offers a 30% discount to Erasmus students for Spanish language classes, so you can do a 45-hour course for €140 and these can count towards your credits for your placement in Zaragoza. Things to bear in mind: It can get pretty cold in Aragón in winter so bear this in mind when looking for accommodation and deciding what to pack. Books are more expensive in Spain than in the UK, so you might be advised to take your dictionary with you if you have one. |
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When selecting courses, remember: You will have the opportunity to sample classes before deciding what courses to take, but you must inform your tutors that you are an Erasmus student and register the courses you are taking with your Erasmus Coordinator. Some classes will have large numbers of students in them and the opportunity to engage with your lecturers may be limited, so initially following the class and taking notes may be difficult, but you must persevere and focus on developing your learning strategies. It will get easier. Access to University IT facilities may be more limited than you are used to, but there are many quite cheap cyber cafes around town which you can use. |
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What will the experience give you: Much improved Spanish language ability, coupled with a deeper knowledge of the country and the people. A better understanding of aspects of international business studies after studying at a highly regarded Business School. Confidence and independence. |
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Plaza Mayor. Photograph Deutsche in Spanien.de |
Universidad de Salamanca Address: C/ Placentinos 18 Website: http://www.usal.es/web-usal/ Contact person:
María Jesús Sánchez Manzano Academic year: Tourist information: http://www.aboutsalamanca.com/ |
Courses:
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ACCOMODATION IN SALAMANCA: The University of Salamanca has an accommodation office which offers different levels of service. Salamanca has an important student population and there is no shortage of accommodation. For information on accommodation, registration, the intensive Spanish Language course for Erasmus students, as well as on documentation and services available, please read the University’s excellent guide for Erasmus students. Weblink http://www.usal.es/~rrii/ |
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ERASMUS STUDENTS GOING TO SALAMANCA IN 2008/2009
LINK TO APPLICAITON FORM: |
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Courses: You should take approximately 30 ECTS credits per semester while in Murcia. Students from Portsmouth in the Facultad de Letras ( http://www.um.es/letras/) have taken some of the following units in the past:
Some courses are naturally more difficult than others, so you must consider the appropriateness of the units you take to your degree programme. You should consult with your link person in Murcia and with your tutor in Portsmouth, Miguel Arrebola. Spanish language classes are also available for credits and the University offers an intensive Spanish course in September for Erasmus students before the main university course starts. Option choices need to be made before arriving in Murcia, and this will be done in consultation with the Portsmouth link person for Murcia. |
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Accommodation: The University of Murcia has an efficient student accommodation service that will help students find accommodation in rented flats, sharing with other students in the city via the Project ¨Live in Murcia¨. Rooms can cost approximately 150 euros/month. Details of this project can be obtained from the http://www.um.es/vimur website. |
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Transport: Perhaps the easiest way to get to Murcia is to fly to Alicante and catch a train or a bus to Murcia. There are several trains in the afternoon and depending on what type of train you take the journey will take about an hour and cost between €14 and €15. More information can be obtained from the Spanish railways website http://www.renfe.es . There is also a regular bus service leaving from Alicante airport, leaving every two hours, which takes 45 minutes and costs around €4. Information on times can be found on the Alsa bus company website – http://www.alsa.es . Tourist information about the region can be found on http://www.murciaturistica.es . Getting around town is easy and there is a reliable, regular and relatively cheap urban bus service. |
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Good things about the courses: Students can choose from a wide range of courses in the Facultad de Letras, so finding units appropriate to their degree programme should be easy. The city provides excellent opportunities to get to know Spanish people, as it is a friendly, compact but tranquil city away from the tourist traps along the coast and the Facultad is in the La Merced campus which is in the centre of town. The University of Murcia has an excellent International Relations office that provides advice and support for Erasmus students. |
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When selecting courses remember: Choose units appropriate to your programme of study in Portsmouth and at the appropriate level. You should not be taking Level 1 courses (Primer Curso), and consider carefully the requirements of units offered in Cuarto and Quinto. |
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Things to bear in mind: If you have any problems with your course you should see your link person. For accommodation or other non-academic issues the Information Service (SIU) or the Student Welfare Service (SAOP) should be able to help you out, but remember you are only an e-mail away from your tutors in Portsmouth. |
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What will the experience give you? Improved ability in Spanish language was well as a better knowledge of the country and the people. Your experiences on your placement abroad will instil in you more confidence to deal with a wider variety of situations. |
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Link to the International Relations Office: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ERASMUS STUDENTS GOING TO MURCIA IN 2008/2009 LINK TO APPLICATION FORM: LINK TO information for ERASMUS STUDENTS: |
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Photograph: Luis Hakim
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Courses: You will be based in the School for Foreign Students, La Escuela de Estudiantes Extranjeros (EEE) where you must take at least 4 courses. Usually at least two of these will be Spanish language and the rest will be chosen from the US Studies Programme which is taught in English. Courses taught on the US Studies programme change each year, but in the past have included:
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Remember, that you will also need to keep working on your dissertation whilst studying in Jalapa. You will still have online access to Portsmouth's collection of online books and journals, but bear in mind that most of the books in the University of Veracruz Library are in Spanish. Of course, depending on your dissertation subject and language skills this can be a huge advantage. Accommodation: Home stay programme or private rental. Under the home stay programme you live with a Mexican family who provide you with bed, board and an opportunity to improve your Spanish and experience aspects of Mexican culture and family life. In 2004-05, the cost of home stay was around £2,660. Xalapa has an extensive rental market and it can work out much cheaper to rent a room in a house or flat. Past students have had little trouble finding accommodation through classified ads in local newspapers when they arrive in Xalapa. There are several hotels in the city where you can stay in the meantime. |
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Getting There: You should fly to Mexico City or Veracruz and then take a coach to Xalapa. Mexico has an excellent intercity bus system. Journeys are cheap, relatively regular, and usually on time, while the buses themselves are clean and comfortable. Good things about the town: Xalapa is a picturesque city about 4 hours southeast of Mexico City. It has lots of bars and restaurants, as well as museums and a thriving music and cultural scene. The centre of Xalapa is compact enough that most places can be reached relatively easily on foot, although there is also a regular bus service and taxis are very cheap. The EEE puts on cultural immersion courses and organises out-of-town tours. |
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Good things about the courses: Spanish language teaching at the University of Veracruz is excellent. Even if you are a complete beginner when you arrive, you will have a very competent level of Spanish by the end of your studies. It is a considerable advantage that at the same time you are learning Spanish, you can continue studying US Studies courses in English. All of the staff involved with foreign students are extremely friendly, very helpful, and usually delighted to have English students on their courses. |
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Things to bear in mind: (1) Within a month of arriving in Xalapa you will need to register at the Palacio Gobierno and pay a $500 fee (about £50). Further details will be provided by the EEE when you arrive. (2) The University of Veracruz requires you to attend at least 80% of classes in order to pass each course. (3) You can draw cash out using most UK bank cards, but you will be charged each time you do so. It’s a good idea also to take cash and some traveller’s cheques in case anything goes wrong with your card. (4) Previous students have reported problems getting hold of text books in Jalapa - especially English language books. It may be a good idea to contact the EEE in advance to find out what books you will need for your courses and purchase them in the UK.. |
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When selecting courses, remember: There will be courses available in Xalapa that complement the subjects you study at Portsmouth. You should take advantage of this to broaden your academic horizons. |
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When preparing to go: You will need to obtain a student visa from the Mexican Embassy. Details on how to do this are available at the Embassy Website. What will the experience give you? A great insight into Mexican culture and society and a much improved level of Spanish. Many students also return with more confidence to deal with a wide variety of situations and greater independence. |
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Casa Montejo, Mérida. Photograph Jonathan Roses |
University de Yucatán, Mérida Address: Facultad de Ciencias Antropológicas Website: http://www.uady.mx/indexf.html Contact person:Hebe Arehmi Mendiburu Academic year: September-June Tourist information: http://www.mexonline.com/yucatan/merida-info.htm |
Courses: You must do a minimum of two courses. You may choose any course offered in the faculty but it is recommended that you choose those for which you have some prior knowledge. The courses are either general introductory programmes or are oriented towards the following specialities: Social Anthropology, Archaeology, and History. Many courses tend to have a particular focus on the Yucatan peninsula. It is also possible to study Spanish for foreigners in Merida, but these courses are run by the Facultad de Educación on a different site. Normally, courses are offered at elementary, intermediate and advance levels, providing certain minimum numbers are available. |
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Accommodation: There are no halls of residence available in Merida. Students either find there own rented accommodation (apart from the usual sources there are several agencies which can help) or decide to live with a Mexican family. The faculty can usually help students who wish to obtain family accommodation. |
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Transport: Merida is located in the Yucatan peninsula in southern Mexico. It has an airport which is served by many internal and some international flights although it is not possible to fly directly to Merida from the UK. The best way to get there is to fly to Cancun and from there to take either an internal flight (50 mins) or a coach (4 hours) to Merida. |
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Good things about the town: Merida is a city of some 1 million people. It is a very attractive city, being known as the " White City" due to the light coloured stone used in many of its buildings. It is also a relatively safe city, having one of the lowest crime rates in Mexico. There are an abundance of interesting places to visit, including Mayan ruins, Haciendas, Colonial building, museums and churches. The climate is tropical, so both temperatures and humidity levels are very high in the summer months. Although Merida is not on the coast, the port of Progreso is only a short bus ride away. |
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Good things about the courses: For students who have a particular interest social sciences, the faculty offers a wide range of courses. There is also the possibility of participating in field work projects from time to time. |
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The LADS degree is unique within the UK - or European - University sector as it allows students to contribute in an active way to the process of development. The course content is based around the core disciplines of politics, sociology, development economics and history, with students studying Spanish (Portuguese options are available in addition) as a complement. While some prior knowledge of Spanish is useful, the main criterion for admission is a strong personal interest on the part of the student to be actively involved in development matters. If development matters to you, this is the course for you. Harnessing skills obtained during periods of prior employment and/or developed within the context of the course, students spend the third year of their degree programme working with a non-government organisation (NGO) in a Latin American economy. Past placements have been both varied and geographically dispersed. Students have actively been involved in:
In short, no type of voluntary employment - or country - is discounted, and staff actively help to find placements based on student interests. |
READ PROFILE AND EXPERIENCES OF OUR STUDENTS OR |

Placements in Spain
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