Internationalising Higher Education

The Erasmus student exchange programme aims to increase student mobility within Europe. However, UK involvement has lagged behind that of other leading nations. This poster presentation represents research conducted as part of an ESRC-sponsored PhD studentship at the University of Bristol. Three aspects related to UK Erasmus participation rates are explored - the socio-economic background of Erasmus students, the subjects represented by Erasmus students and the experiences of UK students during their Erasmus participation. UK Erasmus students tend to come from upper socio-economic groups, to attend pre-1992 universities and to study language-related subjects. Additionally, many Erasmus students experience living as part of a separate community of international students, rather than integrating with local students and residents. The presentation reveals that research, which used statistical databases, focus groups and interviews with returning Erasmus students, plus reflections upon photographs taken by students during the exchange.