Erasmus programme most popular with French students

France tops the table for the largest number of students taking advantage of the Erasmus exchange programme to study abroad. For the year 2009-2010, 30,221 French students received grants to study or train abroad, an increase of 6,9 per cent on the previous year. 

DR

Work placements are also on the increase with 5,791 students choosing to spend time gaining work experience abroad.

Since 1987, Erasmus has offered students the opportunity to go to a foreign country to take placements in business or other organisations.

Students studying social sciences, business or law are the most likely to take advantage of the programme making up nearly 41 per cent of young people with an Erasmus grant. They are followed by art, history and geography students with scientists the least likely to apply to the programme.

Spain is the most popular destination for French students followed by Britain and Germany, but Sweden is becoming increasingly popular as places in Anglophone countries become scarce. Seminars and lectures in Northern European countries like Sweden are often given in English.

Currently an estimated four per cent of European students receive an Erasmus grant at some stage during their studies.