House of Lords takes evidence on how both domestic and European policy initiatives could support students better to study in other parts of Europe.

As part of the scrutiny process for the EU2020 strategy currently being debated by the European Commission and Parliament, the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union took evidence from the National President, Liam Burns, on implications for UK students, colleges and universities.

What did NUS Say?

Pulling on evidence from the NUS/HSBC Student Experience Survey, the NUS Scotland "Wish You Were Here" student mobility project and in consultation with the European Students' Union, NUS presented a number of recommendations:

• Increase the amount paid as an ERASMUS grant to students
• Create a non-commercial loan scheme for postgraduate students who study abroad
• Pull all the existing study/work aboard funding streams into one scheme, accessible to students' unions

In terms of domestic policy here in the UK:

• Extend the proposed 2012/13 loan scheme to those who take an ERAMUS year and cap the amount at 25% of the normal annual fee, so that institutions do not charge any more than this.
• Fund "Student Mobility Advocates" in all insertions to work to increase the number of non-traditional students taking up opportunities to study abroad
• Institutions should create "Mobility Windows" so that students can study abroad for shorter periods of time (one semester etc)
• European universities should be allowed to advertise their courses in the UCAS course search.

          A full transcript of what was said is available.

What's Next?

The select committee will produce a report and NUS will push for the above recommendations to be implemented. at the same time NUS is working on a "High Level Task Force" to ensure the ERASMUS fee waiver isn't lost in the move to increased fees post 2012/13. The European Students' Union is campaigning hard to ensure more students get a better deal and more opportunity to take time to study abroad.

For more information contact Alex Bols, Head of Higher Education.