frequently

ASKED QUESTIONS

General

RURASMUS is composed of two terms:

“rural” – which stands for the rural area.
“Erasmus” – this is a well-known student exchange program of the European Union.

Both bachelor and master students can take part in a RURASMUS semester if their college or university is located in an ERASMUS+ program country or partner country.

RURASMUS students bring with them their subject-specific knowledge and skills. They should also be independent, organized and communicative. It is desirable that their language skills of the country visited are at a level of A2 (basic user) / B1 (independent user), or at least that English is mastered at the B1 level.

RURASMUS is open to all fields of study.

A RURASMUS semester lasts four to six months, depending on the framework conditions of the universities and colleges, the local community and the students. By agreement, a slight deviation is possible.

My project ...

Students live and work for one semester in rural communities in Europe, where they develop answers to a concrete local challenge.

The research assignment is prepared by the local municipality together with the RURASMUS organization and finally fixed with the students and teachers.

A RURASMUS project must be “doable” and therefore depends on your academic progress. It makes a difference whether you spend your third semester as a RURASMUS semester or write your final thesis within the framework of RURASMUS. The general conditions will be determined in advance together with your teacher(s).

In numbers: A RURASMUS project is worth 30 ECTS points. This corresponds to one semester of study at a European university or college.

The abbreviation “ECTS” stands for European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. It is a credit system that was introduced at European universities to structure the recognition of study achievements at home and abroad.

Before the start of the RURASMUS semester, an agreement between the students, the teachers and the municipality defines the task, working method, milestones as well as the final product. This also includes the framework for the (partial) achievements to be assessed.

There are several ways:

  1. You read through the current thematic offers of the communities on the website and register your interest. To the current calls….
  2. You communicate your interest to the RURASMUS organization and they will search for communities that have a need for action in the area of your field of study. Email us at office@rursamus.eu
  3. You have an idea and you know a community that is interested? In this case, RURASMUS will help set up the project. Contact us at office@rurasmus.eu

My studies ...

RURASMUS complements the established Erasmus program and can be carried out in the countries of the European Union.

All universities and colleges of the ERASMUS+ program and those in its partner countries can become part of the RURASMUS program.

RURASMUS is open to all fields of study.

We are happy to help you so that your university can also become part of the RURASMUS program. Please contact us at office@rurasmus.eu

RURAMUS is not yet an official program of the EU. We are aiming to anchor it as soon as possible. Therefore, crediting is based on individual agreements with universities and colleges. In the preparation phase of the RURASMUS semester, an individual package of courses for a RURASMUS semester can be put together with those responsible at your university or college.
RURASMUS can also be completed as an internship semester or you can write your final thesis (bachelor’s or master’s) during a RURASMUS stay.

You need a teacher at your home university who will supervise your RURASMUS project. You will make individual appointments with your teacher to get the support you need. In addition, there are regular opportunities for exchange with someone from our RURASMUS academic team.

The academic performance of a semester at a European university or college is normally 30 ECTS. A RURASMUS semester brings ECTS credits equivalent to one semester of your home university. This means that the actual amount of ECTS depends on the credit possibilities at your college or university. See also “How does the crediting of the RURASMUS project work at my university?”

The abbreviation “ECTS” stands for European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. It is a credit system introduced at European universities to structure the recognition of study achievements at home and abroad.

Theses provide a good framework for a RURASMUS project.

The assessment of your RURASMUS project is carried out as part of your university education independently from the RURASMUS research institute. Before the start of the RURASMUS semester, the terms of reference, working methods and milestones are defined in an agreement between students, teachers and the municipality. The agreement also contains the framework conditions for the (partial) performances to be assessed.

My application ...

You can find the current assignments here.

Look for a currently advertised assignment and find out how the application process works under “Participation for students“.

Is there no suitable task for you? Then please let the RURASMUS organization know of your interest and they will search for municipalities that need action in the area of your field of study. Email us at office@rurasmus.eu

You have an idea and you also know a municipality that is interested? In that case, RURASMUS will help set up the project. Contact us at office@rurasmus.eu

Before you apply, you will have the opportunity to meet the project leaders of the RURASMUS community and ask them questions about the content of the project. After that you create your application documents and send them to office@rurasmus.eu

From all applications we will select together with the locality the person who seems to be best suited for the project in terms of subject, content and personality.

For more details, see “Participation for students“.

You can find the respective application deadlines at the advertised project themes. Basically, you should apply at the latest at the beginning or middle of the previous semester.

You apply with a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, current semester report and a letter of recommendation from a university lecturer confirming your professional and personal suitability.

There are no formal requirements for your letter of motivation. We look forward to receiving creative applications and getting to know you. Please also make sure that the content of your application reflects your ideas on the topic.

For questions about the application process, read here and/or contact us at office@rurasmus.eu

My municipality…

The municipality has formulated a challenge and you have defined a more specific narrowing of your question with leaders in advance through online sessions. Now you are working on site with local experts to find solutions. Take advantage of the resources and opportunities that such an on-site stay brings with it!

In the local community there are several people, so-called buddies, who will help you get started. These residents can help you professionally, are well connected and know who to contact for what. Among them are also people of your age who will support you in your leisure activities.

The local communities provide housing for students for the duration of their stay, as well as a place to work. This varies from municipality to municipality. It can be your own apartment, a spare room with a host family, a workplace at the local council office or at a resident co-working space.

You don’t have to worry about anything. The RURASMUS organization organizes housing and workspace in advance together with the community.

We encourage communities to support the mobility of students in rural areas. This can be through providing financial support for public transportation or providing community-owned shared vehicles. Please inquire in more detail about the specific services offered during the application process.

Your buddies will help you to find your way around quickly.

In principle, there is nothing against this, but it must be clarified in advance with the municipality or with the place of residence or work.

A RURSAMUS semester lasts four to six months, depending on the general conditions of the universities and colleges, the local municipality and the students. This time is spent on-site in the local community. A slight deviation is possible by arrangement.

The dear money question …

The communities provide the students with living and working space free of charge.

Often there are programs at the universities that (partially) cover travel costs for research projects. It is the student’s responsibility to apply for these funds.

It is the student’s responsibility to apply for relevant grants. The RURASMUS organization can support by issuing confirmations.

And afterwards …?

RURASMUS attaches great importance to students presenting the results of their work to the public at the end of their RURASMUS semester. Ideally, the teacher and a representative of the RURASMUS organization are present at the presentation – even if it is via video stream. The municipality receives a documentation of the completed project, which they can publish – while respecting the author’s rights and naming the university.

The result can be published (in parts) by the muncipalities. The RURASMUS organization also reserves the right to publish the thesis or parts of it, while respecting the author’s rights and naming the university.

The student’s work is an outside view of the community and offers new perspectives on sometimes familiar challenges. They bring fresh input and expertise and point to new development opportunities that can be a step into the future.

For municipalities

How does a community become a RURASMUS community?

Participate/Communities

For universities

How does a university become part of the RURASMUS program?

Mitmachen für Hochschulen
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© RURASMUS 2023

RURASMUS-Forschungsinstitut
Brandnerweg 6 / 9062- Moosburg / AUSTRIA

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Instagram Linkedin

© RURASMUS 2023

RURASMUS-Forschungsinstitut
Brandnerweg 6 / Moosburg
AUSTRIA