All students of Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) have the opportunity to participate in long-term or short-term mobility for studies through the ERASMUS+ program at universities in other member states. Specifically, within the framework of the 2021-2027 program, emphasis is placed on the participation of students with fewer opportunities. To cover the additional expenses resulting from studying at a university abroad, students may receive a scholarship from the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY).
For long-term mobility, the selection criteria are determined by a decision of the Assembly of the Department of Occupational Therapy, listed in the Department’s Study Guide, and posted on the Department’s website. The criteria are based on the principles of equal treatment and are compatible with those set by the European Commission and the National Erasmus+ Coordination Unit of Greece (IKY).
The maximum duration of mobility for studies is one semester to ensure that more students from DUTH have the opportunity to participate. Students have the option to remain for a longer period (e.g., an academic year), subject to approval by the Department of Occupational Therapy, but without receiving funding (zero grant). The process for non-funded mobility is the same as that followed for funded mobility.
If the number of student mobility positions offered is less than the number of applications submitted, the Erasmus+ Committee may decide to reallocate the program’s available budget, in accordance with the rules imposed by the relevant agreement.
Each academic year, following a decision by the Erasmus+ Committee, the Department of Occupational Therapy publishes a call for expressions of interest for students to participate in long-term student mobility for studies. The call specifies the study cycle(s) it pertains to, the available positions for the Department of Occupational Therapy, the requirements, selection criteria, supporting documents, and the application deadline. Applications and all related supporting documents, as outlined in the call, must be submitted to the Department Coordinator.
Students eligible to apply for participation in the program are those who are officially enrolled undergraduate students in the Department of Occupational Therapy at DUTH and have language proficiency at the level required by the host institution.
The ranking of candidates for student mobility is carried out by the Department’s Erasmus+ Coordinator, who communicates the ranking list to the General Assembly of the Department and subsequently to the Erasmus+ Office.
After the mobility is approved, the Coordinator of the Department of Occupational Therapy:
a) Discusses with the student and approves a study program lasting, depending on the case, one trimester (20 ECTS), one semester (30 ECTS), or one year (60 ECTS). This program must have similar, complementary, or related learning outcomes to those of the Department of Occupational Therapy but does not necessarily need to have the exact same content. The student cannot select courses they have already successfully completed at DUTH. This program is recorded in the student’s Learning Agreement.
b) Informs the Department Assembly about the content of the Learning Agreement and recommends its approval, which ensures that the ECTS credits earned at the host institution as part of the approved program will be fully recognized, transferred into the curriculum of the Department of Occupational Therapy, and counted towards the degree requirements.
Once selected, the student must visit the website of the host university to obtain information about procedures, deadlines, required documents, course start dates, accommodation, etc.
After being accepted by the host institution, the student submits the Learning Agreement and any other required documents to the Erasmus+ Office, either in print or electronically, and receives 80% of the scholarship. Additionally, the student must complete a mandatory online language proficiency test for the language of study abroad.
Upon returning from the host institution, the student submits to the Coordinator and the Erasmus+ Office at DUTH all the necessary supporting documents received from the host institution related to their mobility.
The Department’s Coordinator processes the transfer of ECTS credits earned at the host institution through the Learning Agreement, as reflected in the transcript of records, into the official curriculum followed by the student in the Department of Occupational Therapy. If the courses successfully completed at the host institution exceed 30 ECTS per semester, the additional courses are listed in the Diploma Supplement issued with the degree. If a student has already fulfilled the required credits for graduation prior to mobility, any successfully completed courses at the host institution are also listed in the Diploma Supplement.
For courses attended but not successfully passed abroad, students can retake the examination at DUTH during the September resit examination period. In this case, students must arrange for this exam to be registered in coordination with the Department of Occupational Therapy’s administrative office.
Upon completing the mobility, the student receives the remaining 20% of the scholarship. A prerequisite for the full scholarship is the submission of the required documents from the host institution and the successful completion of courses corresponding to 30% of the program (6 ECTS for one trimester, 10 ECTS for one semester of studies).
The student regularly updates the Department’s Erasmus+ Coordinator regarding their academic progress. Additionally, they must promptly inform the Coordinator of any academic or other issues that may arise during their stay abroad.
Students who are Erasmus+ scholarship holders for studies are not allowed to participate in the examination period of the semester in which they are enrolled in the program. Students participating in the Erasmus+ program for their dissertation/thesis, or part of it, are required to include the following text in the thesis submitted to the Department of Occupational Therapy, or in presentations at conferences, publications, or other reports:
“This thesis/dissertation (or part of this thesis/dissertation) was carried out as part of mobility through the Erasmus+ program, funded by the European Union.”
If the actual duration of the mobility is shorter than what is specified in the Agreement (with a tolerance of 5 days for long-term mobility), DUTH is obliged to amend the student’s Agreement and reduce the corresponding grant amount initially agreed. In this case, either the remaining 20% of the grant is not disbursed, or if the total eligible grant is less than the 80% already received, the corresponding amount must be returned within one month of notification by the Erasmus+ Office. If the scholarship holder fails to return the required amount on time, the matter is referred to the DUTH Erasmus+ Committee. Students with unresolved administrative or financial issues regarding the program, even if they complete their studies at the institution, will not receive a graduation certificate or be declared graduates until the pending issues are resolved. The Erasmus+ Office will inform the Department of Occupational Therapy’s Secretariat accordingly.
Students participating in mobility, in collaboration with the student association, ESN-DUTH, the Department of Occupational Therapy, the Erasmus+ Office, or other DUTH units, organize or participate in dissemination activities to highlight the program’s results, enhancing its added value.
If the scholarship holder earns ECTS credits corresponding to less than 30% of their program (fewer than 6 ECTS for a trimester or 10 ECTS for a semester), they will not receive the remaining 20% of the scholarship. In cases where the student was unable to complete the agreed activities at the host institution due to force majeure (e.g., health issues with a hospital certificate), they will be reimbursed for the actual period of their stay abroad unless otherwise determined by the National Coordination Unit.
The student is required to submit the Transcript of Records and the Certificate of Attendance after completing their mobility. If the scholarship holder fails to provide these documents, they must return the 80% of the scholarship already received as an advance, and they will not receive the remaining 20% of the scholarship.
If the scholarship holder fails to return the required amount on time, the matter is referred to the DUTH Erasmus+ Committee. Students with unresolved administrative or financial issues related to the Erasmus+ program, even if they complete their studies, will not receive a graduation certificate until their obligations are fulfilled. The Erasmus+ Office will inform the respective Department’s Secretariat.
The Erasmus+ grant does not include insurance coverage for participating students. Before departure, students must obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their insurance provider, covering the entire mobility period, and be informed of the benefits it provides in the host country. It is emphasized that the EHIC does not cover private healthcare, emergency medical care, or repatriation and does not substitute for travel insurance. In cases where the EHIC is not valid (e.g., non-EU countries), students must obtain private health insurance.
You can view the Internal Operating Regulations of the Erasmus+ Program of Democritus University of Thrace HERE
