After the completion of the evaluation procedure of the candidates for participation in outgoing student mobility, the administrative Erasmus+-coordinator notifies the host universities about the selected students who preferred the respective destination.

The International Affairs and Projects Office organizes and conducts an information meeting with the participation of the outgoing Erasmus+ students, the administrative Erasmus+ coordinator, the departmental Erasmus+ coordinators, the faculty ECTS coordinators and the institutional Erasmus+ coordinator.

Students approved for participation in the programme receive the Erasmus Student Charter, which regulates the rights and obligations of Erasmus+ students.

Students complete the application documents required by the host institution. An expert from the Front Office prepares the selected students a free of charge academic report with the results they have achieved.

Before departure, each selected student must have a signed Learning agreement for Traineeships, which sets out the programme of placement as agreed between the student, the sending and the host organization. This agreement defines the intended outcomes of the placement for the period of placement abroad and indicate the conditions for formal recognition. The agreement also determines the place of the placement. In the agreement, the sending institution and the student agree on the level of language proficiency (the language used at the work place) to be achieved by the student before the beginning of the placement. Where applicable, the sending institution and the student may agree to provide the appropriate language support to enable the student to reach the agreed level. The agreement is drawn up with the help of the department Erasmus+ coordinator. VFU may award credits for participation in student mobility for placement, if this is provided for in the student’s curriculum.

The placement agreement is signed by the institutional Erasmus+ coordinator and the student, after which it is sent to the host institution to be signed.

After the placement agreement has been signed by the student, VFU and the host institution and after receiving confirmation that the student has been accepted for placement at the host institution, an individual contract for awarding an Erasmus grant is signed.

When signing the individual contract for financial support, each candidate fills out and signs a declaration under the Personal Data Protection Act, published on the VFU website.

Before starting the mobility, students must have all the insurances required by the host institution. Payment of insurance and visas (where necessary) is made with the funds from the student’s Erasmus grant.

  • The student has to insure himself/herself at the expense of the financial support granted to them under the Contract for all types of compulsory insurance necessary for conducting the studies in the host country;
  • The student has the right and it is recommended to insure himself with additional optional types of insurance at the expense of the received funding, if this is advantageous and financially expedient in view of the implementation of the studies and in order to save possible higher costs. Such insurances can be of the type ‘International Healthcare’, ‘Accident insurance’, ‘Public Liability Coverage.’, etc.;
  • European Health Insurance Card or its equivalent — the certificate temporarily replacing it, provides and facilitates access to free of charge medical treatment in the host country, which is a member of the EU. For more information, the student can also contact the The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) of the Republic of Bulgaria – http://www.nhif.bg/web/guest/85. Covered limits and treatment responsibilities are regulated according to the current European social security regulations in the field.
  • The European Health Insurance Card does not cover specific medical interventions and the necessary insurances for this purpose should be concluded additionally, if such a need exists.

Students who have signed a contract for their participation in the Programme continue to receive their university scholarship. In addition, the right to a scholarship or loan granted to students for their studies at their sending institution must be maintained during the period abroad.

Students who have signed a contract for their participation in the Programme pay their semester fees at VFU before departure.

Within 30 calendar days after signing the individual contract for student mobility for placement under the Erasmus+ programme on both sides, as well as no later than the date of the start of the mobility period, or upon receipt of confirmation of arrival at the host institution, the participant is pre-financed in the amount of between 70% and 100% of the amount specified in Article 3 financial support for implementing the subject of the Agreement. In the event that the student does not submit the necessary documents within a period corresponding to the schedule of the sending institution, a later payment of the pre-financing can be exceptionally accepted. If the payment is less than 100% of the maximum amount of the grant, the submission of an online report by the Participant (on-line EU survey) should be considered as a request for payment of the balance of the financial support. VFU has 45 calendar days to make payment of the balance or issue a refund order. The Erasmus grant is paid via bank transfer by the Accounting Department, which processes and stores the expenditure justification documents. The account holder must be the student who will participate in student learning/ placement mobility. The account must be in euros and be opened in a bank specified by the VFU.

Students participating in student mobility for the purpose of placement under the Erasmus+ programme (regardless of whether they receive EU grants under the Erasmus+ programme) do not pay for tuition, registration, exams and access to laboratories and libraries in the host institutions. However, students may pay some small fees for expenses such as insurance, for the use of various materials such as photocopier services and laboratory materials on the same basis as local students pay for these expenses. No additional fees or other payments are collected from outgoing students in connection with the organization or administration of their mobility period.

In the case of placements, if the host enterprise/host organization provides the student with an allowance or some kind of remuneration, it is compatible with EU grants under the Erasmus+ programme.

The mobility period is compatible with part-time work and, if the student receives an Erasmus+ EU grant, it is also compatible with the income that the student will receive as long as he/she carries out the activities provided for in the accepted mobility programme.

Before starting the mobility, the students switch to a permanent exam session.