International mobility is a mandatory part of our students’ education, and as such is a formal part of the educational process. The minimum time spent abroad is 4 months for students, and 3 months for apprentices.
International mobility is not mandatory for international students, but it is still advisable.
Whatever form it may take, international mobility is an unforgettable experience within the engineering curriculum. Aside from developing their language skills, our students discover new aptitudes that they can apply throughout their career.
Independence, adaptability, open-mindedness… these qualities are developed abroad and sought by recruiters looking for engineers capable of talking and working with teams which often comprise colleagues from a variety of countries.
Internship abroad
Throughout the three-year engineering curriculum, students will be required to complete several internships or work placements. The 16-week internship planned during the second year must particularly be completed abroad in a company, a university, or in a research centre. Since 2016, 961 internships have been completed by our students in 54 different countries.
By completing their internship overseas during the second year, the student is able to fulfil the international mobility requirement of their engineering degree. While not mandatory, it is also possible for a student to complete their first-year internship (1 month) and end-of-study project (6 months) abroad.
Students will receive the support of the International Relations office and the Heads of departments to successfully complete this mobility project.
There are multiple benefits to completing an overseas placement:
– An enhanced CV and professional network
– Improved language skills
– Increased independence and team skills
– Open-mindedness towards other cultures
Spend a semester abroad
In their third year at ENSICAEN, engineering students and apprentices have the option to complete their 9th semester in one of our partner universities. With this exchange programme, the student will put together their own study programme in a partner university.
Students can take this opportunity to reinforce what they have already learned at ENSICAEN or branch out into new fields. The semester taken abroad, and the skills acquired there, will then be recognised in the framework of the ENSICAEN engineering degree.
This project is put together alongside the Heads of department and must be supported in front of a Selection Committee, who will evaluate the relevance of the project in terms of the student’s academic career and career objectives.
Studying abroad offers students the possibility to enhance their training and:
– Enhance their CV and academic career,
– Improve their language skills in English and another modern foreign language,
– Become open to other cultures and other teaching systems,
– Develop key skills, such as adaptability and communication
Get a double degree
In their third year at ENSICAEN, engineering students can spend the entire year in a partner university as part of a double degree. Our partner universities are located in Brazil, Italy, Spain, and Canada.
Spain
Madrid Polytechnic University
E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación – ETSIT
Master in Telecommunication Engineering for students in Physical Engineering and Embedded Systems
Italy
University of Salerno
Laurea Magistrale Ingegneria Informatica for Computer Science students
Canada
University of Quebec in Chicoutimi
Maîtrise en Gestion de projet for all students at ENSICAEN
Maîtrise en Informatique volet professionnel – classique or video game – for Computer Science students
Maîtrise en Ingénierie – professional for Materials and Chemistry students
DESS en Cosmétologie for Materials and Chemistry students
Brazil
University of Brasilia
Graduação em Engenharia Elétrica, Graduação em Engenharia de Redes de Comunicação for students in Physical Engineering and Embedded Systems
Federal University of Paraná
Diploma de Engenheiro Eletricista for students in Physical Engineering and Embedded Systems
Campinas State University
Graduação em Engenharia da Computação, Bacharel em Ciência da Computação for students of Computer Science
Graduação em Engenharia Elétrica, Graduação em Engenharia de Controle e Automação, Graduação em Engenharia Física, Bacharel em Física for students in Physical Engineering and Embedded Systems
Graduação em Engenharia de Materiais for Materials and Chemistry students
Rio Grande do Norte State University – Natal
Diploma de Engenheiro Eletricista for students in Physical Engineering and Embedded Systems
Rio Grande do Sul State University – Porto Alegre
Diploma de Engenheiro for students in Materials and Chemistry and Physical Engineering and Embedded Systems
Bacharel em Ciencia da Computação for students of Computer Science
ABC Federal University – Santo André
Bacharel em Ciência e Tecnologia et Bacharel em Engenharia de Materiais
for Materials and Chemistry students
Germany
University of Stuttgart
Masterstudiengang Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik for students in Engineering Physics and Embedded Systems
Following their study programme, the student will receive a degree from ENSICAEN and from the partner university. Important: for double degrees, the end-of-study project must be postponed and takes place after the two semesters of studies achieved abroad.
The project to participate in a double-degree program is put together alongside the Heads of department and must be supported in front of a Selection Committee, who will evaluate the relevance of the project in terms of the student’s academic career and career objectives.
There are a host of advantages to completing a double degree with a partner university:
– Complete immersion in the local culture,
– Consolidation of your language skills in English and the local language,
– An enhanced CV with a full qualification from an international establishment,
– Increased independence and adaptability
Support with international mobility
ENSICAEN helps students with their international mobility projects and will guide them, from project development to funding. To do this, the school participates and manages several mobility programmes :
Erasmus+
The Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 for education, training, youth, and sport, is used to finance internships and studies taken abroad in the 28 member states of the European Union, plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, and Turkey. Long-term mobility programmes must last at least 2 months, and short-term placements must combine a period of physical presence for 5 to 30 days in the host country, preceded or followed by virtual activities.
Traditional “long-term” mobility
| Study mobility | Placement mobility | |
| Group 1: Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden | 330€ / month | 480€ / month |
| Group 2: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal | 270€ / month | 420€ / month |
| Group 3: North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary; Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey. | 210€ / month | 360€ / month
|
“Short-term” placement mobility for apprentices:
| Daily rate | |
| Up to the 14th day abroad | 70€ / day |
| From the 15th to the 30th day abroad | 50€ / day |
In addition to the placement and study grant, and regardless of which type of mobility solution is adopted, the Erasmus+ programme includes the payment of additional financial benefits:
- Green travel top-up for outgoing and return trips using one or several environmentally responsible modes of transport (bus, train, car-sharing).
- An “inclusion” grant for disadvantaged students. As part of the inclusivity policy of the Erasmus+ programme, disabled students who are preparing for an Erasmus+ trip may receive specific and additional funding.
Erasmus+ support can be combined with Aide à la mobilité internationale (AMI) from MESR, and the Pass Monde programme from the Normandy region.
Aide à la mobilité internationale (AMI) from the Ministry of Higher Education and Research
This is reserved for students receiving CROUS support for social reasons and is available to students when they spend at least 2 months abroad. The eligible student can receive up to €400 per month over a period of two to nine months. All types of international mobility are eligible (placements, studies, double degree) in Europe and outside of Europe.
The grant Aide à la mobilité internationale (AMI) can be combined with the grants from the Erasmus+ programme and PassMonde from the Normandy region.
Details of the AMI scholarship: The AMI scholarship can amount to 400 € / month, depending on the student’s resources and the duration of the stay. It is awarded for a period of 2 to 9 months, making it possible to finance full-year academic stays. In 2023, around 30,000 students benefited from this aid to support their international mobility plans. To complete their preparations, students can also take out dedicated travel insurance, such as the one offered by SMENO, so that they can leave with peace of mind and full cover. To find out more, see information on student travel insurance.
PassMonde from the Normandy Region
Engineering students and apprentices may apply for the PassMonde programme if their tax address is in Normandy and their household income does not exceed €30,000. All types of international mobility are eligible (internships, work placements, studies, double degree) in Europe and outside of Europe.
Regional support for international mobility consists of
– a lump sum starter package of :
- € 200 for students going to the following countries: Albania, Germany, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, the UK including the Channel Islands, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine , Vatican, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia;
- € 400 for all other destinations, except for the principality of Monaco and French overseas territories (DROM-COM*) which are not eligible for Pass Monde
– and weekly assistance of €40, allocated for a specific length of stay of up to 26 weeks.
The PassMonde programme can be combined with the grants from the Erasmus+ programme and the programme Aide à la mobilité internationale (AMI) from the MESR.
ENSICAEN
ENSICAEN has implemented its own financial support programme to help students who wish to complete a semester abroad or a double degree. As such, the students selected to go abroad to study in a partner university will be able to benefit from the ENSICAEN grant.
FITEC programmes
ENSICAEN manages a number of FITEC projects with Brazil and Argentina. Students going abroad as part of these projects may therefore receive mobility assistance.
ERASMUS PLAY
Erasmus Play is not a financial support programme, but this search engine is a real asset when preparing for a placement or study abroad, helping applicants find student accommodation across Europe. In just a few clicks, Erasmus Play allows you to compare quickly and easily all the available accommodation in the city you are going to. What’s more, you can even reserve your accommodation safely and securely, as all the accommodation is on verified platforms.
Book your student accommodation in 3 steps:
o Select your destination city or town and the dates you will be there,
o Compare all the available accommodation,
o Book safely and securely.