Erasmus Mundus doctoral programmes

Since the Erasmus Mundus programme will end in 2008, there are many assessments taken and there comes a proposal for the future of the program on 12 July, 2007. I have skim through it and found that they are proposing the option to continue this program and extends it to the doctoral level. They called the proposal: "Erasmus Mundus doctoral programmes"

Wow. If it is happening, I will surely join the program and will go to at least one more different country. It is quite a networking opportunity for me and having double degree in both master and doctoral is quite charming! Now, I have to boost my performance first!

I've got an Insurance!

Last Wednesday, 25 July, Luca sent an e-mail informing about insurance. He also sent a copy of insurance card for me. I will receive the real card upon the arrival in Edinburgh. Here is what the insurance said:

Erasmus Mundus Insurance Scheme (Wow, sounds cool!)
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS TAKING PART
IN THE ERASMUS MUNDUS INSURANCE SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

in collaboration with: Marsh Belgium
Boulevard du Souverain 2 - 1170 Brussels
and
ACE European Group Limited
avenue des Nerviens 9-31 Box 7 0 1040 Brussels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an assistance card. Cover is given based on the inscription at the Erasmus Mundus Insurance Scheme of the European Commission.

Insured persons: the student, mentioned on the Insured's Declaration, not more than 70 years old at the time the contract takes effect, who is making his/her way abroad, in order to take part in the Erasmus Mundus Insurance Scheme of the European Commission.

General overview of the benefits in the limits of the conditions of policy n° 5.021.014:
Section 1: Accidental death 5.000,00 EUR
Section 2: Permanent invalidity due to accident 75.000,00 EUR
Section 3: Hospital stay in a semi-private room, or ward (accident/sickness) during max. 365 days real costs
Costs of treatment following an accident/sickness real costs
Section 4: Costs of urgent dental care 250.00 EUR
Section 5: Assistance to persons
Services - repatriation or medical transport real costs
- repatriation or transportation of the mortal remains 7.500,00 EUR
- early return in case of the death of a relative real costs
- the dispatching of medicines abroad real costs
- telecommunication costs 125,00 EUR
- travel assistance (loss/theft travel documents, interpreter, travel ticket) real costs
- legal assistance 5.000,00 EUR
- transportation and accommodation costs for family members 7.500,00 EUR
Section 6: Travel documents 150,00 EUR
Section 7: Civil liability in private life (hirer's liability inclusive)
- cover following to the laws in force in the host country (benefits determined by the A.R. of 12 January 1984)


After I read it second time, I am not quite sure if it is the travel insurance only (as stated in Insured person section). I am not sure if it is effective 3 months before my departure and 3 months upon my finish of the programme. I will call local ACE and check this later.

edit:
I found out more about this in EUROPA website.

• ...it is not a comprehensive travel insurance. If students wish to be covered for eventualities such as the loss or theft of money, personal belongings and items of value, or for the unexpected costs caused by travel delays, they are advised to take out additional cover with a private insurer....
  
• "you are covered when you travel to the Master Course from your home country, when you attend conferences, research trips or cultural sessions abroad ... also covered during short trips back to your home country."
• "You are covered from the point at which you leave your normal place of residence to go abroad to begin your Course. This may be up to two months before the beginning of your Masters Course. The policy is valid while you are abroad for up to three months after the official end of the Masters Course, until you return home. The medical coverage will then continue for a maximum of 30 days on your return."

More document links:

• Conditions
  Erasmus Mundus Insurance Scheme - General conditions (Pdf format)
• Overview of Benefits
  General Overview of the Indemnities – EMIS (Pdf format)
• Claim Form
  Erasmus Mundus Insurance Claim Form (General) Word - PDF
• Claim Form (Medical)
  Erasmus Mundus Claim Form for Medical Expenses (under 250 €) Word - PDF

Flight Detail

I will depart from Suwanabhumi Airport in 7 September, 2007. My flight is on about 3:xx AM of 8 September. I will arrive the airport around 24:00 and check in at Row T (Closest entrance is Entrance 9)

ED's Student card

I've e-mailed to Judith yesterday asking about student card application. Tanin and Ravi had got the application already, but I have not received it.

Judith said that it is not the urgent issue. Anyway, she passed my query to the Registry. The student card will be issued upon my arrival at ED.

Check list

There is a post in Pantip.com which covers the check list of preparation for things to bring. It is in Thai.
Checklist

To the Embassy of United Kingdom...

On last Friday (6 July), I've got mail form Judith*. It is the official letter of scholarship stating detail about the programme, the scholarship, the insuarance. (Yes, we've got the medical insurance from ACE Insurance from 3 months prior the programme until 3 months after programme end.) There are two (slightly different) copies of it, one is in the official paper of School of Informatics and the other is in EuMI.

* Judith Gordon is the Admission Co-ordinator at Informatics Graduate School, ED.

Below is the selected content of the letter in the School of Informatics paper:

ERASMUS MUNDUS PROGRAMME

To the Embassy of United Kingdom
For visa applications purpose

The European Master in Informatics School wishes to inform that the students indicated below have been awarded the scholarship to enrol in the Master programme in Informatics within the European Erasmus Mundus EuMI (European Master in Informatics). The students will receive two master degrees, on in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and one in Italy from University of Trento, or Germany, RWT Aachen.

This programme is funded by the European Community to promote mobility between European Universities of non-EU students; in the case in point between the University of Treno, University of Aachen and University of Edinburgh.
The Programme lasts 2 years with the following mobility:
and the mobility scheme which foresees period in:
...
University of Edinburgh (September 2007 - May 2008) and
University of Aachen (June 2008 - July 2009) and
University of Edinburgh (August 2009 - September 2009)-
...

Each student receives:
€ 21.000 per each year, for 2 years, total 42.000, minus € 6.300 for enrolment and fees per each year, 21.000 - 6.300 = € 14.700 net per year
Medical Insurance from the ACE Insurance, valid 3 months prior to departure and 3 months after programme ending (3 months + 2 years + 3 months)

Accommodation is guaranteed in Edinburgh, UK, as well as in Italy and in Germany, which is organized by the competent University Guild

Normally, the Academic year starts the first week of September; students need to be in Europe the last week of August or the first week of September

Object: List of the EuMI students of the 4th cohort - 2007:
...

Thank you for your attention on this matter,
Best Regards
Judith Gordon
EuMi Admissions Co-ordinator
Informatics Graduate School
University of Edinburgh
...

International Driving Permit

Today, I went to apply for International Driving Permit. It is successfully done.

See more detail on my blog in Thai.

Insurance for German visa

Tanin told me about the need of insurance in order to apply for German visa. Although I have not to worry about it now, I have got some information from a.Jaruroj regarding German insurance company.

• www.aok.de - this is related to the government (~ 40 - 50 € / month)
• www.wuerzburger.com - this is the private company (~ 30 € / month)
  

UPDATE: Pom* told Tanin that Erasmus Mundus have health insurance. There's no need to purchase more.

*Pom is an EuMI student from Thailand in 2006 cohort.

Accommodation acknowledged

I've e-mailed accommodation office on 28 June stating that I've accepted an unconditional offer. Today, a staff e-mail me back to acknowledge it. The allocation process will begin on mid July. Thus, there's nothing to do but wait on the accommodation issue.


Here's the e-mail:

Thank you for letting us know that your offer at Edinburgh University
is now Unconditional.
We have received your application for accommodation and our allocation
process commences mid July.

Kind Regards

Jennie
Allocations

Erasmus Mundus Alumni

Found a website of Erasmus Mundus Alumni at: http://www.erasmusmundus-alumni.eu/

The information is not quite update. (Approximately, the last update was February 2007.)

Anyway, they may provide the e-mail forwarding with .eu, so I registered it.

A postcard from ED

Today, I've received a postcard from The University of Edinburgh. It confirm the receipt of my unconditional offer.

Why I got only a postcard? A (Tanin) said that he got a package of university card and etc.

The postcard said:


"We have received your firm acceptance of our unconditional offer
and we are delighted that your are coming t study with us.

If you have any questions about the University or your studies
please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

With best wishes

The Postgraduate Office

0131 650 7142
sciengmail@ed.ac.uk