The paperwork

So you've decided to go on Erasmus. Congratulations - you have made the first step into an unknown world. First of all you should know that the process and the bureaucracy takes a long time, specially if you go to a country outside the European Union such as Turkey. But nevertheless, you'll find the endless meetings and the shocking amount of paperwork will compensate once you're on your destination!

There's a list of the main points you should pay attention to:

• Erasmus Exchange Agreement - as the name says, a document with the main points of the Erasmus programme signed at your home university, witch states your duties and rights while studying abroad, the duration of your studies, your host university, etc
  
  
  "Each ERASMUS student will be given an ERASMUS Student Charter by their home university or higher education institution before departing on their study or placement period abroad. The Student Charter provided in the form of a leaflet highlights the rights and obligations of students participating in ERASMUS. It informs ERASMUS students about what they are entitled to and what is expected of them during their secondment for studies or for a placement. In particular, the ERASMUS Student Charter outlines the basic entitlements of the ERASMUS students, such as free tuition and full recognition of studies or placements abroad." 

As an Erasmus student, you are entitled to expect: Your home and host universities to have an inter-institutional agreement. The sending and receiving institutions to sign with you and before you leave a Learning/Training Agreement setting out the details of your planned activities abroad, including the credits to be achieved. Not to have to pay fees to your host university for tuition, registration, examinations, access to laboratory and library facilities during your Erasmus studies. Full academic recognition from your home university for satisfactorily completed activities during the Erasmus mobility period, in accordance with the Learning/Training Agreement. To be given a transcript of records at the end of your activities abroad, covering the studies/work carried out and signed by your host institution/enterprise. This will record your results with the credits and grades achieved. If the placement was not part of the normal curricula, the period will at least be recorded in the Diploma Supplement. To be treated and served by your host university in the same way as their home students. To have access to the Erasmus University Charter and Erasmus Policy Statement of your home and host universities. Your student grant or loan from your home country to be maintained while you are abroad. As an Erasmus student, you are expected to: Respect the rules and obligations of your Erasmus grant agreement with your home university or your National Agency. Ensure that any changes to the Learning/Training Agreement are agreed in writing with both the home and host institutions as soon as they when they occur. Spend the full study/placement period as agreed at the host university/enterprise, including undergoing the relevant examinations or other forms of assessment, and respect its rules and regulations. Write a report on your Erasmus study/placement period abroad when you return and provide feedback if requested by your home university, the European Commission or the National Agency. If you have a problem: Identify the problem clearly and check your rights and obligations. Contact your departmental coordinator for Erasmus and use the formal appeals procedure of your home university if necessary. Source: European Comission

• Erasmus Scholarship - an amount of money granted by the European Union and managed by your country's national agency. It varies a lot, depending of your destination, your university, and even your faculty - two persons from the same university and different faculties going to the same destination can receive different scholarships. As I said, it depends of the system that your national agency and university adopts - for example, as of 2012 University of Porto has established that everyone going to the same country receives the scholarships equally, regardless of their faculty.
• Learning Agreement - a list that states the courses you'll have in your host faculty. It can be changed once submitted but involves a lot of paperwork though. Be sure to fill this properly with the help of your eramus' faculty responsible because this paper guarantees you'll have full recognition of studies or placements abroad!
• Statement Period of Studies - To be filled once you arrive at your host instituition and must be sent to your university's international office. It's the proof that you arrived and departed on the days you declared.
• Aceptance Letter - once all the papers have been sent, you'll receive a letter from your host institution - this is the living proof you were officially accepted as an Erasmus student =)
• Contact your host institution - make sure to tell them when you arrive and double check your period of studies.
• European Health Insurance Card - if you need healthcare, this card will be your best friend. Except of course if you go to Turkey! In this case you'll have to make a private health insurance or contact your international office.When you show your EHIC, you will receive treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country. Be aware that each country’s healthcare system is different. Services that cost you nothing at home might NOT be free in another country.
• Nominate a person to represent you in academic and financial matters while you're out. Depending of your country's laws, you may need to go to a notary.
• Learn a few basic words of your host country's main language - greetings, food names and how to order a beer are specially useful!