Erasmus+ Master’s Loan: Blair Clark

When Blair Clark started his law studies at the University of Edinburgh in his home town, he certainly didn’t imagine that he would find himself in Denmark a few years later, pursuing a Master’s degree in International Security & Law, with a whole new perspective on life.

As Blair himself explains, it was the year he spent in the Netherlands on an (undergraduate) Erasmus exchange that really triggered his appetite for more: “My time in the Netherlands opened my eyes to the possibility of studying, living and working abroad. It made me more internationally-minded, and having visited Denmark already before, I knew I would be enjoying it there too.”

Beyond his academic progress, Blair has found living abroad a particularly enriching experience, both socially and culturally: “It’s an eye-opener. From meeting different, interesting people and learning new things every day to being part of both a multi-national community, but also the local national community. I guess you could say I’m making full use of my EU citizenship.” A keen footballer, Blair has joined a local team, giving him the chance to meet locals outside the university and work on his Danish skills. He also enjoys following the local club, Odense BK.

In the future, he intends to focus on the field of security and particularly conflict-resolution, hopefully working for an EU institution, international organisation, NGO, or pressure group. He is confident that his international experience will play in his favour.

In taking the decision to study in Denmark, Blair was weighing different options to make ends meet, including finding a job on the side or even postponing his studies while he raised the necessary funds. A loan from Future Finance, however, backed by EIF under the EU’s Erasmus+ programme has allowed Blair to focus his energy on his studies without having to stress about the financial side. “Overall it has definitely made my postgraduate studies much more feasible” he notes.

The EU’s Erasmus+ Master’s Loan Guarantee Facility aims to increase access to finance in order to enable students, regardless of their social background, to take a Master's Degree in another country, as a contribution to tackling skills gaps in Europe.

Beneficiary: Blair Clark

Studies: MSc in International Security & Law

University: University of Southern Denmark

EIF financing: Erasmus+ Master Student LGF

Financial intermediary: Future Finance

For further information about EIF intermediaries in Denmark, please refer to:
http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/dk/