You've submitted your application

I've applied for Study Abroad and been offered a placement. What next?

The first thing you need to do is tell us whether you want to accept your place! Please reply to our email to confirm or reject your placement. If you decide to reject your placement, please be aware that we cannot guarantee you another. If you are unsure what to do, please contact the Outbound team to discuss your situation.

My application has been unsuccessful. What happens now?

Every year some students are disappointed. We try to allocate as many students as we can but it is not possible to allocate everyone. This happens when demand is higher than the number of places available. You might need to change your programme to drop ‘with Study Abroad‘. What's more, there will be implications on the accommodation options in Exeter available to you. This can be challenging but the Guild Advice Unit or FXU Advice and Welfare will be able to support you.

My application has been successful and I've accepted my allocated placement. Now what?

Once you have accepted your placement, we will nominate you to your host university. They will then (hopefully) accept your nomination, and they will contact you to offer you a place. The timing of this can vary; some universities might contact students in early March, others might not do so until later in the Spring.

What module will I be on for my Year Abroad and where can I find information about it?

If you are going for a Year Abroad, you will be put on HUM3999 (Streatham students) or HUC3005 (Penryn students). For details of this module, it is essential you watch the presentation which took place on 21st March 2018. This presentation can be found on the HUM3999/HUC3005 ELE page and in it we talk about the requirements of the module and what you need to do before you go out, during your placement and once you return. You can also find other important information on the HUM3999 and HUC3005 modules on the same ELE page.

Applying to your host university

When the host university contacts you, they will ask you to complete a formal application directly to them. This is usually online but it can involve sending hard paper copies of documents. Therefore, please do this as soon as you can as it might take you longer than first expected!

What other paperwork do I need to complete?

There is little paperwork for you to do apart from the application to your host university. You will be contacted by the Outbound Study Abroad team, who will guide you through the process once you have accepted your placement.

Researching Modules

You will need to research which modules you would like to take at the partner university so that you can fill in their application forms. We can’t keep a complete list of all of the modules that are offered at each partner university, as they change each year, just as modules at Exeter do. This means, you will have to carry out research independently.

It’s not always easy to find available modules on the universities’ websites because they don’t always make them available on the international version of the website; some universities do things differently to us here in Exeter.  The easiest thing to do is to use the website in your native language, especially for those of you who are non-linguists. You could also either find somebody to help you, be that a tutor or a student of the foreign language, or contact the partner university direct (particularly their International Office) to ask for a link to their module pages or a list of available modules.

How many credits or modules should you take?

If you are abroad for ONE SEMESTER, you should take the following minimum, which are equivalent to 60 Exeter credits:

• European- 30 ECTS credits
• Non-European - 4 modules

If you are abroad for the FULL YEAR, you must complete the following minimum, which are equivalent to 120 Exeter credits:

• European - 60 ECTS credits
• Non-European - 8 modules

We would strongly encourage you to take additional modules if your host university permits it, and in some rare cases, your host university might require you to take additional modules. In either case, we will only take into account the marks from your highest scoring ECTS/modules according to the minimum requirement above.

Which modules can you take?

So, you’ve found the university’s module list, but which modules can you take? The modules that you take must be directly relevant to your programme in Exeter (ie. History students should study History-related modules). However, the modules you choose must not be a repeat of any modules you have already taken here at Exeter. 

In addition to this, Exeter will allow you to take up to 25% of your credits abroad outside of your programme area, subject to the requirements of the host university. You can use this opportunity to explore new avenues that would not be available here at Exeter.

Please also note that all modules must have an ECTS credit value (if at a European university) and must be provided by the partner university.

Regarding the level of modules, you should take level 2 or 3 modules in subjects which you already have some knowledge of, as long as it is not an exact repeat of subject content you have studied here at Exeter. If you are taking a module in a completely new subject area (for example within the 25% of credits you can take outside your programme area), it is acceptable for you to choose modules at level 1. The most important thing is that your modules are sufficiently interesting and challenging.

Finally, any module choices you make before going abroad are not set in stone, and you should have the opportunity to update these when you arrive at your host university.

We know that finding accommodation for your Study Abroad can be a daunting prospect; with a huge range of locations, prices and an array of possible housemates of all nationalities, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Finding accommodation yourself is an important step towards the independence you will need to complete a year abroad in another country. However, to keep this process as stress-free as possible, follow our top tips and use the links below as a starting point to finding yourself the perfect home…

Firstly, don’t worry! With the right amount of research and effort, everyone can find an accommodation option to suit them.

Plan ahead!

The earlier the better: it is never too early to scour the web, speak to returning fourth years, and go onto online forums. Remember that first-hand and recent information is of paramount importance. Although we try to help you as much as possible, we cannot, by the ever changing nature of available accommodation all over the world, provide you with an exhaustive list of the best current accommodation possibilities.

• Helpful accommodation sites: 

As always with any house-hunting, make sure you have spoken to a landlord, read the terms and conditions and feel confident in them before committing to any accommodation contract.

Our Study Abroad Buddy Scheme and Country Host Scheme are both on hand to help...

The Study Abroad Buddy Scheme is designed to partner up second years preparing for their third year abroad, and returning fourth years, and could offer you the fantastic opportunity to discuss accommodation, amongst any other worries you may have. The Country Host Scheme connects outbound students with Exeter alumni in their allocated country to help orientate our students when they arrive at their placement.

Consider who you want to live with!

Remember that if you are going abroad to learn a language, native speakers of that language are ideal housemates. With your continued effort, it is almost a guarantee that your language will improve much quicker and further than if you were to live with other English people, or your friends. We know it is a scary prospect, but Study Abroad is all about pushing yourself!

Get out early!

If you haven’t sorted accommodation before you leave, don’t panic. A lot of people choose to wait until they are actually in the country before they make a commitment. If you wish to do this, please make sure you get out to the country and start flat-hunting early. There are always peak periods for finding accommodation, particularly for those going to university or doing British Council, when everyone starts at the same time, so make sure you beat the rush.

• Don’t be afraid to find somewhere cheap to lay your head whilst searching for an apartment. Hostels within Europe are usually of a good standard, and can be a chance to start making friends, or getting local advice. The following websites could provide a good starting point in your search: www.hostelworld.com, www.hostelbookers.com, and www.hostels.com
• There are also sites which give you the opportunity to spend a short amount of time living with a host. These are a great option as they are strictly controlled, cheaper than hotels, and could provide you with the opportunity to ask your host’s advice about local accommodation.  Try: www.airbnb.com , www.bedycasa.com, www.homestay.com  and www.wimdu.co.uk.

Finally

Remember to check if your Study Abroad option provides accommodation. Many European universities, just like at Exeter, will have university halls designed for international students. Consider whether you would be interested in this type of living arrangement. Some universities do not have any accommodation at all - please always check.

Please remember that the above links are not the only available sites for finding great accommodation, and that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of all of the information presented within them. Finding accommodation relies on your proactivity, with the above designed to present to you some of the options available. We neither promote nor endorse individual accommodation providers.

Wellbeing

Preparing for studying abroad can, for some, be a worrying time. While we're sure you're excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, things do not always run as smoothly as you might hope, and this is all part of the experience. Your time abroad will be exciting, challenging, fun, daunting and very rewarding - probably all at the same time. While you will be ready for the high points, you might want to prepare yourself for any times that you need a bit more support. Therefore, it is important to remember that you will still be registered as an Exeter student and you will still have access to all the support services available to you. This includes the Global Opportunities team and we are just an email or phone call away, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you need to. What's more, the Wellbeing team are on hand to give advice before going out on Study Abroad, during your time out there, and also when you return to Exeter. More information about the services they provide can be found here.

Visas, Insurance and Flights

It's your responsibility to check if you need a visa to study at your host institution. You should be advised about this by the Global Opportunities Outbound team but if you have any queries, get in touch with them at outbound@exeter.ac.uk. However, please note that we are not allowed to give visa advice.

As for travel insurance with emergency medical cover, this is compulsory for all Exeter students on Study Abroad. You will need to make sure you are covered for the entirety of the time you are away and we will ask for proof of this in the forms you need to complete for us. You can use any insurance company you wish, but you may want to consider the University of Exeter Undergraduate Travel Insurance, as we know this is comprehensive. If you are going to a European country, we would also recommend getting the GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card), but this will be in addition to an insurance policy.

Please also note that travel insurance with emergency medical cover will not cover routine doctor visits, medicines, vaccinations or tests. We strongly recommend that you also take out a personal health insurance policy for the duration of your placement in addition to the travel insurance policy (and GHIC). This is especially important for students with underlying health conditions.

Flights can get very expensive so please book them as soon as you can, and if possible, buy tickets which are refundable or exchangeable to give you flexibility.

Do not wait until the last minute

It might be stating the obvious but it is very important not to wait until the last minute to get everything ready for your time abroad. The sooner you complete all of the paperwork and get your insurance, visa and flights sorted, the more relaxed you will be. Furthermore, many universities close over the summer so you might not be able to contact them when you need them most. 

Finally, please keep checking your Exeter email inbox over the summer as we might need to update you with new information.

Academic Year Before Departure

Date	For	Type	Title
February	All	Activity	University Allocation
This is when you find out whether your application to study abroad has been successful. Your application is assessed and you are allocated to one of our partner universities abroad. You will receive this information by email.
March-May	All	Activity	Applications directly to host universities
We will nominate you to your host university and then you will receive instructions on how to apply to them directly. Usually this will be done online, and you will need to give them some personal and academic information among other things. Each university works to a different timescale so do not panic if your friends have heard from their universities and you have not heard from yours! Just let us know and we can support you.
March	All	Event	Pre-Departure Meetings
There are a number of pre-departure meetings, some of which are general and some of which are country-specific. These are really valuable meetings that students should try to attend. For more information, please see the Outbound Study Abroad pages.
March	All	Event	Humanities Study Abroad (HUM3999/HUC3005) presentation
This meeting is compulsory for all Humanities Students going abroad. We will talk to you about the requirements for the module you will be enrolled on - HUM3999 - and how you will be assessed on your Year Abroad. We will also provide you with information on what you need to do before, during and after your placement. The recording of the presentation will be uploaded to the HUM3999/HUC3005 ELE page.