FAQs

Studying abroad offers numerous benefits, including the opportunity to experience a new culture, enhance language skills and gain a global perspective, both personally and towards your academic pursuits. It can also increase your employability appeal and help you develop valuable life skills. 

Study abroad opportunities vary depending on your degree scheme. Begin by checking our helpful guide on what you can do within your degree on our eligibility webpage. 

Please note that you should always check with your departmental coordinator about what options are available/feasible to you. 

In the first instance, students should reach out to their Departmental Exchange Coordinator, whose details you can find under the relevant subject header, to express their interest in studying abroad. 

If you are on a 3-year degree scheme hoping to take on a semester abroad, you should indicate your interest in your 1st year. 

If you are on a 4-year degree scheme (including an integrated year abroad of studying/integrated year in industry), you should begin speaking to your departmental coordinator about your plans for this year in your 2nd year. 

Deadlines for submitting your choices to your departments are as follows: 

• Semester 1 and Full Year: January* 
• Semester 2: May 

*If you are interested in studying abroad at a Japanese university, these choices should be indicated by December due to earlier deadlines and application processes. 

Further details on the process can be found on our webpage. 

If you are studying at a partner university, you must choose 30 ECTS (60 AU credits) from the modules available per semester. The grades from these modules will not contribute to your overall grades at Aberystwyth. Credits studied abroad are transferred on a pass/fail basis. This means that they do not affect your AU average, but you do have to pass the correct number of credits to fulfil your degree requirements.

For those who are taking an elective semester studying abroad, module choice is very important and could limit your choice of available placements. Although you will not add any time to your degree, it will place a heavier weight on your grades in the Aberystwyth semester of that year. 

If you are a Joint-Honours student, you must be careful with your module choices and speak to both Departmental Coordinators to ensure that you fulfil the required credits for each subject. 

Studying on an integrated year abroad placement provides the maximum flexibility as to what you can study.

Please note that your department may require you to complete some assessed work or a portfolio during your time abroad but this can be confirmed with your Departmental Coordinator. 

Most of our partner universities offer modules taught in English. If you don't speak the host country's language, check their course catalogue or module list to make sure they offer enough credits (30 ECTS) in your subject taught in English.

If you are going to a non-English-speaking country, learning even a little of the language will contribute greatly to your experience and your skills and make your time abroad easier and more enjoyable. There are many free apps that can help you get started. 

You can also learn a new language or improve existing language skills through Aberystwyth's Modern Languages lifelong learning programme and/or Language Exchange Platform

Whilst on an exchange study placement, you will not pay any tuition fees to your host university. You continue to pay Aberystwyth University tuition as normal, if going abroad for a single semester. If on an integrated year abroad (study/in industry) you will pay a reduced tuition fee.

If you are in receipt of a maintenance loan from Student Finance (UK), you will continue to receive this during a study exchange placement abroad. However, students who take on an industrial placement will need to confirm their eligibility for receiving their maintenance loan with their Student Loan Company, as this may depend on the type of placement they are taking/where the placement is located/duration of the placement. 

You do not pay for student accommodation at Aberystwyth University while you are abroad, however it is recommended that you stick with university accommodation for your Aberystwyth semester when you wish to go for a semester abroad. 

Students wishing to take a semester abroad are advised to apply for a full year licence and once further details of your place at your host university and arrangements have been secured and confirmed, you can let the Accommodation team know that you no longer need a full year licence and in the event that you are going in Semester 1, the contract can be cancelled and in the event that you are going in Semester 2, you can let the team know that you will be moving out at the end of Semester 1. 

You will need to apply for accommodation if you want to live on campus when you return from studying abroad, but please note that 2nd years are not guaranteed university accommodation. (timelines and deadlines should be confirmed with the Accommodation Office).

Most likely, yes. The requirements vary depending on the country you are going to and your own nationality (e.g. EU citizens will not require a visa to study abroad in an EU country, however non-EU citizens will).  

Your host university and Global Opportunities will aim to sign-post you to the required, accurate information provided by the relevant authorities. 

Yes, things do not always go to plan!