SEMESTER ABROAD GUIDE 2019-20 - PROGRAMMES PROGRAMMES UEA STUDY ABROAD & EXCHANGE
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SEMESTER ABROAD GUIDE 2019-20
UEA STUDY ABROAD & EXCHANGE
PROGRAMMES
PROGRAMMES
Study Abroad Office
Arts HUB Reception
01603 591871
studyabroad@uea.ac.uk
www.uea.ac.uk/study/study-abroad
Facebook: University of East Anglia - Study Abroad Office
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Timeline – preparation and semester abroad 4-5
How we contact you 6
Academic eligibility 6-7
Preferences of allocation 7-9
The allocation and application process 10-11
Finances 12-16
Immigration 16
Learning Agreements 16
Academic requirements abroad 17-18
Academic requirements per UEA School 19-26
American Studies 19-20
Art and Media 21-22
Forensic Chemistry 23
Literature, Drama and Creative Writing and History 24
Politics, Philosophy and Language and Communication Studies 25-26
Cautions 27
Health & Safety and Risk Assessment Form 27-28
Concerns while abroad 28-30
Culture Shock, Homesickness, General safety 30-32
Returning to UEA - Transcripts, Final year Accommodation, Reverse culture shock 32
Appendices UEA partner universities 33
Samples of estimated costs & Proof of funds required
for visa application 33-36
Sample Learning Agreement (Non-Europe & Europe) 37-38
Sample marking systems 39
Sample budget worksheet 40
Sample Course Levels and Glossary 41
Study Abroad Academic Co-ordinators 41
2
INTRODUCTION
This guide is intended to help you through the preparations for studying abroad under the UEA
Study Abroad programme, and to give you some useful advice on academic requirements,
choosing your destination, applying to our partner universities, finances and immigration
questions, among other things.
We would advise you to read through this guide once to get an overview, and then go through
each section in order to make sure that you have covered everything. A very important section in
this guide is the Timeline, indicating important dates and deadlines for you to be aware of.
This guide has been produced by the Study Abroad Office. We are the office within the University
of East Anglia that provides the central administration for the Study Abroad and Exchange
programmes and we are also able to give general non-academic advice to individual students
about their study opportunities abroad.
We advise students at our Study Abroad Reception Desk in the Arts Hub:
Study Abroad Office – Outgoing Team
postal address: Room Arts 0.71
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1603 591871
studyabroad@uea.ac.uk
www.uea.ac.uk/study/study-abroad
Facebook: University of East Anglia - Study Abroad Office
NB: Students on a semester abroad to Europe need to consult the Erasmus Guide too. We will
be updating the Erasmus Guide according to the Brexit process effects on the programme.
3
Semester Abroad Timeline
WHEN? ACTIVITY
Autumn EXPLORE
semester Contemplate and reflect on goals for studying abroad (academic, career, personal)
2018 Express interest to Study Abroad Office
Explore our partner universities on our website; research countries and cities of interest
Start saving money
Focus on getting good grades (your allocation will be affected by this)
All HUM students will be emailed a presentation with further information
January – CHOOSE
March Talk to your Study Abroad Academic Co-ordinator
2019 Attend Introductory Briefing and Destination Fair on Wednesday 6th February 2019
Research your options further using the availability list & attend additional workshops
as appropriate
Speak to returning students at UEA about their experience; contact incoming exchange
students from the destinations you are interested in
Shortlist your choices and submit the online Preference Form by 3pm on Friday 5th
April 2019
Save more money!
Keep getting good grades!
Still choose your modules for the next academic year at UEA from mid-March 2019!
March – FIND OUT
June 2019 Find out where you have been allocated (provisionally) by 3rd May 2019
Accept your allocation and Study Abroad Commitment (to be returned by 17th May
2019)
Apply/renew your passport if necessary (your passport should be for valid 6 months
after your return date!)
We will nominate you to study at the partner University
Keep up the habit of saving money for your semester abroad!!
July 2019 Find out whether you have achieved the minimum overall grade for your first year of
studies at UEA
Summer - APPLY
Sept/Oct Keep checking UEA emails for correspondence from Study Abroad
2019 Apply to study at your host University directly after receiving their guidelines
Is your passport valid for an appropriate period (i.e. 6 months after your return)?
Check all other supporting paperwork!
Work over the summer, save money
Attend the spring semester Application Workshop (Wednesday 25th September 2019)
September FINALISE APPLICATION
2019 • Visa application (if required)
• Choose / finalise module choices at host university
• Apply for accommodation abroad if not done so
October GET READY
2019 Copy all your documents and credit cards, leave one copy at home and take one with
you & originals
IF AVAILABLE AFTER BREXIT - Apply for Erasmus Grant if going to European
destination
Compile a list of emergency and other phone numbers (of host Uni and home)
Follow the news about host country, research host city more
Make packing list for your semester abroad
Prepare an advert and photographs to promote renting your Norwich room out
4November- PRE-DEPARTURE
December Attend our Pre-departure event on Wednesday 20th November 2019 (TBC)
2019 Advertise your Norwich accommodation e.g. on HOMERUN website & Facebook Study
Abroad Exchange Forum
Prepare things that will comfort you when you need it to help settling in to your new
environment – be prepared for some degree of culture shock when you arrive.
Complete your online Risk Assessment Form
Become familiar with the UK Embassy closest to your host university
Use your checklists to make sure you have everything ready for departure & prepare a
travel file
Copy all important documents and credit cards. Leave one copy at home and take one
with you (passport, other photo ID, credit cards…)
Check your final choices with your Study Abroad Academic Co-ordinator
Buy some tea and other home comforts!
Say your goodbyes and get ready for your adventure abroad
January Remember that culture shock / homesickness will strike and that it is normal that you
2020 / will need time to settle in and adjust to your new surroundings & culture
Departure Visit Study Abroad Office at host university and attend orientation days
and Ensure you have returned your Learning Agreement of final module choices
settling in Attend your academic classes
to study Join clubs and travel during breaks
abroad Write for our blog please
Regularly use your UEA email account or you will be locked out!
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE STUDY ABROAD OFFICE AT UEA and your UEA Study
Abroad Academic Co-ordinator and Academic Advisors!
5HOW WE CONTACT YOU
Your UEA email account
The Study Abroad Office will use students’ UEA email addresses for all correspondence, both
during the preparation year and when students are abroad. We advise you to check this account
regularly, especially to ensure students are not locked out completely. Re-setting of UEA
passwords have to be done by the IT Helpdesk which can take some time.
E-Vision
Students should also consult their E-Vision regularly as schools and Hubs use this for interaction
with all students.
Social media
Don’t forget to contact us in the Study Abroad Office to tell us how you are doing! We love to hear
about students’ experiences and what you have been up to. Please also use our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/UEAStudyAbroadOfficial and Twitter account @UEAStudyAbroad. If you
have any great photos, we would love to receive these too, and maybe even use them on our
website or blog and other promotional tools, if you are happy for us to do so.
Blog
We kindly invite you to visit the Study Abroad blog regularly to see what your fellow students are
up to on their study placements. If you would like to contribute to the blog with interesting stories
from your own travels, then please do write a piece for us. You can get involved by contacting
studyabroad@uea.ac.uk and we will make sure your stories get posted. Any great photos or
videos are also more than welcome!
You can find our blog here: https://ueaontheroad.wordpress.com
ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
For all UEA Schools with a semester abroad, the eligibility requirements can be found in
the ‘Academic Requirements per UEA School’ section of this Guide
HUM students
Passing Year 1 at first attempt with an overall aggregate of 55% in year 1 to enrol upon semester
abroad. Students referred to reassessment in Year 1 shall not be permitted to undertake a
semester abroad. Year 2: Students are expected to have completed all work for the autumn
semester before commencing the semester abroad, except where an autumn semester module
has an assessment deadline in the spring semester. Where this is the case this work must be
handed in by the due date.
Forensic Chemistry
Passing Year 2 at first attempt with an overall aggregate of 60% in year 2 to enrol upon semester
abroad. Students referred to reassessment in Year 2 shall not be permitted to undertake a
semester abroad. Year 3: Students are expected to have completed all work for the autumn
semester before commencing the semester abroad, except where an autumn semester module
has an assessment deadline in the spring semester. Where this is the case this work must be
handed in by the due date.
6Eligibility of borderline candidates is at the discretion of the Board of Examiners and the Director
of Study Abroad within each School of Study. Please maintain contact with your academic Study
Abroad Coordinator and the Study Abroad Office if in doubt about your academic status.
Extenuating Circumstances
Factors (personal or medical) affecting previous or current academic performance at UEA should
be brought to the attention of the Study Abroad Coordinator and the Study Abroad Office and you
should also submit an extenuating circumstances form to the LTS Hub which will ensure this
information is available to the Extenuating Circumstances Panel and/or Board of Examiners for
consideration. Should there be reason for concern over your ability to perform academically whilst
abroad, you must contact your Study Abroad Coordinator and the Study Abroad Office
immediately.
Disclosure of health conditions
In order to ensure that you are able to complete the programme, if you have circumstances
relating to your academic performance in the past and/or which may affect your academic
performance in the future [e.g. dyslexia, depression, anxiety, etc] you must disclose these on
your online Semester Abroad Preference and Consent form. It is also important to include any
special circumstances on your host University application so that they are aware of any extra
assistance which you may require during your study period.
Academic Misconduct
Any student found guilty of infringement of UEA’s academic code of conduct, including but not
limited to plagiarism, collusion, or cheating may be required to transfer out of the Semester
Abroad Programme.
The University has a primary obligation to its students, but the University also has an important
secondary obligation to the Universities with whom we have long-standing learning, research and
teaching relationships.
All exchange students are ambassadors of UEA and should be aware that their conduct will be
noted by their host university and be reported back to UEA. Exchange students are key to our
continued partnerships and the future expansion of the Study Abroad Programme.
PREFERENCES OF ALLOCATION:
choosing where to study abroad
During the first year of studies at UEA, three year degree students will complete an online
Semester Abroad Preference and Consent Form including a personal statement (max 1000
words) of your reasons for studying abroad and the reasons for your choices. Responses are
used by the Selection Committee to allocate students to partner universities.
Where / how to find information about partner universities?
Attend the Study Abroad Briefing Talk on 6th February 2019, where you will be guided
through the process of selecting and applying for your Semester Abroad.
Consult the library of partner University catalogues available from the Study Abroad Library
in the Arts Hub. Access is generally from 9.00-17.00 on weekdays, no appointments are required
for this.
7 Review questionnaires completed by students in previous years, also available from the
Study Abroad library. These give a ‘student-oriented' viewpoint of each University and are
extremely informative; however, as they are completely personal opinions, you should read them
objectively as students may have completely different perspectives and experiences of the same
University, city or country.
Contact students who have attended/are attending universities you are considering; each
will have valuable insights into that university from a personal perspective.
What factors could influence your choice?
Academic factors
Do the Universities/Colleges I am considering run modules that match or complement my
course at UEA (i.e., Film, Politics, History, Literature …)?
Does the University offer unique modules, research centres, or academic departments,
which might enhance my degree (e.g., Languages, Journalism, Native Studies, Colonial
Studies, Gender Studies, Regional Linguistics, Film Making, etc.)?
Are there renowned scholars or symposia with whom I might be able to connect?
How will this University enhance my own research?
Is the University or College going to fit my academic style?
All of our Partner Universities partners are well-ranked, both nationally and (many) internationally.
However, learning style and expectations differ from university to university; some are more
demanding than others. For example, some (e.g. Reed College) pride themselves on their
studious reputation. Be honest with yourself about your academic expectations.
Size of partner university
What size is the host university?
How large is the city?
How large is the state/territory/region?
How large is the country (or continent)?
Size does matter. Some universities have very large, sprawling campuses or extremely large
populations – some of our partners enrol more than 40,000 students. This is not to indicate that
the experience is any less engaging, and universities of this size will offer a wide range of
entertainment, social organisations and academic opportunity. Some universities are quite
community orientated and offer a very friendly, cosy atmosphere.
Some cities (such as San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles) are large urban areas (but also
with a much higher cost of living). Some may have fantastic public transport. Some may have
international airports. Some small towns may be extremely welcoming and easy to navigate!
Decide how you will most quickly and easily adjust to the different culture and lifestyle.
Note that the size of a university may not indicate the size of the city/ town/ village where it sits.
One of our partners has 2,000 students but is in a city of 4 million. Make sure that city population
+ campus population fit for you!
University Type
Universities typically have graduate departments and are typically (although not universally)
larger than Colleges.
Colleges (in USA and Japan) focus usually on primarily undergraduate teaching and tend to
be much smaller. They may offer limited graduate programmes, such as in Education or
8Business. Classes will have lower numbers enrolled and a high level of engagement is expected
in the classroom.
Semesters – most of our partner universities have two semesters. In North America
(including Latin America), this follows an August / September to May calendar. In Australasia and
Asia, the academic year runs from February or March or April to December.
Quarters – some North American partners may follow a quarter system, with four academic
terms offered in a 12 month period. For the equivalency of a semester at UEA, students will enrol
in one or two terms, or quarters, depending on the Partner University’s specific semester dates
and duration.
Finances
How much will it cost?
How much can I afford?
How much will I spend on travel and entertainment?
The cost of living is higher in some regions, states, or cities (particularly California, New York,
Hawaii, Melbourne and Sydney) and the exchange Study Abroad Agreements vary considerably
in what costs are required (e.g., on-campus accommodation, mandatory meal plan, mandatory
health insurance, registration or student activity fees, etc.). A budget template can be found in
the appendices to assist you with assessing your own financial plans for your semester abroad
and also every partner university will list estimated costs of living (or costs of attendance)
on their website so research this yourself fully. Additionally, you should refer to the ‘Samples
of estimated costs & proof of funds required for visa applications’ section in the Appendices for
information from host universities which you will be required to show as part of the visa application
(January–April). You will be required to prove you have access to at least the minimum amount
of funds stated to support yourself abroad in the form of current & savings bank statements,
guarantor/sponsor letters, student finance letter, etc.
University of California – we have an exchange partnership with the University of California
(UC) under their Reciprocal Exchanges Education Abroad Program (UCEAP). Students allocated
to UC by UEA will apply for their top 3 choices of a UC campus as part of the application process
(excluding San Francisco as that is a medical graduate school). It is then for UCEAP to make the
final selection of UC campus to be allocated based on the student’s study plan (advised in May).
What are the chances of being sent to my first choice?
When completing your 2019-20 Semester Abroad Preference and Consent Form, please ensure
that you are willing to go to any of your listed 6 choices. Occasionally, after careful
consideration and discussion with you, we may allocate you to a University/College you have not
listed.
The Selection Committee makes every effort to accommodate individual student preferences, but
FIRST CHOICES ARE BY NO MEANS GUARANTEED. Please do not have your heart set on
only one university.
If there is high demand for particular universities, students’ performance in their first year of study
(or A-levels) and the personal statement on the preference form may be taken into account. Also
an interview may be conducted at the discretion of either your School or the Study Abroad Office.
Spaces available at each partner vary from year to year, based upon both outgoing and
incoming student mobility numbers from previous years. We also ask for each of you to be
willing to recruit visiting students to UEA from your host university while you are there to keep the
exchanges flowing!
9THE ALLOCATION PROCESS
Semester Abroad Preference and Consent Form
The link to an online preference and consent form will be given to each student after the February
briefing. Please note that each student must submit the Semester Abroad Preference and
Consent Form with EIGHT preferences for a host university (available for your School/degree)
before we will be able to allocate to a host university.
Please submit the online 2019-20 Semester Abroad Preference and Consent Form by:
Friday 5th APRIL 2019 at 3pm
Failure to submit by the deadline will impact upon the options available to you.
Allocation
The Selection Committee reviews information provided by each student on the 2019-20
Semester Abroad Preference and Consent Form and verifies marks from the First Year in the
summer after year 1 and an interview may be conducted at the discretion of either your School
or the Study Abroad Office. Students will be initially ranked based on academic performance, with
top students receiving higher choice allocations.
Students will be notified of provisional allocations as soon as possible, and depending on the
numbers applying, allocations may not be complete until after the Easter holiday, provisionally by
3rd May 2019. All allocations are provisional and remain subject to: your written
confirmation of your acceptance of your placement by 17th May 2019; and also acceptance
by your host university of your nomination.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
The Study Abroad Office provides assistance with your application throughout the weeks / months
before the deadline the host University gives for applications, including holding an application
workshop (date TBC but provisionally Wednesday 25th September 2019). Attendance is not
compulsory but we strongly recommend you attend to ensure that your application is completed
properly and it will be a chance for you to ask important questions about your application form
and other required documents.
The application process is fairly straightforward for most universities, there are online and
possibly paper forms to fill out and you will have to upload or mail copies of your official documents
such as your passport or transcripts. Forms and data required by Partner Universities vary a lot
and each student should take care to provide all required information.
NB: please be aware of differing date formats from country to country (e.g. North America and
Japan dates usually follow the format mm/dd/yyyy). This is important because your date of birth
is used for issuance of immigration documentation, which is critical for your ability to travel to your
destination(s).
You must ensure that you retain copies of all documents for your own records (e.g. bank
statements/financial support letters, admission letters, medical forms, etc.).
Our office will give you your transcript of your first year once we have access to it. Please email
(studyabroad@uea.ac.uk) or call us with any queries you may have.
10The application
Most application packets will include the items listed below:
Application Form – to apply directly for exchange studies at the host university. This form is
provided to you by the Study Abroad Office or directly by the partner university, following
allocations and nominations.
Personal Statement – usually a short essay outlining your reasons for wanting to study
abroad, your personal and academic interests, etc.
Passport – most universities will require a copy of the photo page of your passport. Please
check that your passport will be valid for at least 6 months after the end of your period of study
abroad.
Proof of Finances – most non-European universities will require evidence of your ability to
support yourself during your period of study at the time of submitting your application. This
may be through Government financial support statements, letters of support, scholarship awards,
student loan history, etc. (further details can be found below). Acceptable documentation will be
outlined and clarified in more detail at application workshops.
Letter of Recommendation – will be co-ordinated by the Study Abroad Office on your behalf.
Transcript or Marks Statement – will be produced by the Study Abroad Office free of charge
on your behalf over the summer. Your Transcript will just show your completed modules and
approved grades for your first year after the results are confirmed by your School board. If your
host university also wants proof of the classes you are registered in at UEA for your second year,
then we will also need to provide a Marks Statement. Please let us know if you need this printed
out or emailed to you.
Academic Reference Letter/s – you will need to co-ordinate these, if required by your host
university, with an UEA academic that knows you best.
Intent to Return or Certificate of Enrolment – students bound for America and Japan will
require a letter from UEA confirming enrolment at UEA for the full duration of their degree to prove
the intent to return to the UK. This letter will be produced by the Study Abroad Office for you.
Non-online Application forms will be checked and posted (or emailed, if allowed, with encryption)
from the Study Abroad Office on each student’s behalf if this is required by the host university.
Application forms or supporting documents to be posted will be due to Study Abroad Reception
by stated deadlines, which will be communicated via email after allocations have been made. NB:
UEA internal deadlines may be 3-4 weeks earlier than the deadlines on the actual forms, due to
the documentation the office will produce to accompany each student’s application and the time
needed for posting to the host university.
Failure to meet UEA internal deadlines may result in student applications not being posted on
your behalf by the Study Abroad Office and/or the loss of allocation. Obviously, you also need to
be diligent with all deadlines set by your host University for the return of any additional forms –
especially housing! University administrative systems and attitudes vary enormously; you MUST
NOT presume that they will be able to be flexible to forms being returned after a deadline has
been missed. For example, certain partners have been quite explicit that if a UEA student misses
the housing deadline, which may be before the application submission deadline, they will NOT
be allocated university on-campus accommodation.
11FINANCES
It’s no secret… Travel and study abroad costs money.
However, careful, advance planning will ensure that you are ready for your time abroad and avoid
any unnecessary stress and poverty…!
Can you afford to study abroad?
1. How much have you already saved?
2. How much will you be able to save between now and your planned departure?
3. Will you have any help from family or other people?
4. Will you be eligible for any scholarships?
5. Will you be able to work at all during your semester abroad (note immigration rules vary by
country AND in the US, by university – based on which immigration document each university
issues to exchange students)?
To help you think about the money you will need, a sample
budget worksheet is included in the appendices. Start now
to do your research; it will serve you well, not only for this
experience, but also in general life!
Basic Fees
Most of the University’s partner agreements follow a direct reciprocal exchange structure. As an
eligible student on a semester exchange, you pay full UEA tuition fees for the year but no tuition
fees abroad.
Tuition-only exchange – most of our agreements involve a straightforward tuition
exchange. Each exchange student pays the host university or other parties abroad for all
other expenses: accommodation, local transport, meal plans, lab fees, sports facilities or
other student fees, etc.
However, there are two exceptions in the USA:
1. Tuition + room exchange – one agreement (University of Redlands) includes the cost of
campus housing in the exchange. UEA students going abroad on a Tuition + Room exchange
will pay housing costs equal to the Village at UEA, for their semester abroad. The outgoing
student will be billed this amount by UEA, and the outgoing student pays no further housing
costs to the University of Redlands.
2. Tuition + room + board exchange – two agreements (Roanoke College and Middlebury
College) include both housing and food costs in the exchange. UEA students going out on a
Tuition + Room + Board exchange will pay room and board costs calculated by the Study
12Abroad Office using UEA estimated Village room and general food costs for incoming
exchange students. The outgoing student will be billed this amount by UEA.
Please bear in mind that in some US states (some universities in California, Hawaii, Alaska, New
York for example) and major cities in Australia renting off-campus accommodation can be very
expensive (not to mention scarce) and you are strongly advised to take on-campus
accommodation – and at some universities, on-campus housing may be required for
undergraduate students. However, this does depend on the individual housing contracts that vary
from university to university – do your research and check the situation out. Please remember
to adhere to all host University deadlines for housing.
Remember this general rule: ALL outgoing students pay for accommodation when they go
abroad, regardless of the type of agreement UEA has with the host university. In other
words, if you don’t sublet your room in Norwich, you will pay double accommodation fees
for the spring semester.
NSP Bursary Holders
Please note that students who receive NSP bursaries, will remain eligible for a bursary while
undertaking their semester abroad placement. Bursary payments will be made in the normal
proportions of 25:25:50 over the academic year.
For more information, visit http://www.uea.ac.uk/planning/UEA-Bursaries-and-Scholarships
Student Loans Company (SLC) / Student Finance England or Wales
(SFE/SFW)
If you will be spending time abroad as part of your degree programme and are in receipt of
financial support from the Student Loans Company/Student Finance, please read the following
details:
When completing your finance application for the next academic year please ensure you have
indicated that you will be spending time away from the UEA. You should be able to do this through
your online application or via the paper forms from the Student Finance Webpages. Be careful
not to start a new application though.
Whilst carrying out your financial assessment, the Student Loans Company/Student Finance may
require the UEA to confirm details of your placement and provide evidence of this. In order for
our Student Loans Liaison to promptly provide this information, please complete the following
form (still applicate for semester abroad students) https://portal.uea.ac.uk/planningoffice/slc/year-
abroad-students. You should aim to complete this as soon as possible but by the end of May is
best so that Student Finance has time to get it right before you go.
You may also be asked by Student Finance to complete a Course Abroad Form. If so, you
should complete the first section of the form (including the details of your host university name,
their address, your UEA degree title and the academic calendar dates and then pass it to the
Study Abroad Office for checking and onward processing to the Student Finance Liaison Officer
for signing and returning to Student Finance on behalf of UEA.
Student Finance Travel Grant
Students planning on taking a semester abroad may be eligible to apply for a Travel Grant.
Further details about this will be posted here http://www.uea.ac.uk/planning/slc/yearabroad by
13the Student Loans Company liaison team. More information can also be found at
www.gov.uk/travel-grants-students-england/eligibility.
The amount you get depends on your total household income; travel grants are income assessed.
You must pay the first £303 of your travel costs (or £309 for students from Northern Ireland) - and
your travel grant will be reduced by £1 for each £8.97 of household income over £39,796.
If eligible, you can claim for (info from globalgraduates.com):
one or more return journeys between the UK and the overseas university you are studying at,
depending on the total duration of your studies abroad,
mandatory medical insurance, visas and medical expenses for the purpose of studying abroad
a rate of 24p per mile if you have to travel by car
Keep your travel costs as low as possible without being impractical (economy flights, etc.).
Proof of Financial Support
For most visa applications, applicants must provide proof of financial support. This will usually be
requested at the time of application for enrolment at the host university. The amount required to
prove varies by university and country; however, the amount that you must prove is NOT
necessarily the amount of money you will end up spending. You may spend more or less,
depending on your personal lifestyle of shopping, travel, going out, etc.
For proof of financial support, the following are generally acceptable forms of funds, including a
combination of all sources:
Personal bank accounts (current and savings)
Parental or guardian accounts (current and savings), if accompanied by sponsor or guarantor
letter(s) stating the funds available to you
Student loans and maintenance grant (proved with current year’s (2018-2019) paperwork)
until your 2019-20 paperwork is available (Tuition fee loans are not applicable)
Scholarship and / or bursary award letter
The following are NOT generally acceptable forms of proof:
Stock accounts
Bond accounts
Other non-liquid assets (property, stocks etc.)
Credit card allowance and overdrafts
Please note that bank statements must be original (on headed paper) documents and some host
universities require the bank/building society to stamp the documents. Online bank statements
are usually NOT acceptable proof of funds. Additionally, please not that it can take up to six
weeks to order official statements from bank/building societies.
Additional Costs
Over and above the money you will spend on housing, food, travel and books, the following are
expenses you should not forget about:
Flights - Depending on your circumstances you may be entitled to claim back some travel
costs incurred as part of your course. Please read the next two sections for further details. We
14strongly recommend that you DO NOT buy your flight ticket until you have your visa approved
and in your passport.
Mandatory fees - Please note some universities charge a fee for sports, student activities,
orientation, etc. whether or not you are interested in these services. These mandatory fees are
compulsory for all students and must be paid. Some universities also charge an administrative
fee for application which is also mandatory and must be paid. Bankers’ drafts are acceptable if
credit card is not possible.
Compulsory meal plans - These are often compulsory at American universities as they don’t
all have accommodation options with kitchens and so if you would prefer to cook for yourself, or
are concerned over costs, please research the accommodation options fully at all your selected
preferences.
Medical costs - Some universities /countries require students to have an X-ray, blood tests,
vaccinations and/or medical history results sent to them with your application and/or before your
arrival. The UEA Medical Centre will contact you during the spring semester via email or letter in
your pigeonhole regarding required tests and Clinics. Please note medical forms and/or
immunisation certificates may be charged for.
Information about travel vaccines and reports can all be found on their website
www.umsuea.co.uk. If you click on Travel Health, you will find information about travel vaccines
and prices. If you click on Reports and Certificates > Non NHS Fees, you will find information
about medical reports and costs, how long they take to be processed and where there are
associated fees. If you are going to Japan you will be required to complete a medical report and
most of our Japanese Host Universities will require a TB-test and a Lung Scan to be sent with
your application. NB: Malaysia (re: Monash Malaysia campus) carry out medical screening on
arrival.
Visa(s) - Visa costs vary from country to country and may depend on your nationality. Also
budget for your trip(s) to the embassy of your destination (e.g. London). All International students
are required to complete a monthly UKVI monitoring form whilst at their host university as required
by the UK Government as part of their Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.
Insurance - Most universities and colleges require participation in their own health insurance
schemes. Should you select to purchase your own UK-based insurance, please do verify in
advance that it will be accepted as equivalent suitable health insurance by your host university
and you can waive their own insurance. Insurance is not all-purpose and may be deemed invalid
by your host university. Do your research before you depart! Also check if your health insurance
covers the outbound and return flights or whether you need (one-way travel insurance to cover
these periods). For all Australian universities you will need OSHC from one of a number of
providers that will be supplied to you by your host university. Work placement students can
apply for free travel insurance from UEA if connected with a credit bearing placement as part of
their degree: https://portal.uea.ac.uk/finance/insurance/travel.
Scholarships
Luckily, there are some scholarships available! This is not a complete list, and more information
will be available based upon allocations.
BUTEX Scholarships are competitive scholarships available to students studying abroad from
a university within the UK. Please see www.butex.ac.uk.
15Some universities in Australia and Japan (JASSO) have scholarships available, which generally
cover all or part of travel and living costs (e.g. Flinders University, La Trobe, University of
Newcastle and University of Canberra). These are based on government funding and are not
necessarily available annually. They may be between $500 AUD to $5,000 AUD for a year or
80,000 Japanese Yen per month (approx. £570). However, these may not be announced until
after allocations, due to the vagaries of international government funding and fiscal years and so
should not be relied upon during your budgeting.
Also some American universities may also offer scholarships to their incoming students, but again
these can vary from year to year and again may not be announced until after allocations, however
eligible students will be contacted as information becomes available.
Accommodation
If you have arranged accommodation for the whole academic year at UEA you will most likely
want to sublet your room whilst you are away on your semester abroad. Check with your landlord
and housemates that they are OK with this before signing anything. You can advertise your room
on the SU’s HomeRun site: http://www.homerunstudentpad.co.uk/Pages/Homelet
The Study Abroad office will also create a specific Facebook group open to spring 2020 semester
abroad students where they can advertise rooms to Incoming Study Abroad students.
IMMIGRATION
It is a good idea to start researching the student visa requirements and restrictions (such as
the possibility of working in the host country) as early as possible. Information and help will be
provided by the Study Abroad Office. However, information provided by our office is not a
substitute for official immigration instructions, usually available through your host university or
online. It is our best effort to provide you with the up to date information that we have, but it is not
to be considered a statement of responsibility on the part of the University.
Each student is personally responsible for obtaining and maintaining immigration status
during the semester abroad.
All student visa applications will require a passport which will be valid for at least 6 months after
the end of your period of study abroad. If you don’t have a passport, we would recommend you
start the application process for a new passport as soon as possible.
LEARNING AGREEMENTS
All students are required to complete a personal learning agreement covering their period abroad.
Documents will be emailed to students before departure to the host country.
Blank document will be issued to students in their pre-departure pack and also emailed
before their study placement begins.
During first week of semester abroad - check registered for correct number of credits
(same as full time student at host), they are at the correct level and all are academic credit
(GPA) bearing (not pass/fail) as per your School’s Academic Requirements (see the
section for your School in the Appendices) and that your School co-ordinator / advisor has
16approved your choices - fill in and then get host university to approve by signing and
stamping
Scan or take a clear photo of the Learning Agreement back to the Study Abroad Office at
UEA within 1 week of the start of your semester for UEA approval.
We will forward the Learning Agreement to your School’s co-ordinator their approval and
contact you if there are any problems so that you can change modules/classes if needs
be still for that semester.
Learning Agreements are to be returned to the Study Abroad Office within one week after the
start of classes at the host university and must be approved by your School’s Academic Co-
ordinator BEFORE your host university closes the system to allow further changes to your
academic schedule. A scan of the document can be emailed to studyabroad@uea.ac.uk. Please
familiarise yourself with the example Study Abroad Learning Agreement (Europe and Non-
Europe) in the appendices and also samples will be shown to students in the application
workshop.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS ABROAD
Arrive at your host University on time for orientation programmes! These are often
compulsory to attend and are always very informative and an opportunity to meet other
exchange students and host student ambassadors.
Register for a full-time course of study AND double check the number of credits which
equate to a full-course load. This may vary by country and/or university. For example, at most
universities on a semester system in the USA, this will typically be at least 12 credit hours
(approximately 4 academic modules) per semester. Enrolment on less than full-time study will
invalidate your immigration status. Also DO NOT rely on other exchange students!
Please note that if your School’s academic requirements state that you should take all
modules at 300-level / Junior or above (400 level / Senior), that refers to the course level system
in America. Many other universities also follow the American system, which is 4-year degree
system, e.g. Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea. European and Australasian partner universities
generally follow the UK 3-year degree, your modules should be at ‘Junior’ or ‘Senior’ level. Also
first year modules or pass/fail modules (often online) will not usually be allowed to be taken
abroad unless they are extra to the minimum course load. Please refer to the course levels and
glossary section in the appendices.
Enrol on appropriate modules (known as classes in America) as directed by your School of
Study. Most UEA Schools of study require at least HALF of the modules to be in the Major subject
area and to be ‘advanced’ (at third year level or higher). No first year classes or pass/fail modules
(often online) will be allowed unless they are extra to the minimum course load. Also ensure you
are enrolled in credit-bearing academic class/modules.
Notify the UEA Study Abroad Office of final module (class) selections by submitting your
Learning Agreement. This verification of your schedule is required to ensure that you are
meeting all academic regulations for your degree.
Engage in your classes. Do not assume that another academic system will be stereotypically
easier than the UK system. In some systems, failure to attend classes can detrimentally
impact your academic marks or preclude you from completing your semester abroad,
which could have consequences on your UEA degree completion.
17 Either Pass all modules/class at host university (according to their criteria) or Maintain an
overall 2.75 grade point average (GPA) in the US grading system or equivalent (according to the
host university’s criteria) except for Forensic Chemistry (see Academic Requirements section of
this guide).
Request official transcripts from each Host University (which should be free of charge) to
be sent directly to the UEA Study Abroad Office no later than 1 July 2020, BEFORE departing
from your Host university! This is critical, as you will not be allowed to re-register at UEA until this
is received. The Transcript will also need to be available to the Board of Examiners if your marks
are used to determine your degree classification. NB: you will not be issued a Transcript from
your host university if you have any outstanding debts with them which will delay you
progressing into your final year at UEA.
Ask for the transcript to be sent to either: Studyabroad@uea.ac.uk
Or: Study Abroad Office Outgoing Team, Arts 0.71
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park, Earlham Road
Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
18ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS per SCHOOL
Subject to final approval by your School’s academic co-ordinator. All Students should also refer to
The Regulations for Bachelors, Integrated Masters Awards and Certificates 2018/19 (BIM regulations).
AMERICAN STUDIES (only 3 year entry students are permitted to do a semester abroad) (AMA
- AMS)
Eligibility: Passing Year 1 at first attempt with an overall aggregate of 55% in year 1 to enrol upon
semester abroad. Students referred to reassessment in Year 1 shall not be permitted to undertake a
semester abroad. Year 2: Students are expected to have completed all work for the autumn semester
before commencing the semester abroad, except where an autumn semester module has an
assessment deadline in the spring semester. Where this is the case this work must be handed in by
the due date.
Extenuating Circumstances:
Factors (personal or medical) that are affecting your ability to maintain your academic performance at
UEA should be brought to the attention of your Adviser and you should submit an extenuating
circumstances form to the LTS Hub who will make these available to the Extenuating Circumstances
Panel for consideration (see Undergraduate Student Handbook for further details). Should there be
reason for concern over your ability to perform academically whilst abroad, you must contact your
School Year Abroad Co-ordinator immediately.
Academic Misconduct:
Should you be found guilty of infringement of the academic code of conduct, including but not limited
to plagiarism, collusion, or cheating, you may be required to transfer out of the Semester Abroad
Programme.
Please be advised that Assessment Boards reserve the right to transfer any student who fails
to meet the above requirements, out of the semester abroad programme.
Marks abroad count toward degree classification: NO
Academic requirements while abroad
Follow agreed programme and modules determined and approved by your School Study Abroad
Co-ordinator.
Register for full-time course of study (the number of actual modules will vary by institution and
depends on the academic year system as well). NB: Failure to enrol fulltime will result in ineligibility to
return to UEA. Additionally, less than fulltime enrolment will jeopardise your visa status.
50% of modules should have a substantial American content. If not studying in the US, at least
50% of modules should have a significant American component or must be related to your host country.
All modules should normally be at 300-level / Junior or above (400 level / Senior), if you are in
America, or at the 2nd year level if a 3-year degree is usual at the host university. No 1st year modules
or pass/fail modules (often online) will be allowed unless they are extra to the minimum course
load. Should there be difficulties regarding your module choices, please contact your Study Abroad
Co-ordinator as soon as possible for advice. At universities with a different numbering system, modules
should be at ‘Junior’ or ‘Senior’ level.
Maintain an overall 2.75 grade point average (GPA) in the US grading system or equivalent
(according to the host university’s criteria).
Request transcript of grades from host institution BEFORE departing from the host University. It
should be sent to the Study Abroad Office and must arrive by 1 July. If no transcript is received, the
student will be presumed to have failed the Semester Abroad and will be unable to register at UEA.
19Reassessment & Interruption to studies
Failure to maintain at least a 2.75 overall GPA, or equivalent, at the host university (according to
the host university’s criteria) must result in reassessment. In the first instance, students should explore
the possibility of reassessment at their host university. If there are extenuating circumstances, resit
exams might be able to be arranged at UEA during the summer, with the approval of the host
university, LTS and your School at UEA, before re-registration at UEA will be allowed. If reassessment
is not possible at the host university, students will be required to undertake reassessment at UEA
over the summer. Failure to sit reassessment exam(s) and/or failure to re ach the pass mark of the
semester abroad may jeopardise continuation of your course of study at UEA.
If, for any reason, you need to withdraw from your host University, you must notify UEA Study Abroad
Office and your Study Abroad Co-ordinator immediately. You will need to apply for permission from
the University of East Anglia to interrupt your studies for the rest of that academic year, in order to
return to UEA the following spring semester to continue your studies. You will be liable for payment
of fees in accordance with the published cut-off dates: https://www.uea.ac.uk/acad/po/tuitionfees.
Additionally, students will be required to pay back any scholarship or funding received, as well as any
outstanding debts incurred at the Semester Abroad institution (such as accommodation).
20Subject to final approval by your School’s academic co-ordinator. All Students should also refer to The
Regulations for Bachelors, Integrated Masters Awards and Certificates 2018/19 (BIM regulations).
ART AND FILM, TELEVISION & MEDIA (AMA – ART & FTM)
Eligibility: Passing Year 1 at first attempt with an overall aggregate of 55% in year 1 to enrol upon
semester abroad. Students referred to reassessment in Year 1 shall not be permitted to undertake a
semester abroad. Year 2: Students are expected to have completed all work for the autumn semester
before commencing the semester abroad, except where an autumn semester module has an
assessment deadline in the spring semester. Where this is the case this work must be handed in by
the due date.
Extenuating Circumstances:
Factors (personal or medical) that are affecting your ability to maintain your academic performance
at UEA should be brought to the attention of your Adviser and you should submit an extenuating
circumstances form to the LTS Hub who will make these available to the Extenuating Circumstances
Panel for consideration (see Undergraduate Student Handbook for further details). Should there be
reason for concern over your ability to perform academically whilst abroad, you must contact your
School Year Abroad Co-ordinator immediately.
Academic Misconduct:
Should you be found guilty of infringement of the academic code of conduct, including but not limited
to plagiarism, collusion, or cheating, you may be required to transfer out of the Semester Abroad
Programme.
Please be advised that Assessment Boards reserve the right to transfer any student who fails
to meet the above requirements, out of the semester abroad programme.
Marks abroad count toward degree classification: NO
Academic requirements while abroad
Follow agreed programme and modules determined and approved by your School Study Abroad Co-
ordinator.
Register for full-time course of study (the number of actual modules will vary by institution and
depends on the academic year system as well). NB: Failure to enrol full-time will result in ineligibility
to return to UEA. Additionally, less than fulltime enrolment will jeopardise your visa status.
50% of modules must be in your major subject. At least 1 module must be related to your host
country.
All modules should normally be at 300-level / Junior or above (400 level / Senior), if you are in
America, or at the 2nd year level if a 3-year degree is usual at the host university. No 1st year modules
or pass/fail modules (often online) will be allowed unless they are extra to the minimum course load.
Should there be difficulties regarding your module choices, please contact your Study Abroad Co-
ordinator as soon as possible for advice. At universities with a different numbering system, modules
should be at ‘Junior’ or ‘Senior’ level.
Maintain an overall 2.75 grade point average (GPA) in the US grading system or equivalent
(according to the host university’s criteria).
Request transcript of grades from host institution BEFORE departing from the host University. It
should be sent to the Study Abroad Office and must arrive by 1 July. If no transcript is received, the
student will be presumed to have failed the Semester Abroad and will be unable to register at UEA.
Reassessment & Interruption to studies
Failure to maintain at least a 2.75 overall GPA, or equivalent, at the host university (according to
the host university’s criteria) must result in reassessment. In the first instance, students should
explore the possibility of reassessment at their host university. If there are extenuating
21circumstances, resit exams might be able to be arranged at UEA during the summer, with the approval
of the host university, LTS and your School at UEA, before re-registration at UEA will be allowed. If
reassessment is not possible at the host university, students will be required to undertake
reassessment at UEA over the summer. Failure to sit reassessment exam(s) and/or failure to reach
the pass mark of the semester abroad may jeopardise continuation of your course of study at UEA.
If, for any reason, you need to withdraw from your host University, you must notify UEA Study Abroad
Office and your Study Abroad Co-ordinator immediately. You will need to apply for permission from
the University of East Anglia to interrupt your studies for the rest of that academic year, in order to
return to UEA the following spring semester to continue your studies. You will be liable for payment
of fees in accordance with the published cut-off dates: https://www.uea.ac.uk/acad/po/tuitionfees.
Additionally, students will be required to pay back any scholarship or funding received, as well as any
outstanding debts incurred at the Semester Abroad institution (such as accommodation).
22Subject to final approval by your School’s academic co-ordinator. All Students should also refer to The
Regulations for Bachelors, Integrated Masters Awards and Certificates 2018/19 (BIM regulations).
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY (CHEM)
Eligibility: Passing Year 2 at first attempt with an overall aggregate of 60% in year 2 to enrol upon
semester abroad. Students referred to reassessment in Year 2 shall not be permitted to undertake a
semester abroad. Year 3: Students are expected to have completed all work for the autumn semester
before commencing the semester abroad, except where an autumn semester module has an
assessment deadline in the spring semester. Where this is the case this work must be handed in by
the due date.
Extenuating Circumstances:
Factors (personal or medical) that are affecting your ability to maintain your academic performance
at UEA should be brought to the attention of your Adviser and you should submit an extenuating
circumstances form to the LTS Hub who will make these available to the Extenuating Circumstances
Panel for consideration (see Undergraduate Student Handbook for further details). Should there be
reason for concern over your ability to perform academically whilst abroad, you must contact your
School Year Abroad Co-ordinator immediately.
Academic Misconduct:
Should you be found guilty of infringement of the academic code of conduct, including but not limited
to plagiarism, collusion, or cheating, you may be required to transfer out of the Semester Abroad
Programme.
Please be advised that Assessment Boards reserve the right to transfer any student who fails
to meet the above requirements, out of the semester abroad programme.
Marks abroad count toward degree classification: YES
Academic requirements while abroad
Register for full-time course of study (the number of actual modules will vary by institution and
depends on the academic year system as well). NB: Failure to enrol fulltime will result in ineligibility
to return to UEA. Additionally, less than fulltime enrolment will jeopardise your visa status.
50% of modules must be in your major subject. All modules must be taken at the 400 level or above
unless agreed in advance by your School Year Abroad Co-ordinator.
Maintain an overall pass mark at host university (according to their criteria)
average in US grading system or equivalent.
Request transcript of grades from host institution BEFORE departing from the host University. It
should be sent to the Study Abroad Office and must arrive by 1 July. If no transcript is received, the
student will be presumed to have failed the Semester Abroad and will be unable to register at UEA.
Host University marks will be converted to UEA marks.
Reassessment & Interruption to studies
Failure to maintain an overall pass mark at host university (according to their criteria) will result in reassessment
at UEA which will be in the form of exam(s) in August, before re-registration will be allowed. Failure to pass a
module must result in reassessment at host university in the first instance to attempt to pass. If there are
extenuating circumstances, and the host university agrees, resit exams may be able to be arranged at UEA.
Failure to sit reassessment exam(s) and/or failure to pass may jeopardise continuation of your course of study
at UEA. If, for any reason, you need to withdraw from your host University, you must notify UEA Study Abroad
Office and your Study Abroad Co-ordinator immediately. You will need to apply for permission from the
University of East Anglia to interrupt your studies for the rest of that academic year, in order to return to UEA
the following spring semester to continue your studies. You will be liable for payment of fees in accordance
with the published cut-off dates: https://www.uea.ac.uk/acad/po/tuitionfees. Additionally, students will be
required to pay back any scholarship or funding received, as well as any outstanding debts incurred at the
Semester Abroad institution (such as accommodation).
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