Frequently asked questions

Application timeline

To be eligible for Study Abroad you must attain a grade average of 60% or above in your first year (with the exception of Modern Language students).  Places are allocated on a competitive basis: the higher your grade average the more likely you are to be allocated your first or second choice of institution.  Students will be asked to list up to twelve choices from our partner universities on the internal application form.  The majority of students receive one of their top six choices.  

If a student has left one or more of their choices blank, it will be taken to mean that they do not wish to go abroad if they are unable to receive one of their higher choices.  This will not raise the priority of their other choices. Therefore, we STRONGLY recommend that you fill out all twelve of your choices in your application.  

Although we will make every effort to provide a placement for any eligible student wishing to go abroad we cannot guarantee a placement as there are limited spaces available at each of our partner universities. 

Once all the applications have been received places will be allocated with priority going to those with the highest first-year grade average. 

Students should be aware that many of our places at partner institutions are shared between other faculties, so places at these institutions could be awarded to students from different disciplines. 

The University requires that all mitigation applications are made at or before the point of assessment.  Therefore it is not possible for late mitigation applications to be considered as part of the Study Abroad application or allocation process. 

However, it is acknowledged that on some occasions a student may have submitted a timely, valid, evidenced mitigation application relating to their performance in first-year assessments, and this was accepted by their Faculties Mitigation Committee, but no action was deemed appropriate due to the formative nature of stage one. 

Any consideration of mitigation would only relate to the student's eligibility for a Study Abroad placement, not their priority in the allocation process.  Priority for a place cannot be given on the basis of mitigation of one student over another student with higher proven marks.  The student's final approved marks (as confirmed by the College Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee) will be used for determining priority for placements. 

This depends on the degree you are taking. The majority of students complete a year abroad in the third year of a four-year degree.  If you are going abroad for one semester you would normally go abroad during the second year of a three-year degree.  If you are interested in Studying Abroad we would recommend you get in contact with your College Study Abroad coordinator for further information.

Yes, you will need a passport which must be valid for 6 months after your Study or Work Abroad period ends.  If your passport is near its expiry date we recommend that you apply for a new passport as soon as possible. You will need a valid passport before you can apply for your visa (if applicable). 

You will find further and up to date information on UK passports here 

If you are Studying Abroad for a semester or full year your time abroad will count toward your final degree. You will receive an academic transcript from your host university which will indicate the classes you have taken and the grades you have achieved. The grades will be converted to an Exeter grade. You should refer to your College Academic Coordinator for further details.  

There are a number of financial factors to consider when researching your Study Abroad placement. The following is a non-exhaustive list for you to begin your research:

• Return air fares
• Visa costs 
• Travel and health insurance 
• Accommodation and subsistence
• Book supplies
• Mobile phone bills
• Administration fees
• Travel and socialising 

You may also wish to consider the following:

• Applying for a travel grant from Student Finance UK
• If you are in receipt of bursaries and additional funding, check with the University of Exeter funding team and Student Finance to clarify if you are eligible for the additional funding whilst abroad
• We regularly update our Scholarships page so do check if you are eligible to apply for additional funding

Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency medical cover is essential for your time abroad and should be arranged before you depart. The University of Exeter has a Undergraduate Travel Insurance policy that you may wish to consider.

You will almost certainly be required to obtain the appropriate visa or permit to allow you to study as an international student.  Please note that the Global Opportunities Team is not qualified to offer visa advice.   

You should be aware that taking the necessary steps to acquire your visa is your own responsibility and you may incur costs, for example TB blood tests, in order to obtain your visa. 

Students are able to apply for a visa when they have received a formal acceptance letter from their host university and are encouraged to make prompt arrangements as soon as this has been received.  Please bear in mind that the summer is an extremely busy time for processing visa applications and therefore you should make allowances for delays in processing.  

Please contact your Academic Coordinator

When submitting documents to confirm your enrolment at your host university, you may find that you need a copy of your official academic transcript. Your transcript is the list of all the modules that you have taken and the marks that you have obtained to date. You can get a copy of your transcript through SID; they will be able to email you a PDF version.