Year Abroad

"I honestly think my Year Abroad has been the best experience of my life. I would go back there in a heartbeat."

#UoNgoingplaces

One of the most prized aspects of a course in our school is the year spent abroad. All students studying a modern language will complete a compulsory year abroad as part of their degree, and those studying Culture, Film and Media and American and Canadian Studies will have the option to spend time abroad as well.

We have a dedicated Year Abroad team who can help you with every aspect of your time spent in another country. Using their extensive network of contacts they will support you finding the right location to stay, and help prepare you for the placement. During your time away they will help and advise you whenever you require it.

EU Referendum information for students

If you are a current student, offer holder or prospective applicant from a European Union (EU) country, you may have some concerns around the recent EU Referendum result, and what that will mean for you. To reassure you, please consult:

School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies statement on Brexit

What can I do on my year abroad?

American and Canadian Studies

Four-year single and joint honours degrees in American Study (International Study) require the completion of a period of study abroad, usually in North America.

American Studies (International Study) students spend year 3 of their four-year programme abroad, normally in the United States or Canada. Joint Honours students may transfer into the International Study programme if places become available at the end of year 1. Places are awarded on an academically competitive basis.

Our partner institutions reflect the diversity of North America in terms of both geography and educational approach, and we ensure that all are able to maintain high academic standards.

Some of our current North American partners are as follows:

Butler University, Indianapolis

Carleton University, Ottawa

College of Charleston, South Carolina

Emory & Henry College, Emory

Georgia State University, Atlanta

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

McGill University, Montreal

Mercer University, Macon, Georgia

Middlebury College, Vermont

Texas A&M University, College Station

University of Arizona, Tucson

University of Calgary, Alberta

University of Florida, Gainesville

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Wisconsin La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin

York University, Toronto

Culture, Film and Media

Students taking joint honours BA International Media & Communications and BA Film and Television Studies with languages spend Year 3 abroad in the country of their chosen language of study. These placements are organised by the individual language departments, below.

Modern Languages

Depending on the language you are studying you can either study at one of our renowned partner institutions, work as part of an English Language Assistantship through the British Council, or undertake a work placement during your year abroad.

If you are studying a modern language as part of your degree, you will spend the full academic year abroad in a country/countries that speak the languages you are studying.

This year abroad is an essential part of your course as it allows you to experience your chosen language of study in a culture where it is spoken natively. The benefits to language learning of immersion of this kind are tremendous.

If you are studying a single honours programme, then you will spend a full academic year abroad in a country which speaks that language. If you are studying two languages as part of a joint honours degree, then you will have to divide your year between two countries, each of which speaking a language of your study. If your degree course consists of three languages, you will be required to split your year as evenly as possible, spending a minimum of ten weeks in each country. It is possible to mix and match your choices of study, work or teaching if you are spending time in more than one country.

China partner institution

University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Code of Conduct

For students on their Year Abroad

During your Year Abroad our students remain a student of the University of Nottingham, and therefore subject to the University’s regulations governing student behaviour, conduct, rights and responsibilities. In addition, as an exchange student or employee they are required to comply with the codes and regulations obtaining in either their host institution or place of employment (voluntary or paid). Failure to comply with any of these codes constitutes of a breach of regulations and may result in disciplinary action being brought against them on the part of the host institution, employer, or the University of Nottingham.

Any conduct or action that brings the name of the University of Nottingham into disrepute, damages the reputation of the University, disrupts or interferes with academic, administrative or other activities of the University, whether on University premises or elsewhere, will be regarded as an act of misconduct under the University of Nottingham Code of Discipline for Students and may result in disciplinary proceedings being brought against them and dismissal from their degree.

Students are responsible for making themselves familiar with all codes, ordinances and regulations which affect them.

See University of Nottingham Code of Discipline for Students

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained on this website is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes to partner institutions and year abroad regulations may occur in any given year.

Financing your year abroad Support for students with
disabilities University-wide Exchange