Studying abroad for a year
Source: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/options/abroad/choices/year Parent: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/options/abroad/apply
Learn about what’s involved when you study abroad for a voluntary year.
Voluntary year abroad
As an undergraduate Sussex student, you can study abroad in a variety of ways and at a wide range of worldwide destinations. Most undergraduate students can apply for an additional voluntary year spent studying abroad. This includes students on integrated Masters courses, but students on the MPhys Physics and MMath Mathematics only may choose to study a year abroad as a course variation.
We have one of the best study abroad programmes in the UK with over 170 universities worldwide for you to choose from. This includes high-ranking universities in the United States and study opportunities in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. You can also study abroad at a university abroad that is not part of our regular exchange agreements through the ISEP Exchange.
The voluntary year abroad is an additional year to your degree, extending from 3 to a 4 year programme. You will go abroad in Year 3 and return to complete your degree in Year 4.
Foreign language skills
Even if you don’t speak another language, there are plenty of destinations for you to choose from.
You can study at:
- our partner universities in Asia, all of which offer courses taught in English
- selected universities in Europe which have academic courses in English
- English-speaking destinations like the US or Australia.
If your foreign language skills are at a high level, you may be able to go to a university where your subject area is taught in that language (for example, if you’re following the French/Spanish Professional Purposes programme at Sussex or you’ve previously passed a B2 level exam). In certain cases, you may be asked to take a language exam to verify your level. You will need to take a language exam after applying. If you choose to do this, no allowance can be made for any low marks resulting from this and your offer can be withdrawn if your language level is not high enough.
Marks from modules studied abroad
You need to take the equivalent of 120 Sussex credits during your year abroad.
One of the advantages of the year abroad is that you have flexibility with the academic programme. This means that half of the credits you study abroad don’t need to be related to your degree at Sussex, providing this is allowed by the partner university as well. Regardless, you should have your modules approved from your Departmental Representative prior your studies.
During the year abroad, you will follow the rules and regulations of the other university. At the end of your studies, you will receive an official transcript which we will use to assure your grades from abroad.
The year abroad is pass/fail only, and doesn’t contribute towards your degree classification. If you pass the year, you will gain the ‘with a study abroad year’ suffix in your degree title.
Eligibility for studying abroad
To be eligible to study abroad, you must meet the below:
- academic record – you must have achieved 50% in stage 1 and maintain a good academic standard in stage 2. Some of our partner universities will require students to be working at a minimum of 60% across all modules. If you fall below the 50% mark, you will be deemed ineligible to study abroad and your place will be cancelled, even if you have been accepted by the partner university
- a good attendance record - students with poor attendance may not be authorised to study abroad by their department at Sussex.
- a complete application pack received by the deadline.
- consent of the Disability Advice service (if applicable).
If you are in receipt of a US Federal Loan you will not be eligible to apply to study abroad.
How to apply to study abroad
You’ll apply for a place through the Sussex Abroad team, usually in the first term of the year before you are planning to go abroad.