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Study Abroad

Immerse yourself in new cultures, enhance your academic profile, gain a global perspective, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Gain international insight

Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to gain insight into a different culture. There are three different types of study abroad opportunities:

  • term time exchanges
  • summer programmes
  • further study

Our 'Getting started' checklist covers the practical steps to consider before deciding to study abroad. You can then use our guide below to identify which opportunity is right for you, and what you need to do next.

Getting started: our checklist

Whether you’re planning to study abroad for a short or long period, it’s important to start your research as early as possible.

You’ll need to make practical arrangements for factors such as visas and finance. This can be complicated and involve specific deadlines or processes.

To get started, we recommend that you:

If you’re thinking of spending time overseas, but not sure exactly what you want to do, we can help. You can book a guidance appointment via MyCareer. Our careers consultants can help you explore your options or plan your career.

Term time exchanges

If you’re keen to get experience of living and studying abroad, a university exchange is worth considering. Exchange programmes allow you to study at partner universities all over the world.

Please note: The information in this section doesn’t apply to students from the School of Modern Languages undertaking a compulsory year abroad. You can find information on the Year Abroad Community on Canvas instead.

Where you can go

Newcastle University has EU and non-EU exchange programmes. Use the university’s database to search for partner institutions in the countries you’re interested in.

You’ll need to make sure that the partners you’re interested in offer enough suitable modules in your subject area. Check on their website and contact them if anything is unclear. For example:

  • what language is used for teaching?
  • is the module you're interested in available for exchange students?

Once you’ve found suitable modules, contact your School Exchange Coordinator. They will check that they meet the academic requirements of your course.

When you can go

Most students go abroad in Stage 2 or Stage 3, depending on their degree programme. To find out when you can go, contact either:

Depending on your subject, you could go for one semester or a full academic year.

Visas

You’ll be responsible for organising your own visa. You’ll need to check eligibility criteria, visa conditions and processing times.

To get started, Global Opportunities have put together Visa information for EU countries.

Funding

The Global Opportunities team offer information about tuition fees and finance. To find out more about what might be available to you through the university:

Working part-time while studying abroad could help you to support yourself financially. You will need to check:

  • how many hours your visa entitles you to work
  • whether the host institution restricts the number of hours students can work.

You can find information about self-funding on our funding further study pages.

How and when to apply

Once you’ve chosen a partner institution, contact your School Exchange Coordinator to discuss module options.

You can also contact Global Opportunities for advice and support.

The deadline is usually around January or February in the year you want to travel (unless you’re studying a language as part of your degree).

For more information and to apply online, go to Global opportunities: exchanges.

More information

Use the following resources for more information:

Summer programmes

There are some opportunities for short-term international study experiences.

University summer schools

Global Opportunities organise overseas summer schools. To keep up to date with their latest opportunities on offer, see:

The Business School arranges some international summer schools. Contact their Student Experience Team for more information.

External opportunities

The following resources can help you find other options for short-term study abroad:

Further study

Prospects’ top 10 study abroad tips can help you start thinking about further study overseas.

Finding and choosing courses

Our Further Study pages offer advice on how to choose the right course for you.

You could start by exploring the institutions we partner with for student exchanges, via Terra Dotta. These institutions are already familiar with Newcastle University.

If you’re thinking of further study overseas, but not sure exactly what you want to study, we can help. Book a guidance appointment via MyCareer to discuss your options.

If you're not sure where you want to study, read Prospects' guide to the best places to study abroad.

To search for overseas courses, see:

To find and compare overseas institutions, see:

Applying

Much of the application advice in our Further Study sections can be applied globally, especially if you are applying for a Masters or a PhD.

We would always recommend checking application guidelines with each individual provider. If anything is unclear, contact them before you apply.

Country profiles may be useful to get an idea of application standards for specific countries. You could look at:

  • Prospects - study abroad guides for 30 countries
  • GoinGlobal - country profiles for over 40 countries

When completing your application, ENIC-NARIC can help with recognition of international qualifications. The ENIC-NARIC is a collaboration between national information centres, offering academic recognition of qualifications in 55 countries.

Funding

Our guide to funding further study includes ideas and approaches to help you fund your studies.

You can also speak to Global Opportunities about funding options available.

The following websites have information about global scholarships and funding:

You can find more scholarship information in the resources for specific countries below.

Resources for specific locations

Use the resources below to find information and advice about studying in specific regions.

Australasia

Semester dates in Australian universities can differ from those in the UK and other countries. Postgraduate courses typically begin in March, but can vary by course and institution.

Useful resources:

Scholarships

Canada

Useful resources:

Scholarships:

Europe

Useful resources:

Scholarships:

Hong Kong

Scholarships:

Japan

Scholarships:

South America

Useful resources:

USA

Education USA is the USA Government’s official portal for international students in the USA. It covers information on:

  • undergraduate and postgraduate study
  • short-term study and opportunities for scholars
  • funding.

Other useful resources:

Scholarships:

Other options overseas

If you want to spend time abroad and you’re exploring the options available, you may also be interested in:

Global Opportunities
Global work experience