• Our short-term opportunities allow students to gain international experience without the commitment of a full year or semester abroad. These usually occur over the summer months, outside of term time.
• Summer programmes are great way to gain an international perspective, make cultural connections, discover a new country and enhance your skills and CV.
• See below for more information:

Type of placement	What's included
Summer schools	Study abroad at a summer school with one of our partner institutions and: improve your language learning gain a new perspective on your academic area of study choose to do something totally different from your current degree.
Internships and short-term work experience	Build your CV in a sector that aligns with your career aspirations and interests and build your professional networks.
Volunteering	Through one of our volunteering opportunities: give back  help make a positive difference  do something that changes lives and communities
Online experiential learning	Not everyone can go abroad, so we offer a range of online learning opportunities. These opportunities enable you to build your global understanding, intercultural competence and academic/professional skills development.

Alongside running a comprehensive Summer School programme with our partners, we also offer a number of University led internships, including our flagship programme with the ‘International Coalition of Sites of Conscience’ (ICSC).

We also work with a number of external partners who provide packaged experiences for students. Often, this means that accommodation, in-country transport and some food is included in the price. Each provider offers something different, so you’ll need to do your research to ensure that it’s the right option and you know what’s included. 

There are lots of opportunities to take part in ranging from summer schools, internships, volunteering and online experiential learning. They all offer something slightly different, but what they all have in common is that they provide a great opportunity to gain a global experience as part of your degree, develop your intercultural understanding and enhance your employability skills and build your CV

To find out more:   

• Chat to one of our Ambassadors at an informal drop in sessions - session dates for 2024 will be updated in January.
• Get friendly advice and guidance from a member of staff via our online booking system
• Join our Global Opportunities Mailing list and discover all the latest news, blogs and top tips for going abroad   

There are lots of positive reasons to undertake a global experience as part of your degree including;

• gaining an international perspective and learning to operate in a global environment
• Making friends and connections across the world
• Improving your understanding of other cultures
• Discovering a new country and way of life
• New or improved language skills
• Gaining a new perspective on your academic subject, or trying something completely new
• Getting out of your comfort zone

It’s also a great opportunity to build your employability skills and enhance your CV. 

Yes. International virtual opportunities are a great way for you to connect with students around the globe, expand your horizons and develop cross-cultural understanding and communication, without the need to leave Newcastle.

Our partners offer a wide range of online opportunities including internships and volunteering. Check our webpages for the most up to date information.

There may also be opportunities for you to take part in a virtual exchange (VE) activity, via your school or academic course lead. Information on these experiences can usually be found on Canvas, or by talking to your school teams directly.

• For most of our short-term opportunities, you will not be required to speak another language, However, if you know the country you will be visiting doesn’t speak English as a first language, then you may find it useful to try and pick up some basic phrases before you go. This will ensure you can communicate with people from the outset and will help you to feel at home more quickly.
• Don’t forget to check the language requirements of your chosen experience before you go.
• The Language Resource Centre at Newcastle University offers a huge range of FREE language-learning support, from conversation groups to online resources to easy to use apps. Some of these are still accessible while you are abroad, so you can continue practicing your language learning. 

Yes. with a number of our external partners offer volunteering opportunities. Please review their offer on our website

• The costs will depend on the type of short-term opportunity you chose. All pricing information will be included in our Summer Brochure (released in early February) and on our Summer School webpages.  
• Some programme fees might include accommodation or certain activities within the programme price – make sure to check what’s included before you commit
• If you chose a programme with an External Partner you can find more information on the costs on their websites.

The GO Global Scholarship is a bursary provided to support students who wish to undertake a short-term global placement, which has been approved by Global Opportunities. This includes all mobility types:

• Partner university summer schools
• Programmes with our partnered external organisations
• Virtual experiences
• Internships
• Volunteering

You can find out more information about the GO Scholarship, including application and closing dates and eligibility criteria on our website

You can apply for a scholarship even if you don’t know which programme you will take part in. If you are eligible, GO will allocate your funding and will process the payment once your programme place has been confirmed.

If you have been successful in securing a GO Scholarship, payment of the Scholarship will be made on confirmation of the placement (for example a placement offer or registration document from the host organisation), and once students have met all of the necessary administrative requirements.

Once approved, we will process your payment to the account details that you have provided in your original application. Payments are requested once a week and you will receive a confirmation email informing you when payment has been made.

Please allow up to 10 working days for the payment to be processed – Please do not email for an update on payment until after 10 working days have passed.

Alternative, external funding sources can be found on our webpages. Please ensure you check the criteria thoroughly as these schemes are not managed through or by the university.

Step 1: Do your research.

• Browse the information provided in our short-term summer brochure and on the website to see what options are available this summer.
• Please make sure you are aware of the closing dates and application process for each opportunity, as they do vary depending on the institution.
• If you’d like some support with your research, drop into one of our student-led advice sessions and find out what it is really like to study, live and work abroad.
• Find more information on our advice sessions, or book an appointment with GO staff.

Step 2: Consider how you’ll fund your trip

• We have a number of GO Global Scholarships available for eligible students to help fund the cost of their trip. 
  
• To apply for a GO Global Scholarship, please navigate to the Terra Dotta application system application and complete the ‘Summer Mobility Funding & Widening Participation Criteria’ questionnaire.
• If eligible, GO will allocate your funding and will process the payment once your summer programme place is confirmed.

Step 3: Ready to apply for your global programme?

• The majority of applications are made directly to our partner institutions, and you can find links in our brochure/on the webpages.
• Please keep in mind the closing dates for each opportunity!
• Some partners require us to nominate you first, so make sure to factor this into your planning schedule and follow the nomination instructions provided.

Step 4: Confirm your place.

• Once your place is confirmed by your chosen organisation, you’ll need to complete a series of steps in ‘Terra Dotta’ (The universities online global placement management system) prior to going abroad.
• Registering through Terra Dotta will:
  • Allow you to access University Insurance
  • Get your placement recognised on your Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR)
  • Enable you to access pre-departure (and retuning), advice, help and support.
• There are different application processes for different opportunities, Please ensure you select the correct application for your opportunity:
  • ICSC Internships 
  • JUST Geneva Internships 
  • All other summer opportunities
• All pre-departure stages on Terra Dotta must be completed before travel. If these are not completed you may not be covered by the University insurance policy and we will ask for re-payment of your scholarship if you have received one.

• Some partner universities/organisations require us to pre-select (nominate) students on their behalf prior to you making an application directly to the institution.  This is common if there are only limited places on the programme, or if there are specific eligibility criteria – for example prior experience of a particular subject.
• If you are interested in a programme that requires a nomination, instructions on how to do this will be provided in the short term summer placements brochure.  
• There are often specific deadlines associated with nomination opportunities, so make sure you have made a note of any relevant closing dates
• Global Opportunities will review nomination applications and forward successful student details to the partner university/organisation
• On receipt of student details, the partner university/organisation will then contact you directly with further instruction on making an application directly to them to secure your place on your chosen programme. 

• When your placement is coming to an end, you will need to complete and upload:
  • Your Certificate of Attendance (in the documents section on Terra Dotta). This needs to be signed by a member of staff at your placement to confirm your attendance.
  • Feedback form – this should be completed no later than two weeks after your return home

• If these documents are not submitted and you have received a scholarship, you will be asked to re-pay this

• Please ensure you check the requirements section on Terra Dotta regularly in case of any updates 

• We run advice sessions led by our Global Ambassadors where you can find out what it is really like to study, live and work abroad. You can find more information on our advice sessions on our website. 
• Our UniBuddy system is also a great place to chat to students who have gone abroad.
• Your pre-departure course on Canvas is also there to provide you with helpful information and guidance to support you before you go.
• You can also contact the Global Opportunities Team if you have any queries. We offer appointments which you can book online.

• Not all of our global opportunities include accommodation as part of the offer. Please ensure you check with your host to understand what is included.
• Finding accommodation is your responsibility, but it’s not as scary as it sounds and we’ve provided some top tips to help with your search. (Please note that the university does not endorse these websites. They are for guidance only)

Top Tips:

• Reach out to your host organisation for information on what’s available locally and any areas they might recommend.
• Visit the host university/organisations  accommodation webpage/student union webpage to find more information on accommodation in your chosen country.
• Ask around! You can ask our Global Ambassadors for advice. and chat to students on Unibuddy.
• Start your search as soon as possible as places fill up very quickly!
• Look to explore options outside of the main city, as there may be more choice at a reduced price.
• Do your research. Some helpful webpages include:
  • A practical guide to student accommodation in Europe
  • Housing Anywhere

• Before applying for a short-term opportunity, it’s very important to consider how you will finance your time away. Please make sure you are familiar with the information on our Funding and Fees page so you know what support options are available for you.
• Consider your budget well ahead of time - what will the substantial costs be for the opportunity you have chosen? For example flights and accommodation? How will you travel around in-country? Does your host institution offer guidance to international students on the cost of living in their region? Doing a bit of homework in advance will help you feel prepared and in control of your finances.
• If you've not built a budget before, there are some great resources on our Student Finance pages.
• Numbeo provides a helpful guide for the cost of living in a specific town or city (to be taken as a guide only)

• Visas are required to travel to most countries abroad. However, this will depend on the length of your trip. It is your responsibility to research the visa processes for your chosen country and prepare accordingly. 
• You can visit our Visa Information page which provides links to relevant websites. Please note the University cannot guarantee that the information on the country-specific pages is up to date.
• Please check that you do not require a transit visa. You may need these if you are changing flights in another country.
• Global Opportunities strongly encourages students to continuously check the UK Government's foreign travel advice for the latest updates on entry restrictions and requirements. It’s also a good idea to check the travel information provided by the relevant country's embassy to the UK.

• Please visit your host institutions webpage for more information on the teaching, language of instruction and other helpful guidance. It is important that you check this before you apply as some universities have fewer or more contact hours than you are used to at Newcastle University.
• Please note, ECTS earned on short-term summer programmes cannot be transferred back to your Newcastle studies

• Once your placement is confirmed you will need to complete the online pre-departure module on Canvas. Further information on this will be provided by the Global Opportunities Team closer to your travel date.
• Prior to travelling, we also suggest that you:
  • Share your travel details with your trusted contact. It’s essential that your trusted contact is aware of your travel details, where you are staying, and any other important information in case of emergency.
  • Download the AIG Insurance App so that you have all your insurance information in one place.
  • Print a copy of all important documents. For example, your insurance documents, flight tickets, a copy of your passport etc.
  • Ensure your passport is in date. Your passport should be valid for the duration of your time abroad.
  • Check you have the correct visa. Some countries may require a transit visa, so it’s important you check this before you go.
  • Complete all questionnaires on Terra Dotta. You may not be adequately covered by the University insurance policy if we do not have all of your travel details.

• Please see our Living Abroad webpage for more information on the wellbeing support available to you whilst you are away. 

• To demonstrate your global and cultural awareness, you can take part in our Global Badge. The Open Badge contains metadata that shows a range of learning achievements, and these can be added to your email signatures, LinkedIn, and social media. It’s a great way to the highlight skills, achievements, and competencies you have gained whilst abroad to prospective employers. You can find more information on our webpage.
• You can use your time abroad to complete the  NCL+ Award. It’s a great way for you to stand out to employers by showcasing skills you have gained whilst abroad, for example showcasing your teamworking or planning and organising skills.  Visit the NCL+ Award webpage for more information on how you can get involved
• Make sure you complete any post-evaluation surveys and content requirements outlined by the Global Opportunities Team.