Choosing the Right Study Abroad Opportunity
Research the exchange programmes available to you and decide where to apply.
We have over 240 partner universities offering a variety of exchange programmes. We have exchange agreements with these universities, meaning that we usually have a limited number of places at each institution.
Some exchange programmes are subject-specific, which means that you will be competing for places with students who study the same subject as you.
Others are university or faculty-wide. This means that you will be competing for places with a much larger group of students from across the faculty and university. Partners in Australia, Canada and USA are very popular and we receive a large number of applications for a very small number of places.
Where and when you can study abroad depends on your subject of study.
The application process
- Find out where you can study abroad by exploring the list of exchange programmes at our partner universities.
- Research your shortlist, considering the factors that are important to you.
- Choose up to five exchange programmes.
- Submit an internal application to the Global Opportunities team.
- Your application will be ranked by our team and we'll allocate you one of your choices.
- You can then apply directly to the exchange programme at the partner university.
Before you make your decision, there is some key research you should do to find out which opportunity is best for you.
Do your research
This is the most important step.
It is very important you research your chosen partner universities before you apply. It is your responsibility to make sure the university will be a good fit for you.
You should research and consider:
- how easy the destination is to travel to
- the cost of travel
- the cost of living there
- whether there are enough modules suitable for you
- whether there are enough modules taught in English (or another language that you understand)
- the student support services available, especially around mental health and additional needs if appropriate
- how LGBTQIA+ friendly a destination might be – you might like to read The ultimate guide to studying abroad as an LGBTQ student to help inform your decision
Important considerations
There are a number of important considerations you should be aware of when making your choices:
- some partner universities have limited places, so use all five of your application choices and be prepared not to get your first choice
- exchange partners can withdraw from participation at any time and with short notice – this is outside our control and unavoidable
- some countries are more popular than others, we advise you choose options from different countries
- if you only indicate exchange programmes in USA, Australia and/or Canada, you might not get any of your choices
- if we're unable to allocate you to one of your five choices, we will offer you an alternative
- capital cities are often very popular, so don’t rule our locations that you may not have heard of
Information and advice
We recommend that you ask a family member or trusted friend to help with this process. It can help to discuss these considerations with someone else and get their input.
You can attend a drop-in session with a Global Ambassador, or make an appointment with a member of the Global Opportunities team.
Before you apply, you should meet with your School Exchange Coordinator. Discuss the available modules at your chosen universities to make sure they meet the requirements of your degree programme. This is particularly important if you are going abroad for a semester, since your credits will transfer back to Newcastle University. If you are doing a full year abroad, you may have more flexibility in your module choices.
If you need extra support
If you have any additional support needs, we encourage you to speak with the Student Health and Wellbeing Services team to ensure your physical and mental health is considered throughout this process. We can help ensure that the necessary support is put in place for you