Study Abroad
Find out about the three ways you can study abroad as part of your degree.
Overview
Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to travel and gain new perspectives on your academic subjects. You'll develop a range of skills that will help you stand out in the job market.
If you study at least one language all the way through your degree you will spend a year abroad between Stages 2 and 3. This is known as an intercalating year abroad. This is compulsory and adds a year to the standard three years of study.
Students who are not studying a language can also go abroad to study either for a single semester or a full year.
Fees and visas
For students studying abroad for a semester there is no additional cost. For students studying abroad for a full year, there is a reduced tuition fee.
Students are still entitled to a loan whilst studying abroad as part of their degree.
If you're on a Tier 4 visa studying in the UK there are some further factors you should be aware of about studying abroad and intercalating.
You should contact the Combined Honours Centre or the Visa Team to discuss your options.
Intercalating year abroad (studying a language)
Combined Honours students who study a modern language will take an intercalating year abroad between Stages 2 and 3.
All Combined Honours students who choose a modern language (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish and Latin American Studies) as one of their subjects spend an intercalating year abroad making the programme four years long. This year abroad is spent between Stages 2 and 3.
The year abroad is a unique and valuable experience. It will:
- improve language skills
- develop confidence
- enhance your employability
- gives you a broader outlook on the world
You can spend your year abroad in one of the following ways:
- working as a teaching assistant in a school (UK nationals only)
- studying at a university (usually under the Erasmus scheme)
- undertaking a paid work-based placement
If you're studying two languages you can divide your time between countries in which the languages are spoken, or spend the whole year in just one country. However, if you're taking either Chinese or Japanese you must spend the whole academic year in either China or Japan.
Study abroad year (not studying a language)
This Study Abroad Year is for non-language students.
If you're not studying a modern language but would like to spend a year studying abroad you choose our Study Abroad (HSS3011) module.
This bespoke Combined Honours module gives you the opportunity to study your degree subject(s) abroad for a full academic year between Stages 2 and 3, making your degree four years.
You'll study at one of our partner universities in or outside of Europe. If you want to study in Europe you might need to split your degree so that you study one of your subjects abroad and your other subject(s) when you return to Newcastle. This is because many European universities don't offer combined courses.
You will receive a transcript of study from your exchange university but your year abroad marks don't contribute to your final average. The final degree classification only takes Stages 2 and 3 into account.
You can also divide your year abroad between studying and doing a work placement by taking our Work Placement and Study Abroad (HSS3009) module.
Single semester abroad
You can study your degree subject(s) abroad for either semester of Stage 2, or the first semester in Stage 3.
This is instead of studying at Newcastle for that period so the grades you get for the modules you take are translated back into Newcastle grades and count towards your degree.
Before applying for a semester abroad you'll need to meet with your School Exchange Coordinator to make sure your chosen partner organisation meets the requirements of your degree programme. This is so that you can transfer your attained credits back to Newcastle.
Exchanges in Europe
You can study at one of our partner organisations in Europe through our Erasmus+ scheme.
The majority of European universities don't offer combined courses so you might have to split your degree so that you study one of your subjects abroad and the other in Newcastle.
To find out more about exchanges in Europe including partner universities, fees and funding, and how to apply, visit our Study Abroad and Exchanges website
Exchanges outside of Europe
You can study at one of our partner universities across North and South America, Asia and Australia.
To find out more about exchanges outside of Europe, including partner universities, fees and funding, and how to apply visit our