Study Abroad and Career Placements
Find out about the different ways you can study abroad as part of your degree.
Study Abroad
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.
Combined Honours students
If you study at least one language all the way through your degree you will have the option to spend a year abroad between Stages 2 and 3. This is known as an intercalating year abroad.
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 Team or the Visa Team to discuss your options.
Intercalating year abroad (studying a language)
Combined Honours students who study a modern language will have the option of taking an intercalating year abroad between Stages 2 and 3.
Combined Honours students who choose a modern language (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish and Latin American Studies) and spend an intercalating year abroad will be on their degree programme for four years in total. This year abroad is spent between Stages 2 and 3 and is reflected in your final degree programme title.
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 Combined Honours students not taking a language as one of their subjects.
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, but your time abroad is reflected in your final degree programme title.
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 universities across Europe.
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 Study Abroad and Exchanges website
Philosophy students
Undergraduate Philosophy students have the opportunity to spend either semester one of Stage 3 or a whole year studying abroad.
If you decide to study abroad during semester one of Stage 3 you will complete PHI3600 and the grades you get for the modules you take are translated back into Newcastle grades and count towards your degree.
If you decide to study abroad for a full academic year this will take place between Stages 2 and 3, making your degree four years. You will undertake our bespoke PHI3100 module and your time abroad will be reflected in your final degree programme title.
You'll study at one of our partner universities in or outside of Europe.
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.
To find out more about exchanges including partner universities, fees and funding, and how to apply visit our Study Abroad and Exchanges website
Careers Service Placement Year
Combined Honours and undergraduate Philosophy students can take a career placement year in-between Stage 2 and Stage 3 of their degree, making the degree four years. This placement year is reflected in your degree programme title.
A placement year can help you:
- gain experience
- develop commercial awareness
- increase your confidence
- make contacts within the sector
It can also be a great way to try out a career choice and consider if it’s a good fit for you in the future. Broadly you can expect to:
- go on placement after your penultimate year of study. This extends your degree programme by one year
- continue as a registered student, with access to University services
- find and apply for the placement yourself, with support from the Careers Service. Most placements are paid, although there are some exceptions
- complete a 120 credit module while on placement, such as the Careers Service Module
- be allocated a University contact to discuss any personal or workplace issues with
To find out more about placement years visit our Placement Year website