Overseas exchange

Who can apply?

Students who:

• are on a full-time undergraduate degree programme
• will be in their second year during the exchange period
• have the option to take one semester modules as part of their degree or can find a suitable destination (or two) for an academic year away
• maintain a B grade average
• can plan a flexible programme of study that covers the equivalent of their intermediate level core modules to a sufficient extent to have the prerequisites for study on their return
• are not on a course that requires all modules to be taken at London Met such as LLB Law, BA Accounting and Finance, BSc Psychology or any course where you gain professional accreditation or exemptions

Please note that there are some restrictions by degree subject - usually host institution-specific. More information can be seen on each partner information page.

Where can I go?

You can apply to go to any institution with which we have a bilateral exchange link provided your degree is appropriate. Please see our partner universities section for information about each of our links. Many of our exchanges are in the United States and are not subject-specific whereas our European partners are largely for students from certain degree courses.

When can I go?

• In the second year of your course
• Spring semester is only possible in the USA and West Indies if your course has no examinations in January, you must have coursework only due to term dates

For how long can I go?

• Overseas exchanges to the USA and West Indies are for one semester only
• Full-year may be possible to Kansai Gaidai in Japan as the grades are returned, provided there are sufficient modules available in your subject area

Will my exchange grades count towards my degree?

For exchange partners in the USA and the West Indies you will have credit recorded without marks for modules passed overseas. Provided you plan your programme carefully, this will not extend your degree or affect the class of degree gained. Your grades are returned from partners in Europe and Japan.

How do the finances work?

• Students continue to pay tuition fees to London Metropolitan University
• No tuition fees are payable to the host university
• Students should still receive any loans and grants as the exchange is a part of the degree (this can be confirmed to Student Finance England if necessary)
• Students are responsible for the following costs:
  
  • English test fees (if TOEFL or IELTS requirements apply, see partner information)
  • visa application fees if required
  • room & board
  • books and supplies
  • travel to and from host country
  • travel, health and medical insurance if specific insurance is required by the partner to be taken out (London Met insurance is not charged for)
  • personal expenditure 
  
  You should budget for around £5,000 - £7,000. This may seem very expensive but students generally find that the exchange semester is not much more expensive than a semester spent in London. You may also receive a Turing grant for the time you are away, in the region of £335 to £380 per month, depending on your destination. If you receive a grant from Student Finance England then make sure you apply for their Travel Grant as well if you are eligible.

How do I get started?

• Check with your course leader whether an exchange would be possible as part of your degree course 
• Research our partner universities - you must find one which offers courses suitable for your degree
• Think about finances - will this work for you?
• If you wish, request an appointment via email (studyabroad@londonmet.ac.uk). Make sure you have done some preliminary research first.
• If you have the support of your tutor - apply!

Do your research when it comes to modules and courses

• Find out what the requirements are for your London Met course, i.e. what core modules you need to find matches for, what electives you can take, whether you can switch core modules around to take advantage of what is on offer at a partner university.
• Search the content of the courses at the partner universities and identify those courses that you think match the modules you need to take for your degree. Then take these descriptions (as many as possible) to your academic advisor to discuss which of them is the best fit.
• You must achieve the correct amount of credits overseas in order to progress at London Met, otherwise you may find you have to take an extra class in your final year. 

Will it match exactly?

All universities have slightly different courses with slightly different modules/classes and routes through the degrees. In another country, things will be different. Our links are very broad so we cannot promise that all (or in some cases any) of our partners will have a perfect match for your course. You need to look for classes that are a good fit for London Met modules. Think about keywords that describe what is covered in your modules, do not expect classes to have exactly the same title or even the department to have the same name. Be creative in your searches and you will have more chance of finding something that fits.

Be flexible

The key to a successful exchange is flexibility. It might not be possible to get into your first choice modules so you need to have valid alternatives. If there is only one way to achieve your core modules, you might have problems. Many students try to take as many electives as possible during their semester abroad so that they can take advantage of the interesting classes on offer, but that will depend on when you can take your core modules in London.

This is a list of our overseas exchange partnerships. Note that there are some restrictions, particularly by subject, in place for some exchanges, so be sure to read the information carefully.

Don't just look at one university, research them all to find your best fit.

North America

Canisius College - Buffalo, New York

Roosevelt University - Chicago, Illinois

San Francisco State University - San Francisco, California

State University of New York at Cortland - Cortland, New York

West Indies

The University of the West Indies:

Cave Hill, Barbados

Mona, Jamaica

St Augustine, Trinidad

Japan

Kansai Gaidai University - Osaka

Europe

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences - The Netherlands (Business students)

Copenhagen Business School - Denmark (Business students)

Wroclaw University - Poland (International Relations / Politics students)

Istanbul Bilgi University - Turkey (Business or International Relations / Politics students)

Bilkent University - Turkey (International Relations / Politics students)

Sciences Po Bordeaux - France (International Relations / Politics students)

IESEG School of Management - Paris or Lille, France (Business students)

University of Savoy - France (Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality students)

EAE Business School - Barcelona, Spain (Business students)

Step 1

To avoid extending your degree, you must obtain approval from your academic advisor that the semester abroad will fit into your degree structure.

While you are away, you must cover the equivalent of the intermediate level core modules to a sufficient extent to have the prerequisites for study on your return.

This stage is very important. If you don't have flexibility in what you can study at your proposed host, you will have difficulties further along the process, up to and including registration for classes at your host university.

Step 2

Complete the Exchange application form . This should be filled in electronically then emailed to us.

Only complete applications will be accepted and they need to be signed by the applicant and all relevant people, including the course tutor. Completed application forms should be submitted to the Study Abroad office (studyabroad@londonmet.ac.uk) and should list the first and second choice of the host university.

Deadlines

For the autumn semester abroad: 1 March

For the spring semester abroad: 15 October

Step 3

Where appropriate, students will be conditionally accepted (subject to meeting grade requirements) on the programme and sent the partner application form to prepare. Conditional acceptance depends upon the number of places available with each partner. This number varies and cannot be predicted in advance.

Step 4

London Met grades are published and students who meet the conditions are contacted by the Study Abroad Office.

If there are more suitable applicants than places available, places will be given according to the date of receipt and academic strength. If we are unable to place eligible students with their first choice, we will try to make their second choice possible.

The application that you've prepared is checked by us and sent to our partner institution. Only complete applications will be sent. You must meet the deadline set by the partner institution. The host institution has the final decision regarding your exchange place.

Step 5

Once our partner has confirmed your offer, they will send your acceptance packet. You can start thinking about visas, flights and more. Go to our accepted students section for further information.

You will receive programme information and immigration documents from your host university.

NOTE: If you decide to withdraw from the programme at any stage, please let us know. Immigration documents must be returned to the host institution if you withdraw from the programme.

Update your student record to show semester abroad

Make sure your student loan is properly organised and, if possible, arrange early payment. Normally SFE requires a confirmation from us that this exchange period is a part of your degree. We can provide this - just ask!

For the semester you are abroad you will be registered for the module code ABROAD. You must withdraw from any London Met modules for the semester abroad.

You must also register modules for the second semester of the year (if you are returning to London Met for spring) before you leave. You will get the chance to change these later but you must register a full-time course load in advance.

Apply for a visa

You should always check the embassy websites for the most up to date information.

USA

Check whether your host has F1 or J1 sponsor status. You must apply for the correct visa. You cannot apply until you have received your immigration document from your host. You will have to make an appointment with the US Embassy to have your visa interview.

You need to thoroughly read the information available to you online, including the information provided by your host institution.

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE WEBSITE - F1

Application fee: $160
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee: $200

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE WEBSITE - J1

Application fee: $160

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee: $180

Have a look at this helpful guide to the visa interview process on YouTube.

JAPAN

All students accepted onto the programme must apply for student visas in their home countries/country of domicile. To do so, it is necessary to obtain certificates of eligibility, which will enable them to apply for student visas.

Please note that because the certificate of eligibility is valid for only three months from the date of issuance and it becomes invalid if the application is not filed within that period, Kansai Gaidai is not able to apply for it very far in advance. Therefore you should expect to receive your certificate of eligibility within the three-month period before the beginning of the semester.

Progress on immigration procedures can be retrieved from K-GENESYS which is the application portal for Kansai Gaidai.

The best source of information on applying for your visa is on the Kansai Gaidai website.

Please also see the Embassy of Japan in London website for how to apply for your visa.

WEST INDIES

Students need to have passports valid for the length of the exchange programme. Students from Commonwealth countries do not need a visa to travel to Jamaica, Trinidad or Barbados. Once registered with the university, their International Office will apply for a study permit on your behalf. The fee for this is approx $100

Organise your accommodation, flights and insurance

Some programmes will offer accommodation and meal plans and some will have mandatory health insurance plans - details are on the partner pages.

You must get full health and travel insurance for the entire period of your exchange. This is VERY important! You can apply for free cover under the university travel insurance.

Register for modules with the partner. Many partners will require you to do online registration towards the end of the summer. They will send you information about this.

Keep in touch with the Study Abroad Office. We'll be emailing you reminders and messages so let us know how everything is going. If you need help, if your contact details change or if you decide not to take part any more - let us know!

Arrival and departure certificates

Once you arrive at the university you must send us your completed arrival certificate as soon as possible. This should be signed and stamped by an officer at your host university and is to provide proof that you are fully enrolled overseas.

Download certificate now: Certificate of Arrival and Departure

Before leaving, you must also get the departure section signed off.

Learning agreement

Some universities allow you to preregister modules before you arrive, others register you during orientation week. Regardless, once you have finalised your class selection you must complete and return to us your learning agreement. If you do not, then your credit transfer may be compromised

Download learning agreement now: Final Learning Agreement

London Metropolitan University re-enrolment

As you continue to be a student of the university during your exchange period abroad, you must re-enrol for the new academic year. The university will email you to remind you exactly when re-enrolment becomes available online.

You access the re-enrolment via Evision. After logging in, select 'My enrolment' from the navigation bar, then follow the links.

NOTE: to re-enrol successfully you must have registered modules with the university for the entire academic year (see Accepted students for more details) and have satisfactory fee status.

Transcripts

Some host universities will send out your transcript automatically, in others you must request them before you go. Make sure you know how it works at your host university. Look at the partner website or the international office of your host to confirm.

Remember that your modules from the United States or the West Indies will be transferred as credits only, your grades will not be transferred. Grades from modules taken in Japan and Europe will be transferred. These modules will be listed separately on Evision, under the section 'Credit Awarded for Prior Learning.'

If you want extra copies of your transcript (we use the original in our university records) you must request these especially while you are still abroad.

Modules for your next semester

Make sure you have finalised the modules that you intend to take when you return for the next semester at London Metropolitan University. 

After you return

Check that we have received your transcript of results and that everything is going smoothly.

Impress all your friends with tall tales of your adventures overseas, and maybe volunteer to help us encourage more students to study abroad in the future.

Continuing the experience

If you have enjoyed your semester abroad and would like to continue the experience on your return to London Met, get in touch with the Study Abroad Office. We would be happy to put you in contact with newly arrived exchange students who would be interested in meeting you and getting your advice as they settle into life in London and at London Met.

The Fulbright Commission

The Fulbright Commission offers the only bi-national transatlantic academic awards programme between the US and the UK.

It offers scholarship awards and summer programmes for UK citizens to study, lecture or research in the US. It also is a valuable source of information about Studying in the US, both on full degree programmes and short term study abroad. The pre-departure pages will be particularly useful for outgoing exchange students!

Education USA

The Fulbright Commission is part of the Education USA partnership.

Education USA is the U.S. Government source on higher education opportunities in the USA. Their website has good resources about preparing for your visa, finances and more.

BUTEX

British Universities Transnational Exchange is a membership organisation with an elected executive committee. Their mission is to promote British education internationally, to facilitate collaboration and regular exchange of information between their members, to develop expertise and to influence the future of international education.

Their scholarship competition is open to all undergraduate students who are affiliated to a BUTEX Full Member institution and complete at least one semester of study abroad. The value of each scholarship is 500 GBP and will be paid to the winners once they have arrived and registered at their host university.

You may be affiliated as an incoming or an outgoing study abroad student.

To be eligible to apply:

• You must have been offered a study abroad or exchange place or have already completed it during the current calendar year.
• You are an outgoing student from or an incoming student to a BUTEX member institution.
• Your place must be for either one semester or one year.

Provisions of the award

Applicants are not permitted to submit more than one entry which can be a poster, a vlog or a blog. Also remember to check that the study abroad placement is eligible for this award.

By entering the BUTEX scholarship competition applicants agree to the BUTEX Administrator contacting their BUTEX institution to confirm registration at the host institution. If awarded a scholarship, you agree to provide a photograph of yourself together with a short statement about the benefits of studying abroad. Please note, this may be used by BUTEX for future publicity. Winners will be notified by the end of October.

Only successful applicants will be notified. The decision of the BUTEX selection committee is final and BUTEX will not correspond with unsuccessful applicants.

JASSO

JASSO offers a scholarship for qualified international students accepted by Japanese universities or graduate schools under the student exchange agreement on a short-term basis from about three months to one year. However, students receiving more than 80,000 JPY (around 490 GBP) in total from other scholarships for study in Japan are ineligible for this scholarship. Therefore, if you receive Turing funding for your time abroad you will not be able to apply for the JASSO funding.

BUNAC

If you fancy working or volunteering abroad over the summer, try BUNAC. They have a wide range of opportunities available.