Study Abroad/Study in Industry
- Compulsory periods abroad/in industry
- Non-compulsory study periods abroad
- Non-compulsory periods in industry
- Periods in industry for degrees with employment experience
Compulsory periods abroad/in industry
Information is requested from departments by the Taught Programmes Office in January of each session on those students who will need to spend periods abroad or in industry as a compulsory part of their course during the following academic session. We ask for full details to be returned by a final deadline in June each year (but by an earlier date during April if possible) for onward notification to Local Education Authorities by the Taught Programmes Office.
Non-compulsory study periods abroad
Study Periods counting towards the degree
This includes students spending non-compulsory periods of study abroad on the Erasmus scheme, the Study Abroad scheme, and individual departmental study exchanges and which will count towards the individual student’s degree.
Permission is normally granted automatically by Faculty Officers provided arrangements have been agreed by the department/s involved and the International Exchanges Unit. Details of the Erasmus schemes and individual departmental study exchanges are supplied to the Taught Programmes Office by Academic Departments. Study Abroad scheme details are supplied to the Taught Programmes Office via the International Exchanges Unit. Full details of the students on these schemes will be supplied to the Local Education Authorities by the Taught Programmes Office.
Study Periods NOT counting towards the degree
Non-compulsory periods of study abroad agreed by the individual’s academic department but which will not count towards the individual student’s degree and do not involve the International Exchanges Unit should be treated as a leave of absence. Such cases should be notified to the Taught Programmes Office via a Change of Status (COS) Form since Faculty permission for the leave of absence is required and Local Education Authorities have to be notified by the Taught Programmes Office (in the case of undergraduate students).
Non-compulsory periods in industry
Students wishing to undertake a non-compulsory period of time working in industry must complete a Change of Status (COS) Form to request approval for a leave of absence from their programme of study to do this. The completed COS Form must be forwarded to the Taught Programmes Office, since Faculty permission is needed and also Local Education Authorities have to be notified (in the case of undergraduate students). Permission is normally granted automatically by Faculty Officers provided the arrangements have been approved by the department/s involved.
However, departments must not assume that overseas students can be signed off for non-compulsory periods in industry as above, as this will almost certainly contravene the conditions of their student visa and jeopardize their right to stay in the UK for the purposes of study. Advice and guidance about this can be obtained from the Student Support and Guidance section in Student Services.
Periods in industry for degrees with employment experience
Undergraduate students may opt to undertake a one year work placement as part of their degree programme. In such cases students must complete a Change of Status (COS) Form to request approval to change onto a degree programme designated as 'with work experience'. The completed COS Form must be forwarded to the Taught Programmes Office, since Faculty Permission is needed and also Local Education Authorities have to be notified. Permission is normally granted automatically by Faculty Officers provided the arrangements have been approved by the department/s involved.
Further details about the 'Degrees with Work Experience' scheme are available on the University Careers Service website.