What are university exchange programmes?

In short-term exchanges, students rarely take classes for their major. Rather, they are more likely to participate in the range of extra-curricular activities arranged by their host institute, with the possibility of some credit-bearing language classes too. These types of exchange programmes also tend to commonly place students into homestays (a local family’s home) to enhance the cultural experience, with daily meals included in the price. Given the social nature of short-term exchanges, students usually participate in these types of experiences earlier on in their bachelor’s degree, leaving the busier and more intensive later years of study for focusing primarily on their major.

Type 2: Long-term Exchanges

Unsurprisingly, long-term exchanges are generally those that cover at least a full semester and often a whole academic year. In these programmes, students are provided with the opportunity to take classes at partner institutes in their major area of study. As these programmes are in place of studying at their enrolled university, the seminars and assessments taken abroad will normally count toward the final grade of a student’s overall degree. However, how these grades are precisely calculated does tend to vary, with students reporting that assessments may be harder or easier at their adopted institute yet still produce the same grade (something that will be on our list of six considerations in Chapter 3). As with short-term exchanges, the motivation behind longer exchanges can still be cultural, but may also offer additional benefits for that particular major – such as when an archaeology student takes a semester in Athens, one of the world’s most historically fascinating cities. Such programmes can also allow a student access to a more prestigious institute than their normal qualifications or funding would allow.