How to Complete the Online Application 1. Programme Information Please select the programme through which you are applying to study at a partner institution. Erasmus Exchange programme (student) – students studying through this European exchange programme must want to be nominated by the University of Birmingham to an institution which has signed an Erasmus agreement with the University of Birmingham. The exchanges are usually restricted to specific academic areas. Work Placements – students undertaking work placements should have agreement from their academic department prior to completing this form. International Exchange programme –for students who want to be nominated by the University of Birmingham (outside the Erasmus programme) to attend universities that have signed exchange agreements with the University of Birmingham. Please note that you can only apply to study abroad if you are registered on a degree programme that offers the option of a period studying abroad (please check with your exchange tutor).
2. Personal Information The details provided here will be used to create your record as an exchange student. It is therefore of vital importance that this is true and accurate. Nationality: please note that it is your responsibility to check whether you will require a visa for entrance to the host country. You should contact your host university or the country’s embassy for further advice if in doubt.
3. Addresses We will need to contact you about your application and other information. It is essential that you provide your University of Birmingham e-mail address. E-mail is our primary mode of communication during the application process and we will be using it to send out essential information about the progress of your application and the exchange process more generally, including matters related to Student Finance and the Erasmus grant. The University does not send emails to any other e-mail accounts that you may have.
Choice of Host Universities You must list three universities in order of preference. No more than two choices can be from the asterisked universities below. This is because these universities are either oversubscribed or have a very small number of places available. Argentina Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina*
Australia University of Adelaide University of Melbourne* University of New South Wales* University of Queensland* Queensland University of Technology Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University of Technology, Sydney* University of Sydney* Curtin University Brazil Universidade de Sao Paulo Univeraidade Federal de Santa Caterina Canada Brock University Concordia University* Dalhousie University McGill University* Simon Fraser University* Trent University Université du Quebec a Montreal Université Laval University of British Columbia* University of Guelph (near Toronto) University of New Brunswick University of Ottawa* (does not accept business students) University of Saskatchewan University of Waterloo* Western University Wilfred Laurier University Chile Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile* China Beijing Language and Culture University Fudan University Shanghai Jiao Tong University Tsinghua University
University of Nottingham Ningbo Sun Yat Sen University (only for business students)
Ecuador Universidad San Francisco de Quito Ghana University of Cape Coast The Netherlands University of Amsterdam Hong Kong University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic University Irish Republic University College Dublin (does not accept business students) Israel Hebrew University of Jerusalem IDC Herzliya Jamaica University of the West Indies Japan Hitotsubashi University Kansai University Keio University Kobe University Kyoto University Sophia University Waseda University South Korea Korea University Yonsei University Pohang University of Science and Technology - POSTECH Malaysia University of Nottingham Malaysia
Mexico Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla ITESM (Tec de Monterrey) Universidad de Guadalajara Universidad Veracruzana New Zealand University of Auckland* Singapore National University of Singapore (does not accept business students) Sweden University of Lund Thailand Chulalongkorn University (only for business students) Uruguay Universidad de Montevideo USA Arizona State University* Bellarmine University* Berry College* Birmingham Southern College California Polytechnic University* (does not accept engineering students) Endicott College Illinois Institute of Technology Iowa State University (for engineering only) Marquette University: Business students only North Central College Loyola University of New Orleans Pitzer College* Providence College Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey* University of Alabama* University of Cincinnati University of Connecticut* University of Hawaii, Hilo* University of Illinois Chicago* University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign* (does not accept business students) University of Iowa University of Kansas*
University of Maine * University of Maryland* (does not accept business or engineering students) University of Minnesota, Duluth University of Pittsburgh* University of North Texas University of Virginia* University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee University of Wyoming Wilkes University Bryant University
5. Academic Background The information required in this section is about the studies you are currently undertaking at the University of Birmingham. (a) When we ask what degree you are studying for at the University of Birmingham we would like to know the level of study (e.g. bachelor’s degree) and the EXACT title of your degree (e.g. Modern Languages). (b) In order to check whether you have the necessary academic background for your proposed programme of study you will need to check with your Exchange Tutor.
6. Proficiency in the Host Institution’s Language of Instruction The information required in this section refers to your proficiency in language you are looking to study in. All students studying at the University of Birmingham are required to have a solid grounding in the host’s language of instruction before commencing their studies. Students may be required to withdraw from the host institution if, for linguistic reasons, they cannot manage the academic work for which they have registered. Students who do not need to provide official evidence of language proficiency: -Native speakers of the host’s language of instruction. -Erasmus students: who in most cases are covered by provisions within our agreements, or else, a written statement from their department. Students who do need to provide official evidence of target language proficiency: All International Exchange Programme applicants who are not native speakers of their host’s language and who are not studying that language as part of their degree. Whilst we do not necessarily require a test score, if you are not going to be studying in English, we do require you to inform us of your proficiency in the host’s language of instruction. You can do this by telling us if you are studying it as part of your degree or through LFA and about the grades that you have obtained. If you have undertaken an official language test, studied it at secondary school, or spent an extended period living in a country that shares your host’s language please explain this in your personal statement.
7. Proposed Study Period at Host Institution In this section you are required to tell us when you are planning to study at the host institution. Please be aware of the term dates at the host institution. 8. Proposed Programme of Study Before completing a list of modules to include with your application, you must refer to the host institution’s website to find out the range of subjects, topics and fields of study available, so you can discuss the options with your Exchange Tutor. You must take the equivalent of a full time course at Birmingham whilst abroad. This must equate to 120 Birmingham credits (60 European Transfer Credits [ECTS]), the number of credits taken during a year of undergraduate study at a British university. Failure to follow and pass a full course load could lead to you failing your year abroad and potentially your degree. Likewise failure to comply with the minimum credit requirements carries a financial penalty for students studying in Europe in that failure to pass more than 45 ECTS (75% of the year) means that we have to ask you to repay your grant. Even though you won’t be in Birmingham, you remain a student here, so please pay very close attention to the academic requirements of your year abroad.
9. Written Statement of Purpose (International Exchange applicants only) This is a very important document, akin to your UCAS personal statement when you applied to Birmingham. It is essential that you’ve taken time to consider your reasons for wanting to study at your preferred host institutions; this is to ensure that they are the right choices for you academically and personally. Please write no more than 500 words explaining why you want to study at your three chosen universities. Do not write about why you want to study abroad, visit a particular country, or experience a specific culture, or provide details of your career-either academic or professional-to date. You need to write about why you have chosen those particular universities. Please note that we will not process your application if the personal statement has not been uploaded as part of it and if it deviates from these guidelines.
10. Disabled Students’ Statement You only need to complete this section if you will require disability support during your time studying at a host institution. If you have a disability that will affect your studies please provide us with full details so that your needs whilst you are abroad can be assessed by Disability Services and communicated in full to your host institution so that you receive the assistance that you require to undertake the exchange. If you do not have a disability that affects your studies or your ability to participate in an exchange please tick “no”. 11. Student Declaration By submitting this form you confirm that the information you provide is correct and true. 12. Exchange Tutor’s Approval When you are completing your application and choosing your university options it is compulsory that you get approval from your departmental exchange tutor. Your exchange tutor will then inform the Study Abroad & Exchanges Team that they support your application allowing the SA&E team to proceed in processing your application.
13. Application Checklist This section is to help ensure that you have fully completed the application form and provided all the supporting documentation required. We will not consider any applications that are incomplete. It is also advisable to keep a copy of your application for your own reference. 14. Deadlines The deadlines for the online application forms are: For the International Exchange Programme: 25th November 2016 (4 pm) For the Erasmus scheme: 13th January 2017 Please note: if you are a languages student who will be attending more than one university (or undertaking more than one work placement, or splitting the year between study and a work placement) you will need to submit more than one MoveOn application. 15. Important Note on the International Allocation Process: The Study Abroad and Exchanges Team aims to allocate a university place to all students that would like to study abroad. We cannot guarantee that you will be allocated to one of your three choices (particularly if your have chosen *universities from the list). A number of our International partners have a limited number of spaces and therefore places can be very competitive. In this instance we will allocate places based on first year averages and personal and academic reference.
