2015—2016 MINI-GUIDE TO THE

International Exchange Programme Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L E X C H A N G E PROGRAMME

T H E B E N E F I T S O F I N T E R N AT I O N A L EXCHANGE

International study gives you a unique opportunity to broaden your horizons academically, socially and personally, and also provides an important advantage when you enter the job market. In an increasingly globalised economy, employers are seeking graduates with an international perspective – those who can work with colleagues from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, embrace new perspectives and ideas, and demonstrate foreign language skills.

Enhance your employability

Broaden your horizons

International study can really set you apart when it comes to looking for a job. In fact, research shows that graduates who have studied abroad earn higher starting salaries than those who have not. The skills you will gain – learning to integrate yourself into unfamiliar groups and situations, be sensitive to different cultures, and demonstrate selfreliance – are exactly the type of skills future employers will be looking for.

We live in an internationally mobile world, with careers no longer constrained by where we grew up or studied. Living and studying in another country will give you an international network of contacts and a broader outlook for the future.

The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences runs an International Exchange Programme which opens the door for undergraduate students to study abroad – at universities in Europe and around the world – as part of their degree.

How the programme works The International Exchange Programme enables you to study abroad while earning credits that contribute towards your Surrey degree. Students on exchange pay no additional tuition

fees to the partner university, and most students applying for a European exchange will be eligible for an Erasmus grant under the Erasmus+ programme (Europe’s biggest provider of study bursaries). Students apply for an exchange during the January of their first year at Surrey and typically go on exchange in their second year, spending one or two semesters at their chosen university. To see the partner university options available for your specific degree programme, please turn to pages 6 to 14.

Expand your learning Studying your subject in a different context is both challenging and rewarding and will give you a completely new perspective on your studies when you return home. You may have access to specialist modules or advanced facilities that are not available at Surrey, or you may benefit from alternative learning experiences – for example laboratory classes are taught very differently in other countries.

Improve your life skills Living in a different country and meeting people from all kinds of backgrounds gives you the chance to grow as a person, increasing your confidence, self-reliance, communication and organisational skills.

Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience Studying abroad is not all work and no play. The opportunity to make new friends and explore another country is an experience you will never forget, and one which may be more difficult to achieve post-graduation when you have other commitments.

Depending where you choose to go, immersing yourself in a foreign language environment will inevitably improve your language skills, giving you the competence and confidence to use another language in the future.

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W H AT I S R E Q U I R E D ?

Academic requirements

Language requirements

Studying abroad is a rewarding but challenging experience, so prospective exchange students need to demonstrate that they can cope with the rigours of international study. To be eligible for exchange, students must have an average mark of 60 per cent or more for their first year, and consistently good marks for any further study completed when they apply.

All our partner universities teach in English unless stated otherwise. However you may find it useful to gain a basic knowledge of the language used in your chosen country. Enrolling on the Global Graduate Award in Languages – a university-wide programme open to all students and free of charge – will enable you to start learning a new language or brush up on one you’ve previously studied. To find out more, go to surrey.ac.uk/GGA

Applications are submitted at the end of January, with decisions made in February. If you are asked to take re-sit examinations/assessments following the end of the spring semester, you may not be allowed to continue with an exchange. Once at the partner university, you must enrol on a specific number of modules and/or credit. Successful completion of each module adds credit to your student record at Surrey.

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C H O O S I N G A D E S T I N AT I O N

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Before deciding where you want to apply, you’ll need to consider a range of factors including study options, finances, the type of environment you will be living in and the extracurricular activities on offer. Even if you’re a seasoned traveller and have visited the country before, it’s worth doing some thorough research before making your final decision. The first step is to look at the list of partner universities on pages 6 to 14 of this guide and check the programme suitability column to find out your options. Then you may want to: » Look at the Erasmus and international exchange programme webpages on the Surrey website to find out more about each university (surrey.ac.uk/ exchanges) » Check out partner university websites – particularly the pages for inbound exchange students. Look at partner universities’ module catalogues online to see modules that are being taught in 2015-16

» Go online to research your chosen destination and the surrounding area, and buy or borrow a guidebook such as Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. The Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) website (fco.gov.uk/en) also has useful advice on travelling and living in other countries » Pick the brains of students who’ve already taken part in the exchange programme » Go to the International Relations’ Study and Work Abroad Fair and Department Information Sessions

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WHERE CAN I GO?

Below is a list of our European (Erasmus) and international partners. As the aim of the International Exchange Programme is to broaden your study experiences, it’s important that the university you choose closely matches your degree programme at Surrey. The institutions listed under ‘study or lab’ have a range of modules that will match what you would be taking at Surrey for the programmes listed in the ‘programme suitability’ column.

University

Country

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

Universität Ulm*

Germany

Lab

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSc/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/MPhys)

Martin-Luther-Universität HalleWittenberg*

Germany

Lab

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSc/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/MPhys)

University of Debrecen

Hungary

Study

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSc/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MPhys/MMath)

Aristotle University Thessaloniki* Greece

Lab

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSc/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MPhys/MMath)

Università degli Studi di Roma*

Italy

Lab

Chemistry Chemistry with Forensic Investigation Medicinal Chemistry (all BSc/MChem)

Aalto University*

Finland

Lab

Chemistry Chemistry with Forensic Investigation Medicinal Chemistry (all BSc/MChem)

European (Erasmus) partners University

Country

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

Technische Universität Dresden

Germany

Study

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering

Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata

Italy

Study

Electronic Engineering

Koç University, Istanbul

Turkey

Study

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering

Oulu University

Finland

Study

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering

Università degli Studi di Genova*

Italy

Lab

Medical Engineering (MEng/BEng)

Università degli Studi della Basilicata*

Italy

Lab

Chemistry Chemistry with Forensic Investigation Medicinal Chemistry (all BSc/MChem)

Ecole Centrale de Lyon*

France

Lab

Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Mechanical Engineering Medical Engineering (all MEng/BEng)

Clausthal University of Technology*

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Germany

Lab

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSc/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/MPhys)

*These partners offer laboratory placements for your Professional Training Year. You do not take courses at these universities but work on a project.

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WHERE CAN I GO?

International partners University

Country

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

North Carolina State University

USA

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Mechanical Engineering Medical Engineering (all MEng/BEng)

Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys) Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc) University of Cincinnati

USA

Study

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys)

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys)

Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc) University of Central Florida

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USA

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Mechanical Engineering Medical Engineering (all MEng/BEng) Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering (all MEng/BEng)

Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc) University of North Texas

USA

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering (all MEng/BEng) Physics

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WHERE CAN I GO?

University

Country

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

University

Country

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

(continued) University of North Texas

USA

Study

Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys)

Brock University

Canada

Study

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSc/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ Phys)

Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc) Texas Tech

USA

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology Electronic Engineering with Space Systems Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Mechanical Engineering (all MEng/BEng) Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc)

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Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc)

La Trobe University

Australia

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* (all MEng/BEng) Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys)

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WHERE CAN I GO?

University

Country

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

University

Country

Swinburne University of Technology

Australia

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering Mechanical Engineering Medical Engineering (all MEng/BEng)

University of Victoria, Wellington New Zealand

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering (all MEng/BEng) Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys)

Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys) University of Sydney

Australia

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering (all MEng/BEng) Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys) Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc)

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Seoul National University

South Korea

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering with Space Systems Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Mechanical Engineering Medical Engineering (all MEng/BEng) Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys)

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WHERE CAN I GO?

FINANCES

University

Country

Study or Lab

Programme Suitability

Nanyang Technological University

Singapore

Study

Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering* Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering* Chemical and Petroleum Engineering* Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Mechanical Engineering Medical Engineering (all MEng/BEng) Physics Physics with Astronomy Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics Physics with Quantum Technologies Physics with Satellite Technology (all BSC/MPhys) Mathematics and Physics (BSc/MMath/ MPhys) Mathematics (MMath/BSc) Financial Mathematics (BSc) Mathematics and Computer Science (BSc) Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training (MMath) Mathematics with Music (BSc) Mathematics with Statistics (BSc)

*pending checks on current course compatibility, and subject to specific year groups.

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There’s sometimes a misconception that international study is prohibitively expensive. While there are additional costs to consider, there are also various sources of financial support aimed at helping more students to experience the benefits of an exchange. It’s also worth bearing in mind that as an exchange student, you will not be paying tuition fees to your partner university, and if you receive a student loan and/or grant, you can still claim this whilst on exchange. Under the Erasmus programme, students registered at a UK Higher Education Institution are eligible for an Erasmus grant, which is currently €350-400 per month, with an additional monthly grant of €100 available to students whose household income is below £25,000. (These amounts may vary for 2015-16). Your application for an Erasmus grant happens automatically when you fill in your application form for exchange. To find out more, go to surrey.ac.uk/ outgoingerasmusexchange. There are also scholarships offered by external organisations for students attending universities in South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and the USA. Students with means-tested loans from the Student Finance Company can apply for an additional loan and/

or grant to put towards the cost of travel, medical insurance and visa expenses. For more information about sources of financial support, go to www.surrey.ac.uk/exchanges/ outgoing. The additional costs you need to consider when you are planning your exchange will include some or all of the following: » Travel, including flights » Accommodation (although remember that you do not pay for Surrey on-campus accommodation whilst you are away) » Living expenses (which will obviously vary depending where you go) » Insurance » Visa expenses » Immunisation expenses (for international destinations) » Proof of finances (for international destinations)

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M A K I N G A N A P P L I C AT I O N : C H E C K L I S T

Once you’ve researched your exchange options and discussed your decision to study abroad with your family, you’re ready to make an application. Here are the next steps: » Meet with your personal tutor to discuss the exchange (preferably before the winter vacation)

You may be invited to attend a short interview before a decision is made. Whilst we try to offer students a place at their first choice partner university, this may not always be possible as it depends on demand and places available each year. The selection process is based on the quality of your application, your grades to date and the support from your Department.

» Complete the application form online, which is available on the exchange website (www.surrey.ac.uk/exchanges) from December onwards, naming three universities in order of preference

» You will be notified of the outcome of your application via email in February. If you’ve been successful you will then have one week to confirm whether or not you’d like to accept the place

» Submit your application by 31 January, remembering to include: » Budget form » Personal statement (approx. 200 words) explaining why you want to study abroad and your reasons for each university choice

» If you don’t want to take a place at the recommended partner university you may decline the offer and ask to be placed at a different university. These requests will be considered on a case by case basis

Applications are then reviewed by the International Relations Office (IRO) and the Exchange Coordinators in the Faculty, and places allocated on the strength of your overall application.

S U M M A R Y O F E X C H A N G E A P P L I C AT I O N PROCEDURE

Research exchange opportunities

Meeting with your personal tutor to discuss exchange

Write personal statement

Apply through our online application system

» Once you have accepted a place, you will need to apply formally to the partner university. Details of this process are contained in TOTTO (Tick off to Take Off), an online pre-departure guide, to which you will have access via the Let’s Go Abroad module on SurreyLearn

Confirmation and recommendation from the International Relations Office

Accept

Decline

Official nomination to partner university

End of Process

Application to partner university with support from the International Relations Office

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EXCHANGE STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Richard Winstone Exchange: University of Central Florida, Orlando Spending a year at the University of Central Florida was “by far the best experience of my life” for Mathematics student Richard Winstone. “I decided to travel to America because I wanted to improve my self-confidence. I would like to work in America at some point in the future and I was certain that this opportunity would improve my CV and give me a better understanding of what it would truly be like to work there,” he says. Richard admits that there are some perceived barriers to studying abroad – the hassle of finding accommodation, organising appropriate modules, sorting out visas and insurance, and making a new group of friends. However he has no regrets. “With the support of Surrey’s International Relations Office, applying for the exchange programme couldn’t have been easier,” he says. “The exchange experience helped me to improve my interpersonal and communication skills and increased my self-confidence. I became proficient at budgeting over an extended period of time, learnt to live independently and proved to myself that I could adapt to new situations – skills which will help me throughout my life.” Work aside, Richard found much to enjoy as a student in Florida. He was welcomed with open arms by his fellow students and their families and enjoyed taking part in American traditions such as Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Spring Break. “Seeing how others live and meeting people from a variety of backgrounds was an unbelievable experience. I now have an even stronger desire to work in the USA and a new urge to travel, meet new people and immerse myself in other cultures,” says Richard.

I am now more enthusiastic about what I’m studying and as a direct result, I feel very driven – Lucas Simpson

Surrey Electronic Engineering student Lucas Simpson arrived at the University of Cincinnati (UC) believing it would be a challenging but very rewarding year – and wasn’t disappointed. “The first thing I had to do was to integrate myself into the UC spirit,” he says. “I joined several clubs and attended social events to ease my transition into an education system with a different approach to my home institution.” Lucas quickly realised that being on exchange required a high level of independence. He explains, “I had to choose modules that suited me and were similar to the ones I would complete at Surrey. Once I had selected my modules, there was a certain amount of missing knowledge I needed to fill in, because my modules at Surrey were different from those at UC.” “I had to manage my time well to fit my hobbies in alongside my study, which meant that by the end of the exchange year I was a more productive, professional and independent learner. “I am now more enthusiastic about what I’m studying and as a direct result, I feel very driven as I complete my degree.”

Lucas Simpson Exchange: University of Cincinnati

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Contacts: Dr Annette Kratz International Relations Office University of Surrey Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK T: +44 (0)1483 682052 E: [email protected]

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS) Exchange Coordinators: Dr Esat Alpay (Chemical and Process Engineering) [email protected] Dr Melanie Bailey (Chemistry) [email protected] Dr Carlos Barbieri (Physics) [email protected] Dr Tim Brown (Electronic Engineering) [email protected] Dr Bin Cheng (Mathematics) [email protected] Dr Stefan Szyniszewski (Civil and Environmental Engineering) [email protected] Dr Stephan Wesemeyer (Computing) [email protected] Dr Mark Whiting (Mechanical Engineering Sciences) [email protected]

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