Study Abroad Event October 3, 2017 Opening: James Kennedy Semester Abroad: Curriculum planning Patricia Post Semester Abroad 2018-2019: Carla Kist Academic Student Council: Jinrui Zhang China Program: Meiyi Bao Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University: Keshu Han Questions and what’s next: Carla Kist Study Abroad Information Market
Semester abroad Curriculum planning Dr. Patricia Post-Nievelstein Head tutor
Class of 2020: when? Spring 2019: 4th semester for current first semester students this application round deadline November 17, 2017 Or fall 2019: 5th semester for current first semester students next year’s application round deadline mid November 2018
Spring 2019 (4th semester for class of 2020) Advantages Disadvantages Limited time to plan exchange Prospective major? Planning 3 semesters ahead Getting used to college life in general It will be easier to plan your senior year Many level 3 courses are only offered once a year Planning the Research Thesis (15 EC)
Fall 2019 (5th semester for class of 2020) Advantages Disadvantages You will miss out on UCU level 3 courses that are only offered in fall If no level 3 before your exchange you might have to take 3 X 3 plus Research Thesis (spring + plus summer) in final semester. More time to plan exchange but good to start planning anyway!
Curriculum planning Current first semester students: Review what you learned in the curriculum planning workshop Think of the potential fields you would like to include in your UCU curriculum and look for exchange destinations that match with your interest profile If not sure yet: design two or three hypothetical curricula Make an appointment with your tutor to discuss however come prepared!
Curriculum planning and exchange: How to start? One of the methods is as follows: List your major fields of interest or potential interests Go through the level 3 courses on offer in those fields Go back from there to the level 2 and level 1 prerequisites Make more curriculum versions if you have multiple interests Note that course offering is subject to change so be flexible in anticipating on alternatives
Curriculum planning and exchange: How to start? Try to construct your curriculum –if possible- such that you will meet your graduation requirements even without courses on in exchange counting for that Plan methodology courses as much as possible before going on exchange Mathematic course for SCI majors to be finished in semester 3 if abroad in semester 4 Language and culture requirement to be finished in semester 3 if abroad in semester 4
Requirements A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher No shortage of credit Transfer credits totaling no more than 30 ECTS Proficiency at the intermediate (2) level in the language of instruction at the host institution No social or academic probation during exchange semester These criteria must be met at the time of application as well as at the time of departure for a study abroad destination The default course load on exchange is 30 EC. If an excess of at least 7.5 EC is completed before going abroad, a program of at least 22.5 EC is possible if good description of other organized formative activities while on exchange is added to the learning agreement 3.19.9 The student is responsible for completing a course program abroad that meets the UCU study load of 30 EC per semester. All courses, credits, and grades achieved on exchange will appear on the UCU transcript. The number of credits registered on the transcript will be converted to EC. Numerical grades are converted to the UCU letter grades. 3.19.10 If the student has an excess of at least 7,5 EC when going on Exchange the student may take a program with a study load of at least 22,5 EC. In this case the learning agreement must include a description of envisioned other organized formative activities (e.g. travel, cultural exploration,….) while on exchange.
Orientation: Where? Start from the perspective of your academic ambitions and course planning Which partner universities offer really interesting and enriching courses from your perspective? “Faraway” does not always match with “best course options” (for you) Go to the semester abroad information market later this afternoon
You are welcome in our offices…..
So you want to study abroad? When Advice How Procedure How to choose What’s new in 2018-2019? Where More information…
(…depends on your UCU schedule) When… 2nd semester of your second year -or- 1st semester of your third year last semester (sometimes) (…depends on your UCU schedule) Last semester: having approval from the UCU-Exam Board, because of extension of your stay at UCU, or after being a Board member
Advice 4th semester Place in curriculum after 3 semesters – half way UCU, break (“helicopter view”, out of “the bubble”) Consolidate your major: take level 2 courses Room for electives/ minor/ specifics Upon return: full year to finish fields and prepare and write thesis, prepare for Master etc Social aspect: return for full year UCU
Advice 5th semester Place in curriculum after 4 semesters – towards the end of UCU Maximising major: take some level 3 courses Experience other teaching styles, look for possible Master programs/ universities Upon return: one semester to finish tracks and write thesis, prepare for Master etc. Social aspect: return for only one semester to UCU
How… 2 types of exchange programs: UCU exchange programs 2. UU university wide exchange programs More than 30 UCU destinations: chosen on quality criteria: honors programs like UCU, Liberal Arts and Science profile. Comparable curriculum, registrar (grading and conversion relatively easy) and campus facilities. Reason: courses at host university must be used for graduation at UCU: not time to loose. Coordination by exchange officer UCU: short lines, direct contact; tailor made options. UU destinations: regions where we don’t have many options: Australia, Africa. General broad contracts: competition for spots with UU students; selection criteria not always on quality (GPA etc.); coordination through UU IO. On Information market someone to talk to. No direct possibilities for exchange through other UU faculties.
How… (procedure) Application deadlines: ON PAPER AND IN OSIRIS: NOVEMBER 17, 2017 (fall 2018 and spring 2019) 2. Follow up procedures: UCU exchange programs: exchange officer, College Hall UCU UU exchange programs: Student Services, Heidelberglaan 6, Uithof
Where?
Europe or far away? Finances: ERASMUS, costs, no Holland Scholarship for outside Europe. US and Sydney: very costly
What’s new? New destinations in 2018-2019: European Liberal Arts-Network Valparaiso University, Indiana, USA Tsinghua University, Beijing Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou Lingnan University, Hong Kong
European Liberal Arts Network ELAN-network: Exchange options in 11 European countries ELAN-Certificate Language skills Not all destinations offer all fields. On intranet website indications of the fields. Also, certain destinations require at least 200-level language of the country. That is higher than the language requirement (= 100-level). This counts for Italy, Germany (Konstanz); France (Sciences Po); Spain and Latin America. This is also true for some of the new ELAN-destinations like Austria (Graz), France (ENS Paris) and Italy (Siena). Good opportunity to get a much higher level of modern language and culture of the country. In Sweden (Gotland, Uppsala) and Russia (Saint Petersburg) you need to have a sufficient (intermediate level at least) command of the national language. We do not offer language courses so you should contact national agency’s to get these levels.
What’s new? New UCU language policy for exchange: English as lingua franca abroad: no language requirements National language is: Spanish, German, Italian, French: B2-level required UCU Language and Culture intermediate level 2 is not sufficient (= B1) Extra academic language courses as curriculum enrichment before or during exchange
UCU China Program Meiyi Bao, coordinator UCU China Program Keshu Han, international partnership coordinator Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou
More information? Flyer (all UCU destinations and amount of spots) Description of destinations (UCU intranet) UCU Rules and Regulations (UCU intranet) Facebook pages and websites of host universities Former UCU exchange students & Exchange students currently at UCU
Questions? Information Market in Dining Hall! EXCHANGE-EXCHANGE: Tuesday October 24, UCSA bar: 17:00-19:00 hours Carla Kist, exchange officer Room 107, College Hall Tel. 9853 c.e.kist@uu.nl / ucu.internationaloffice@uu.nl Office hours: Tue:13.00-15.00 Thu: 15.00-16.00