Summary

1) As part of formal exchange agreements, the English department at the University of Oldenburg has exchange agreements with three British and Irish universities, as well as partnerships in Finland and Switzerland. Click here to find out more about these options. You may also be able to find a place via your second subject - for example, there are a few places available through the history department.

2) In addition to applying for one of the limited number of places at our partner universities, it is also possible to apply directly to universities and to study as a visiting/exchange student for one or two semesters. This option is particularly attractive for BAföG recipients, as it will cover some of the costs. Click to find out more.

Studying in Europe

General information

There are two main options for students interested in spending a semester or longer studying in English at a university in Europe (generally the UK or Ireland): a funded exchange via the Erasmus programme, or as a fee-paying direct applicant.

1) Erasmus places for students of English to study in Britain and Ireland

As part of the Erasmus+ programme, five Oldenburg students each year have the opportunity to spend a semester at one of the following universities:

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Note: Other faculties and departments such as history, music, material culture and biology also have agreements with British and Irish universities - search here to find out what other Erasmus options are available.

Applying for Erasmus in the UK and Ireland

Applications usually open at the beginning of the winter semester, and close shortly before Christmas. Most exchanges are for one semester, from September until January/February. A full-year exchange may occasionally be possible.

ERASMUS students do not pay fees, and receive a scholarship of approximately €200 per month. Other costs – accommodation, books and travel – must be borne by the student.

For further information contact Lauren Freede, A6 2-221, lauren.freede@uol.de.

More information about Erasmus+ can be found on the International Office website 

The application period for Erasmus places for the 2021-22 academic year runs from January 21st until February 24th, 2021. The application form can be downloaded here.

Please follow the instructions carefully - you must apply on the departmental form as well as via the ISO online platform!

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Detailed information about the criteria according to which the Eramsus places are awarded is available here.

Erasmus places in Finland, France, Italy and Switzerland

The English department also has several partnership agreements with European universities in countries where English is *not* one of the official languages. The partnerships with Oulu and Geneva are coordinated by Lauren Freede and can be applied for via the regular Erasmus form; the partnerships with Tours and Siena are the responsibility of Professor Ruigendijk (Niederlandistik).

Important note: while studying at one of these universities can prove an extremely interesting experience, particuarly for students with an interest in linguistics, time spent there DOES NOT COUNT AS THE COMPULSORY STAY ABROAD - none of these countries are English-speaking, even if they offer courses in English. (However, you would be able to get credit in Oldenburg for any appropriate courses taken.)

For the duration of the pandemic-related travel restrictions, studying in English at these unviersities WILL be recognised for the compulsory stay abroad!

Further information about these partnerships is available on the IO website.

2) Direct Applications for the UK, Ireland and Malta

Studying in the UK and Ireland outside the Erasmus+ Programme

Students who do not receive an Erasmus place or who are interested in studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (where Oldenburg does not currently have Erasmus partners) should consider applying directly to British or Irish universities to study as a visiting/exchange student for one or two semesters.

The list below is of British and Irish universities which accept direct, fee-paying applicants from the EU.  Most application deadlines are between late March and May; a few are later.

Main list of universities for direct applications

Universities Traditionally Popular with Oldenburg Students Applying Directly

Be aware that the effect of Brexit on many of the Scottish, Welsh and English programmes is not yet clear!

Scotland

*University of Stirling (semester/year). Fees are currently comparatively affordable at £910 per semester. www.stir.ac.uk/study-abroad-exchanges/how-to-apply
Note the early application deadline of April 1st for next winter semester!

*University of Dundee (semester/year) Fees are currently comparatively affordable at £910 per semester. www.dundee.ac.uk/study/abroad/eu-freemover/
The online application form is here – www.dundee.ac.uk/study/ipp/dfvis-daippi/
Note the early application deadline of March 31st for next winter semester!
Please note that Dundee offers virtually no courses in linguistics.

Republic of Ireland

*University College, Cork (semester/year) www.ucc.ie/en/study/international/visiting-eu/ Deadline: Early June / Mid October (Application details for the 2016/2017 academic year will be available online in March 2016). EU-Rate tuition fees for one semester: €3010 (2015-16)

*University of Limerick (partner university that also takes direct applications) www.ul.ie/international/study-abroad-1

EU-Rate tuition fees for one semester: €3000 (2017-18)

Wales

* Swansea University (semester/year) www.swansea.ac.uk/international/visiting-and-exchange/ You will need to e-mail for further information about studying as a fee paying visiting student.

England

*Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge) – ECTS Student Mobility Scheme. General information here -  www.anglia.ac.uk/international/study-abroad - and links for how to apply here – www.anglia.ac.uk/international/study-abroad/applying-to-study-abroad

*London Metropolitan University – Study in London programme (semester/year) www.londonmet.ac.uk/international/study-abroad-programmes/incoming-students/study-in-london-programme/ Deadline: 15th June. Fees generally under BAFöG limit for one semester.

*Manchester Metropolitan University (former partner university). www2.mmu.ac.uk/international/exchange-and-study-abroad/apply/
Note the application deadline of May 1st for the following winter semester.

*University of Sunderland (fees for one semester are just under the BAFöG limit, depending on the exchange rate. It may also be possible to apply as a postgraduate student.) www.sunderland.ac.uk/international/studyabroadandstudentexchange/incoming/

* University of Essex (fees for one semester are just under the BAFöG limit, depending on the exchange rate. ) http://www.essex.ac.uk/essexabroad/incoming/study.aspx
Deadline: 1st May. Masters students may also find the option of studying as an 'occasional taught student' interesting. See here for further information - www.essex.ac.uk/langling/pg/visiting/default.aspx

* University of Sussex (one or two semesters) www.sussex.ac.uk/study/sabroad/guide Deadline: 1st May

*Oxford Brookes University – European Study Abroad Programme / EU Associate Programme (semester/year) www.brookes.ac.uk/international/study-abroad-and-exchanges/coming-to-brookes/how-to-apply/ Deadline: 13th May

Other universities accepting direct applications (links updated less frequently!):

Be aware that the effect of Brexit on many of the Scottish, Welsh and English programmes is not yet clear!

Scotland

 

*Abertay university in Dundee also has an EU visiting student programme. Fees are currently  £910 per semester here too.
www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/exchange-study-abroad/incoming/eu-visiting-student-programme/. Note the (postal) deadline of 15th April!
Abertay does not have an English department, but this option may be of interest to people with appropriate second subjects such as sport or economics. You can also take English language courses while studying. We will recognise a semester abroad even if no English modules are completed.

*University of Strathclyde (semester/year) www.strath.ac.uk/rio/exchangestudyabroad/incoming/ (Click on ‘Other’ – this is the category for EU students from an institution without an Erasmus Agreement.) The application details are here – www.strath.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduateucasapplicants/undergraduatedirectapplications/

*University of Aberdeen (semester/year) www.abdn.ac.uk/international/exchanges.php (You will need to e-mail for an application form as a fee-paying European visiting student)

*Heriot-Watt University (semester/year) www.hw.ac.uk/student-life/international/study-in-the-uk/visiting-students.htm

England

*University of York (one, two or three terms) – competitive entry. www.york.ac.uk/study/study-abroad/visiting/applying/ Deadline: 30th June

*Edge Hill University (Erasmus partner from WiSe 15-16) www.edgehill.ac.uk/international/courses/studyabroad/

*Warwick University www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/studyabroad/inbound/how/ For access to the application form as a non-Erasmus EU visiting student (category EXe or Ve), you need to contact the university directly on
Deadline: 31st May / 30th September

*University of Nottingham (semester/year). Unusually, Nottingham has a programme for postgraduate direct exchanges. www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/international-applicants/spend-part-of-your-degree-here/postgraduate-exchanges.aspx  (All EU students applying to take taught modules will be charged the relevant programme fee at the Home/EU or rate. This may vary depending on which School or Department you wish to study in.)

*Kingston University (semester/year) – as Study Abroad student. www.kingston.ac.uk/studyabroadandexchangeprogrammes/study-abroad-students/

*University of Hull (semester/year) as a Visiting Occasional EU student. Deadline is May 31st for the following winter. www2.hull.ac.uk/international/exchange__study_abroad/incoming_students.aspx

Wales

*Aberystwyth University – Study Year Abroad (JYA/SYA) Programme (semester/year) www.aber.ac.uk/en/international/study-abroad/ You will need to e-mail for further information. Deadline is April 3rd.

*Cardiff University (semester/year; as an occasional student) www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/international/erasmus/how-to-apply.html You will need to e-mail admissions@cardiff.ac.uk for further information.

Republic of Ireland

* NOTE: At the moment, ROI university fees are almost all below the BAföG limit!*

*Trinity College, Dublin (generally full year; competitive entry; early deadline (March 1st) www.tcd.ie/study/non-eu/study-abroad/to-trinity/EU%20Exchanges/index.php

*National University of Ireland, Maynooth international.nuim.ie/study-maynooth/visiting-students/study-abroad/how-apply and www.maynoothuniversity.ie/international/study-maynooth/study-abroad-programme

Northern Ireland

*Queens University Belfast (Credit-Earning Non-Graduating (CENG) student) www.qub.ac.uk/home/StudyatQueens/InternationalStudents/ExchangesandStudyAbroad/StudyAbroadprogramme/HowtoApply/#eu (You will need to enquire via e-mail.)

*University of Ulster (various campuses; as an Occasional Student. Fees should be under the BAFöG limit.) international.ulster.ac.uk/study-abroad-student-exchange/incoming-students/ You will need to contact the International Department – international@ulster.ac.uk – for further information.

How to apply directly

Please be aware that the procedures for many of the direct applications are complicated. You will normally need to supply:

  • A completed application form
  • A translated (into English) copy of your academic transcript (Notenübersicht) as well as the German version (if you complete the translation yourself then the Prüfungsamt will usually provide a stamp)
  • Proof of language proficiency (frequently an external test like TOEFL or IELTS).
  • At least one academic reference.

Please give yourself plenty of time to complete each application and contact one of the lecturers in Language Practice if you have general questions.

If you met the entry requirements for Oldenburg with your Abitur results and do not have any proof of language proficiency, you can use the this letter instead. (However, it may not be accepted by every UK/Irish university – a formal test is a more reliable option.)

Other European options in English - Malta

For students interested studying in another country in Europe where English is one of the official languages, you may want to consider Malta. Although Oldenburg has no partnership agreement with the university, fees for direct applicants are quite reasonable for both a semester and a full year of study.

The deadline for applications for visiting students is as follows:

  • Students applying for the First Semester or Full Academic Year (commencing in October) – 1st June
  • Students applying for the Second Semester (commencing in February) – 1st November

Direct application issues - fees, BAföG and timing

1) FEES

BAföG will cover university fees to a maximum of €4600. Unfortunately, fees in Britain are usually above this limit. Average costs are £9000/year, or £4500 per semester. The universities with costs under or not too far above the BAföG limit are highlighted on the list above – others will be charging the full amount! As some universities have not yet announced how high the fees will be for the following year, you may need to e-mail directly and ask. 

At certain times of year it is also possible to apply for a scholarship from the ISO to cover some of the exchange costs: please contact them for further details! (The PROMOS scholarship is particularly relevant and has two application periods – December/January and April/May, both of which will be announced on the ISO website.)

2) BA or MA?

Are you planning to apply to a university in the UK or Ireland as a masters student? This can be very difficult to arrange officially, as most British and Irish MA programmes are only one year. 

  • We strongly recommend BAföG recipients intending to apply directly to study in Britain go abroad as undergraduate students. BAFöG will only pay for a semester abroad for people in MEd/MA programmes if they are also enrolled at the foreign university as a postgraduate student, and this is almost impossible to organise!
  • If you do *not* receive BAföG, it is usually possible to enrol as an undergraduate student, even if you are studying for an MEd in Oldenburg – we will often recognise final-year  UK/Irish courses as equivalent to MM-level seminars. Please discuss the credit transfer options with a subject advisor in advance if you choose this option!

3) ADDITIONAL NOTE FOR BAföG RECIPIENTS - TIMING

BAföG will only cover the costs for a stay abroad that is twelve weeks or longer. As a result, at universites which have three ten-week trimesters instead of two longer semesters, you will have to stay for at least two trimesters in order to meet the requirements. This is generally mentioned in the list of universities above.

(Changed: 19 Jan 2024)  | 
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