Study abroad year: your options
We offer different options for a study abroad year at one of our worldwide exchange partner universities. You will be expected to take approximately two-thirds of your required credit load in your main degree subject.
To explore possible year abroad destinations, visit our study abroad destinations page.
If you are a postgraduate student, visit the postgraduate study abroad opportunities page.
Standard study abroad year
Focus on your subject while studying at one of our partner institutions. Choose from our open exchange and subject-based exchange destinations.
Open exchange
The destinations available through open exchange are open to all students across the University and have been selected for the range of degree programmes offered.
If you are interested in applying for these institutions, you must make sure they teach a good range of modules in your subject area before applying.
Subject-based exchange
The links with these destinations have been established by academics in your school based on their suitability with your degree subject.
If you apply to study at any of these universities, you are guaranteed to have a good range of subject-related modules to take.
Horizon study abroad year
The Horizon study abroad year is a unique programme that allows you to develop key employability skills, such as linguistic and intercultural competencies at selected partner institutions in Mexico, Morocco, Israel, South Korea, Japan, China and Thailand.
The academic content of a Horizon study abroad year focuses on language learning and intercultural understanding.
You will need to:
- complete MODL3150 Intercultural Communication and Global Citizenship (on a distance-learning basis), which is a compulsory 20-credit Leeds module.
- select the remaining workload from a range of modules that will allow you to learn more about the language and culture of your host country. You are especially encouraged to pick language modules and develop your language skills if you choose this programme.
- attend a compulsory Horizon meeting in the summer before you depart.
If you choose to study abroad through this programme, you will also be able to pick modules related to your degree subject provided that they are taught in a language that you understand.
How a year abroad works
If you are on a standard three-year degree course
For most students on a standard three-year degree course, a study abroad year is taken as an additional year. Once you have been selected to study abroad, your course will be changed to a four-year international variant of your degree. You will study abroad in your third year and return to Leeds to complete your final year.
If you are going on an additional study abroad year, you will usually be assessed on a pass or fail basis according to learning outcomes set by your teaching school.
If you are on a four-year Integrated Masters programme
For students on a four-year Integrated Masters degree, the placement and academic assessment of a study abroad year varies by faculty.
For some, a study abroad year is taken as an integral replacement year in your third year and the marks you receive on your year abroad usually contribute to your final degree classification.
For others, a study abroad year is taken as an additional year in either the third or fourth year of study and your study abroad year will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. Your School Study Abroad Coordinator will be able to advise on which of the following applies to you.
If your study abroad year is an integrated part of your degree, the marks you obtain while studying abroad will count towards your final degree classification.
Recognition on academic transcript
No matter which study abroad option you choose, your University of Leeds degree will be changed to reflect your international experience.
When you graduate, you will receive the word 'international' in brackets at the end of your degree title.
Duration
Most students who choose to study abroad must do so for a full academic year. However, there are a small number of degree programmes, which allow students to study abroad for a single semester.
If you are studying BA International Development (School of Politics) or MSc International Business (Leeds University Business School), speak to your School Study Abroad Coordinator about the option of a single semester abroad.
If you would like to explore shorter study abroad programmes, discover our summer abroad opportunities.