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Going abroad to work or study

Studying abroad is a fantastic way to broaden your cultural horizons, take on new challenges, and add international experience to your CV. If you plan to work overseas after you graduate, an exchange is the perfect time to enhance your language skills and build your global network. Living, studying and navigating life in a different country provides you with the chance to develop your interpersonal and organisational skills, develop a network of life-long friends and most importantly, have fun. Many of our students who have studied abroad describe their time as “the best year of their life”. Check out their experiences on our Instagram and Blog.

We offer a range of outbound mobilities including a full year abroad, single semester exchange and summer schools around the world.

You can choose from a wide range of exchange programmes at our high-ranking partner institutions around the world. These include unique opportunities in:

Exchange programmes

The destination and length of your placement overseas depends on your undergraduate course at the University of Southampton:

Full YearSingle Semester
Archaeology (3rd year) Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology (3rd year)
Art (3rd year) Geophysics (3rd year)
Business (3rd year) Aero and Astro Engineering (3rd year)
Chemistry (or a single semester) Psychology (3rd year)
Civil Engineering (or a single semester) (after 2nd year) Physics (unless you are a year-long CERN or Harvard placement student)
Creative Computing (3rd year)  
English Language and Literature (3rd year) Ocean and Earth Sciences (3rd year)
Fashion Marketing with Management (3rd year) Maths (3rd year)
Film (3rd year) Geography and Environmental Science (2nd year)
Graphic Communication (Graphic Arts) (3rd year)  
History (3rd year) Fashion Design (2nd year)
Law (3rd year) Mechanical Engineering
Modern Languages (3rd year) Politics and International Relations (3rd year)
Music (3rd year) Textile Design
Philosophy (3rd year) Economics (3rd year)

Education and Computer Science students are currently not eligible to study abroad.

Explore exchange partnerships for your discipline and check with your academic exchange coordinator for more information on compatibility with your degree programme. Please check who your coordinator is here.

Summer schools

Summer schools give you the chance to complete a shorter period of study abroad, with programmes varying from 2-8 weeks in length, during the summer vacation. The summer schools we offer are either;

  1. Partner University Summer Programmes e.g. Studying Law at Stockholm University or studying Biomedical Science at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore alongside many others.
  2. Non-Governmental Organisations including Think Pacific, offering a choice of projects in Fiji and Bali.

If you are a current university student, you can see the summer school opportunities available here.

Work placements abroad

You can explore working overseas in an industry related to your degree or a completely different area through our Year in Employment programme.  Access the GoinGlobal website via MyCareer to search for overseas opportunities and organisations.  Should you have any questions about the Year in Employment Programme, just e-mail workexp@soton.ac.uk

Fees

If you spend time working or studying abroad, your tuition fees for that year will depend on your placement and how long it lasts.

UK nationals pay to the University of Southampton (no tuition fees are paid to the overseas institutions)

Full Year Study Placements 15%
Semester only placements Full tuition fees are charged
International and EU students pay to the University of Southampton

Full Year Study Abroad 15% of regular fees
Semester only placements Full tuition fees are charged

Full-year work placement

You will pay 20% of your tuition fees if you spend a year working abroad.  This will provide you with support from the Work Experience team and access to services such as Student Wellbeing. 

Funding

You might be eligible for financial support to spend time working or studying abroad. This could be from student loan companies or the University alongside personal savings.

Student loans

UK/EU students can apply for a tuition fee loan and other support from the UK government. Student Finance tuition loans, maintenance loans and grants will continue during your time abroad.

Turing Funding

All students enrolled at the University of Southampton are currently eligible for Turing funding, the UK Government mobility scheme to support your overseas mobilities in 2023-24. This is designed to support your living expenses including food and accommodation.

Turing Funding is a grant payment and it’s not repaid.

Scholarships

Discover scholarships that are available to you if you're going abroad to work or study.

Contact us

Samuel, Aero and Astro student at Penn State in 2023-24.
Samuel, Aero and Astro student at Penn State in 2023-24.
Alix, Zoology student at the University of Tasmania in 2022-23
Alix, Zoology student at the University of Tasmania in 2022-23
Shana, Biomedical student at Nanyang Technology University summer school, Singapore in July 2023
Shana, Biomedical student at Nanyang Technology University summer school, Singapore in July 2023
Nan at Rennes School of Business for their Fashion Marketing programme in July 2023.
Nan at Rennes School of Business for their Fashion Marketing programme in July 2023.
Callie in Fiji attending the Think Pacific programme in July 2023
Callie in Fiji attending the Think Pacific programme in July 2023
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