A year abroad can be a fantastic addition to your York degree. It allows you to experience a new academic environment and improve your employability. All while assimilating into a new culture and way of life. I recently started my year abroad studying molecular cell biology in French at the University of Strasbourg. But my journey to this point began two years ago. So, how did I find my placement and what did the application process look like? Here, I share my experience of navigating my year abroad application.
Finding the ideal year abroad placement
The first step is to identify the year abroad locations on offer for your biology degree. The Department of Biology currently has exchange agreements with universities in Denmark, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands. However, there are even more possibilities through the University’s global partners and ISEP, with options currently ranging from Australia to Latin America. There is even the possibility of exchanging a year at York for a year at a host university. Want to learn more? Keep an eye out for events at York where returning year abroad students share their experiences through poster presentation sessions. Also, consider if you want your year abroad to count towards your degree classification. My year abroad adds a year to my degree, and so doesn’t count towards my degree, whereas a credit-replacing year would.
Parlez-vous Français?
Host universities might require exchange students to have a certain language proficiency. So, if you’re like me and want to study in a second language, you might need to take additional classes before applying. For me, the University of Strasbourg required a B1 French proficiency and advised a B2 proficiency (based on CEFR descriptors). My French A level got me to B2 already, but York’s Languages for All (LfA) courses could be a great way to improve your proficiency. I took an LfA in my first year, and took an elective French module in my second year to improve my French ability beyond A level, which has been invaluable so far!
The application
As I opted for an additional year abroad, the Department contacted me about my interest in adding a year abroad at the end of my first year. However, if you’re interested in a credit-replacing year in your second year, the process will be a lot sooner. My application wasn’t due until the end of the first semester of my second year. It consisted of a written application and a short video. My advice with this application is to reflect on why you want to study abroad, what challenges you might face, and how a year abroad will benefit you on both a personal and employability level.
If your application is successful, you‘ll be nominated by York to the host university. You must then apply to the host university. The University of Strasbourg required a signed learning agreement, a declaration of my French ability, and a degree transcript. The Department of Biology also required year abroad students to attain a certain grade to embark on their year abroad. I needed to get a 55% average in my second year, so make sure to work hard!
Funding your year abroad
Another great thing to look for during your application is the York Futures Scholarship, which provides additional financial support to undergraduate home students. Competition for this scholarship was tough, with eligibility criteria, but there was more than one round of applications so keep an eye out!
Final words of advice
The most important advice I have for anyone considering or applying for a year abroad is to start early. Getting organised will give you time to find the perfect host university, write a great application, and have the best chances of sourcing funds. If you get accepted by your host, understand what accommodation is on offer, and make sure you understand the VISA requirements of your host country. My French VISA application took me a couple of months, so don’t leave it too late! Finally, if you get the opportunity, I highly recommend visiting your host city prior to going on your year abroad. It will provide you with familiarity once you get there.
Good luck!
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