Preparing to Go Abroad


The Study Abroad Preparation Programme


All undergraduate students who undertake a period of study abroad are required to follow and complete the Study Abroad Preparation Programme prior to departure. The Preparation Programme takes place during the spring term and is designed to provide you with the information you will need in order to make practical preparations for your period of study abroad.

Successful completion of the Study Abroad Preparation Programme is a prerequisite for progression to your year or term abroad. Students who do not fulfil all the requirements of the Preparation Programme by the deadline of 26 April 2013 may be disqualified from studying abroad.

Moodle

In March 2013, all students who will be studying abroad in the 2013/14 academic year will be enrolled on the Preparation for Study Abroad Moodle course which accompanies the Study Abroad Preparation Programme. You will receive an email in the next few weeks once you have been enrolled.

This Moodle course will allow you to access an online library of information and resources which will be of help to you in preparing for your time abroad. 

The course will also give you access to the online tasks and assignments which you must complete in order to fulfil the requirements of the Preparation Programme. 

Pre-Departure Briefings

The Study Abroad Team hold Study Abroad Pre-Departure Briefings during the spring term to cover a range of practical matters concerning study abroad. Attendance at these briefings is compulsory.

The 2013 sessions were held at the following dates and times in the Cruciform Lecture Theatre:
Wednesday 06 March 2013 1-2pm (surnames beginning A-L)
Thursday 07 March 2013 1-2pm (surnames beginning M-Z and all SSEES students)

After attending the pre-departure briefing, you are asked to demonstrate your understanding of the information you have received at the session through an assessment in Moodle.

The topics covered at the briefing will include:

  • Financial aspects of the year abroad (e.g. student loans, tuition fees, banking, working and budgeting overseas)
  • Insurance
  • Finding accommodation
  • Health and safety and your personal security while abroad
  • The Erasmus programme
  • What is required of you by UCL while you are abroad

You can now download the slides from the pre-departure briefings to use as reference.

Students nominated to attend UCL exchanges outside of Europe were also expected to attend region-specific briefings held in February. The slides from the briefings are available to download below:

Health and Safety

All students are required to read the Travel Medicine, Health and Safety guidance notes before departing for the year abroad. These will be available here shortly and accessible via the Moodle course. Once you have read the notes, you will be asked to complete an assessment in Moodle to demonstrate that you have done so.

Pre-departure Approval Form

The Study Abroad Approval Form is an online form through which you confirm that you have completed each of the individual tasks which comprise the Preparation Programme.

All students must submit a completed Study Abroad Approval Form to the Study Abroad Team through Moodle no later than midnight on 26 April 2013.

Visas

If you are home student planning to study outside of the EU, or an overseas student (Tier 4 visa holder) it is likely that you will be required to obtain a visa in order to study at your host institution. Please be aware that the responsibility of obtaining this visa will lie with you - the Study Abroad Team cannot support you with this as we are not trained visa advisors. 

Tier 4 visa holders should read through our Study Abroad Guidelines for Tier 4 Visa Holders carefully as they contain crucial information about preparing to go abroad as well as what to do if your passport and visa are lost or stolen whilst you are away. (This information will also be contained in your Study Abroad Handbook.)

Obtaining your visa

Your host institution should be able to offer you some guidance with this - please check their website in the first instance. 

Guidelines will usually be found on the government website of your host country. Below are links to the government sites for our most popular destinations:


Students going to the National University of Singapore should use the website of the International Relations Office (IRO) as a starting point.


N.B. Completion of the tasks listed above (attending a Study Abroad Team Pre-departure Briefing, reading the Travel Medicine, Health and Safety notes, completing the associated assignments in Moodle, and submitting your online Pre-departure Approval Form) by 26 April 2013 is a compulsory requirement for successful completion of the Study Abroad Preparation Programme and progression to your year abroad.

Page last modified on 25 feb 13 10:51