What Is Short-Term Mobility?

Engage in international experiences for a few weeks, outside of term-time and independent of their studies.

Short-term mobility options

A short-term mobility is a placement abroad for around 1 - 8 weeks that can include:

International summer schools (including UCL’s Summer Tuition Fee Free Scheme)
Research placements
Volunteering opportunities
Work experience opportunities
Self-led fieldwork activities (subject to department approval).

How it works

Reflect what type of experience you want to gain, where you want to explore and when you can go abroad.
Research your options, which can include the above suggestions, however you are not limited to just what is on UCL’s website, you can look further afield, as long as the opportunity is in a FCDO safe country.
If it is a centrally administered programme e.g., the Summer Tuition Fee Free Scheme or WP Summer Study Abroad Programme, apply through UCL’s Study Abroad team. Successful students on the Summer Tuition Fee Free Scheme may then apply for a Global Experience Bursary.
If applying independently to an opportunity, apply directly to that host institution/organisation and once registered, apply for a Global Experience Bursary.

Benefits of short-term mobility

By engaging in a global placement for even just a short period, students still gain valuable employability experience, build international networks and improve their language and communication skills. There are three major benefits that are specific to short-term mobility.

1. Time flexible

Most short-term mobilities are outside of term-time, so are particularly beneficial for students with demanding term-time schedules.

2. Cost effective

Since short term mobilities are usually only a few weeks long (often one to eight weeks), the costs are generally cheaper compared to studying abroad for a full semester or year. There are also specific short-term mobility bursaries that are exclusively available for relevant students, as outlined on UCL’s relevant Study Abroad Funding webpage.

3. Non-credit bearing

Short-term mobilities do not contribute to overall degree classifications, so students have the freedom to take courses/programmes that relate to their current studies or others that they would not normally take during term time.

Watch the Short Term Mobility Talk - 2025

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