Year Abroad / ERASMUS Programme
The Politics (Year Abroad) course is a four-year degree programme which offers candidates the opportunity to spend one year (their third) studying politics abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe, which is arranged under the ERASMUS programme of the European Commission, or through an internal university application and selection process at universities overseas.
The School of Government and International Affairs at Durham currently has agreements with the following institutions:
ERASMUS:
- University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Uppsala University, Sweden
- LUISS in Rome, Italy
- University of Salamanca, Spain
- University of Granada, Spain
- University of Konstanz, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Germany
- Jagiellonian University, Poland
- Sciences Politiques - Paris
- Japan (new partner)
- Korea (new partner)
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- University of Hong Kong (HKU)
- University of British Columbia, Canada (UBC)
- McMaster University, Canada
- Queen's University, Canada
- University of Calgary, Canada
- Boston College, USA
- University of Western Australia, UWA
- University of Otago, New Zealand
Any prospective UCAS candidates, candidates who have already been offered a place to study Single Honours Politics, or Single Honours students currently in their first year may wish to consider the Politics (Year Abroad) degree course. Transfers can be considered providing there are places available.
For candidates wishing to apply to the Year Abroad overseas universities, places are limited and very competitive, and can only be confirmed in the second year of your degree programme after successful application through the International Office.
Applying or Transferring to Politics (Year Abroad)
Applications are initially made through UCAS in the usual way.
First-year Single Honours Politics students may transfer to the Politics (Year Abroad) degree programme after initial consultation with the ERASMUS/Year Abroad Co-ordinator in the first four weeks of the Michaelmas term. After this they may transfer in February, with the agreement of the ERASMUS/Year Abroad Co-ordinator. The Department will endorse their registration forms at this time only.
For students not registered for Single Honours Politics, the transfer procedure takes place at the end of year one.
Language Requirements (for students choosing the ERASMUS year abroad in Europe)
The language of instruction for ERASMUS students is English in Amsterdam, Uppsala, Krakow and Konstanz (the 'English route') and French, Italian and Spanish respectively in Sciences Po, LUISS, Granada and Salamanca (the 'non-English' route). Students intending to pursue the non-English route must successfully complete, in either their first or second year, a Core Level 1 module in the appropriate language, offered by the School of Modern European Languages. Failure to fulfil this requirement will mean that the student will have to switch to the English route or else apply to transfer to the Single Honours Politics degree.
Students following the non-English route must meet the following pre-requisites.
French (for those choosing Aix-Marseille as their third-year destination):
Grade A in French at A Level (or equivalent)
Italian (for those choosing LUISS as their third-year destination):
Grade A in any language at A Level (or equivalent)
Spanish (for those choosing Salamanca as their third-year destination):
Grade A in any language at A Level or Grade A in Spanish at GCSE (or equivalent)
These requirements are established by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, to whom inquiries about equivalent qualifications should be directed.
Course Content and Assessment
Students in the Politics (Year Abroad) degree have the same options as Single Honours Politics students for their three years in Durham, except for the requirement to take a language module in the first or second year of the non-English route.
In the third year students are expected to register for the appropriate number of courses or modules, attend all classes and lectures, and take the relevant examinations. Students will be assessed in the same manner as the home students of that institution.
It is important that students demonstrate they have worked, but they will not be penalized for difficulties relating to language requirements in the non-English route. The year abroad is considered part of the student's final degree, and the Board of Examiners may raise or lower the final degree class if marks from the student's year abroad are significantly different from the Durham marks.
Fees
Studnets pay half the normal annual cost of tuition fees. Students obtaining places on the Politics (Year Abroad) degree will be given four-year funding by their LEA.
Where there are significant discrepancies in the cost of living, the University is able to pay, on a monthly basis, an equalisation payment. The amount will vary from year to year.
Students wishing to take this option should however bear in mind that living abroad is usually more expensive than living in your home country.
Accommodation
The host institution will usually arrange accommodation for the visiting student. In most cases exchange students are guaranteed the equivalent of student housing for which they pay the economic rate.
In some cases, Amsterdam in particular, there are no guarantees that student accommodation will be found. Students will therefore have to find their own accommodation.
Further information:
Prospective students interested in taking this degree should consult the School ERASMUS/Year Abroad Co-ordinator, Dr Vincent Keating