Pre-departure briefing

1. Pre-departure briefing March/April

2. Today’s Programme • Introductory talk by Exchange Coordinator • Careers Advice – Careers Office • Administrative Issues – by Exchange Coordinator/admin support • Meet the Fourth Years who have returned and some of our Visiting Students

3. Introductory Talk • The School Exchange webpages/intranet contain a lot of useful information about going abroad: • link to relevant website

4. Introductory Talk • April/May Exam Results • Your second year exam results from the April/May diet will be available following the Board of Examiners' meetings in June. You must pass all your courses at the first attempt and meet the requirements for progression into Honours. • If you have a resit in August then you will be unable to spend your third year abroad. If you have been allocated to a European University then there is a very slim chance that you could still go abroad with resits. • Some insurance companies provide cover for you if your year abroad/flights etc. have to be cancelled as a result of an August resit.

5. Introductory Talk • During your year abroad you must complete and pass the required number of courses. The minimum number of courses will vary between universities but you should choose appropriate courses equivalent to one full year of academic study (60 ECTS in Europe). • Note any required/core courses all students are required to find alternatives for at their host university.

6. Introductory Talk • If you are on a joint degree you may have some compulsory courses in your other subject to find at your partner university. • You should consult with the relevant School for requirements in your other subject area.

7. Introductory Talk • In terms of workload, the year abroad will be similar to what is expected at the University of Edinburgh in third year (120 credits) and what is expected of students at the partner university. It is expected that you will sit and pass all examinations for your courses at the partner institution.

8. Introductory Talk • As a general guide, 80 per cent of your courses must be in your degree subject(s), 20 per cent may be outside courses eg. courses specific to the local curriculum. • From the courses selected in your degree subject(s), two-thirds should be 'advancement' (ie more than 50%)and one-third 'broadening‘ (25%), to provide a basis for your fourth (Honours) year at Edinburgh. • You should bear in mind that some courses in fourth year at Edinburgh have pre-requisites and you may wish to choose courses in your third year abroad that will fulfil the Edinburgh fourth year requirements.

9. Introductory Talk • If a language is a component of your degree programme then we normally expect that all of your courses will be studied and assessed in the local language. However, some institutions will offer courses that are available in English and where this is the case no more than 40 per cent (by credit weighting) of your courses can be undertaken in English OR a minimum of 60% must be in the local language.

10. Themes for discussion i • Courses and assessment • Style of learning • Language • Accommodation • Cost of Living • Climate • Travel Opportunities • Term Times • Ambassadorial Role

11. Themes for discussion ii • What do you know about the country, city, university – you are going to? • Sport • Music • Film • Literature • Businesses • Economic Activity

12. Themes for discussion iii • About Yourself • What interests you? • What do you hope to get from the exchange? • Favourite something from that country