Application Guide

We will forward application details directly to applicants once applications open in April/September. Prior to this, students need to be nominated by one of the options below:

Sponsored Study Abroad & Exchange Students

Sponsored Study Abroad and Exchange students must first be nominated by their home university. The nomination deadline for Term 1/Full year exchange is April 15, and for Term 2/Calendar Year exchange is September 15. Please consult with your home university to request nomination, as they will likely have their own internal application process.

Direct Enrol Study Abroad Students

Study Abroad students do not need to be nominated by their home university, and should contact the Go Abroad Team to self nominate.

Application Deadline

The deadlines for receipt of completed applications are as follows:

• Academic Year: (September - May) 15 May
• First Term: (September - December) 15 May
• Second Term: (January - May) 15 October

Before applying, students should prepare up to three documents to upload with their application. While applications can be submitted without these documents please note that this will delay/prevent us from progressing your application.

An Official Academic Transcript

This should detail the courses you have completed at your home institution and your grades, and should be in English or have an accompanying English translation. We understand that some institutions prefer to send these to us directly, in which case they can be emailed to the Go Abroad Team.

Passport Photo

All applicants entering the U.K for study who do not have a U.K or Irish passport need a visa or entry clearance to enter the country. As a result, we need a copy of the passport that you will be travelling on to ensure that you are issued with the correct paperwork for your journey. Please be sure to upload with your application a clear copy of the photo page of the passport you intend to travel on. If you believe there will be any delay to providing your passport details, then please let us know.

Evidence of English Language Proficiency 

Only required for applicants where English is not your native official language.

If you are undertaking a degree that is taught and assessed fully in English from a university on our approved list, then all we require is letter from your university confirming that your degree was/is taught, assessed, and examined fully in English.

For students from other institutions, single term exchange students, please complete our Statement of Language Level form and have this signed & stamped by your home university confirming that your English level is B2 or above (according to the CEFR scale). All other applicants should note that we accept a range of official certificates, issued no later than two years prior to planned commencement at University of Aberdeen, and high school qualifications, issued within ten years prior to planned commencement at University of Aberdeen, to evidence English language level.

Submitting Courses in our Application Form

All applicants must submit a minimum of eight courses (maximum ten) with their exchange/study abroad application, regardless of the duration of their study period. This allows us to provide feedback for a range of courses, ensure back up courses where necessary, and enables students to make an informed decision when they receive their offer of study. There are no negative consequences for being declined entry to a course, and so applicants are encouraged to select courses based on their interests, irrespective of uncertainty around course prerequisites.

The courses submitted with your application are not guaranteed, remain provisional until your registration is complete, and can be changed at any point prior to the end of our registration period. Please list your course options in order of preference, as while they are not final they will inform your early course registration.

To submit a course in our application form, you will need to enter its corresponding course code as listed in the catalogue (For example, the course code for Acts of Reading is EL1009). As our application form is linked to the catalogue, if you submit a code that is not recognised you will be prompted to replace it with an alternative. More information about course availability and links to our catalogue can be found below.

Course Availability

Before submitting your application you will need to identify courses you have an interest in and check that they are open to exchange and study abroad students. More information about course availability and course restrictions can be found on our main European Exchange and International Exchange and Study Abroad pages, alongside our information sheet.

Course Catalogue

Our course catalogue lists available courses grouped by subject discipline, and further allows you to filter by term and level. Each course will also tell you if that course is capped for numbers, indicated at the bottom of its catalogue entry.

While exploring the catalogue you may discover a course has prerequisites. Typically, courses at Level 1 and 2 are open to incoming students without prior study of the subject, while courses at Level 3 and 4 require evidence of prior study as noted in the catalogue entry. Suitability will be assessed as part of your application, and confirmed alongside your formal offer of study.

Timetable Clashes

Before submitting your preferred course options it is also beneficial to check that there will be no timetable clashes so you know when courses will be held, and can identify timetabling conflicts which may require you to seek alternative options. Applicants can check for timetable clashes by using the Course Overlay tool.

Please note: This tool is for guidance only, as timetables are still subject to change prior to the start of term. Furthermore, many courses provide multiple tutorial/lab slots, but only require students to register for one of them. Unfortunately the Course Overlay will only identify lecture clashes and cannot identify clashes between optional classes within a course. If you are unsure about a particular combination of courses, then don't hesitate to contact us for further clarity.

Offer Letters

Up to four weeks after your application submission, provided you have been approved and uploaded the necessary application details, you should receive a response with a formal offer letter. It is very important you read over all the details in your letter, as it will include feedback on your provisional course options, and highlight conditions or recommendations for alternatives as necessary.

At this point you can accept, or decline, your offer of study at your discretion using the link provided. If you choose to accept, if you haven't already done so, you will need to provide us with a copy of your passport before we can progress to the next stage of our admission process.

Go Abroad Tutors

Included in your offer letter will be the details of your assigned Go Abroad Tutor. All incoming students are allocated a tutor who can be contacted to discuss academic queries or potential course changes prior to the start of term. If your Tutor gives you permission for any course changes, please contact the Go Abroad Team to notify us, including email confirmation from your Go Abroad Tutor, so we can update our records accordingly.

If you require a learning agreement signed, this should be completed by your Go Abroad Tutor. Otherwise all other documentation can be submitted with the Go Abroad team

Admission Letters

Once you have accepted your offer, provided us with a copy of your passport, and if necessary provided English language evidence, you will receive a response with your formal admission letter. It is very important you read over all the details in your admissions letter to ensure it is accurate, and inform the Go Abroad team immediately if any amendments are required.

Your admission letter includes your unique student ID number, but is also necessary to support your visa application (where required). The Go Abroad team will prioritise processing admission letters for those students we expect will need to apply for their visa in advance, but will ensure all applicants receive their document as early as possible so they can organise their accommodation and travel arrangements accordingly.

More information concerning entry clearance and visa requirements will be provided alongside your admission letter, but if you are still unsure please contact our International Student Advisors with any questions.

Accommodation

University accommodation is guaranteed to all of our incoming exchange and study abroad students, but you cannot apply until you have received your student ID number. Students will be emailed information on how to apply for accommodation after they have formally accepted their offer.

Please contact our Accommodation Team for any questions relating to accommodation, as the Go Abroad Team are unable to advise/assist in this area.

Onboarding Process

In the months and weeks leading up to the start of your studies you will receive a range of emails designed to help prepare you for your time in Scotland. These will include things like, visa advice, travel and arrival tips, welcome even information, and so much more!

It is very important that you read these emails carefully to ensure you don't miss out on important information. If you are concerned that you aren't receiving our onboarding emails then please contact us and we will make sure this is rectified.

Online Registration

Before you arrive all students are asked to complete IT set-up and online registration. Instructions will be provided as part of our onboarding process so you know exactly what to do every step of the way. It is extremely important that you complete this as early as possible, as failure to do so will prevent us from completing your course registration and could have further negative consequences. If you are unsure about what is required at any point please contact the Go Abroad team.

My Curriculum

My Curriculum is the University of Aberdeen's online course registration system. Incoming exchange and study abroad students should not complete my curriculum themselves, as the system will not correctly identify the courses open to them. The Go Abroad team, or in limited cases your Go Abroad Tutor, will complete your course registration on your behalf.

Course Registration

As we approach the start of term a member of the Go Abroad team will register you for approved courses as per your provisional course selection. This will be done in order of preference, up to the required full term credit load, taking into account any timetable clashes. If we come across any reason we cant register you as expected, for instance insufficient approved courses or unavoidable clashes, we will endeavour to contact you to discuss alternatives prior to the start of term. Please note, this is not always possible, in which case students should meet the Go Abroad team during welcome week to complete course registration if it is still outstanding.

Students are permitted to make course changes up until the end of the second week of teaching, in most cases, and should contact the Go Abroad team to request any changes be actioned where necessary.

Orientation

At the beginning of each term, all new incoming students are required to attend our mandatory orientation session. Orientation takes place on the first Monday of the new term, but exact details will be provided to all attendees the week prior. Orientation is very important, as we will go over all the necessary details to help you get registered and settle in to your new home, and it will be one of your first opportunities to ask any questions in person and meet other students who are studying in Scotland for the first time.

Welcome Desk

In the first few weeks of term, the Go Abroad Team will be available in person to answer any questions and assist students with their registration. All students will be required to visit the Go Abroad team to complete a final registration and right to study check. Details on where the team will be based, and when, will be provided at/after orientation. If you have any paperwork which requires signature, this is also a great opportunity for you to have those documents completed in person.