Outbound FAQs

Not for a full exchange term, but you can undertake a short term option (mostly over the summer) such as volunteering, internships, summer school and similar programmes. Check out other international opportunities.

The academic calendar of each of our exchange partners varies, but for autumn terms, you can usually travel from September to December or from January to June for spring.

Australian universities often vary by a month or two. Some work on a trimester basis and others may start their spring term in March.

Information on each of our partners’ academic calendars is available on our dedicated study abroad Blackboard page (accessible to full-time students) but is also often available on our partners’ websites.

Sometimes a partner's academic calendar (particularly their exam periods) may clash with Regent’s term dates, but we work to minimise these. In unavoidable cases, we can usually agree upon a workaround.

We have around 60 exchange partners over 20 countries in five continents.

Where you can go depends on your Regent's course, pathway and major, and the suitability of modules at the host institution (approved by the relevant Regent’s academic staff member).

See a list of exchange partner destinations, and find more detailed profiles of each partner on the study abroad Blackboard page.

Complete an online application by the end of your first term at Regent's. The team will guide you through this after your induction and, once you have settled in, we will arrange dedicated info sessions for you.

In your online application, you'll choose your top four destinations applicable to your programme. The application will require the review and approval of the relevant academic colleague at Regent’s (Director (Content), course leader or academic adviser).

This process is called “allocations” and they occur in your second term at Regent’s.

We consider a number of factors when allocating you: your preferences, the number of available exchange spaces at the partner institution versus number of student applications, your academic level and results to date and any minimum entry requirements or faculty restrictions at the partner institution.

We endeavour to allocate you to your first or second choice, although this is is not always guaranteed. You can check your allocation on e:Vision during your second term at Regent’s.

Once you have been allocated, you cannot change your study abroad term except under extenuating circumstances and with the approval of your course's Director (Content).

If you think you fall into the extenuating circumstances category, you will have to complete a relevant form on the study abroad Blackboard page.

If you are a BA (Hons) International Business student, you'll be required to undertake your compulsory term abroad in a country where the language you're studying is spoken. For example, if you're taking Spanish as part of your degree, you'll study abroad in a Spanish speaking country. 

For all other Regent’s students, you'll take your term abroad in English, though you can take a language class as part of your workload if you wish (and a few non-anglophone partners may require it).

You may also be able to undertake modules in your native language if this is applicable.

You need to take the equivalent of a full-time workload for each term – 60 UK credits. This is equal to 30 ECTS or 15 US credits. Other destinations (such as South America, China or Australia) have different credit systems but all provide for the equivalent of 30 ECTS.

Please note that a few of our partner institutions have limits on the workload exchange students can take – for example 12 US credits instead of 15. In these cases, you should select the maximum and note on your Learning Agreement why the full expected workload (60 UK credits equivalent) wasn’t selected.

To pass requirements, you need to pass all of your modules. Depending on your course, if you fail any modules, you will need to repair failed credits to progress.

Your course handbook, Director (Content) or academic adviser can confirm this, and more information is available on the study abroad Blackboard page.

You must study modules that are relevant to your degree and do not repeat something you have already studied or will study once you return. The modules you choose must be pre-approved and signed off on your learning agreement (completed in the term before you go abroad).

Some courses at partner institutions have a selection of modules mapped to your Regent's programme, and you will only be able to choose from these.

Other programmes are more flexible but, if you're studying a specific pathway or major, your choice of modules will require a closer matching and review by your Director (Content), academic adviser or course leader.

Yes – a great source of first-hand study abroad info is from students who have done it before themselves or who have graduated and are living in the country/city you're thinking about staying in. Incoming visiting students from our partner universities are also a brilliant resource to talk to on-campus.

Our team facilitates opportunities for full-time Regent’s students to meet visiting students for this purpose and also for them to be able to benefit from your own knowledge of Regent’s and London. 

With the Alumni Relations team, we have launched the Alumni Study Abroad Partnership scheme that connects you with a former Regent’s student living in your destination city or country. Our Study Abroad Alumni Advisers will share their local knowledge on top tips from the best areas to rent or restaurants to visit, to local customs and culture. As well as connecting you with Alumni Advisers before you go, study abroad students are also welcome to join in-country alumni events that take place whilst you are abroad.

We are firm believers in the personal approach and, as such we strive to make ourselves available to you as flexibly as possible. While you're abroad, keep in touch with us on our dedicated WhatsApp, and through email and video calls.

We're here to support you through your time abroad. Prior to your departure, we organise several sessions to help you prepare you for your time abroad, including a pre-departure session that focuses on how to prepare mentally, culturally and logistically.

This depends on your country(s) of citizenship and your destination country. Generally speaking, if you are an EU passport holder then studying abroad in any other EU destination (plus some additional countries) won’t require a visa. If you are studying anywhere else you probably would need a visa, though some exemptions may apply depending on your nationality and the total duration of your time abroad. Finding out if you need a student visa and obtaining it is fully your responsibility as a student. There are general guides per country on the study abroad Blackboard page and after you are formally accepted by your host university, they will usually provide you with an overview of their specific visa application process. You can almost always find out the procedure by looking at the website of the local consulate of the country you are going to – they often have online tools.

Yes, it does. If you are using Federal Student Aid, you may only study abroad at an institution that is eligible for US financial aid, or is a “deferment only” school that Regent’s has a consortium agreement with. Study within the USA is prohibited. If you are not currently a US Financial aid student, and you wish to study at a non-eligible institution, you forfeit your right to any Federal Student Aid for the rest of your programme at Regent’s. If you have questions concerning Federal Student Aid eligibility, please contact the US Loans Adviser here at Regent’s University London, Billie Fritsche. The US Loans Adviser provides the Study Abroad & Exchange team with updated information on US-loans eligible institutions for outbound study abroad & exchange each term. The latest list of eligible institutions is on the study abroad Blackboard page.

Yes. You will be required to have some form of health cover in place for the duration of your term abroad and which meets the immigration requirements of your host country and institutional requirements of your host university. Some partner universities will require you to purchase a specific health insurance policy as part of your application, others may accept any existing policy you are covered on (for example a family policy), whilst most partners within the Erasmus+ network will simply accept the blue EHIC card (if you are an EU citizen). Due to COVID-19, we strongly recommend that you ensure any health insurance policy you obtain is as comprehensive as possible as does not explicitly exclude COVID-19 as cause for repatriation or similar.

You are strongly recommended to have comprehensive travel insurance in case of logistical changes that may affect booked travel arrangements or accommodation. There are some suggestions on our study abroad Blackboard page, but note that this is your responsibility as a student to ensure your travels are appropriately covered.

Either on-campus accommodation where available or privately arranged options.

Some of our partners require students to live on-campus and others don’t have their own accommodation options. If this is the case (or if you simply want to live off-campus), your host university will likely be able to suggest some good options for you.

Previous students who went abroad are a very good source of information. 

Staying on-campus is often the best and most hassle-free way of living whilst abroad. It is also good for integration and possibly safety. However, staying off-campus can also be fun and a unique experience, especially if several of you are going to the same destination and decide to live together.

No: don't complete a direct application to your host university, as these are for students of universities that are not their partners and requires tuition fee payment.

For your study abroad, you will be going to one of our partner institutions as an exchange student, and so you must follow specific application procedures that either the Study Abroad & Exchange team or your host university send to you in the term prior to going abroad. This includes:

• an application form
• your ID documents
• your most recent Regent’s University London transcript of records
• your module selections
• and, in some cases, health and immunisation information.

Our team will guide you through this in the term before you go abroad.

There are NO tuition fees payable to your host university. If you are asked to pay tuition fees by your host university, this is almost certainly an error so please raise it with a member of the team in the first instance.

You will continue to pay Regent’s University London as normal and complete online enrolment.

Depending on your host university, you may need to pay a fee to register for courses and language classes, get your ID card, join the student union, or obtain your academic transcript. Unless on-campus accommodation is included, you'll have to pay for accommodation and the cost of food, living and travelling, as well as the cost of any immigration procedures and visas.

More information is available on our study abroad Blackboard page.

If you are worried about studying abroad (about anything from adapting to a new culture to language barriers), please reach out to our team or Regent's Student Hub at any time.

Studying abroad can sometimes be challenging, but it is also character-building and empowering; so it is entirely normal to be a little apprehensive.

If you have an SSA, share this with your host university before you depart to ensure they can put any possible arrangements when you arrive.

We pride ourselves on our personal service and recognise that each Regent’s University London student is a unique individual and is to be supported as such. Please don’t suffer in silence or delay reach out to us either prior to or during your study abroad – no question is silly!

Yes, even if it’s optional for local students, it is compulsory for you. Not attending puts you at an immediate disadvantage in terms of integrating and can make the difference in your experience. You’ll also get invaluable practical information during these sessions and learn who your go-to contacts are locally. Please ensure you pay attention during orientation to not miss out on vital info to make your time there easier, more fun and ultimately more successful.

Sometimes plans go off course. If you can't arrive in time for the dates stipulated because of unavoidable circumstances, please inform a member of the team as soon as you can. You may be required to show proof of the delay. We will liaise with your host institution to clarify the situation and keep you in the loop. Usually, there is a period of flexibility, but beyond a certain time frame you might not able to attend. You cannot, however, just arrive late or be largely absent for no good reason. This will likely result in your term abroad being lost altogether and delay your progression and graduation. As a Regent’s University London student, you have an obligation to be a good ambassador and commit to your term abroad as you would here at Regent’s. 

It shouldn’t be the case that none of your modules are available at your destination, but it can be that some end up being unavailable after arrival. This isn’t unusual and it could be because of a lack of student enrolment for that module or any other number of reasons, and is often a last-minute realisation. Some universities have an “add/drop period” during which you can finalise your module selection. If so, this would be communicated to your during application phase or during orientation abroad. Any changes to your originally approved learning agreement during the application phase must obtain Regent’s approval first, and it is your responsibility to secure this.

You need to submit a final learning agreement and arrival certificate within the first few weeks of arrival, a departure certificate at the end and complete the study abroad survey (which you’ll be contacted about). Your transcript won’t be released unless you complete all required administrative steps. If you are on an Erasmus+ exchange, you would need to additionally sign your grant agreement and undertake an online assessment test if you are studying or wish to learn or improve a local language. Please look in the Erasmus+ tab further down in this FAQ for more specifics. All documentation should be appropriately signed and dated by yourself, your host institution and Regent’s. Before departure, you should also complete any steps your host university requires including a possible need to request your transcript, and settle any costs you have incurred (such as library fees etc). The International office at your host university can advise on this and it should also be covered during orientation/welcome (another reason why you should not miss that!) Admin and paperwork don’t have to be tedious if you are clear on what you need to do and by when.

If the partner university allows exam resits for exchange students and you are able to attend logistically and if it doesn’t interfere with your studies back at Regent’s, you should do them. Otherwise, you would likely need to 'repair' any failed exams through another method determined by Regent’s University London.

It is no small thing studying abroad for months, or even a year, no matter how well travelled you are. The effects on your wellbeing can be underestimated, so don’t be surprised if you experience at least some ups and downs as you transition and adapt – either at the start, during or even after your come back. In addition to the student services at your host university which you can make full use of as an exchange student, you have open lines of communication with the Study Abroad & Exchange team here at Regent’s too (including WhatsApp) and other professional colleagues at Regent’s (student support/academic contacts/anyone you know and trust) so please don’t hesitate to reach out. Email, phone, WhatsApp or Skype are all easily utilised and even the briefest of contact can make the world of difference. Nothing is trivial, so don’t feel you have to carry on in silence. Studying abroad is a huge opportunity for growing personally, and no matter how international you may already be or feel, every experience is unique in its own way. As such, personal growth can come with short term wellbeing costs as well. Your Regent’s family is accessible if you need them, so don’t forget it! Also don’t forget your real family, and friends too. Everybody is ultimately geared towards being supportive of you, so you’re not alone.

Yes. Regardless of if your programme has optional or compulsory study abroad, once you commit to studying abroad successful completion is required for progression at Regent’s. Please see the study abroad Blackboard module for more information.

If you fail your term abroad and re-sitting exams or resubmitting work to your host institution is not an option, you will be expected to repair them via a route determined by your Head of Programme/academic advisor/subject or course leader. The Study Abroad & Exchange team will inform you of your results once the original transcript of records has been received from your host university and your Director (Content), academic adviser, or course leader will advise you of the appropriate repair route if required.

Your results from your study abroad term will be converted to Regent's marks as per the grade conversion table. And then reviewed at the relevant Regent’s University London subject board and added to your profile. You will also be able to collect the hard-copy transcript from your host university from our office if it has been received.

Any locally-held information required as part of the study abroad process from start to finish will be securely deleted (shredded if hard-copy) once it is no longer required. This does not apply to your official transcripts from your host university(s) which will be securely stored hard-copy and digitally. Eventually, just the basic details of your study abroad term(s) will be retained for reporting purposes, but any information that can identify you will be anonymized. For example, you will become: 

• Name: student001
• Programme: BA (Hons) International Business
• Programme duration: 2017-2020
• Terms abroad: Spring 2019 (University #1), Autumn 2019 (University #2)
• Results

Data related to Erasmus+ may need to be retained for longer. 

Possibly. You may be asked to attend a pre-departure session for students that will be going abroad themselves, or some other activities. Also, please share your study abroad photos and videos whilst abroad or after your return – we frequently use student content to promote the experience of going abroad and, if you give permission, we could use some of your material around campus and online.