Pre-departure sessions

Compulsory pre-departure information sessions for outgoing study exchange and work placement students take place in spring each year.

SWAY offer a range of pre-departure support including videos and events, providing information on key things to know before your exchange or placement to ensure you get the most out of the experience. 

We've put together bite-sized, pre-recorded presentations on specific themes to help you prepare for your time abroad. They’re a must-watch and cover the following topics: 

  • SWAY: Finances and budgeting  
  • SWAY: Visas and important documents 
  • SWAY: Travel risk assessment
  • SWAY: Cultural adjustment, health and safety
  • Exchanges: Academic information
  • SWAY Placements information

Please take time to familiarise yourself with these videos and the information included in them. You can also refer to other pages on the 'Before you go' section of our website for further guidance.

Watch our bite-sized pre-departure videos

Watch our bite-sized pre-departure videos

Interactive in-person session

These sessions were held in April 2024. Please watch the videos above to familiarise yourself with the relevant pre-departure information.

Open to all students going abroad on exchange or a placement in 2024/25, our interactive sessions will zoom in on preparing yourself for cultural adjustments; personal safety including health, travel, risk and emergency; and also signpost to contacts and resources that will help you make next year's overseas activity a success. 

All students who plan to travel abroad to undertake a study or work placement will be required to attend a pre-departure session, and attendance will be taken at each event. You will only be required to attend one session – either in-person or online. Please note, due to the interactive format of these events they are not suitable to be recorded, although we will aim to share materials from the session for reference. 

Application support drop-ins

SWAY host drop-in sessions February - April each year to support exchange students who want or need help completing their host institution applications. These optional sessions are open to all students going on exchange in the academic year 2024/25 and are for students who have both:

  • been nominated to their host institution
  • received application instructions from their host institution

We recommend that you attend a session which is no more than two weeks before your application deadline. This is so we can prioritise students/institutions with the most imminent application deadlines.

What we can help with:  

  • General advice on how to complete the application 
  • Your transcript from the University of Edinburgh 
  • Confirmation of exchange status 
  • Confirmation of English/foreign language proficiency 

What we can't help with: 

1. Course selection (please contact your Exchange Coordinator for guidance).

Find your exchange coordinator

2. CV or personal statement preparation

3.  Visa applications. But you can read information on visas and how to apply elsewhere on this website.

Information on visas for study abroad

4. Accommodation questions. But you can read information on accommodation elsewhere on this website.

Information on accommodation

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