About our study exchanges

Understand what a study exchange involves and the types of exchange we offer.

What is a study exchange?

As a University of Edinburgh student, you have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our exchange partner institutions worldwide.

A study exchange allows you to spend a year or semester at one of our partner institutions abroad as an integral component of your undergraduate degree programme. While abroad, you will study courses which are relevant and at an appropriate level to your University of Edinburgh degree programme. You will gain credit for the work you successfully complete while abroad. Most of our exchanges are for a full academic year. 

If your undergraduate degree includes a compulsory period of study abroad, you will usually be required to spend some or all of your third year abroad. Optional exchanges are also available to students on degree programmes which don't have a requirement to study abroad. 

The usual timeline for an exchange is:

  • apply at the start of your 2nd year
  • study abroad during your 3rd year
  • return to Edinburgh for your 4th year.

Some students on 5-year degree programmes may be permitted to go on exchange in their 4th year. Check with your School for details. 

Important to note

Exchange students do not pay tuition fees at the host institution but continue to pay fees to the University of Edinburgh.

Our exchange programmes are competitive. No applicant is guaranteed a place.

University-wide or subject-specific?

The University of Edinburgh offers University-wide exchanges and subject-specific exchanges. Both options include destinations in Europe and worldwide. You can apply through either or both exchange routes, but you can only accept one place.

University-wide exchanges:

  • are open to most students whose degree programme permits a period of study abroad
  • require you to identify and research suitable courses available on your degree programme
  • offer mainly English-speaking options
  • places are allocated centrally by the Study and Work Away Service (SWAY).

Subject-specific exchanges:

  • are restricted to students from your School or subject area
  • are set up at School level so should offer suitable courses for your degree programme
  • may or may not offer English-speaking options so you may need to meet language requirements to participate
  • places are allocated and managed at School level.
 
Find out more about each exchange type by clicking on the drop-down links below.

University-wide exchanges are open to most students whose degree programme permits a period of study abroad. 

This includes students from most Schools and subject areas in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science (CAHSS) and Science and Engineering (CSE). There are some degree programmes and subjects whose students are not eligible to apply for University-wide exchanges and who can only apply for a Subject-specific exchange.

Places for University-wide exchange are managed and allocated centrally by the SWAY service and application can be extremely competitive as it is open to students from across the University.  

Most, though not all, University-wide partner institutions offer teaching in English.

Not all University-wide partner institutions will be suitable for students on all degree programmes. Applicants to University-wide exchange must identify an appropriate programme of study at the partner institution which meets their University of Edinburgh academic requirements. You need to do some independent research to work out which options will be best for you.

You should only apply to an institution which clearly offers suitable courses for your degree programme.

Duration of exchange

The vast majority of exchanges offered through the University-wide route are for a full academic year only. For most students, single-semester exchange is not permitted. 

The only exceptions to this are joint-honours language students studying either Spanish or Portuguese plus one other language, who need to split their year abroad between two countries. This is to allow them to spend the Spanish/Portuguese portion of their year abroad in a relevant Latin American country.

Students wishing to apply for this option must first contact the SWAY team to check this is possible at their selected destination(s). You should contact the SWAY team via email: 

international.outgoing@ed.ac.uk


Subject-specific exchanges are restricted to students from just one School or subject area, so where you can go depends on what you are studying.  

Places are managed and allocated at School level. Application may be less competitive than through University-wide exchange, as you will only be competing against other students from your subject area.

Some Subject-specific partner institution will offer teaching in English, but for those that don’t, please check the Language Requirements section before applying.

Subject-specific exchanges have been set up at subject area level so should offer courses suitable to your degree programme. 

Your School Exchange Coordinator should be able to provide you with additional information about subject-specific exchanges.

Duration of exchange

Most subject-specific exchanges are for a full academic year. 

The only exceptions to this are students on one of the following University of Edinburgh degree programmes who are going on exchange to one of our European partners – such students may be able to apply for single-semester exchange:

  • Divinity
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • History, Classics or Archaeology
  • Linguistics
  • Modern European Languages
  • Some ECA programmes (for example Fine Arts and Design).

Additional information for languages students

Only students who are studying two different languages may participate in two single-semester exchanges at different destinations. Students studying one language cannot undertake two exchanges at two separate partners. Available options for these students are:

  • a full year exchange (at European or International partner university)
  • split the year between a single semester exchange (at European partner university) and a placement
  • a full year placement.

The LLC Year Abroad Hub offers additional guidance for language students.


Find out more

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