Step-by-step guidelines on how to apply to go on exchange.
Before submitting an application to go on exchange you must first complete the following steps:
You should research prospective partners thoroughly before submitting your application. You can do this via the partner university's website. You should find out about course offerings, assessment, accommodation, and semester dates.
Guidance notes for many of our General Exchange partner universities are also available here:
Read in full the Exchange Application Policy relating to your application. This document outlines all the policies and procedures relating to your exchange programme. You will be asked to confirm that you have read and understood it before submitting your application.
There are two application routes which you can take to an exchange:
The General application enables you to apply for exchanges which are open to students from Schools and Subject Areas across the University. These exchange places are managed centrally by the Go Abroad Office.
The Subject-Specific application enables you to apply for exchanges which are restricted to students in a particular School or Subject Area. These exchange places are managed at School level.
Once your pre-application research is complete, you must submit your application(s) via the Mobility-Online system and upload your personal statement to Learn.
You may submit a General and/or a Subject-Specific application.
The deadline for all applications is 5pm on Friday 24 November. Late applications or personal statements will not be accepted.
Students applying via the General application route will be required to undertake a peer marking exercise, following the close of applications. Applicants will receive 5 randomly assigned personal statements via Learn.
You will have until Friday 1 December to read and mark the statements (guidance will be provided by the Go Abroad Office).
Successful applicants will be contacted by Edinburgh Global in December/January with details of where they have been allocated a place. Those who have been unsuccessful or who are on the reserve list will be informed after the Christmas vacation.
If successful, and after you have formally accepted your place, Edinburgh Global will inform the partner institution of all nominated students.
You will then begin the application process to your host university. This is usually a formality but is absolutely necessary - your exchange place is provisional until you have successfully completed your host university's admission process.
Failure to complete your host's appliation process fully and on time may result in your exchange place being forfeited.
Once your application has been received in full by your host university, they will usually send a letter of acceptance or similar, confirming your exchange place, course of study and study dates.
Your offer is subject to the availability of courses appropriate to your degree programme at the host university, and also subject to the successful completion of the academic year at Edinburgh prior to your departure.
The following requirements must normally be met in order for you to take up your exchange place:
If you decide to withdraw from the programme before departure, you must notify Edinburgh Global and your Exchange Coordinator and Personal Tutor as soon as possible, in writing.
Edinburgh Global will inform your host university of your withdrawal and your Exchange Coordinator and Personal Tutor will advise you on registering for courses at Edinburgh.
| October | Go Abroad Fair and pre-application Information Sessions |
|---|---|
| Early November | Online application opens |
| Late November | Application closes |
| Late December | Offers issued to successful applicants |
| Late January | Deadline to accept or decline offer |
| Late January - June |
|
| June - October | Depart on exchange |
