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Frequently Asked Questions
 
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  • See the Where Can I Go? page for a list of exchanges by subject area and by country.
  • See the How to Apply page for detailed application instructions for Erasmus, Non-EU Exchange and placements.
  • Studying abroad will give you new academic perspectives, increase your employability when you graduate, and enhance your independence and self confidence. It adds an extra component to your degree which sets you apart from other recent graduates in a competitive job market. It increases your marketability, enhances the value of your degree and makes you more self-reliant.
  • For language students, the opportunity to live and work in a country where the language is spoken will greatly improve your fluency.
  • Academically, you will experience a different educational system and university environment. Depending on your course, you will have the opportunity to take courses that are not available at UCD, complimenting or adding a new dimension to your studies.
  • Personally, you will experience a new culture and way of life, make friends from all over the world and increase your independence and self confidence.
  • Visit our testimonials page to see what other students have said about their exchange experiences.
  • The Erasmus programme covers exchanges with European universities. Exchanges with universities outside Europe are classed as Non-EU exchanges. The applications process and deadlines for Erasmus and Non-EU Exchange are different; see the How to Apply Page for further information.
  • Yes, but if you are offered a place more than one exchange you will need to decide on your destination as soon as possible.
    • You can submit applications to both the Erasmus and Non-EU Exchange programmes simultaneously. When applying for a Non-EU Exchange, you list three universities in order of preference. If you are studying in more than one School at UCD, you can apply for an Erasmus exchange through each school.
  • For Erasmus exchanges, students are selected by the exchange co-ordinator. See Where Can I Go? for a list of exchanges and co-ordinators.
    • The International Office selects students for the non-EU exchanges it co-ordinates. Students selected by the International Office must have approval from an academic co-ordinator in order to go on exchange. Selection is competitive and results of examinations obtained in UCD to date are the main factor taken into account when offering a student an exchange place.
  • No. While there are many exchange opportunities for language students, there are also many English language exchanges. As well as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand you can also study through English in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Dutch-speaking Belgium and the Nordic countries.
    • For other exchanges, lectures are offered primarily in the language of the host country so you will need to speak the language to a high enough level to follow lectures and complete coursework.
  • Language courses specifically for Erasmus students called EILCs (Erasmus Intensive Language Courses) are offered in many countries. Details can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/doc902_en.htm
    • If you are studying in Asia, you will have the opportunity to study the language of your host country while you are there to help you make the most of your exchange.
  • If you go on exchange to one of UCD’s partner universities (either Erasmus or Non-EU) you do not pay any tuition fees to the host university. Instead, you pay the normal registration fee to UCD for the period you are on exchange. Please note the usual deadlines for payment of the registration fee apply; you must register online and pay the registration fee prior to the beginning of the academic year in September.
  • The cost of living varies from country to country. You should check the website of the individual universities you are interested in applying to as most give a detailed cost of living breakdown. As well as your flight, you should factor in general living expenses such as accommodation, food, travel, health insurance, visa application fees, study materials, personal costs etc.
    • As a guideline, students going on an Erasmus exchange should expect to incur costs in the region of €6,000-€8,000 for the academic year. For Non-EU exchanges the costs are likely to be in the region of €9,000-€13,000 for the academic year. This compares to the average cost of living of €11,000 for a student studying in Dublin for the academic year.
  • An Erasmus grant is available for students participating in an Erasmus exchange. Once you are selected by your School and complete the online application for the International Office, you are automatically included in the grant allocation. If you are not an EU citizen please contact the International Office to see if you are eligible for a grant. Students going to Switzerland do not get an Erasmus grant but will receive a grant from the Swiss government. This is arranged on arrival at your host university.
  • Unfortunately, UCD does not provide funding for student going on a Non-EU exchange. Students studying in Japan can apply for a JASSO scholarship through their host university but you should be aware that application for this scholarship is competitive and there is no guarantee you will receive it.
  • Accommodation in partner universities is not guaranteed and it is the responsibility of the individual student to apply for accommodation once they have been accepted to a partner institution.
  • For Erasmus students, the International Office in your host university will advise you on how to apply for accommodation. You should follow their application instructions and ensure you meet all deadlines.
  • For Non-EU exchange students, the International Office in UCD as well as your host university will advise on the application procedure for accommodation.
  • The academic calendar varies from university to university so it is important that you check the website of the university you are interested in attending in order to get the exact date. Within Europe, the year can start as early as August in the Nordic countries and as late as October in Italy.
    • The academic year of universities in the southern hemisphere such as Australia and New Zealand is the same as the calendar year. Students going on exchange to these universities for the equivalent of semester one in UCD or the academic year, leave in mid-July to start semester two in their host university. There is a long break (approximately three months) at Christmas followed by semester one of the next academic year. Universities in the remaining non-EU exchange partner countries normally start in August or September.
  • During your study abroad period, you must pass an agreed number of courses. On the Erasmus programme, the minimum is defined in terms of European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits, under which a full year's work is rated at 60 credits and a semester's at 30 credits. The number of courses/credits/hours required by UCD varies between schools and you must check with your UCD academic co-ordinator the exact number you are obliged to obtain. You are advised to ask your co-ordinator to confirm this in writing.
    • For the Non-EU exchange programme, students must take a full courseload at their host university. The International Office will inform you in writing what a full courseload constitutes at your host university.
  • The results of the courses you take on exchange will not appear on your UCD transcript / statement of results. Instead, you will receive a transcript from your host university showing the grades for your semester/year abroad.
  • You must obtain transcripts or other documentation from your host university to show the courses you have followed and the results of your exams. Your School will check that you have fulfilled the academic requirements and you will then be deemed to have passed your excahnge period.
  • Students who entered Stage 2 of the BA/BSocSc Programme in September 2010 and who are nominated for an exchange place, transfer from the three-year BA/BSocSc Programme to the four-year BA/BSocSc International Programme. Nominated students are eligible to go on exchange if they have progressed to Stage 2, have earned at least 110 appropriate credits at Stages 1 and 2, and meet all subject requirements. They will spend the 2011/12 academic year on exchange and return to UCD for the 2012/13 academic year to complete their programme.
    • It is not possible for BA/BSocSc students to go on exchange for one semester. Students take courses in their degree area in their host university which must be approved by academics in their subject areas in UCD. They are required to undertake and pass a courseload approved by their academic co-ordinator. Students who undertake and pass a full courseload on their year abroad return to complete their programme in UCD will be conferred with a BA/BSocSc International Degree. Students who fail to achieve a full courseload on their year abroad revert back to the three-year BA/BSocSc Degree programme and return to UCD to complete their degree.
  • Students from Agriculture can apply to spend one semester of Stage 3 abroad.
    • Students from Engineering and Science can apply to spend either one or two semesters of Stage 3 abroad. Students from Architecture can apply to spend one semester of Stage 4 abroad. Students are required to take courses in their host university equivalent to those they would have taken had they remained in UCD for the semester/year. Please note that the granting of equivalency for courses taken in the host university must be approved by the appropriate academic staff in UCD. In all cases students can only go on exchange if they are eligible to progress to the next stage of their programme in UCD. Students who fail to achieve a full courseload and equivalency on their semester/year abroad will have to repeat the relevant semester/year in UCD and pay repeat fees. Students enrolled to the Science degree programme are reminded that a Stage 3 GPS of 2.48 is required in order to progress to Stage 4 of the degree programme. If a student intends to progress to Stage 4 on their degree then, in addition to the requirements for their subject area, this standard (or its equivalent) must be achieved in the courses taken during their semester/year abroad.