Exemption from the Year Abroad

All students following Single Honours, Joint Honours and German Major programmes, as well as European Studies and Multilingual Studies students, must spend the third year of their studies abroad.

There are sometimes good reasons why this is undesirable or impossible, but exemption (a 'Year Abroad Waiver') must ALWAYS be applied for formally. Categories for exemption are as follows:

• students with disabilities
• students with dependent families (almost always mature students)
• serious bona fide medical cases (supported by full certification from a GP or specialist)
• students with evidence of extensive prior residence in the country of study in an appropriate linguistic environment
• students unable to reside abroad for religious reasons (supported by evidence from an appropriate religious authority)

Please note that financial hardship does not in itself represent grounds for a waiver; neither does a wish not to leave a partner behind.

If you wish not to spend your third year of study abroad, and if you believe you have grounds for exemption because you fall into one of the categories above, you must write formally to the Head of School explaining your reasons and enclosing supporting evidence (where there are medical or religious reasons). Hand the letter in to the SMLLC Office in the International Building.

All students intending to seek exemption from the Year Abroad must discuss this either their personal tutor, or the Year Abroad Tutor or Tutor in European Studies, since no exemption will be granted without support from one of these people and they can help with the process.