Current Students
Study Abroad 2011-2012
The Department of English and Drama has links to a number of universities worldwide as part of the Socrates and Erasmus schemes. We are partnered with 15 international universities, 10 of them in Europe.
Some or all of your second year can be spent studying abroad at one of these universities. If you are keen to study abroad, then you will find the information below of interest. It lists the main universities with which we have links. All of the literature courses are taught in English in these universities.
To qualify, you must either be on the Single Honours English, EALF, English & Drama or English and American Studies programmes. Depending on the availability of relevant modules, it might also be possible to apply for the scheme if you are on the Single Honours Drama, Drama with a Minor in English, or English and Sports Science programmes. Numbers are limited, so you have to apply first to the Erasmus co-ordinator (Catie Gill) who will send you an application form. Her address is C.J.Gill@lboro.ac.uk. You will also be able to apply for a grant from Loughborough University if you choose to study in Europe. Fees are paid as normal to Loughborough when you study abroad at a partner university.
A meeting will be held on in Semester 1, 2011 (date to be announce) at which you will hear a short presentation on the Erasmus and Socrates schemes. If you are interested in attending, please email Catie Gill for further details.
Acadia (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Acadia was ranked as Canada's best overall primarily undergraduate university in the Macleans magazine 2007 ranking. It was established in 1839, and takes 3,500 students.
We send two Loughborough students per year, and they can study at Acadia for one or two semesters. Classes ran (in 2010/11) from 8 September – 18 December 2010 and 10 January – 26 April 2011.
A Loughborough student writes: 'Acadia University is a small University in a small town. There are roughly 3000 students at Acadia. The town, Wolfville, and the University are what can only be described as picturesque and quaint. ... There is a lot of open space for hiking and enjoying what nature has to offer. ... Because compulsory education in Canada goes up to the age of 18 the way the university works is different to ours in England. I look at it as a mix of A-Levels (or equivalent) and a University Degree. They study for four years and have to study a range of subjects'.
You have to pay for the flights to and from Canada, and for your accommodation and living costs because no grant is available.
Acadia University
Acadia University admissions office
Almeria (Spain)
The university was established in 1993, and there are more than 12,000 students. Classes are in English. Loughborough can send 2 students per year. Term starts 26 September (2011) – Jan 31; second term starts 20 February - 9 June 2012.
The web site is in Spanish: Universidad De Almeria
Beykent (Turkey)
The university was established in 1997, and there are 10,000 students. All classes are taught in English, and Loughborough can send two students per year. The first semester (in 2010/11) ran from 20 September – 21 January; the second, 9 February – 3 June.
Beykent University Erasmus student information
Cadiz (Spain)
The university was established in 1979, and there are 18,000 students. Classes are in English, and assessment is through exams and essays. Loughborough can send 3 students per year. In 2010/11 the first semester starts 21 September – 13 February; second semester starts 14 February – 7 July.
A Loughborough student writes: 'I have become almost completely fluent [in Spanish] since I was there. ... We ended up doing six modules, about 25 hours a week of lectures! All the modules had an exam and 1-2 pieces of coursework. .. It was excellent, there were ups and downs but certainly worth the experience, more people should do it'.
However, finding accommodation in town can be difficult during the carnival, so advance planning is necessary.
The web site is only partially in English, but can be accessed at University of Cadiz, Erasmus in-coming
Heidelberg (Germany)
Heidelberg university was established in 1386, takes 27,000 students, and is Germany's highest ranking university (15th in the European ranking, THES).
Loughborough can send 4 students per year, and classes are in English. In 2010-11, the first semester ran from 1 September to 28 February with the lecture period being 5 October – 5 February, and the second from 1 March to 31 August with the lecture period being 5 April – 23 July. Students usually use the time in between lecture periods to complete their written assignments. Heidelberg also offers a pre-sessional course in German for all Incoming Erasmus students, as well as courses during term time.
University website: Heidelberg University
Application form: Application to Heidelberg University
Jan Ev Purkyne University (Czech Republic)
The university was established in 1991 and has over 10,000 students.
The website is in Czech: University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně
Maribor (Slovenia)
The university was established in 1961, and there are 26,500 students. Most classes are taught in English. In 2010/11, the first term ran from 3 October to 20 January, examinations from 23 January to 17 February; summer semester ran from 20 February to 8 June, with examinations until 13 July.
Univerza v Mariboru
NUS (Singapore)
The university was established in 1905, and takes 28,000 students. It is consistently ranked highly in the THES (Times Higher Educational Supplement) rating of universities worldwide (being 33rd in 2006). Classes are taught in English, and assessment is by exams.
Loughborough can send two students per year, and they study at NUS for one or two semesters (classes ran in 2010/11 from 1 August to 18 November 2010, examination period 19 November – 3 December 2010; 9 January – 20 April 2011 May; examination period 21 April – 5 May 2011 - see National University of Singapore Academic Calendar).
A Loughborough Student writes: 'Singapore is a great place to come ... there is a huge amount of Exchange students ... the cultures are accepting and it is a safe place to live'. 'The university is great: they have the format of a American university where you can choose courses from any department'.
However, if you don't get a place in hall, the price of accommodation is very high. Likewise, you have to cover the costs of travel to and from Singapore yourself, plus living costs.
Web site address: National University of Singapore and International office
Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
The university was established in 1945, and it is the second largest in Bulgaria, taking 12,500 students. Classes in 2010/11 ran from 4 October to 22 January, and examinations from 22 January to 20 February 2011; the second semester from 21 February to 4 June 2011 with examinations from 5 June to 3 July 2011.
see University of Plovdiv
University of Salerno (Italy)
The modern-day university in Salerno grew out of the Medical School and now has over 43,000 students and one of the largest libraries in Italy.
Loughborough can send 3 students per year, and many classes are in English (though not all); you can take any course from the three degree programmes a) Foreign Languages and Cultures b) Davimus (Visual Arts, Music and Theatre Studies) c) Degree in Comparative Literature. Erasmus students have the option of writing essays, but Italian students are assessed by examinations or a viva. The second semester begins mid-February and ends mid-May, with exams until the end of July (and Erasmus students have to be physically present on the day of the exams, even if not sitting them).
The website is currently in Italian: University of Salerno
Södertörns (Sweden)
The university was established in 1996, and has 12,000 students. A wide range of modules are taught in English, and Loughborough can send 2 students per year. Semesters run from 29 August to 22 January (2011/12), then 23 January to 10 June (2012). Assessment is varied, combining coursework and exams.
See: Södertörn University
UNED (Spain)
The UNED campus is spread across Faculties, Colleges and Centres in Madrid.
If you are selected to go on an Exchange, you will still have to take any compulsory modules on your programme. You can do this either by choosing modules at the partner university that are roughly equivalent to a compulsory module at Loughborough, or by taking a compulsory module in your final year when you return, substituting it for one of your final-year options.