Semester-long exchange

How does it work?

You can apply in your second year to go on exchange in your third year of study to one of our partner universities. You will not pay tuition fees to the partner university, and must apply to SAAS or your other funding provider as normal.

GCU operates two exchange application rounds each year. The main application round for trimester A and trimester B exchanges opens in January for second-year students. Students entering third year at GCU through Direct Entry or Pathways programmes may be eligible to apply from the September of arrival, subject to meeting the relevant requirements.

The next running application round will be for current second-year students as of September 2026, hoping to undertake a semester or year-long exchange in 2027/28. Please see the 'submit your application' section below for specific dates.

For any queries, please contact exchangeenquiries@gcu.ac.uk.

Following attendance at an Exchange Information Session, students must attend an Application Workshop. These interactive sessions provide a step-by-step walkthrough of the exchange application process, including guidance on completing the application form, preparing supporting documentation, and understanding how applications are assessed.

Students will participate in practical activities designed to help them prepare a strong application, while also having the opportunity to ask questions and receive advice from the International Partnerships Office team.

Attendance at an Application Workshop is mandatory for all exchange applicants. As exchange opportunities are highly competitive and require a significant level of independence, organisation, and commitment, participation in these sessions demonstrates that you are taking the process seriously and are engaging with the preparation required for a successful exchange experience.

Engagement with these workshops marks the beginning of your exchange journey. Students who do not attend an Application Workshop will not receive access to the exchange application form, and any application submitted without attending a workshop will not be considered.

2027/28 Application Workshop dates

Monday, 11 January | 3pm to 5pm (In person)
Wednesday, 13 January | 10am to 12noon (In person)
Friday, 15 January | 14pm to 4pm (Online)
Tuesday, 19 January | 3pm to 5pm (In person)
Wednesday, 20 January | 11am to 1pm (In person)
Friday, 22 January | 10am to 12noon (Online)
Monday, 25 January | 10am to 12noon (In person)
Wednesday, 27 January | 2pm to 4pm (In person)
Friday, 29 January | 11am to 1pm (Online)
Monday, 1 February | 4pm to 6pm (In person)

Students should register for a workshop via the Eventbrite booking page.

Attendance at one workshop is sufficient to meet the application requirement.

These workshops are exclusively for students intending to apply for a 2027/28 semester-long exchange. Students who are not currently in their second year should not register for these sessions.

Studying abroad is an opportunity to develop not only academically, but also personally. Successful exchange students demonstrate independence, initiative, adaptability, and resilience, and the research stage is your first opportunity to develop and showcase these skills.

Before applying, take time to think carefully about what you want from your exchange experience. Consider factors such as academic interests, language, culture, location, cost of living, accommodation options, travel opportunities, and the type of university environment that would suit you best.

Destinations

Each exchange application cycle has a specific list of partner universities available to applicants. You should research destinations using the available destinations list provided for your application year, rather than relying on the wider list of GCU partner institutions displayed elsewhere on our website. While GCU has agreements with a large number of universities worldwide, not every partner is available for exchange applications every year.

When researching potential destinations, you should visit the websites of available partner universities to explore:

Module and course offerings
Academic calendars and semester dates
Teaching and assessment styles
Campus facilities and student support services
Accommodation options
Student clubs, societies, and campus life
Local culture, language, and cost of living

It is important to keep an open mind during your research. Do not focus solely on destinations you are already familiar with or have always wanted to visit. Many students find that a university or country they had not previously considered ultimately provides the best academic, cultural, and personal fit.

Credit requirements

You are expected to take the equivalent number of credits while abroad as you would at GCU. For exchanges within Europe, this is typically 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits per semester.

Partner universities outside Europe may use a different credit system from the ECTS used across much of Europe, however, credit equivalencies can be calculated to ensure that students undertake an appropriate academic workload while on exchange. For example, in the United States, one U.S. semester credit hour is generally equivalent to approximately 2 ECTS credits (a 2:1 ratio). This means that a student studying the equivalent of 30 ECTS credits would typically enrol in around 15 U.S. credit hours per semester.

Independent research

As exchange is a student-led opportunity, applicants are expected to undertake their own research into the suitability of partner institutions. The International Partnerships Office can provide guidance on the application process, but it is your responsibility to investigate destinations, compare options, and determine which universities best align with your academic goals and personal aspirations.

We kindly ask students to not contact partner universities directly during the research and application stage. All communication with partner institutions should be coordinated through the International Partnerships Office until you have been formally selected and nominated for exchange. This helps ensure that you receive accurate information and that applications are managed consistently across the university.

Application dates

The online application form will be open for submissions from Monday, 25 January to Monday, 8 February.

Deadline for students to receive final sign-off from mobility coordinator: Thursday, 4 February, 12noon
Overall application deadline (for example submission of online form): Monday, 8 February, 12noon
These are firm deadlines – we won’t process applications that are late or incomplete
Accesss to the application form is granted only to students who attend an application workshop as noted above

Application requirements

As part of your application, you will be required to submit the following documentation:

a copy of your passport valid for the duration of your proposed exchange period and, where possible, at least six months beyond your expected return date
a Preferred Destination Choice Form outlining your preferred partner institutions. This must be signed by your School Mobility Coordinator/Academic Exchange Coordinator to confirm academic suitability
a Transcript of Records demonstrating a minimum average of 50% across all first-year modules. This requirement does not apply to students who have entered GCU directly into Year 2 or Year 3.

Application questions

In addition to submitting supporting documentation, applicants will be required to answer a series of application questions to assess the motivation for application and suitability for studying abroad.

These questions form an important part of the selection process and allow you to demonstrate:

your motivation for participating in an exchange
your understanding of the academic and personal challenges associated with studying abroad
the research you have undertaken into your preferred destinations
how an exchange aligns with your academic, professional, and personal goals
the skills, independence, adaptability, and resilience you would bring to the experience.

Exchange places are competitive, and applicants should take time to prepare thoughtful, well-researched responses. Strong applications typically demonstrate clear motivation, realistic expectations, evidence of destination research, and a genuine commitment to making the most of the opportunity.

Submitting an application does not guarantee allocation of a placement. Applications are assessed against eligibility requirements, application quality, engagement with the exchange process, and the availability of places at partner institutions.

Turing Scheme funding

The Turing Scheme is a UK Government funding initiative that supports UK learners studying abroad.

Support for students taking part in semester/year-long exchange opportunities may be available through the Turing Scheme.

The Turing Scheme prioritises students from disadvantaged backgrounds who might face particular challenges in meeting the cost of an international placement.

Funding is limited and subject to availability. Student eligibility will be assessed as part of the application process and confirmed by the International Partnerships Office.

Contribution to living costs

The amount each student can receive depends on the group the destination is in.

Groups are based on an assessment of the general cost of living in those destinations:

Group 1 – higher cost of living
Group 2 – lower cost of living

Information on the destinations in each group is available in the list of destinations and grant rates.

Placements for students from non-disadvantaged backgrounds

Placement duration	Group 1	Group 2
57 to 365 days	£14 per day	£12 per day

Placements for students from disadvantaged backgrounds

Placement duration	Group 1	Group 2
57 to 365 days	£18 per day	£16 per day

Extra funding for students from disadvantaged backgrounds

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds can receive extra funding for readiness to travel, travel, and higher rates for living costs in higher education.

Examples of students eligible for extra funding include:

Someone with an annual household income of £40,000 or less (including parents/guardians)
Someone who receives Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves/themselves and someone who is dependent on them
Someone who is estranged from their parents/guardians
A refugee or asylum seeker
Someone with experience of being in care or who is a care leaver – including anyone who is or has been in care, or from a looked after background, at any stage of their life
Carer or have caring responsibilities
Home address located in SIMD Quintile 1 or 2 zone.

Readiness to travel

Funding to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare to travel, including the costs of:

Passports
Visa applications and reasonable associated costs such as translated documents, travel to appointments and police certificates
Vaccines
Travel insurance
Medical certificates

Travel funding

Funding towards the direct costs of travel for HE students from disadvantaged backgrounds, for one return journey to the destination where the placement takes place, including transfers.

Information on the grant rate for each destination.

Extra funding for students with ASN

Students with Additional Support Needs can apply for extra funding to help with the additional costs linked to taking part in a study abroad programme.

You can apply for funding to help with costs that are linked specifically to your participation, such as:

Additional travel or accommodation costs
Specialist equipment or support.

If you receive Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

If you currently receive Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), you should not apply for funding for anything that is already covered by DSA.

However, you can still apply for additional support for any costs linked to your placement that are not funded by DSA, such as pre-mobility visits or other placement-specific needs.

Additional information

While the scheme prioritises widening participation (WP) students, it also aims to maximise overall cohort reach. To ensure as many students as possible benefit, funding will not normally be provided for multiple placements by the same student within a single academic year.

Students are therefore eligible for only one Turing Scheme grant per academic year; for example, a student funded for a semester-long exchange will not be eligible for additional funding for a Summer School in the summer.