INTERCALARY YEAR INFORMATION
Dates, times and a general overview.
- INTERCALARY MEETINGS
Please note that these meetings are compulsory, failure to attend without prior explanation will be regarded as alack of commitment .
How the exchange works
The third year of the four year degree course is spent at an American University.
American Studies has set up exchange agreements with a number of US universities. All of these universities have been visited by faculty and staff from the Department of American Studies to confirm that the standard of teaching, housing and support services are appropriate and comparable to those at Swansea and to ensure that you will be in a safe environment while studying abroad. They have been chosen because they provide:
- High quality academic courses relevant to American Studies
- Qualified and supportive on-site staff
- Opportunities to study in diverse geographic locations
- Universities with student enrolments from 15,000 – 30,000+
Everyone is asked to complete a Personal Profile Form for US placement which will help us to place you at whichever US university the department considers to be most appropriate, taking into account information on the Personal Profile Form.
Academic Matters
Study in the States
- Students on the Single Honours American Studies degree scheme enrol in American themed modules and experience learning about American themes from the American perspective. Joint honours students can enhance their educational experience by taking modules in their joint honours subject.
- Students are entitled to one ‘free choice’ module during the intercalary year. This module can be at any level, but must be an academic subject but offers the opportunity to explore and experience new fields.
- The year offer the opportunity for students which wish to write a dissertation on a specialist subject in the final year to research and use primary sources.
- You may have the option of undertaking an internship (work experience for academic credit) during the intercalary year as a free choice course. Internships are organised by Departments at your exchange university and can lead to work experience in local government and legislature, museums, art galleries, etc. If you wish to pursue this option you must make enquiries with academic departments at your US university. Alternatively, you could undertake Academic Training for up to three months during the summer after your study has finished.
Money Matters
How much will it cost?
The year of academic study in the United States works out at roughly the same as a year of study at Swansea. Of course this is an additional year to a normal three year degree however the value added worth of experiences, personal growth, friendships and contacts made is often priceless.
Due to the fact that students are exchanged with students from the states there are no additional tuition fee costs, in fact you only pay Swansea half the usual tuition fee. The full fee (for the academic year 2008/9) is £3145, but intercalary students pay £1560.
Housing, meals, insurance are not included and will have to be budgeted for – however the cost of living in the US is considerably cheaper than the UK due to the current exchange rate. Some additional costs include application fees and visa fees.
However, you will probably want to make the most of your period abroad and travel as much as possible so the more money you can take with you the better – past students have suggested at least £1500. It is often possible to find work on campus at most exchange universities.
"Best Year of my Life!"
What you gain from the year abroad.
- While many students choose to take a gap year before University, American Studies Students gain the wealth of experience and travel within the context of an organised and safe academic programme.
- Graduates frequently tell us how employers and very keen to talk about the year abroad experience when in interviews as it stands out on CVs.
- The Department finds that students return from the States with new found confidence, independence and maturity in all aspects of their lives.
- Students make friendships that last a lifetime – we also find that may return to the US after graduation for work or postgraduate study.
For more information please contact the c.m.mcveigh@swansea.ac.uk
