Study abroad

There are two calls to apply to the study exchange programme. 

Application deadlines

First call for applications

The first call for applications opens in the Winter and closes on 15 February each year. This is for students applying to go on exchange in either semester one (autumn) or semester two (spring) of the following academic year. Student applications will be assessed, and the outcome is announced in mid-March annually.

Second call for applications

Subject to there being remaining spaces BU may launch a second call for applications in the late spring/early summer. This is for students apply for the semester two (spring) of the following academic year only. 

Second call applications are assessed on a rolling basis, with successful applications allocated to available partner universities on a first come, first served basis. The second call for applications closes on 1 September each year, or earlier if all remaining spaces have been allocated.

There are 3 main steps to the process.

Step 1

Complete the BU Study Exchange Application Form and submit it after prior approval by your faculty's Study Abroad Academic Coordinator by the application deadline. First year students must apply in their first year at BU to go in either semester one or two of their second year. Opportunities for exchanges during your placement, final year or at Master's level are agreed on a case by case basis.

Application forms are assessed by your programme’s Study Abroad Academic Coordinator, who may contact you for an interview. Our BU Global Engagement Team will inform you of your application (and interview if applicable) outcome within a month of the deadline and nominate successful applicants to the host university.

Step 2

Following nomination, you will submit an application to the host university. The host university application stage of the process varies from university to university, it is your responsibility to follow your host university's requirements and deadlines. It is important that you also keep in touch with the BU Global Engagement Team, and update us on your progress.

Please note that if you are undertaking study exchange in semester two (spring), there may be a delay of several months between the nomination and application stages, subject to your allocated institution's timelines. You will typically be contacted by the BU Global Engagement Team in August.

Step 3

Once you have a) received your official acceptance letter from the host university and b) produced your Turing Scheme at BU Learning Agreement we will talk about how to obtain Turing Scheme funding via the BU Scheme. Find out more about the funding on the Turing Scheme at BU webpage.

If you decide to undertake an opportunity abroad you might be able to benefit from funding to contribute towards some of the costs of your activity

• BU Turing Scheme funding is available to all BU students and recent graduates undertaking mobilities globally with a duration between 4 weeks and 12 months, between September and August.
• If you would like to know more information about the Turing Scheme funding and the eligibility and quality assessment requirements, please visit the relevant web pages or email the team at: [email protected].

Our drop-in sessions are every Monday (virtual/in-person) and Wednesday (in-person) afternoons during term time. The sessions are open to all students wanting to find out about opportunities to study and work overseas during your degree and the funding available to support you. 

Looking to drop-in?

• Mondays, 1pm - 3pm: Join us online via Microsoft Teams, search "BU Study and Work Overseas Drop-in"
• Mondays, 1pm - 3pm: Visit us in person in the Careers Zone, Bournemouth Gateway Building, Lansdowne Campus
• Wednesdays, 1pm - 4pm: Visit us in person at the Careers Zone, in The Hub, Poole House, Talbot Campus (next to the AskBU desk).