Information for students studying abroad
- Over 600 Leeds students study abroad every year
- 250 of these are not on language degrees
Many Leeds students will go abroad to study. For some this is an obligatory part of their language course but for others, it is because they wish to have the experience of living and studying in another country. The study abroad website provides you with lots of useful information. Please make sure you read the study abroad handbook and guidelines and make a note of the useful links. The handbooks and other useful information can be found on the study abroad website: http://studyabroad.leeds.ac.uk/
Before you go
- It is important to do as much preparation as possible before you go. If you know what to expect and try and anticipate any potential problems, you are more likely to be able to manage a potentially difficult transition time successfully. Have a look at our Before you go checklist for some helpful tips. Remember, if you a have a pre-existing medical or mental health condition it is essential to see you GP well before you go – don’t leave it until the last minute!
- If you are feeling anxious about going and would like to book a therapeutic consultation to explore your feelings and develop some coping strategies for when you away, please fill in the Self-referral form.
- You might also like to look at the Headstart cards. These are handy cards with self-help tips for managing a variety of common problems. If you would like a complete pack to take with you, please call into the SCC.
Help While abroad
Even if you are not experiencing any problems, please have a look at the While you are away checklist. There are some useful general tips.
If you find you are having problems while you are abroad (these could range from feeling unhappy and isolated, concern about a friend or even finding yourself the victim of some kind of crime or traumatic event) there are various sources of help.
- Please have a look at our website. There is lots of self-help material and information in Self-help resources. You may find what you need there.
- If you would like to talk to someone, the SCC provides a confidential Online counselling service for students who are unable to come into the Centre. If you are based in an academic institution, there might also be a local student counselling or psychology service, although you may have to pay for this.
If you run into any difficulties registering for classes, finding suitable housing or dealing with culture shock etc, you can find help from a variety of sources. It is better to start with the help provided locally on the campus where you are studying (eg personal tutor, local SAO, Welfare Office, Accommodation Office, etc) however, if that fails you should make use of the many services available to you at Leeds. Suggestions of people you could contact are:
- Academic Study Abroad Coordinator about any academic enquiries or issues. You may also wish to contact your Coordinator about pastoral issues overseas. Academic Study Abroad Coordinators’ contact details can be found at:
http://studyabroad.leeds.ac.uk/outgoing/what_you_need_to_know/academic
_support/
- Study Abroad Office about any practical enquiries or issues relating to your year abroad or return to Leeds.
Tel: +44 113 343 7900
studyabroad@leeds.ac.uk