Planning your programme

What entry requirements do I need?

You will often need some academic background for the modules you wish to take, although this is not always the case. As a general indication, for American students we would normally require a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 where the maximum GPA is 4.0.  Applicants must have completed a minimum of one academic year of study at their home university.

What subjects can I take?

All the subjects offered by the University of Exeter (excluding modules taught at Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry) at undergraduate level are open to you, provided of course that you meet any academic criteria or prerequisites that may be set. Remember however that not all modules will run in any given year.

How does Exeter's modular structure work?

Our undergraduate degree programmes generally last for three years and consist of modules which are credit-rated to reflect the workload that they represent. A full-time undergraduate is expected to take 120 credits a year. The University’s academic teaching is based on two semesters. Some modules will be taught over both semesters, with final assessment, usually in the form of examinations, held at some point in the final weeks of the second semester. Other modules may be condensed into one semester, with examinations either in early January or at the end of the academic year. If you plan to come for one year you should spread your module choice evenly over the two semesters to avoid the possibility of overload at any particular point in the year.

To help you plan your programme we have given an indication of how Exeter’s credit system translates into US semester credits. There is no direct correlation between Exeter credits allocated to a module and the number of formal contact hours required for its study. The credit rating indicates the total expected workload, including independent study involving library research, additional background reading, preparation of seminar papers, essays or project work, as well as lectures, seminars and tutorials. If you are in any doubt as to how your Exeter credits translate into credits at your home institution you should consult with your Study Abroad Adviser.

Modules

To find out about our modules and to gain up-to-date and extensive information you must consult the Schools’ module lists on their websites – please see the 'Module Selection' page.

Please note that, in common with most British universities, we cannot guarantee the availability of courses in advance as some modules are subject to demand and staffing levels.

On the Schools’ websites, for each module you will find a full module description which includes, for example, details of the subject content, any prerequisites, total study time, teaching/learning methods and how the module is assessed. You will also see details such as the credit value and duration of the module.

• The first digit of the code indicates the level at which the subject is taught, e.g. SOC2005 would normally be taken by a second-year undergraduate at Exeter
• The credit value indicates the expected workload, e.g. 30 credits is 25% of the full-year's workload of 120 credits at the University of Exeter
• The duration indicates in which semester(s) the module is taught

Building your programme

The modules offered to Study Abroad students provide a flexible approach to designing your academic programme of study at Exeter. Apart from scheduling and prerequisites, your choice can be as wide as you like – ideal for combining modules from different subject areas.

Independent study

It is often possible for you to undertake supervised independent study for credit. Independent Study modules are available in most subject areas and, depending on the length of the study, the module would carry between 10 and 30 credits. This is an ideal way to spread your workload over the year. If you are interested in Independent Study as part of your academic programme, please contact the International Office to discuss the possibilities.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught in exactly the same way as Exeter’s full-time undergraduate students. Formal lectures will play a part, as will small-group teaching in the form of tutorials and seminars, field trips, workshops, projects and laboratory work, depending on the subject you study. The form of assessment will also depend on which modules you take and may include examinations, take-away papers, course work, essays, presentations or project work.

Transcripts

As soon as your credits and marks have been confirmed, the International Office will prepare a transcript showing the number of Exeter credits taken and the overall mark achieved for each module.

What happens if I leave before a module finishes?

If your home institution’s academic year does not fit with Exeter’s and you therefore need to leave at the start of the Christmas vacation during Semester 1, arrangements can be made for some form of alternative assessment to take place so that you can gain the full semester credit. Your home institution, however, may prefer to award credit pro-rata for the actual time spent at Exeter; check with your adviser first. You should also indicate your intention to leave early at the time of application. This will not affect the outcome of your application but will help us to prepare better for your academic requirements. Study Abroad students are expected to complete Semester 2 and alternative assessment cannot be arranged for this period. Students will be expected to stay and sit exams at Exeter.