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One Year Study Abroad

Module description

This module will provide you with the opportunity to spend the third year of your degree studying at an existing partner institution in, for example, Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand or Hong Kong (though please note that the list of partners will change over time).

Studying abroad offers you a fantastic opportunity to expand your educational and cultural experiences. Moreover, research indicates that 64% of employers consider an international experience important for recruitment and report that graduates with an international background are given greater responsibility more frequently. 92% of employers involved in a study conducted in 2014* indicated that they look for skills such as openness to and curiosity about new challenges, problem-solving and decision-making skills, confidence, and tolerance towards other personal values and behaviours. The study revealed that studying abroad had a positive impact on the development of these skills and concluded that the employability and competences of students greatly benefit from mobility.

Whilst overseas, you will be expected to complete predominantly psychology-related modules that supplement the academic content of the Psychology modules offered at Exeter. In addition, you will be provided with the freedom to select modules that are outside the discipline of Psychology to broaden your personal and professional development.

You will have been admitted to the University specifically to study this module or made special arrangements with your Tutor to switch to it. You must attain a grade average of 60% or above in your first year in order to progress to the one year study abroad. Provided you attain this required academic standard, you will be permitted to complete the full application process to study abroad – for further details, please see: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/international/studyabroad/outbound/howtoapply/. Failure to attain this academic standard will result in you being unable to engage with the study abroad year and you will need to transfer to the three year degree in Psychology.

Credit for academic studies during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the Department of Psychology at the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into University of Exeter credits that contribute towards your degree. Specifically, this one year study abroad module contributes one seventh of your degree percentage.

*European Commission (2014) The Erasmus Impact Study, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to provide you with the opportunity to receive a different and supplementary learning experience to that provided at the University of Exeter. It is expected that the majority (at least 75%) of your studies will focus on Psychology and closely aligned disciplines. However, an important aim of this module is to provide you with the option to expand your educational and cultural experiences by taking modules outside the discipline of Psychology. These modules will be agreed in consultation with the module leader. This approach will further your knowledge on the various sub-disciplines of Psychology and allow you to acquire knowledge on different subjects that would not have been possible through the standard three year Psychology degree offered at the University of Exeter. You will also gain valuable insight and perspective from experiencing different methods of study and assessment in a different culture. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Gain a wider appreciation of the theoretical basis for, and application of, Psychology
• 2. Understand different approaches to the learning, teaching and assessment of Psychology
• 3. Gain understanding of different cultures and theoretical content from modules outside Psychology

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Gain a critical understand of how Psychology is taught and applied in different countries
• 5. Understand the different roles that Psychology plays in different cultures
• 6. Enhance theoretical understanding of the various Psychology sub-disciplines and demonstrate this using literature-based recommendations/arguments

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively and fluently using a variety of means to individuals from a different culture
• 8. Develop a greater appreciation of different cultures and how to effectively adapt communication and work strategies for sustained achievement
• 9. Show independence and the ability to make the most of the personal and professional development opportunities that arise from studying abroad
• 10. Effective time management to ensure independent/self-directed study is completed
• 11. Achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment
• 12. Reflect on the process of learning and personal development from studying abroad and the strengths and weaknesses of the experience

Syllabus plan

This is specific to the host university concerned. The programme of modules studied abroad should be equivalent in workload to that required for 120 Exeter credits.

You will stay for one academic year (year 3 of a 4 year degree programme), living and studying at an existing partner institute with whom Exeter has established links. During this time, you must be registered for study at your host university (as well as at the University of Exeter) for modules approved by the Study Abroad module coordinator. During this year, teaching methods will vary according to the programme of study at the host university but generally they will comprise a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical and laboratory work. In addition, independent study will be a major component of all the modules taken and you will be expected to direct your own preparation, reading and research. You will be expected to take the equivalent of 60 Exeter credits per term (typically 4 classes/modules per semester) while at your host university. These would normally be taken from years 2 and 3 modules (if the host university operates a three year degree programme) or years 3 and 4 (if the host university offers a four year degree programme). You will be expected to take a minimum of 75% of modules in a Psychology-related subject area. These choices are made in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, the Exeter Study Abroad Co-ordinator.

You will be required to make your choice of host institution in the autumn term of your second year. Host institution places are allocated based on the number available, your grades and personal statements/academic references. Modules at the host institutions are agreed beforehand with the Study Abroad Co-ordinator in a learning agreement. You apply for visas, book flights and organise accommodation once you have received a letter of acceptance from your host institution (March-May). You are given help and advice on the customs and culture of the country in question, costs involved, how and where to apply for accommodation and visas. Named link persons at the host institution who provide pastoral/tutorial support are also identified before you start your year abroad.

The One Year Study Abroad counts as a single 120 credit module and as such is not condonable; you must pass this module to continue on the four-year programme. None of the composite modules making up the overall year score is considered as non-condonable for our students; you can fail individual modules without 'failing' the year as long as you achieve a weighted average of greater than 40% (Exeter equivalent, i.e. after translation into University of Exeter grades).

If you fail the Year Abroad module you will be transferred to the standard three-year BSc (Hons) Psychology programme. You will be assessed by your host university during your academic year abroad with their grades converted back to University of Exeter grades to contribute towards your degree classification. The Study Abroad Office provides a table of mark conversion ratios which we use to bring the marks of the host institution into line with ours when they are not percentages. These are then aggregated into a weighted average depending on the various credits each module is worth. This then becomes the study abroad module mark. The rules governing failure and referral will be determined by the host institution.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

As required by the host university.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9374

Key words search

Study abroad, psychology