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European Year Abroad

Module description

Exeter Geography offers you the possibility to apply for a place to study Geography for one academic year at one of our European Erasmus partner Universities, through the University’s Erasmus Student Exchange Programme. If you are accepted onto the programme, you will spend one academic year studying at a partner university in either France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands or Ireland, usually the third year of a four-year programme. Credit for academic studies during your year of European Study is arranged by agreement between Exeter Geography and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree.

If you are intending to go to a partner University where English is not the language used in Higher Education, then suitable proficiency in that language is required. The pre-requisites for acceptance onto the programme in that case are an AS level in the relevant language and additional level 1 and level 2 language training in years 1 and 2 at Exeter (where appropriate).

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to provide you with a different and supplementary learning experience, predominantly in Geography but with the possibility of additional related subjects (subject to approval), ensuring the quality of education as offered at the University of Exeter, but providing the chance to experience learning in a different institution and interact with a different culture. The module aims to expand your geographical knowledge, to expose you to, and learn from, different methods of study and learning and to experience academic and university culture from a different, international perspective.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of different theoretical and empirical standpoints in Geography
• 2. Demonstrate awareness of different approaches to the learning and teaching of Geography
• 3. Assess and critically evaluate geographical information and analysis in a variety of contextual settings

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 4. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the contribution of geographical research
• 5. Critically appraise relevant literature in the field of Geography
• 6. Conceptualise issues in contemporary Geography

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
• 8. Develop a sustained and reasoned argument; an ability to identify, acquire, evaluate and synthesize data from a range of sources
• 9. Formulate and evaluate questions and identify and evaluate approaches to problem-solving
• 10. Undertake independent/self-directed study/learning (including time management)
• 11. Achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment
• 12. Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses.

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 approved host university abroad with whom Exeter Geography 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 (Prof Henry Buller). 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 a number of modules per semester (amounting to the equivalent of 60 UK credits or 30 ECTS credits per semester) 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 majority of modules in a geographical subject area. Other modules, including language modules, can be taken outside geography (subject to the approval of the Exeter module coordinator).

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.

Key words search

Geography, Study Abroad