Year abroad

One of the best opportunities to develop for Language Students at the University of Reading is our Year Abroad.

All full-time students studying for a single or joint Honours degree in a modern language spend their third year abroad. It is an integeral and exciting part of their studies, during which they gain practical experience of living and studying or working in another country, meet new friends, immerse themselves in a new culture and perfect their language skills.

Students undertaking a single language will spend their third academic year entirely in a country where their language of study is spoken, while those students studying two languages will split the year equally between two countries.

 Types of opportunities for your Year Abroad

 The majority of our students spend their Year Abroad studying at a university, however depending on which programme you do there may also be the opportunity to work as a School Assistant or in a work placement.

Year Abroad as a Student;

The Department of Modern Languages and European studies has developed an extensive network of ERASMUS exchanges with institutions in France, Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Italy; giving students at Reading the choice of applying to a wide range of institutions including unviersities and business schools, allowing them the opportunity to taylor their Year Abroad to suit their interests. further information on the institutions at which you can study can be found on our "Where can I study abroad" page.

If you choose to spend your Year Abroad at a university you will, in most cases, be studying alongside full-time local students, giving you even more opportunity to build friendships and practice your oral language skills.

Year Abroad as a School Assistant;

For French and German students studying a single modern foreign language there is the opportunity to spend your Year Abroad working as a School Language Assistant. Although you apply through and are fully supported by the department, the Language Assistantships are recruited and administered by the British Council who offer posts of either 7 or 9 months. To be eligible for an assistantship you must be a British National and be under 30 years of age, in addition the assistantship option is not available at present for those students enrolled on EMBS, French/German/Italian and Management Studies, or IMBA with French/German/Italian, or those doing combined degrees involving two languages, due to course content.

School Language Assistant positions are salaried to cover living expenses and students are expected to teach English for aproximately 12 hours per week.

Year Abroad on a Work Placement;

Students who opt to spend their Year Abroad on a work placement are responsible, with the support of the department, for finding a job in the relevant country. Students at Reading often find such jobs through personal contacts, friends, and relatives as well as through the normal channels. Arrangements for finding these jobs along with the job content will vary between different countries, but students should feel supported throughout the process. This can be a good option for students considering using their French language within a work environment.

Finance

Students who opt to work as Assistants will recieve a salary from their employers and and those on work placements may recieve a stipend.

Which ever option you decide to do you will be potentially eligible to participate in the ERAMUS programme and to receive a small 'cost of living' grant from the European Union. In addition students are entitled to their standard student loan for the Year Abroad.

Student accommodation is often cheaper on the continent and overall students find that the Year Abroad is normally the cheapest year of their course as well as the most enjoyable.

Preparation for your Year Abroad

Students will have the opportunity to start exploring their Year Abroad options from the start with access to a database of information on the universities with which we have exchange agreements and contact with students currently on their Year Abroad. Students are also encouraged to consult the web before deciding what they want to do and where they want to go.

Formal preparation starts right at the beginning of the second year, with an 'Introduction to the Year Abroad' style meeting. Further meetings are held throughout the second year giving students information and guidance on the practicalities of not just studying or working abroad, but also living abroad. These meetings also give students the perfect platform to get answers to any questions, queries or worries they may have.

In addition detailed guides to the Year Abroad for each language are given out in the second year.

Many past and current students have commented on the excellence of the preparation offered at the University of Reading.

Support whilst abroad

During their time abroad students are encouraged to keep in regular contact with the department via, email, phone and the dedicated Skype system.

They will also recieve emails and notices from the department keeping them up to date on important information.

In addition students are able to access their 'Blackboard' accounts which contains all the Year Abroad information in electronic format, along with contact details for the Departments Year Abroad staff.

Information websites

Information platform for students preparing to go abroad
http://istudy.iagora.com/

ESN Galaxy
http://www.esn.org/

Careers in Europe (one of many sites, this one is endorsed by ESN Galaxy)
http://www.careersineurope.com/

What the British Council has to say about ERASMUS (includes an informative promotional video, which includes interviews with former University of Reading students) http://www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus
http://www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus-documentary.htm