Frequently Asked Questions

• I don’t want to study at any of the Universities listed on the places I can go, what should I do?

You can apply for an ISEP exchange! The University of Roehampton works with ISEP and allows students to travel to any of their partner Universities.  
 

• Can I only go to the Universities listed for my course?

We know that these Universities offer courses that best fit with Roehampton modules, so unfortunately you can only choose from this list.
 

• How much will it cost to study abroad?

The cost to study abroad will vary with where you intend to study. You need to think of Visa costs, the cost of a flight, cost of accommodation. This is a big step and you should think about it, as some universities will withhold their transcripts if you miss payments. Roehampton currently receives Turing funding, which will allow you to receive funding for placements across the globe! Students tend to get between £300-£600 per month. The overall total is calculated on where you are going, how long you are going for, and your personal circumstances.
 

• How much does ISEP cost?

If you decide to study abroad with ISEP then the costs to study abroad will be the same as studying here. You pay the same accommodation costs (even if your host institution is more expensive) and you pay for a meal plan. Visit their website for some more information; www.isep.org.
 

• I have applied to study abroad, how do I apply for Turing funding?

No need for you to apply, we will automatically enroll every student that has applied to study at one of our partner institutions. Please visit our ‘Finance section’ for some further information about the costs of studying abroad.
 

• I’m interested in doing a work placement abroad, can I get funding for this?

Turing funding can cover work placements around the world, provided it is four weeks in duration or longer. If you have a placement in mind already, please come over during our office hours at the Hub or drop us an email: roehamptonabroad@roehampton.ac.uk
 

• I only want to go to one place, why should I fill in a top three?

Some universities are more popular than others and the number of spaces available fluctuates per year. Because of this, we ask for your top three choices, we’re certain you will be able to find more than one place to go to. We can’t guarantee you your first choice, even if this is your only choice. We allocate students according to their average grade, how well they have written their personal statement and approval from programme convener.
 

• What should I write in a personal statement?

We’re really looking for 4 key things in your personal statement. If you touch on these topics you are more likely to receive ‘full marks’ and have a greater chance to get your first choice.
1. Why do YOU want to study abroad? So academics aside, why do you want to go?
2. How will a semester abroad help you academically?
3. Why have you chosen your top three institutions? Try to go further than just mentioning you like where they’re located. Have you looked at the courses the University has on offer? Do they offer things that Roehampton does not?
4. What will you contribute to Roehampton after your study abroad experience? We’re always looking for new study abroad experts, students that can help other students make decisions. How will you share all your experience? And how will it better the Roehampton community?
 

• What do I need to fill in the Finance section of my application?

We have recently included a ‘Finance’ section in your application. This is because more recently students have been taken by surprise by study costs or visa costs. We want you to seriously look up the potential costs of studying abroad, these are mentioned on our programme pages for each university, so you can better decide whether a semester abroad is financially viable for you. We ask you to add up these costs and report them to us, so we know you have done part of the leg work to prepare you to study abroad.
 

• After I submit my application, what do I do?

Once you’ve completed and submitted your application (before the deadline) there is nothing you need to do immediately. The study abroad team will go through the applications and allocate all the students with a placement. We calculate your grade average and contact your programme convener to check that you are eligible to study abroad for a semester. After we have crunched the numbers and are satisfied that we have given everyone their top choice, we will contact you with the outcome.
 

• I’ve been accepted to go a semester abroad with ISEP, what do I do now?

Congratulations! Now you can start your formal application with ISEP. We will send you an email with details about how to apply and when to apply for.  
 

• Will the grades I get during my semester abroad count?

Your credits/ECTS will be translated to Roehampton credits, however, you will only receive a pass or fail mark that counts towards your Roehampton degree.
 

• When do I need to apply for a Visa?

It is best to sort this out sooner rather than later, but on average this should not take longer than a month (depending on the country). We will provide you with more in-depth information about visa applications and what to bring to an interview, after selection.
 

• What happens when I am told I can study abroad and I have applied for accommodation for the year?

Not to worry, we will contact accommodation and they will set up a new contract for you. This means you won’t have to pay for Roehampton accommodation while you are away. However, this also means you will need to move out of your room when you are studying abroad.
 

• I have changed my mind and no longer want to study abroad, what should I do?

Not a problem, just send us an email: roehamptonabroad@roehampton.ac.uk and notify us that you have changed your plans. It’s essential you notify us as you will be registered as ‘studying abroad’ and won’t be able to sign up for modules at Roehampton nor receive a timetable.
 

• I’m not sure whether I want to study abroad, what should I do?

The best thing to do, if you’re not entirely sure if you do or don’t want to go, is to fill in an application anyway. Once the deadline has passed we will be allocating all received applications to their institutions. This may mean there are no places left if you changed your mind and wanted to go. You can always decide to drop out of studying abroad, as long as you let us know ASAP. Another student may want your spot!
 

• After reading all of this, I still have questions! Where can I go?

We have our office hours on Mondays (10:30 – 12:30), Wednesdays (14:00 – 16:00), and Thursdays (10:30 – 12:30) at the Hub (in the Careers office next to the library). You can come in whenever you like, no need to make an appointment. If you have any particular questions about the application forms, please come during our application help sessions. We’ll be posting information about this on your NEST Portal.