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England Study Abroad Program at the University of York

About the University of York in York, England

Required GPA: 3.0 (4.0 scale)
Application deadlines: October 15 for spring two terms (Jan-June)
April 15 for fall term (Oct-Dec)
April 15 for full year (Oct-June)
Program advisor: Laura Wallman

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Program Snapshot

We're so excited that you're preparing to study abroad on an IFSA-Butler program and have chosen the University of York as your destination. York is a great home base for exploring the famous Yorkshire Moors and the Bronte country. We're sure you're going to love studying there!

There are a few specific forms for this program that you will need to complete along with your IFSA-Butler application. You can find the forms under the Forms tab.

What the University of York has to offer

One of Britain's top 10 universities
Self-contained campus along a lake in a charming village, a 20-minute walk from York's city center
A busy schedule of concerts, films, plays and lectures on campus
A new Market Square development on campus with supermarket, travel agency and several other retail services
Clubs and societies geared to students' cultural, academic, political, religious and recreational interests
On-campus sports center and 40 acres of outdoor playing fields
Each student is assigned to an academic staff member who acts as advisor on both academic progress and personal welfare

Housing

Housing is in one of eight colleges or in university housing close to the campus
Students in most housing options purchase their meals in the college cafeterias and snack bars or prepare their own meals in shared kitchens
Meal plans are available through a meals-in-advance deal (MAD) once students arrive in York
Students assigned to live in Derwent or Langwith College will have a mandatory meal plan

Academics

Visiting students are normally admitted to one or two departments and select their courses from the undergraduate offerings of those departments only
Students take a varied number of courses, depending on course weight

We look forward to working with you!

Academics

Courses

Where can I find a list of courses that the university offers?
1. Visit University of York's online course catalog.
2. To view courses by department click on the subject area that interests you. You may also download the visiting student module catalog for a list of all available courses.

What courses am I eligible to take?
As an IFSA-Butler student, you are entitled to enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and in which space is available. Course descriptions in the online course catalog (see above) include prerequisites you must fulfill in order to enroll in each course.

For each course that you list on your preference form, be sure to check the following:

When determining which courses to take, please bear in mind that the University of York academic system is an intensive, three-year program.
- First-year courses are appropriate for departments in which you have little or no prior experience.
- Second-year courses will be equivalent to advanced sophomore or junior-level U.S. courses.
- Third-year courses will be equivalent to advanced junior or senior-level U.S. courses.
- Fourth-year (only certain departments) courses require advanced knowledge of the subject area. You may not eligible to take these courses as an undergraduate study abroad student.

In the course catalog please note the following:
- "Au" refers to courses available during the fall term
- "Sp" refers to courses available during the first term of the spring two-term semester
- "Su" refers to courses available during the second term of the spring two-term semester

All applications to the English department should be accompanied by a sample of a recent written work (at least 1,500 words). This essay must be a critical reflection of a literary topic. Please do not write a special paper for your application; submit an essay you have already turned in at your home university. If possible, the essay should be graded and the critique visible.

What if I need to take a required course?
Please be aware that IFSA-Butler cannot guarantee that your host university will offer a particular course, or that you will be allowed to take that particular course. However, if you need to take a required course, you may indicate that it is required on your course preference form. Your IFSA-Butler program advisor will communicate your needs to your host university.

Course Restrictions

Fourth-year (only certain departments) courses require advanced knowledge of the subject area. You may not eligible to take these courses as an undergraduate study abroad student.

It is strongly advised that students apply for only one department.

Courses in psychology are structured for a yearlong duration. Psychology majors wishing to attend for less than a year will only be able to take social psychology offered by the Sociology or Social Policy and Social Work Departments. Therefore, it is strongly advised that psychology majors wishing to take psychology courses enroll for the full year at the University of York.

Economics modules have pre-requisites that should be taken into account when applying to the University of York. Students wishing to apply to this department should have a strong background in the discipline.

Theatre, Film and Television (TFTV), Law, and the Hull York Medical School do not currently accept study abroad students.

History of Art is a very selective and smaller department that accepts fewer students.

Credits

How many courses am I able to take, and how do I determine U.S. semester credit hours?
IFSA-Butler requires students to enroll in a full course load at the host institution. The number of courses you take depends on the credit value of the courses you select. Students receive 4 York credits equal 1 U.S. semester credit hour. For information on the credit weight, please consult the chart below.

Fall term
50 York credits = 12.5 U.S. semester credit hours

Full year
120 York credits = 30-32 U.S. semester credit hours

Spring two terms
80 York credits (40 per term) = 18- 20 U.S. semester credit hours

What if I cannot find a 5- or 10-York credit course?
Most classes at the University of York are worth 20 York credits or 40 York credits. You may have to search to find an appropriate 10 York credit class to complete your schedule. Many students take classes in the "Languages for All Programme" to fill the 5- or 10- credit gaps in the schedule. Keep in mind that there is a supplemental fee for the "Languages for All Programme" that will be your responsibility to pay.

Registration

What are the registration conditions?
You must take a full University of York course load as determined by IFSA-Butler. Credit will be awarded on a Butler University transcript based on a typical U.S. full course load. All courses are graded on an A-F scale, and there is no provision for pass/fail or auditing courses unless pass/fail is the only method of assessment for the course. You are not allowed to register for online, distance education or hybrid courses.

You should also be aware that you may be charged additional fees by your home institution or host university to take or process additional credits. Taking less than a full course load may jeopardize your student status and result in personal academic repercussions and/or loss of financial aid.

The course preference form is not a registration form; it is a guideline to let your host university know which courses you are interested in taking abroad. You should discuss your course selections with your academic advisor at your home institution and have several backup choices in mind. Neither you nor the university is bound by your selections, and you will not officially register for courses until you arrive on campus. Some departments provisionally enroll students in courses prior to arrival. If this applies to you, your program advisor will let you know after acceptance.

Exams

What do I need to know about exams?
Because of the differences in the academic systems, you will not know your exam schedule until after you arrive at your host university. Please refer to your program calendar to review the exam period for your host university. Your host university's policies do not permit you to reschedule any exams, request alternate assessments or arrange to have your exams proctored in the United States. If this occurs, IFSA-Butler cannot assist you in conducting an academic record query for the course in which you made this arrangement. You will need to complete and submit all academic work prior to departing the program.

Transcripts

How will my home university know what my classes were and what grades I received?
After you have returned to the U.S., your home university will receive a Butler University transcript with the credit you earned at the University of York. The Butler University transcript will report the equivalent U.S. semester credit hours and letter grades. We also will send an official transcript to your permanent address.

Housing

Housing Options

Undergraduates from overseas are typically housed in single study bedrooms in seven colleges on the Heslington and East Heslington campuses. Most accommodation is coed, but this varies by class year. Single-sex accommodation for undergraduates is available in Alcuin and James Colleges. Please note that University of York assigns housing; therefore, IFSA-Butler cannot guarantee that preferences will be met.

Each study bedroom contains a single bed, a desk with lamp and chair, bookshelves, hanging space for clothes, drawers and a washbasin in most bedrooms or en-suite facilities.

Students are required to provide their own bedding, linens, pillows, comforters and covers, sheets and towels. You will be able to purchase a set of university bedding and linen upon arrival at York.

Each kitchen usually has hotplates, an oven, a kettle and a refrigerator. Students are required to provide their own pots, pans, plates, silverware and cooking utensils.

Most colleges have Internet access points or computer labs regularly available for your use.

Meals

You do not pay in advance for meals at York. You may eat in any of the colleges on a pay-as-you-go basis. The college dining services provide a variety of food types, including vegetarian and international dishes.

Housing FAQs

Is my housing included in the program fee?
Yes. Your program fee includes accommodation at the university while classes are in session. You will be responsible for the cost of your meals (whether a meal plan or self-catered) and any commuting costs you may incur. Some university housing requires students to move out during winter and spring breaks. If you wish to remain in residence during the vacation period(s), you must notify the university housing office upon arrival to make necessary arrangements. Staying in residence during university breaks may incur additional costs not covered by the IFSA-Butler program fee.

When will I receive my housing assignment?
You will most likely receive your housing assignment one to two weeks before your departure. However, in some cases you may not receive your housing assignment until you arrive in England for orientation. Your program advisor will notify you of your housing assignment via e-mail when it is released by the university.

Please keep in mind that while IFSA-Butler guarantees housing, we cannot guarantee your preferences.

Do I have to pay a housing deposit?
Yes. IFSA-Butler requires a refundable housing deposit of $300 before going abroad. We will return this deposit to you after March 1 for fall programs or September 1 for spring and year programs, less any fines, damages or outstanding debts in your name.

Can I arrange my own housing?
Yes. IFSA-Butler recognizes that some students require independent housing for their time abroad. If you choose not to take advantage of our guaranteed housing, you may sign up for independent housing on the housing preference form. Once you've made this choice, we will not provide housing for you or bill you for the accommodation fee.

Please be advised that housing costs can be high abroad, and many times students living independently end up spending more money than students living in IFSA-Butler arranged housing. If you are hoping to save money by arranging housing on your own, please research your options early so you can compare costs. You must notify us of your intention to live in independent housing by December 1 for spring and semester 1 programs or by May 1 for fall and semester 2 programs. We are not able to accommodate independent housing requests after these dates.

Location Info

Living and Studying Abroad in York, England

About York
Population: 175,000
Location: Yorkshire, in northern England

City features

Ancient history complemented by a modern cultural scene
More than 2,000 years of history evident in walls that date to Roman times, fascinating architecture and York Minster, Northern Europe's largest Gothic cathedral

Pubs, cafes, tearooms, restaurants and a great pub music scene

Do more!

Explore the famous Yorkshire Moors and Brontë country
Take a train to London, two hours away
Travel to Edinburgh, a two-and-a-half-hour train trip
Go to the nearby east-coast ports to catch ferries for mainland Europe

Links
York Tourism
Yorkshire Moors
City of York.com
Yorkshire Visitor Centre
Visit Yorkshire
Yorkshire Pride

Dates & Fees

Program Dates

University of York dates for spring 2012 coming soon!
Click here to view our full England program calendars.

Program Fees

University of York fees for spring 2012 coming soon!
Click here to view a full list of England fees.
What's included in our England program fees
Expense calculator

Personal Cost Estimates

Personal cost estimates for spring 2012 coming soon!
Click here to view a full list of England personal cost estimates.
Expense calculator

Forms

To apply to the University of York program, use our easy online application.

Applicants to the University of York program must complete additional forms as part of the application process:

We must receive these forms before we can send your application to the University of York for an admissions decision. They can be sent to IFSA-Butler via email, fax or regular mail. Please submit these forms with the remainder of your program application.

If you have already started an application to the University of York program, you can track which forms IFSA-Butler has received by logging into the student portal.

Meet Your IFSA-Butler Team

IFSA-Butler has a dedicated team of staff who are here to help students prepare for their program in England:

alt Senior Program Advisor Laura Wallmanassists with the application process and is here to answer program, cultural, and academic questions before departure. Laura can be reached at the email link above or at 800-858-0229, ext. 4224. Laura studied abroad in both high school and college and has been with the Institute for Study Abroad for the past five years. She currently acts as a senior program advisor for English-speaking programs and focuses on advising students studying in the United Kingdom and Australia.

alt Student Accounts Coordinator Angelita Shaffer assists with the financial side of study abroad and processes payments and invoices. Angelita can be reached at the email link above or at 317-940-4221.

alt Student & Parent Services Manager Donnetta Spears is available to both students and parents for travel questions and information. Donnetta has worked with IFSA-Butler for 11 years, and she has traveled through parts of Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. As the mother of 4 college students (including one who studied abroad on an IFSA-Butler program), she has a deep understanding of the ins-and-outs of study abroad from a parent perspective. Donnetta can be reached at the email link above or at 317-940-4252.

Once abroad, our students are in the capable hands of our on-site office, including our resident directors. Click here to read more about Resident Directors Lynne Alvarez and Andrew Williams.

alt Upon return from your study abroad program, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs Rhonda Hinkle processes your Butler University transcript and assists with any academic record queries. Rhonda completed her undergraduate coursework at the University of Evansville and received her master's degree from Bowling Green State University. Currently she is working on her Doctorate in Adult, Community and Higher Education at Ball State University. For Rhonda, study abroad not only increased her awareness of the world around her but also ignited her passion for travel and education. Rhonda can be reached at the email link above or at 800-858-0229 ext. 4259.

Get Connected

Social Media

Connect with IFSA-Butler Students

If you really want to know what it's like to study abroad, connect with IFSA-Butler alumni and students who are currently abroad on an IFSA-Butler program. Check out the following:
Student Network
Student Blogs
Experiences Abroad Videos
For Students