Find out when and how to apply to study abroad.
Eligibility
To be eligible for studying abroad, you must have achieved 50% in year 1 of your studies and maintain a good academic standard in year 2. Some of our partner universities expect higher grades. The requirement is 60% for a semester abroad.
If you do not achieve 50% in year 1, you will be transferred to or continue on the 3-year degree title (after any resit opportunity), without the ‘with a study abroad year’ suffix to the degree title.
If you fail a module in year 2, you will usually be given a resit in the resit assessment period. You should plan to take the resit before you start your study abroad year. Written submissions or online exams can be submitted early or remotely. If the resit assessment is an in-person exam scheduled after the start of your study abroad year, the exam board will consider allowing you to trail this into the resit assessment period of your study abroad year (usually a maximum of 30 credits may be trailed). Contact your School Office to discuss this further.
The following subject areas are not eligible for a semester abroad:
- any Science subject
- Law
- Engineering and Informatics
- Maths
- Physics
- Primary and Early Years
- Psychology
- Media Production
- Social Work.
American Studies
If you are an American Studies student (single and joint-honours) or Law with American Studies, you will spend your third year at a US or Canadian university. Find out more.
When to apply
For a year abroad, you will apply during the first semester of your second year (in order to study abroad during the third year of your studies).
For a term abroad, you will apply during the first semester of your first year, in order to spend a semester abroad during your second year (Autumn or Spring).
Application deadline: Wednesday 25 November 2026.
How to apply
You'll apply for a place through the Sussex Abroad team, usually in the first term of the year before you’re planning to go abroad.
First, register your interest for a study abroad option by emailing outbound.sussexabroad@sussex.ac.uk. Include your study abroad option in the subject line (voluntary year abroad, semester abroad). After this, we'll send you a link to the digital application form.
The institutions you can apply to are listed along with their chance of placement based on past allocation trends. These range from ‘Very competitive’ to ‘Good’. There is no difference in the standard of education between any of the categories.
Choose one university that has a ‘very competitive’ chance of placement and one ‘Competitive’. These must be listed as your 1st and 2nd choice. You should also consider institutions with a ‘fair’ and ‘good’ chance of placement, giving you the best chance to be allocated your university of choice.
You should be prepared to study at any of the universities listed in your application.
Summer schools
Studying abroad at a summer school will have a different application process depending on the programme. Find out about application details for individual summer schools.
Application form
On the digital application form, you can list up to six universities and declare whether you require any adjustments. If you are applying for a semester abroad, you will also need to complete a tentative study plan as part of the online application. Our team can help you with the form when you are ready to apply. To give yourself the best chance of being offered a place, we recommend listing as many suitable options as possible.
If you are studying abroad through ISEP Exchange, you will need to list 6 universities from the ISEP Program Finder. Find out more.
Tips for a successful application
- Start researching regions and institutions early.
- Explain what the experience will bring to you both personally and academically.
- Allow time to get signatures from academics.
- Research courses and visa requirements to make sure the universities you have chosen are suitable.
- Make sure your application is fully completed before submitting it on time.
Things to consider
Submitting an application form does not guarantee you a place to study abroad at one of our partner universities. Places at each partner university are always very limited.
Decisions are not based on a first-come-first-served basis. All applications are individually reviewed. Allocations are based on the student's suitability to that university and the quality of the application received.
Allocations to certain popular institutions can be fiercely competitive. To increase your chances of studying abroad, list as many universities as your application allows. Make sure you’d be happy to study at any university you list. Find out each institution’s category by region.
In some instances, we may arrange an informal interview before an allocation decision has been made.
Outcome of your application
The outcome of your application will be communicated to you through your Sussex email address. We will aim to let students know in early January.
If your application is successful, you will be allocated to one of the universities you listed on your application forms. At that point, we cannot re-allocate students to another university.
If your application is successful
Once your application has been agreed, your School will transfer you onto the 4-year degree course title that includes the suffix ‘with a study abroad year’. This will normally be during semester 2 of year 2.
Application forms will not be shared with the partner university. Successful candidates will be nominated to their host universities and contacted by them to proceed with any application or registration process. Final acceptance to study abroad rests with the partner university, although rejections at that stage are very rare.
We will arrange preparation talks about the next stage of your studies abroad (including visas, housing, health and safety).
If your application is not successful
Applications may be unsuccessful for several reasons, including:
- oversubscription to the most popular institutions, with selection and allocations being very competitive
- your academic performance not being sufficiently competitive
- the institution not being suitable for your degree or not offering enough appropriate modules.
Selection is based primarily on your academic performance. We will also consider whether each institution is academically suitable for your degree.
We understand that an unsuccessful application can be disappointing. Unfortunately, we cannot offer a place to every student who applies. We consider all applications carefully and apply the selection criteria fairly and consistently.
If places remain at other partner universities that may be suitable for you, we will let you know.
If you still have queries, please contact the Sussex Abroad team.