Summer opportunities

The Global Office is excited to offer a number of summer study programmes with our partner universities. Opportunities in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland will be supported by funding from the UK Government’s Turing mobility scheme and opportunities in Taiwan are supported by funding from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. We also support students to participate in the International University for Intercultural Leadership in Turkey.

Opportunities in Europe 

What will I study?

We are offering students Turing mobility grants to attend summer opportunities offered by our partner universities in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. You can choose from a range of French, German or Spanish language courses.

Where can I go?

Funding is available for the following courses:

How can I apply?

Please complete the Summer Opportunities Application Form 2024 (Word, 84 KB) and return it to studyabroad@st-andrews.ac.uk by 15 May. 

If your application is successful, you must complete the partner application form and pay the course fees. 

Who can apply?

This programme is only open to undergraduate students who are registered at St Andrews. Students due to graduate in June 2024 are not eligible for this programme.

How will the summer opportunity be recognised?

Students will receive an end-of-course certificate or transcript from the partner university. Usually, the partner university will assess your academic performance and offer a certain number of credits according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). ECTS is a credit system based on student workload. One credit point is deemed to be the equivalent of 25-30 learning hours, including lectures, seminars and independent study. Many of our partners will not issue certificates or transcripts to students who are frequently absent from the classroom hours.

Please note that you will not receive academic credit at St Andrews for summer opportunities. The credits and grades scored will not be converted into your St Andrews degree. You will receive recognition of this external placement on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) at graduation.

These summer opportunities are intended to allow students more time in a suitable language environment or to explore subjects in their location. Students wishing to receive academic credit at St Andrews for studying abroad should apply for a Study Abroad placement. All of the universities above are also Study Abroad partners of St Andrews.

What funding is available?

Successful applicants will receive a Turing mobility grant from the University of St Andrews. These grants are only tenable for placements of four weeks or more. You must complete the full duration of the summer opportunity and receive a certificate of attendance or transcript from the partner university.

Turing mobility grant rates are published online. Additional financial support is available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students who are disabled or have special educational needs. Please note that these criteria are set by the Turing scheme.

A limited number of University scholarships are available for summer travel. If you are awarded other scholarships alongside the Turing grant, these cannot be greater than £1500.

How much will it cost?

You must pay the partner university fees in order to participate in the programme. The fees are listed on each partner webpage. The Turing funding does not cover all of the costs associated with the programme.

Other costs to consider include:

  • Transport (round trip).
  • Accommodation.
  • Other living expenses, e.g., local transport, food, phone, internet.
  • Health and liability insurance (if you need this).
  • Visa costs (depending on nationality).
  • Visa application requirements, such as travel to appointments.

Successful applicants who register their travel will be covered by the University of St Andrews travel insurance policy.

What is the St Andrews panel looking for in my application for funding?

We are looking for motivated students who will be good ambassadors for St Andrews. The panel does not consider academic grades. We judge application forms on three criteria:

  • Academic and/or career motivation
  • Extracurricular activities and prior travel experience
  • Presentation of the application.

Is accommodation available?

The summer opportunities offer some accommodation, which may be limited. You should sign up for these as soon as possible. St Andrews cannot guarantee accommodation at partner institutions.

Who can apply?

This programme is only open to undergraduate students who are registered at St Andrews. As per Padua’s requirements, you must have completed one year of undergraduate study. Students due to graduate in June 2024 are not eligible for this programme.

 

International University for Intercultural Leadership

We have been offered one place at the International University for Intercultural Leadership (IUIL) between 15-27 July 2024. The theme of this year’s programme is “Inclusive Sustainability: Building climate resilience and promoting women empowerment and social justice.”

This opportunity is open to:

  • Undergraduates who will be studying Honours level modules in 2024-2025.
  • Postgraduate taught students who will be registered throughout July 2024.
  • Students who will not be taking exams in August 2024.

The International University for Intercultural Leadership is under the patronage of UNESCO and organised by the NGO Project Aladdin. This year’s programme will start in Istanbul and then move to Giresun, Turkey. Students will explore the social aspects of sustainable development, with a particular focus on climate resilience and the crucial role of women in local communities. They will examine how technological innovations and sustainable business practices can foster a more inclusive and equitable future. UNESCO will organize a workshop to introduce the students to its  “Toolkit for Intercultural Dialogue.” Students will also discover Turkey's rich multicultural heritage. Please read the Brochure IUIL 2024 (PDF, 2,285 KB) for further details, and experiences from previous attendees on Global Office blog.

IUIL students are expected to work on a group research project, which will be submitted in October 2024.

The selected student will receive accommodation, tuition, meals, cultural events, and field trips from the organisers. The Global Office will provide the selected student with a £600 stipend. If selected, you will need to cover your travel expenses to/from Istanbul; any visa costs and any personal expenses.

The deadline for applications is 0900 on Monday 3 June 2024. The selection panel is comprised of professional services staff relevant to the IUIL theme. You must complete the attached IUIL Application Form (Word, 118 KB) and email it by the deadline. If selected, you must provide a covering letter and CV by Friday 7 June.