Politics
International Exchange
Politics has a long-standing and active programme of International Exchange. Each year, we welcome dozens of students from countries around the world who come to take courses at Glasgow. At the same time, Politics has regular exchange programmes for the Junior year of Honours with universities around the world, including many in the United States, Australia and Canada.
This section contains information for both types of students.
- If you are a student wishing to come to Glasgow from an overseas university, read the information incoming students.
- If you are a Glasgow undergraduate in your first or second year and thinking of spending a year abroad as a Politics Single or Joint Honours student, read the information for outgoing students.
International Exchange Coordinator: Mo Hume
Erasmus Exchange Coordinator: Naomi Head
For students coming to study at the University of Glasgow
Each year, Politics teaches dozens of students from countries around the world. We are happy to have you in our Honours classes.
Please bear in mind that places in Honours courses are limited and are allocated in conjunction with the requests from our home students. Exchange students are admitted to these advanced undergraduate courses based on their academic background in the social sciences.
In order to sit a Politics course above Level 1a or 1b, you must be cleared to enter the course by the subject. If you put down your preferences when you applied for the exchange programme to Glasgow, you probably were advised of your course admission at that time. If you did not receive permission previously, or if you are not sure, please email the Exchange Coordinator Naomi Head to request admission to a Politics course.
For a full list of Politics Honours courses, see the Online Course Catalogue. Please note that Honours courses are advanced – roughly equivalent to first-year graduate courses in the United States. Please also note that not all courses run in every session.
If you do wish to take an Honours course in Politics, you must pre-enrol. There will be a special session for enrolment, where general information about studying in the department and more specific information on the Honours Programme will be offered. All exchange students taking Honours courses are required to attend this session. Exchange students taking Level 1 or Level 2 Politics are not required to attend, but are welcome.
We admit most exchange students in our School to Level 1a or 1b Politics, as long as there is space – you are very welcome. The Exchanges Coordinator needs to pre-approve students for Level 2 study; virtually all students are eligible to sit Level 1 courses. Click here for more information on Level 1 and Level 2 courses.
Prior to the start of the semester, there will be special open office hours for all exchange students to ‘drop in’ and chat with the exchanges co-ordinator (date to be confirmed).
For Glasgow students wanting to study abroad
Politics has regular exchange programmes for the Junior year of Honours with universities around the world, including many in the United States, Australia and Canada. Virtually all of these work on a standard exchange basis – you pay your fees here at Glasgowand there is no additional tuition charge. Students are, however, responsible for their own travel expenses and living costs while abroad (with the exception of some mobility grants for study in Europe, but these are rather limited).
In the 2010-11 session, Politics had 23 Junior Honours students studying abroad everywhere from Sweden to California to Canada to Australia. They were both joint and single Honours students. We are slightly more limited in where students can fulfil requirements for two subjects, but we have successfully sent students to dozens of places.
Planning for and applying to study abroad is a two-step process
First, explore the opportunities on the University's International Office website. Then make sure Politics (and your joint subject if appropriate) can take credits from your chosen university toward your Honours programme. For Politics check with the International Exchange Coordinator Mo Hume or the Erasmus Exchange Coordinator Naomi Head. You will then apply via the University exchanges system – so far, we have an excellent success rate!
All students entering honours Politics are eligible to study abroad during their junior honours year. This can be for one semester or the whole year. More information is available from the International Office and they can answer any of your questions about the practical aspects of studying abroad.
In addition, Politics has specific arrangements under the Erasmus Programme with the following institutions in Europe. With one or two exceptions these do not require knowledge of a foreign language (although you will have the opportunity of studying in a foreign language if you have a high enough level of fluency). The International Office website will also provide more general information about Erasmus.
- Denmark (Copenhagen): Kobenhavns Universitet
note: requires taking courses at the postgraduate level, but this has not been found to be a problem - France (Paris): Sciences Po
- Germany (Mainz): Johannes-Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz
note: requires fluent German speaker since not enough courses are offered in English - Sweden (Stockholm): Stockholms Universitet
note: likely requires going for one semester only - Geneva: University of Geneva
note: courses in French and English so may require fluent French - Azerbaijan (Baku): Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
note: 1 semester only, courses offered in English
Deadlines
The deadline for applications to study in California, Australia or New Zealand is 15 January. Applications must be in the International Office by then. This means you have to have your letters of reference, the signature of the Exchanges coordinator on your form, and everything else ready to go by then. This, in turn, means that you should arrange all of this BEFORE winter break to ensure that you give your referees time to write their letters and so that you are not trying to get the signature at the very last minute in the very busy time at the beginning of a new term.
The deadline for ALL other study abroad destinations, including Erasmus, is February 15. Erasmus applications have a separate application process and the application form is available from the Politics Coordinator, Naomi Head.
Please remember that as part of the application procedure you must consult with the Exchanges Coordinator. This includes providing her with lists of courses you would like to take (choose at least enough courses to equate to the number of courses/credits students at the exchange institution need to take to graduate within the normal timeframe of the institution). These courses should be at honours level (i.e. they cannot be introductory courses) and they must not overlap substantially with Level 1 and Level 2 Politics courses.
When you provide the list of potential courses, you should also provide links to the course descriptions so they can be checked out (this should be done BEFORE you meet with the Exchanges Coordinator - do not expect to come to the meeting to get the form signed without providing the relevant information beforehand).
Please do not wait until the last minute to start the process. We might not be able to sign your form if you wait too long to get in contact.
International Exchange Coordinator: Mo Hume
Erasmus Exchange Coordinator: Naomi Head