Students studying or working abroad for a full academic year pay a reduced tuition fee to the University of York. Students who do not spend a full year abroad continue to pay their usual tuition fee amount to the University of York. For the latest information on tuition fees, please visit the central fees and funding webpage for undergraduates.

Students studying abroad on credit-replacing exchange or additional year abroad will continue to pay this reduced tuition fee to the University of York and not to the host university.

If you pay a reduced tuition fee to the University of York and normally receive the York Bursary, you will no longer be eligible for the York Bursary while you're abroad. If you continue to pay full tuition fees to the University of York and receive a York Bursary, you will continue to be eligible for this while you're abroad.  

Insurance is there to cover financial loss, in this case due to medical emergencies or loss/theft of personal belongings. The University provides optional free travel insurance cover for students who travel on University business or travel that is connected to study.

Please note that some partner universities, particularly in the USA, may require you to purchase additional cover. Please check the information that they provide for more details.

You may also wish to purchase alternative/additional cover to meet your own requirements.

Visa costs will vary depending on your destination.  It may cost more if you apply late and have to use a fast-track or expedited route (where these are available).  As well as the costs of the visa itself, there may be additional costs, e.g. to obtain supporting evidence such as a medical certificate, to have documents translated, or for expenses related to required appointments.  For some destinations you may need to show that you have a certain amount of money in your bank account when applying for your visa (often referred to as proof of finance) so it is important to research this for your chosen destination.

Research travel costs early on and include them in your budget for the year. Factor the cost of return travel to your host country and consider whether you will want to visit home during the holidays. A year abroad is a fantastic opportunity to explore a new region of the world, so also think about how you might fund travelling and excursions before, during and after your period abroad.  You may also want to budget for, or ensure you have a way to pay for, an unexpected trip home in case of emergency. We also suggest that when you book your ticket for the year abroad you book a flexible return ticket for the end of your time abroad.

Living costs vary from destination to destination and it is important to have an idea of the cost of everyday items. You will need to budget carefully to cover all your living costs, which include accommodation, clothes, transport, books, food and entertainment. 

You should be able to gain information on the cost of living from other students who have previously undertaken the year abroad and through travel websites such as TripAdvisor, Numbeo or Expatistan.  You may also receive useful information provided by your host university.

1. Allow plenty of time

A strong application requires research, drafting and redrafting.  A supporting reference may also be required. Look up the deadlines to ensure that you give yourself the chance to submit a strong application and your referee the time to complete the reference ahead of the deadline. That way any technical hitches such as internet connections and server timeouts won’t be a problem!

2. Apply for the right funding

Draft a budget so that you have a clear idea of the costs and therefore how much funding you are going to need.  Do you need funding for programme costs, living expenses, special equipment or travel costs? Check if the funding has any restrictions, such as minimum duration of time abroad or a date by which the funding must be used. Read the terms and conditions carefully.  What is the decision date for funding allocations and will you receive the funding in time to help with any upfront costs?

3. Apply for the right level of funding

You may only have one chance to apply. Some funds, such as the York Future Scholarship,  won’t automatically allocate you the amount that you need if you apply for less or more than evidenced in your budget or required for your programme. Read all the information provided, including any eligibility criteria and guidance about how to apply.

4. Read the questions carefully and answer all of them

Read each question carefully and highlight the key words to make sure that you have fully understood what you are being asked. Each question has been carefully chosen to help the assessors to make a decision about your application.  If you miss out a question or answer the questions you wish they had asked then you are immediately at a disadvantage compared to applicants who have answered all of the questions accurately and fully.

5. Be specific about your programme and the impact of the funding

Outline your research, project or course.  Explain your motivations for choosing the course or programme.  Explain the difference that it will make to you and your future studies and career.  Detail the barriers that you face and how the funding will help you to overcome them.  Funding bodies require evidence of outcomes and impact so funding is likely to go to those who can articulate this.

6. Maximise your answers by using the full word or character limit

If you write a one sentence answer when the word limit is 500 words then your application will not be as strong as someone who has used the full word limit. A large word limit indicates that the assessors would like you to go into detail with your answer.  This is an opportunity for you to persuade your audience that you are the right person for them to choose.  Take full advantage of that opportunity!

7. Be clear and concise

Avoid waffling and communicate your point in as few words as possible. Make it easy for your audience to find the information they need to justify approving your application.  Consider using subheadings and bullet points.  Avoid unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, such as ‘very’ and ‘really’.  Check for unnecessary repetition.

8. Draft your answers in a separate document first

Once you have familiarised yourself with the questions on the application form and any word or character limits, draft your answers elsewhere first.  This will allow you to polish your application first using the tips below.  It will also prevent you accidentally submitting your application too soon as it is not usually possible to change your application once it has been submitted!

9. Get some feedback

Ask someone whose judgement you trust, such as a friend, family member, your Academic Tutor or Departmental International Officer, to read through your application and give you some constructive feedback.  Ask as many people as possible - the more the better!

10. Make final checks

Once you are happy with the content of your application, make time to proofread it.  Read it out loud to check that it makes sense. Run a spelling and grammar check but don’t rely on that alone.  Read it through yourself to check for missing words, typos, spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.  Find a friend or family member to give it a final proofread as well.