Year Abroad

As a student in the School of Modern Languages at Leicester you will spend the third year of your studies abroad. You have the choice to spend the year either studying or teaching or on an approved work placement of your own choice. For some, there is also the opportunity to combine two of these options, and the majority of students split their time between two countries.

The Year Abroad prepares you for your final year of studies in several important ways. Daily use of the spoken language enables you to increase your fluency and to build upon the linguistic proficiency that you have gained in the first two years of your study. The time spent abroad also increases your knowledge and understanding of the cultures and societies of the countries in which you are living and working.

What can I do on my Year Abroad?

Studying at a university

If you choose to spend the whole year studying, then you will probably split your time between two different university placements. Students who take up an Erasmus exchange are awarded a grant to help with living expenses.

• See our Erasmus Partner Universities

Working as a Teaching Assistant

You can apply through the British Council for a placement working as a Language Teaching Assistant. Placements are available in France, Quebec, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Latin America. Teaching Assistantships normally last a whole academic year.

There are also a number of Comenius Teaching Assistantships organized through the British Council which offer one- and two-semester placements. Priority is given to people with a background in teacher training or an interest in teaching.

Organising your own work placement

You can also spend your year abroad on a work placement, as long as this meets the approval of the School.

British Council website - Language Teaching Assistant information.
Erasmus exchange website
Year Abroad Portfolio