Students on some courses can apply to go abroad on a Substitute placement. Not all students are eligible. For example, those on degree programmes that are accredited by an external body such as the Law Society or British Psychological Society cannot apply. Students must be in their their first year to apply to go abroad on this programme because you they will spend a semester, or all, of their second year studying at one of our partner universities abroad instead of at Bangor.
Students must pass all of their assessments and exams at the host university abroad to be able to transfer the equivalent of 60 Bangor credits for a semester, or 120 Bangor credits for a full year, back to Bangor to substitute your second-year credits. We can only send students to partner universities that offer modules that are similar enough to the modules that they would have taken at Bangor in second year, and this significantly limits where students can go. In some cases, none of our partner universities have adequate module choices for a student to be able to apply to do a substitute placement.
Studying in an unfamiliar academic system abroad, being subject to harsher marking criteria in some destinations and often having a limited choice of modules can make doing a substitute placement a risky option, so students will need speak to the International Exchanges Office and their academic school's Study Abroad Coordinator to discuss their options and determine whether it is an opportunity that benefits them academically. We also advise that students discuss with their personal tutor before applying. Students will need to be academically strong, and to have full support from their academic school, to be selected for a substitute placement.
Please note that students will not have the 'with International Experience' tag added to the title of their degree if they do a substitute placement. Students must do the International Experience Year (Study or Work) to have this.
Students on this programme may be eligible to apply for grant funding* for their placement abroad.
*Making an application for grant funding does not guarantee funding is available or will be awarded. (Eligibility and application criteria apply)
Placements are organised by the students’ academic School. Undergraduate students studying a degree with work placement should contact their academic School Placement Officer to discuss the arrangements for their placement.
Students on this programme may be eligible to apply for grant funding* for their placement abroad.
*Making an application for grant funding does not guarantee funding is available or will be awarded. (Eligibility and application criteria apply)
What to consider when planning to volunteer abroad:
- It is important to think about your reasons for wanting to undertake a voluntary role abroad. Volunteers who succeed and will benefit most will be the ones who have a positive mindset that they will be learning from the community rather than helping them.
- Try to find a project that will let you build on your existing skills. In this way you are likely to be more useful to the project and the communities supported by the project.
- Consider how you will apply your learning upon your return to your home country. If you are volunteering for a cause, you are particularly passionate about, think about how you will further help this cause on your return.
Choosing an organisation to volunteer with:
How can you tell if an organisation you are working with is ethically sound and making a positive impact in the community it works in? How can you ensure that you will be taken care of and that any money you pay to the project will be put to a good cause? These points will help you when considering an organisation to volunteer abroad with:
- Representation: look for emphasis on partnerships, collaboration, and the difference that the project makes.
- Community ownership: Who founded the project? Is it responding to a locally defined need?
- Sustainability: Are volunteers adding value to an existing structure? What happens to the project when the volunteers go home?
- Displacement and cost of volunteers: Is the volunteer the best person to fill the role or could the job be done by a local person? Some projects can disrupt local markets which can have a negative impact on the community’s development potential.
- Impact: The positive impact on the local community is what is important and not about the positive impact on volunteers.
- Overall mission and vision: Do they have a proven track record? They should be able to provide you with an impact report based on a monitoring/evaluation framework designed to measure the impact.
- Volunteer recruitment: Avoid projects which have no application process. Application processes reflect how much the organisation cares about the community the project is a part of.
- Volunteer support and training: Will you get any in depth training before you go? What in-country support will you have? Will you be debriefed on your return to your home country? Do they provide work insurance, tools, uniform, accommodation, food (if in a remote area), travel to and from work? These are all very important things to find out.
- Finances: Organisations should be transparent with their finances. Ask for a breakdown of what your money will go towards should you be paying money or arrangement fees to take part in the project.
Organisations should be happy to answer any questions you have relating to the above if you can’t find the information on their promotional channels
If you would only like to spend a short time abroad, you can apply to take part in an International Summer School at one of our partner universities. These are cultural programmes which last between 2 and 6 weeks. There are currently three International Summer Schools to choose from and these are detailed below. The programme and accommodation fees for all three are waived for Bangor students.
Dankook University (mid-June to early August)
Dankook University offers a three-week cultural and academic experience which introduces you to a range of Korean features including language, history and tradition through classes, group activities and field trips. Accommodation is free and you will have the cost of your flight reimbursed up to a maximum of US$1,000 if you are also accepted on to Dankook's 'English Village' programme, where you'll teach English to Korean students for three weeks before the start of the cultural programme.
Pukyong National University (July)
PKNU offers a three-week Korean language and cultural programme with a range of classes, group activities and field trips. Accommodation is free but you must pay for your own flights.
Sydney Institute of Language and Commerce, Shanghai University (July)
Shanghai University's SILC Summer School is a two-week programme which focuses on the economic and business aspects of China, but also includes cultural activities and classes together with Chinese student volunteers. Shared accommodation (two people) will be free, but you must pay for your own flights. Do not be put off this option if you are not a Business student here at Bangor. Plenty of students from other subject areas have taken part.
Places at these Summer schools are limited and not available every year.
Placements are organised by the students’ academic School. Undergraduate students studying a degree with work placement should contact their academic School Placement Officer to discuss the arrangements for their placement.
Students on this programme may be eligible to apply for grant funding* for their placement abroad.
*Making an application for grant funding does not guarantee funding is available or will be awarded. (Eligibility and application criteria apply)
- Working placement module (paid or unpaid work outside the UK) as part of your degree
- Working abroad during vacations (paid or unpaid)
- Voluntary work abroad during vacations
- Attending summer schools not necessarily part of your degree at an overseas University, involving taught classes, assessment, and culture activities.
To be eligible to apply for grant funding all placements must:
- be between 4 – weeks to 4 months and unpaid.
*Making an application for grant funding does not guarantee funding is available or will be awarded. (Eligibility and application criteria apply)