INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION OFFICE

Study in England Programme - University of Birmingham

Programme Information|Director Information|Faculty Information| Location Information | Current Courses | Next Year's Courses | Eligibility | Costs | Deadlines & Dates | Orientation |Visa |Housing | What's Next? | Photos | Helpful Links

Apply now! -- for 2010-2011!

Programme Information
The Study in England Programme sponsored by UMD offers students a wonderful opportunity to enrich their college experience by spending the academic year abroad. Students will spend the academic year taking courses and living on the University of Birmingham campus. The university facilities - library, computer labs, recreational and social areas - are available to programme participants.

Students have many course options. Each term a minimum of five courses are offered by UMD faculty members who participate in the programme. Additionally, UMD hires several British faculty to offer additional courses in their areas of expertise and most take advantage of the British setting. These options allow students to complete UMD liberal education requirements, fulfill major/minor requirements and elective requirements. All courses are taken in the UMD Study in England Building on the Selly Oak Campus of the University of Birmingham.

Participants in this programme have a third option to take courses at the University of Birmingham alongside other British and International students.

The UMD Study in England Programme begins with an approximate departure date in-mid September. Programme classes meet Monday through Thursday beginning in early October. If students take a course at the University of Birmingham, Friday classes may be required. The group returns to the United States at the end of May.

More information may be viewed in the Study in England Programme Student Handbook. Students can also visit the current Study in England Programme's facebook page which can be accessed under the photos heading at the bottom of this page.

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Location Information
The Study in England Programme is located in Birmingham, England on the University of Birmingham Selly Oak Campus. Birmingham is England's second largest city and is located 110 miles Northwest of London. Birmingham has a population of approximately 1,006,500 and is a city and metropolitan bourough in the West Midlands. Birmingham has an International airport and is just a train or coach (bus) ride away from Stratford upon Avon (Shakespeare Country), Cardiff, Wales and London.

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UMD Study in England Programme 2010-2011 UMD Faculty:

Director: Robert Repinski, Department of Art & Design

Fall faculty: Alec Habig, Department of Physics; Maureen Tobin Stanley, Department of Spanish Language and Literature

Spring faculty: Carol Bock, Department of English; Melanie Shepard, Department of Social Work

Students enroll in 12-15 credits each semester. Courses are taught by UMD faculty on site, and British faculty hired by UMD. These options allow students to complete UMD liberal education requirements as well as to fulfill major/minor requirements and elective requirements. Courses are scheduled in an intensified four-day week, leaving three-day weekends available for field trips and independent travel.

Students will also have a third option of course offerings taking a course (module) at the University of Birmingham along side other British and International students. If students participate in a module at the University of Birmingham, they may be required to attend class on Fridays.

Please examine the listing below for specific courses available and there UMD equivalents.

Students are required to register for a minimum of two courses per semester taught by UMD faculty.

*Courses vary year to year depending on what UMD faculty members participate in the programme and what contract faculty are available to teach in Birmingham.

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UMD Study in England Programme 2009-2010 UMD Faculty:

Director: Dr. Judith Kritzmire, Department of Music

Fall faculty: John Arthur, Department of Sociology; Paul Cannan, Department of English

Spring faculty: Jennifer Jones, Department of Anthropology; Sue Damme, Department of Education.

Students enroll in 12-15 credits each semester. Courses are taught by UMD faculty on site, and British faculty hired by UMD. These options allow students to complete UMD liberal education requirements as well as to fulfill major/minor requirements and elective requirements. Courses are scheduled in an intensified four-day week, leaving three-day weekends available for field trips and independent travel.

Students will also have a third option of course offerings taking a course (module) at the University of Birmingham along side other British and International students. If students participate in a module at the University of Birmingham, they may be required to attend class on Fridays.

Please examine the listing below for specific courses available and there UMD equivalents.

Students are required to register for a minimum of two courses per semester taught by UMD faculty.

*Courses vary year to year depending on what UMD faculty members participate in the programme and what contract faculty are available to teach in Birmingham.

Back to 2009-2010 courses

Back to 2009-2010 courses

Back to 2009-2010 courses

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Eligibility
The UMD Study in England Programme admits UMD students and students from other institutions. All applicants must have:

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.4 at the time of application
• Completion of 24 college credits by the time of programme participation

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.4 while a Study in England Programme participant.

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Costs

The 2010-2011 Program fee will be determined early fall semester 2009.

The 2009-2010 Programme fee is $23,250 and is comparable to the cost of a full year at UMD which is estimated at $21,430. The Study in England programme fee of $23,250 includes:

• Application fee & deposits paid to UMD
• All tuition
• Housing and meal allowance during term time
• Academic field trips
• Local bus pass in Birmingham
• Round trip air transportation from Minneapolis to England
• Student Guild Fee
• International Student Identity Card
• International Health Insurance
• Administrative costs

Each student provides his/her own financial support for a passport, required UK student visa, textbooks, and food costs during the two one month semester breaks.

Students also provide financial support for optional field trips, independent travel, souvenirs and gifts and social activities.

View the total estimated cost for participating in the UMD Study in England here

Two non-refundable deposits will be billed to the student's account after accepted into the program.

Participants pay the Programme fee in two installments during the 2010-2011 academic year through their student account. Students may choose to utilize a payment plan.

Financial aid available to students attending UMD while they are on the Duluth campus would be available to students participating in the UMD Study in England Programme. Fluctuating currency exchange rates may increase or decrease the cost of your international experience. The University of Minnesota awards scholarships for University of Minnesota students studying abroad. An estimate of $84,000 is awarded yearly to UMD students participating in study abroad. Award amounts vary dependent on the location and length of study. Tuition Waivers such as the Best in Class Scholar can be applied to this programme.

Refund Policy for SIE
The student is contracting for an academic-year program and, as a general policy, will not be allowed to participate for only one semester. Should it become necessary for a student to leave the program during the year, she/he may receive a refund of $3,000 for each full semester not in attendance. There is no refund for a partial semester. For more information please view the International Education Office Cancellation and Refund Policy.

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Deadlines & Dates
The application deadline for the 2010-2011 program is March 15, 2010. Early application is strongly encouraged, as space is limited to 50 students. The programme will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis as long as the student meets the program eligibility. A wait list will be opened after the program fills. Eligible students are encouraged to apply even with a wait list as there is a possibility that some students choose to opt out of the programme after acceptance.

Study: 2010-2011 Academic Year
UMD Deadline to apply: March 15, 2010
Programme dates: September 2010 through May 2011

For more information on deadlines to apply, click here.

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Orientation
Students participating in the UMD Study in England Programme will be required to attend two orientations prior to departure and one orientation upon arrival in Birmingham. The orientation sessions are designed to provide students with important information about the programme and to prepare students for their year abroad.

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Visa

Steps to obtain a UK Tier 4 general student entry clearance visa June 2009

1. Read the guidelines and instructions for the application process.

2. Complete the online application, book your biometric data collection appointment and pay online via the Visa4UK website.

3. Print out all of the information provided to you online: visa application, biometric data collection form, application instructions. Here is an example of the instructions.

3. Attend your biometric data collection appointment and bring the required documents.

4. Send all of your materials to the British Consulate in Chicago. Students should submit a cover letter requesting the review of their application, passport, visa letter from UMD and all supporting documents required by the UK Border Agency. Students are encouraged to send the materials certified mail to receive a tracking number.

5. The British Consulate will send application status emails to the address provided in the online application and will overnight the passport and visa once reviewed and accepted.

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Housing
Students live in University of Birmingham on campus accommodation in apartments (flats). The student apartments are located in Vale Village, are less than one kilometer from the main campus, and a few kilometers from Birmingham city center. The student flats are about a 10 minute bus ride to the programme office or a 30 minute walk. The student apartments are housed in a relaxing area with its own lake and wildlife, Most apartments have five and six bedroom flats where students have their own lockable bedroom and share a kitchen, toilet, shower room and shared common space. All flats are fully furnished and offer high-speed ethernet internet connections. Participants in the programme are housed with American, British and International students.

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What's Next?
Before applying, it is a good idea to follow the steps under steps to studying abroad. The IEO web site also provides information on financing, health & safety and other important information to consider when choosing to study abroad. When ready to apply, the UMD study abroad application may be downloaded from the IEO web site or a hard copy can be picked up from the IEO office. Please complete the application with required accompanying materials (unofficial transcript, essay and non-refundable $100) and return to IEO.

For more information about the programme and application process, contact Lyndsey Andersen, Programme Coordinator at the UMD International Education Office (138 Kirby Plaza). She can be reached at (218) 726-6673, toll-free at (877) 755-4200, or via email at lmanders@d.umn.edu.

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Please view photos and web sites that have been created by and recommended by past Study in England Programme Participants.

Photos

• UMD Students in England 2009-2010 (facebook page)
• UMD Students in England 2008-2009 (facebook page)
• UMD Students in England 2007-2008
• UMD Students in England 2006-2007
• UMD Students in England 2005-2006
• UMD Students in England 2004-2005
• UMD Students in England 2003-2004
• Programme Photos

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Helpful Links for England and Birmingham

• Information Britain
• VisitBritain
• BBC
• Birmingham Assist
• University of Birmingham
• University of Birmingham Student Accommodation
• Course Equivalencies at University of Birmingham
• Best of the Web-England
• http://www.howtocallabroad.com/uk/
• UK Student Visa Information
• University of Birmingham Maps
• Estimated student living costs at the University of Birmingham

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