The year abroad, in the UK at least, is generally taken on your third year of university. You don’t need to be a Languages student to apply - most courses offer a study exchange abroad or give their students the possibility to get a placement. All you need to do is speak to your International Office, at your home university, and see if you can spend some time away. It might be for a semester, it might be for the whole academic year - it’s up to you!Fees and grants also help make it accessible to all students, from all sorts of backgrounds.

By studying, you’ll get the chance to rub shoulders with international academics. If you’re working, you’ll improve your skills and make yourself appealing to business, not just in the UK but across the globe. If you’re teaching, you’ll get a feel of what it’s like to see things from the other side and you might decide to go into it once you’ve graduated. If you’re volunteering, you’re giving back to the community, whilst living abroad.