Guidelines

If you would like to write any of the following pieces for us (to go on the site and add to your portfolio), please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to confirm, and we can ensure there's no doubling up. Please ensure that you (and/or the interviewee) include the following information: name, university, degree course, what you're doing on the year abroad and where. With regard to the length of your article and the tone of writing, please have a look around the site at other pieces to get an idea of our style (we love top ten lists, subtitles to divide up your writing and useful links to places or sites you mention) and please try to send in the article within three weeks of signing up for it.

We're also REALLY keen on video submissions!

Interviews and case studies

• A day (or week) in the life - written in first or third person, we're looking for Erasmus students, Language Assistants, and students working or volunteering on their year abroad to tell future students a bit more about what a day or week involves. Divided into days of the week or times of day, we're looking for articles that give an insight into your year abroad lifestyle. From deadlines and responsibilities to adventures and nights out, with as many anecdotes and useful tips as possible.

 

• My year abroad in 5 photographs - can you sum up all aspects of your year abroad in just 5 photos? Please have a go!

 

• A year abroad with a child - we've had several enquiries about whether or not this is possible, and if there is funding available to support the child abroad. Have you had any experience with this? Could you help us research an article about the whole process involved?

 

• A year abroad as a married couple - do you know someone who got married at university? It's tricky to work out if you should still take a year abroad as part of your course, but it could be an incredible opportunity - especially if you partner is considering moving abroad as well! We're looking for an interview with someone who's been (or going!) through this.

 

• Parents - we're after an article you think might have 1) brought your parents round faster to the idea of your year abroad, 2) made them feel happier while you were away or 3) enticed them to come and visit you and treat you for a weekend or two. Interviews would be great too, along the lines of this one.

Mole Diaries

• The Mole Diaries - we're on the hunt for in-depth insider reviews for our Mole Diaries section - more specifically, we're particularly looking for Moles in: Amsterdam, Athens, Bologna, Geneva, Genoa, Hannover,  Helsinki, Hong Kong, Krakow, Lausanne, Lisbon, Malaga, Marseille, Oslo, Padua, Singapore, Tokyo, Venice and anywhere else in the US, Malaysia, Latin America, Canada, Europe, Australia, NZ and the Middle East, but please do consider writing a Mole Diary for us wherever you've been! Here's how...

Features

• An English-Speaking Year Abroad - With options as widely stretched as New Zealand, Maastricht and the US, where is your top year abroad destination for a student without language skills, and how do your options stack up?

• Class of 2014 - As a current year abroad student, what music have you listened to all year? Which celebrities have constantly appeared in your paper? Which new styles and fashions have popped up while you were abroad? We'd love to get a writer for each country, so please spread the word and get in touch if you'd like to help us!

 

• Dream Work Placement - Have you got an envy-inducing job on your year abroad? Are you doing something a bit out of the ordinary? Please write for us about how you found your placement, what you're up to there, and any advice you have for other students!

 

• East Asia -v- the USA - Which would you pick, and why? How do they compare?!

• Joint honours? How to improve your first destination language after you get back from your second destination.

 

• Au Pairing - Have you tried it? What's involved, and have you got any advice about how to make the most of the experience?

 

• Lost in Translation - this is our Arts, Culture and Language section, we're after articles about your favourite foreign festivals you've been to, funny videos you've seen and inspiring events you have lined up.

 

• Does immersion in a foreign language give you a speech impediment? (Just a thought really - it definitely affected our Founder, as Florentines have lispy t's, h-y c's (hoha hola) and w-like v's which she started to bring into her English!)