Exchange – BA Arts (DN520)

As a BA Arts student, you have the opportunity to apply for exchange for an academic year. Once accepted for an exchange place, you will be switched from the three-year BA Arts Programme to the four-year BA Arts International Programme. You will then go on exchange at Stage 3 for the academic year and return to UCD to complete Stage 4. It is not possible for BA Arts students to go on exchange for a trimester.

You can apply to go on exchange outside of Europe or within Europe. A list of partner universities outside of Europe for students in the College of Arts & Humanities can be found here.

A list of partner universities within Europe for students in the College of Arts & Humanities can be found here. It is worth noting that many European partners are subject specific and you need to apply through one of the Schools within which you are studying. For example, if you are studying English and History, and you go on exchange to a School of History exchange partner, you will be concentrating on History modules while on exchange.

Social Sciences Subjects

If you are studying a major which falls under Social Sciences, a list of exchange partners for Schools in Social Sciences can be found here.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible to go on exchange, students should note the following: 

• Students must  be in Stage 3 when they are on exchange which means they must have completed a minimum of 110 credits at Stage One and at Stage Two in order to go on exchange.
• Only students who are in Stage Two at the time of application are eligible to apply for exchange.
• Students must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.8 at Stage 1 and Stage 2 in order to participate in an exchange programme. Please note that certain partner universities may have higher GPA criteria.

Application

If you are currently in Stage 2 of the BA Arts Programme, you can apply through your UCD SIS Web account for an exchange place at one of UCD’s partner universities in Europe or outside of Europe for an academic year at Stage 3. UCD Global will consider your application and will notify your Programme Manager of where you have been nominated to go on exchange.

Information on how to apply, eligibility and deadlines can be found here.

Courses

• The exchange year (Stage 3) of the BA Arts International Programme is GPA neutral and does not contribute towards a student’s final degree GPA.
• Students are asked to take 60 ECTS credits (or equivalent at a non-EU partner) while on exchange for the academic year and are required to pass a minimum of 45 credits (or equivalent at a non-EU partner) in order to pass the year.abroad. You will need to get approval for the courses you take on exchange from your School’s Exchange Coordinator.

Not all partner universities offer classes through English. If you do not speak the language of the country the university is in, it is your responsibility to check that sufficient classes are offered through English. Before applying for exchange, you can use this guide on the UCD Global website as a resource, as well as checking the course catalogue of the host university, to see if any classes are offered through English.

Registering with UCD while on exchange

When you go on exchange, you register with UCD for the academic year. You will be registered to 60 Study Abroad credits. You will pay whatever tuition fees you pay to UCD (for most students this is the student contribution fee and Student Centre Levy) and no tuition fees to the host university. 

Further Information

The UCD Global website has detailed information on how to apply for exchange, partner universities and practical information.

UCD Global runs a series of talks about exchange opportunities during the autumn trimester. You will be emailed a schedule of their talks and it will also be available on their website.

For further information regarding courses and credits while on exchange on the BA Arts Programme, please contact: outgoing.artshumanities@ucd.ieUniversity College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland T: +353 1 716 7777