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Popular pages: Undergraduate Postgraduate PhD Accommodation Research International students

Alternatively use our A-Z index.

What opportunities are available?

Our global opportunities offer different pathways for students to study, work or volunteer abroad, gaining invaluable life and academic experiences.

Whether you're looking to spend a semester or full year abroad, or join one of our exciting summer programmes, we have a global opportunity for you. This is a chance for you to be fully immersed in new cultures, graduate with an excellent degree and boost your employability.

You can use our handy search tool to find the perfect programme and institution for you. Please find a general overview of the programmes on offer below:

Semester abroad

How does it fit into my degree?

The programme duration is one semester, and the programme is designed to enhance your academic experience whilst at university whilst not adding any time on to your degree.

The grades you receive will be converted and included in your final degree classification, and although it will not be included in your degree title, it will be recognised on your HEAR.

If you don't pass the semester abroad you will need to take resits to make up the credits you didn’t pass (this may be at your host university).

When would I go?

You can only apply for a semester abroad in year one of your degree. If your application is successful, then when you would go depends on your degree:

  • If you're on a three year degree programme or a four year degree programme that includes a year in industry, you'll go in your second year
  • If you're on a four year integrated masters or you are a Veterinary Medicine or Physics student, please check the search tool tool as this depends on your degree programme.

The start date of the semester abroad would depend on your host university, with the earliest departures in July.

Will I study modules from my subject area?

Yes. You will need to meet with your Global Opportunities Academic Advisor (GOAA) to sign off your modules.

Year abroad

How does it fit into my degree?

The programme duration is one full academic year, and the programme will extend your degree by one year. So, for example, a standard three year BSc programme will take four years.

The programme is marked on a pass/fail basis. so won't count towards your final degree mark (although the mark you achieve for each module will appear on your transcript).

The title of your degree would change to 'Subject' with a Year Abroad (e.g. BSc Physics with a Year Abroad). If you don't pass the year abroad, you'll revert to your original programme.

Please note, the Year Abroad is not open to students studying Dentistry, LLB Law with a Year Abroad or any degree including a Modern Language.

When would I go?

If your application is successful, then when you would go depends on your degree:

  • If you're on a three year degree programme, you'll apply in year two and go abroad between your second and third year
  • If you're on a four year integrated masters or a five year clinical programme, you can go either between years two and three (apply in year two), or years three and four (apply in year three).

The start date of the year abroad would depend on your host university, with the earliest departures in July.

Will I study modules from my subject area?

It's up to you! You can study either:

  • A majority of modules related to the history/culture/language of your host country
  • A majority of subject-related modules (but they don't have to be directly in your discipline at Liverpool)
  • A combination of the above.

Year in China

How does it fit into my degree?

The programme duration is one full academic year, and is based at our fully English speaking partnership university Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). The programme will extend your degree by one year. So, for example, a standard three year BSc programme will take four years to complete.

The programme is marked on a pass/fail basis, so won't count towards your final degree mark (although the mark you achieve for each module will appear on your transcript).

The title of your degree would change to 'subject' with a Year in China (e.g. BSc Physics with a Year in China). If you don't pass the year in China, you'll revert to your original programme.

When would I go?

This depends on when you started your degree.

If you started your degree before September 2024, you can choose to go to China either between years two and three or after your final year.

If you started your degree from September 2024 onwards, with the exception of the programmes listed below, you will go to China after your final year of study. Students in Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, Dentistry or Health Sciences will go between years two and three.

If you go after your final year of study, you'll simply delay your graduation in order to participate in the programme. For example, if you take a year in China in the academic year 2024/25, you will graduate in December 2025.

Will I study modules from my subject area?

You can choose either the China Studies Track which takes place at the Suzhou Campus where you will take courses from the China Studies Degree or the Entrepreneurship Track based at the brand new Taicang Campus where you will take courses from the Entrepreneurship College.

Depending on your academic department, you may have the opportunity to take one degree-related module per semester.

Summer abroad

How does it fit into my degree?

The summer abroad duration is the shortest of all global opportunities and ranges between one to eight weeks depending on the programme you apply for.

Summer programmes are not counted as part of your degree programme, they will not appear on your transcript and no marks will be recorded. 

For more information on the programmes we are running in Summer 2025 visit the search tool. You can also view more information on our Global Opportunities Week Canvas page, which includes sessions from our Third Party Providers.

Please note, for all programmes apart from Partner University Summer School, only WP (Widening Participation) students are eligible to apply. Non-WP students would have to apply independently through the providers themselves and would not be entitled to any funding. For partner university summer schools, WP students are prioritised for these places. You can view the WP criteria here.

When would I go?

If your application is successful, you will go during the summer vacation. Some of the opportunities are available to students in any year of study and others are only open to students who are not in their final year.

Will I study modules from my subject area?

It depends on the programme! Mostly you will study either:

  • A majority of modules related to the history/culture/language of your host country
  • A majority of subject related modules (but they don't have to be directly in your discipline at Liverpool)
  • A combination of the above.

Clinical rotations (Vet students only)

Students in Veterinary Medicine have the opportunity to apply to take some of their rotations at one of our partner universities. This allows students to combine their rotation with an international experience. Students would go abroad in year four or five, with the clinical rotation abroad lasting for three months.

Visiting and exchange students

If you're currently enrolled at a university abroad, you could spend a year, semester or summer in Liverpool.