53
School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures Residence Abroad Handbook 2010-11 THIS IS THE KEY REFERENCE DOCUMENT FOR YOUR PERIOD OF RESIDENCE ABROAD. KEEP IT SAFE! Failure to fulfil the School’s residence abroad requirements will lead to the withholding of some or all of the credits for the period of residence abroad. Where up to 20 credits have been withheld, in exceptional circumstances students may be permitted to make up these credits in the course of the final year of study. Where all credits have been withheld, this will lead to students being put on track for an unclassified (ordinary) degree.

resid abroad

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: resid abroad

School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures

Residence Abroad Handbook

2010-11

THIS IS THE KEY REFERENCE DOCUMENT FOR

YOUR PERIOD OF RESIDENCE ABROAD. KEEP IT SAFE!

Failure to fulfil the School’s residence abroad req uirements will lead to the withholding of some or all of the credits for the p eriod of residence abroad. Where up to 20 credits have been withheld, in exceptional circumstances students may be permitted to make up these credits in the course of the final year of study. Where all credits have been withheld, this will lead to stude nts being put on track for an unclassified (ordinary) degree.

Page 2: resid abroad

2

Emergency Contacts Please remember that in almost all emergency situations local advice will be the most relevant / valuable to you. Emergency contacts within the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures :

Dr Wiebke Brockhaus-Grand Chair of the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee Tel. (direct line and voicemail): + 44 (0)161 275 3180 Mobile: +44 (0)7973 709 099 Email: [email protected] Fax (shared): + 44 (0)161 275 3031

Dan Herman Residence Abroad Coordinator Tel. (direct line and voicemail): +44 (0)161 275 8123 Email: [email protected] Fax (shared): +44 (0)161 275 3031 School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures University of Manchester Samuel Alexander S3.6 Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL

OR

See Appendix 2 for a full directory of key contacts within the School of LLC including Residence Abroad Tutors and UG Support Of ficers. For contacts in the wider university, including the Study Abroad Unit a nd Student Services Centre, see the University’s Study and Work Abroad Handbook 201 0-2011. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this handbook is accurate at the time of going to press, but the School of LLC cannot take responsibility for any errors or omissions. Views, where expressed are those of the contributors, and not necessarily those of the University. Please send comments or suggestions to [email protected].

Page 3: resid abroad

3

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................5

Residence Abroad: Why?................................................................................................................................................. 5

SECTION ONE: BEFORE YOU GO......................... ...........................................................6

Responsibilities of the School and Responsibilities of the Student ............................................................................... 6

Resources, Briefings and Support ................................................................................................................................... 7

Period of Residence Abroad............................................................................................................................................. 9 Flexibility for Joint Honours Students: ........................................................................................................................ 11

Approval of Arrangements ............................................................................................................................................ 11

Health, Safety, Special Circumstances & Exemption .................................................................................................. 12

The Options:.................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Study ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Study in the Summer Vacation Period:........................................................................................................................ 14 Applying to Your Host University............................................................................................................................... 16

Work ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Work as an English Language Assistant (ELA): ......................................................................................................... 16 Other Approved Employment:..................................................................................................................................... 16

Dissertation research ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 Funding and Fees ......................................................................................................................................................... 17

Planning Your Period of Residence Abroad................................................................................................................. 17

SECTION TWO: DURING YOUR TIME ABROAD............... .............................................19

Responsibilities of the School and Responsibilities of the Student ............................................................................. 19

Occupational Health, Special Circumstances & Exemption....................................................................................... 19 Changes to Arrangements ............................................................................................................................................ 20

Requirements and Collecting Evidence ........................................................................................................................ 20 The Learning Log ........................................................................................................................................................ 20 Studying Abroad: the School’s requirements and how to collect evidence ................................................................. 20 Working Abroad: the School’s requirements and how to collect evidence ................................................................. 22

Course Unit Selection for your Final Year ................................................................................................................... 24

SECTION THREE: RETURNING TO MANCHESTER ............. .........................................25

Submitting Evidence....................................................................................................................................................... 25

Providing Feedback ........................................................................................................................................................ 25

APPENDIX 1: RESIDENCE ABROAD REGULATIONS 2010-11... ..................................26

APPENDIX 2: CONTACT LIST ........................... ..............................................................42

Page 4: resid abroad

4

APPENDIX 3: CHECKLISTS FOR WORK, STUDY, ELAS AND 8 WEEKS ABROAD 424

APPENDIX 4: EU WORK COMPARISON TABLE FOR LEGAL REQU IREMENTS ......429

APPENDIX 5: EXTRACT FROM 2003 WORKING TIME DIRECTIV E..............................50

APPENDIX 6: CASE STUDIES........................... ..............................................................51

APPENDIX 7: FURTHER READING........................ .........................................................52

APPENDIX 8: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ............. ..........................................53

Page 5: resid abroad

5

Introduction This handbook is your guide to residence abroad 2010-11. It is intended to outline the options that are open to you, enable you to make the most of your time abroad and help you to get to grips with the School’s requirements. It is absolutely essential that in addition to this handbook you also read and understand:

• the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures Regul ations for Residence Abroad 2010-11, which are contained in Appendix 1 of this handbook

• the School’s Residence Abroad Blackboard site and

• the University’s Study and Work Abroad Handbook 2010-11 which provides an

overview of study and work abroad

Residence Abroad: Why? The period of residence abroad is intended to enable you, through focused learning and sustained exposure to a native speaker environment, to improve your communicative language skills. It should also develop your understanding of the historical and cultural background of your host country. A period of residence abroad is looked upon extremely positively by most employers as it shows that candidates are:

• not afraid of challenges • adaptable • able to build relationships with people from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds

On a personal level, it is a great way to make new friends, become more independent and build confidence. In terms of your degree programme, satisfactory completion of a 32-week period of residence abroad (or equivalent) carries 120 credits. WARNING:

Failure to fulfil the Scho ol’s residence abroad requirements will lead to the withholding of some or all of the credits for the p eriod of residence abroad. Where up to 20 credits have been withheld, in excep tional circumstances students may be permitted to make up these credits in the course of the final year of study. Where all credits have been withheld, thi s will lead to students being put on track for an unclassified (ordinary) degree.

Page 6: resid abroad

6

SECTION ONE: Before you go

Responsibilities of the School and Responsibilities of the Student Responsibilities of the School: Within the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures (LLC) the School’s Residence Abroad Coordinator and subject discipline Residence Abroad Tutors will do all they can to help you to plan for your period of residence abroad. The School of LLC will:

• outline the options for the period of residence abroad • arrange meetings to provide further detail and give students the opportunity to ask

questions • arrange opportunities for second year students to meet with final year students

who have been abroad, and provide email addresses of students currently abroad who have agreed to be contacted by fellow Manchester students

• support you in completing applications for study abroad, the British Council English Language Assistantship scheme or work placements by providing advice and guidance and where necessary, writing references, on condition that students meet set deadlines

• act swiftly to help resolve problems in arranging the period of residence abroad • provide resources such as residence abroad handbooks, Blackboard sites and

web pages • pass on tips specific to a particular city or region from previous Manchester

students

Responsibilities of the student: It is your responsibility to:

• attend relevant compulsory briefing meetings arrang ed by the School or Study Abroad Unit

• regularly check your University email account and r espond to emails promptly

• maintain communication with the Residence Abroad Coordinator and Residence Abroad Tutor(s)

• keep the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures informed of your plans for residence abroad by submitting a Declaration of Intent form by 31 January 2010 (28 November 2009 for Japanese, not applicable to Russian and Middle Eastern Studies)

• inform the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures by 30 April 2010 of your final, confirmed plans for residence abroad (including plans in respect of both languages in appropriate cases)

• arrange a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and / or suitable medical insurance in good time prior to departure. For further information on insurance see Chapter 9 of the Study and Work Abroad Handbook 2010-11

Page 7: resid abroad

7

• meet deadlines • read and understand this handbook (including the School’s Residence Abroad

Regulations and all other appendices) and supplementary subject discipline / language-specific Residence Abroad Information Sheets and / or Country Guides

• read and understand the University’s Study and Work Abroad Handbook 2010-11 • read and understand the University’s country pages on the Study Abroad Unit’s

website, giving advice on living, studying and working abroad • read, understand and regularly consult the School’s Blackboard site for residence

abroad and, in the case of Russian, the RLUS website (www.rlus.co.uk) • fully research and understand the implications of each residence abroad option • regularly check the residence abroad noticeboards between S3.18 and S3.22 • ensure you are in possession of a valid passport • ensure you have completed visa applications (where relevant) in good time • make arrangements for travel and accommodation • complete application forms for host universities or employers • make your Residence Abroad Tutor(s) / the Residence Abroad Coordinator aware

of any special circumstances that might have an impact on your period of residence abroad (disabilities, pre-existing medical conditions etc.)

• arrange for vaccinations (if appropriate) • ensure your proposed residence abroad activities do not clash (e.g. if

completing Erasmus study for French and Spanish, go to France first as the first semester in Spain finishes at the start of Fe bruary while the second semester in France starts mid January)

• make contact with students who have previously unde rtaken / are currently undertaking residence abroad in the country / city / region you will be visiting. The first-hand knowledge of those students is absol utely invaluable

Please note that the University will not discuss yo ur personal situation, circumstances and residence abroad plans with a thi rd party (including parents / guardians / carers) without your prior written cons ent. This is due to data protection regulations and the fact that discussions with a th ird party can, and do, lead to major misunderstandings.

Resources, Briefings and Support The School will provide support to you both prior to, and during, your period of residence abroad in the form of:

1. Compulsory Residence Abroad Briefing meetings A series of residence abroad briefing meetings will be held throughout the year to help you to make informed decisions. Attendance at any meeting relevant to you is compul sory . Please attend more than one meeting if you are not sure which option is best for you (you are not making a firm commitment at this stage). You will also have the opportunity to meet and make contact with students who have just returned from their period of residence abroad. Residence abroad briefing meetings will be publicised via email, Blackboard and posters.

Page 8: resid abroad

8

Note that the University’s Study Abroad Unit will r un ‘Pre-Departure’ briefing meetings for ALL students undertaking residence abr oad on various topics following the Easter vacation period. The detail s of these meetings will be circulated via email in due course.

2. The School’s Residence Abroad Blackboard Site, S tudent Resource Room and Noticeboards

The Residence Abroad Blackboard site provides lots of supplementary information and links to various other useful internal and external websites including the University’s country pages on living, studying and working abroad, partner universities and potential employers. You should already have access to the Residence Abroad Blackboard site but if you don’t please email [email protected]. Additional Information Sheets for certain languages / countries may be distributed at briefing meetings or via email. In the case of students of Russian, visit the RLUS website, which is constantly being updated, at www.rlus.co.uk. The School’s residence abroad noticeboards can be found between rooms S3.18 and S3.22 in Samuel Alexander. The Student Resource Room (Samuel Alexander S2.5) is open from 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday during term time. It contains books about working and studying abroad, information about partner institutions and feedback from previous residence abroad students

3. Direct support from staff Each subject discipline has a Residence Abroad Tutor who will provide support and answer questions via email, telephone and in person (during their office hour, by appointment and at residence abroad briefing meetings). However, all general questions should be directed to the School’s Residence Abroad Coordinator, who is available during office hours, Monday to Friday, and has been employed specifically to help students with residence abroad queries. Full contact details for the Residence Abroad Coordinator, Residence Abroad Tutors and other members of support staff can be found at the end of this handbook (see Appendix 2).

Page 9: resid abroad

9

Period of Residence Abroad The list below indicates the standard requirements for various degree programmes. It may, however, be possible to make slightly different arrangements, provided that the conditions set out in the paragraphs immediately following the list are met. The definitions given below do not apply to Russian, where special arrang ements are in place (please refer to section 6 of the School of Languages, Ling uistics and Cultures Regulations for Residence Abroad 2010-11 (Appendix 1)). Note that in what follows references to ‘countries where a particular language is spoken’ should be interpreted as ‘countries where the language in question is an official language’. In countries where there is more than one official language residence abroad must take place in an area where the target language is spoken (the only exception to this is Russian, where a broader interpretation of the phrase is intended). Wherever possible, the periods of residence abroad listed below should be continuous.

• Single Honours in Chinese Studies, French Studies, German Studies, Italian

Studies and Japanese Studies: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks • Single Honours in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies: the period

of residence abroad is 32 weeks. However, those students who wish to continue to study Portuguese in their final year are required to spend EITHER 32 weeks in a Spanish speaking country plus 8 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country OR 16 weeks in a Spanish speaking country and 16 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country

• Single Honours in Arabic Studies, Hebrew Studies, Persian Studies, Turkish Studies: the period of residence abroad is an academic year

• Single Honours in Middle Eastern Languages: the period of residence abroad is an academic year split equally between the two languages

• Joint Honours in American and Latin American Studies: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks. However, those students who wish to continue to study Portuguese in their final year are required to spend EITHER 32 weeks in a Spanish speaking country plus 8 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country OR 16 weeks in a Spanish speaking country and 16 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country

• Joint Honours which include one European language in the degree title, including English Language and a Modern Language, English Literature and a Modern Language, History and a Modern Language, History of Art and a Modern Language, Linguistics and a Modern Language, Modern Language and Business & Management: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks

• Joint Honours in European Studies and a Modern Language: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks. However, under exceptional circumstances, the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee may consider applications from students to undertake a 16 week period of residence abroad in a country of their minor language alongside a 16 week period of residence abroad in a country of the language named in the degree title.

Ab-initio students are required to complete a period o f at least 16 weeks / one semester under approved conditions in a country whe re the target language is spoken.

Page 10: resid abroad

10

• Joint Honours in two Modern European languages: the period of residence abroad is normally EITHER 32 weeks in the country where one of the languages studied is spoken plus 8 weeks in the country where the other language studied is spoken OR 16 weeks in the country where one of the languages studied is spoken plus 16 weeks in the country where the other language studied is spoken (please see page 10 for further detail)

• Joint Honours in a Modern European language and a Middle Eastern Language: the period of residence abroad is EITHER two academic semesters in the country where the Middle Eastern language is spoken plus eight weeks in the country where the Modern European language is spoken OR one academic semester in the country where the Middle Eastern language is spoken plus 16 weeks in the country where the Modern European language is spoken

• Joint Honours which include one Middle Eastern language in the title, including English Language and a Middle Eastern Language, and Linguistics and Middle Eastern Languages: the period of residence abroad is an academic year

• Joint Honours which include Chinese or Japanese and a non-language discipline in the title: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks

• Joint Honours which include Chinese or Japanese and another language in the title: the period of residence abroad is EITHER 32 weeks in Japan or China plus eight weeks in the country where the other language studied is spoken or 16 weeks in China or Japan plus 16 weeks in a country where the other language is spoken. Attention is drawn to the discipline requirements.

• Master of Modern Languages: Please refer to the regulations for the Master of Modern Languages programme, which are published separately

• Honours in Combined Studies: if the total value of course units in a modern foreign language amounts to 180 credits or more, the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks; otherwise, the requirement is for eight weeks’ vacation residence in a country in which the language studied is spoken

The above figures are to be understood as minima and do not include periods spent away from the country / countries where the language(s) being studied is / are spoken. Where, for reasons beyond the student’s and/or the School’s control, it is impossible to engage in an activity for the full 32 weeks (e.g. because contracts for certain types of English Language Assistantship last for only 28 weeks), it is strongly recommended that students find an additional activity abroad for the outstanding period. Please note that this does not apply to self-organised work placements, where the 32 week period is a requirement for Residence Abroad Tutor approval. Students who are required to undertake a ‘year abro ad’ are urged to use vacation periods to spend, in addition, as much time as poss ible in countries where the target language is spoken. Students whose residence abroad activity falls only slightly short of the requisite 16 or 32 weeks may prove they were in the relevant country using flight tickets or accommodation receipts for up to 2 or 4 weeks respectively. Students in Combined Studies whose total credits in a European or Middle Eastern language do not amount to 180 credits may, with the permission of the School, interrupt their studies in Manchester and fulfil the residence abroad requirement by spending 32 weeks in the country/countries of their target language(s).

Page 11: resid abroad

11

Flexibility for Joint Honours Students: Joint Honours students who are required to undertake a period of residence abroad for more than one language must complete a total of at least 32 weeks abroad (with a minimum of 12 weeks in the country of one of the two languages, e.g. 12 weeks in country A and 20 weeks in country B, or 14 weeks in country A and 18 weeks in country B etc.). If fewer than 12 weeks are spent in one country, the requirement for the other country automatically becomes 32 weeks. Residence Abroad Requirements for Joint Honours Stu dents Language A Language B 16 weeks 16 weeks 15 weeks 17 weeks 14 weeks 18 weeks 13 weeks 19 weeks 12 weeks 20 weeks 11 weeks 32 weeks 10 weeks 32 weeks 9 weeks 32 weeks 8 weeks 32 weeks

Approval of Arrangements

While Residence Abroad Tutors and the Residence Abroad Coordinator will offer help and advice, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that the necessary arrangements are made for the period(s) you are required to spend abroad. All residence abroad plans must be approved, before the period of residence abroad begins , and you are required to submit to the Residence Abroad Coordinator by 30 April 2010, a yellow form confirming your arrangements for residence abroad. Approval for any subsequent change in arrangements will only be given in exceptional circumstances. Students are advised that their resi dence abroad plans constitute serious commitments, which they will be expected to honour. Students who make changes to their arrangements which have not been a pproved by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor(s) in advance, and/or who pu rsue activities considered unsuitable by the School’s Residence Abroad and Exc hanges Committee will be deemed to have flouted the residence abroad regulat ions and will be subject to the procedures set out in the attached Residence Abroad Regulations 2010-11 (Appendix 1, Section 1.7).

Page 12: resid abroad

12

Health, Safety, Special Circumstances & Exemption

Special Circumstances: Students are expected to make their Residence Abroa d Tutor or the Residence Abroad Coordinator aware of any special circumstanc es that could have an impact on the period of residence abroad. They should do this as soon as possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made early enough for students to benefit fully. Health: Students are expected to make their Residence Abroa d Tutor or the Residence Abroad Coordinator aware of any pre-existing medica l conditions (including mental health issues) that could have an impact on the per iod of residence abroad. The School does not want students to undertake a period of residence abroad unless they are well enough to do so. For this reason, it is our standard procedure to refer students with pre-existing medical conditions to the University’s Student Occupational Health Service for confirmation that they are fit to travel.

Exemption There are normally two sets of circumstances under which students are considered for exemption from periods of residence abroad : (a) Students unlikely to benefit from further residence abroad The Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee may exempt those students from the relevant residence abroad requirements who meet both of the following conditions. Firstly, they should be able to demonstrate that they have had recent experience of living and studying or working in the country of the target language for a continuous period at least equivalent to that required by these regulations. (In this context, 'recent' is normally understood to mean not more than three years prior to the beginning of the required period of residence abroad.) Secondly, their level of competence in the language concerned should already be so high that no, or very little, further improvement can be expected to be achieved. (b) Students affected by special circumstances Students who, for compelling medical and/or personal reasons, anticipate being unable to spend the required period(s) abroad should contact the Residence Abroad Coordinator as soon as possible to discuss their situation. Independent documentary evidence is normally required for the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee to agree to exempt a student from the usual residence abroad requirements. (If these special circumstances were in existence before the student was admitted to the programme of study, they should have been raised during the admissions process.) It should be noted that financial hardship is not normally considered a valid reason for exemption, unless this was wholly unforeseeable when the student embarked on the degree programme concerned. Students who do not fulfil the residence abroad requirements in their entirety do not benefit from the same exposure to target language and target culture as their peers. For this reason, students whose applications for excusal have been accepted are strongly advised not to proceed directly to the final year of study, but to take advantage of the opportunity to

Page 13: resid abroad

13

spend Year 3 in Manchester, registered as full-time students, but paying only the reduced residence abroad fee. During this period, they are then able to improve their language skills and cultural understanding by taking advantage of one or more of the following:

• Access to the University Language Centre with its extensive range of

language learning resources (including on-line), enabling them to put to full use the independent language learning skills practised under guidance from their tutors during Years 1 and 2

• Access to the University library • Permission to attend regularly classes in their subject discipline(s) at Levels

1 and/or 2 (chosen in consultation with their Academic Adviser), but without participating in assessments or gaining credits

• Permission to take one or two Tandem courses in their language(s) of study, provided that they commit themselves to full participation, including assessment (but any credits gained will not count towards their degree programme)

• Access to contact details of incoming exchange students, so that they can practise their speaking skills informally

Students who, for whatever reason, do not wish to remain enrolled for Year 3 will be given permission to interrupt their studies and leave Manchester. However, in such cases the University can accept no responsibility for any sho rtcomings in students’ skills, competences and understanding which may become appa rent when they return for their final year of study and such shortcomings wil l not be accepted as grounds for any appeal or complaint at a later stage. Students who opt for this course of action will be required to sign a disclaimer to the effect that they accept the element of risk involved. A third option is for students to proceed from Year 2 directly into final year, but this almost inevitably puts them at a disadvantage compared to students returning from a period of residence abroad, and the University can accept no responsibility for any shortcomings in their skills, competences and under standing which may become apparent during the final year of study. Such short comings will not be accepted as grounds for any appeal or complaint at a later stag e. Students who opt for this course of action will be required to sign a disclai mer to the effect that they accept the element of risk involved.

The Options: Please note that it may be possible to combine the activities listed below for which approval is normally granted. Where proposals include activities other than those listed below, the relevant subject discipline will need to be satisfied that students will derive sufficient linguistic and cultural experience from them before approval can be given by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor.

Page 14: resid abroad

14

Students undertaking residence abroad are required to ensure that they are available for potential resits in late August/early September 2010.

Study

Study in the Summer Vacation Period: Students who are required / choose to undertake an 8 week period of study at a university or language school should research the courses available to them using the internet. It isn’t normally possible for the Residence Abroad Coordinator or Residence Abroad Tutor to make a recommendation, as the quality of teaching can vary and each student has different requirements and preferences. However, the Residence Abroad Coordinator will provide students with an indication of the courses that previous students have chosen to attend, websites listing language schools and the numerous promotional leaflets which are sent to him (available from the leaflet racks between S3.6 and 7). When you select a course you may be forced to balance your personal language learning needs against your budget. For this reason, the School of LLC does not specify minimum requirements in terms of teaching hours, course content etc. Study for a Single Semester or Academic Year: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portugu ese, Spanish and Turkish : study at a university, as an Erasmus / official exchange student Russian: attendance of a course organised by Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS) at a Russian university or private language school. (Please see the regulations in Appendix 1 for details of requirements concernin g the length of stay) Arabic, Hebrew and Persian : attendance at a university or language school as stipulated by the Residence Abroad Tutor for Middle Eastern Studies You can undertake a 16 or 32 week (single semester or academic year) period of study with various partner institutions. The School has exchange agreements or other formal links with the institutions listed below. Those agreements marked with an asterisk (*) are under the auspices of Erasmus Study, a European Union scheme which allows EU students to study in other EU countries as part of their degree programme at home (for further information on Erasmus Study see the University’s Study and Work Abroad Handbook 2010-11).

Arabic University of Alexandria (TAFL Centre), University of Jordan (International Institute for Teaching Arabic to Speakers of Other Languages)

Chinese Universities of Shanghai (Fudan and East China Normal), Nanjing, Beijing (Renmin, Tsinghua and Normal) Guangzhou (Sun Yat-Sen), Shandong, National Taiwan and CU Hong Kong

French Universities of *Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, *Grenoble III (Stendhal, *Lyon III (Jean Moulin), *Lille 3 (Charles de Gaulle), * Paris IV (Sorbonne), *Poitiers, *Rennes II (Haute Bretagne), *Réunion, *Toulouse (Le Mirail)

Page 15: resid abroad

15

German Universities of Basel (Switzerland), *Berlin (Humboldt), *Freiburg, *Hamburg, *Heidelberg, *Innsbruck (Austria), *Leipzig

Hebrew Hebrew University of Jerusalem (to be confirmed)

Italian Universities of *Bergamo, *Bologna, *Cagliari (to be confirmed) *Ferrara, *Macerata, *Naples (Federico II), *Palermo, *Perugia, *Pisa, *Siena (per stranieri)

Japanese Universities of Hiroshima, Hitotsubashi, Hokkaido (to be confirmed), Kansai, Kansai Gaidai, Keio, Kobe, Kwansei Gakuin, Kyoto, Meiji, Meiji Gakuin, Nanzan (to be confirmed), Ochanomizu (women only), Osaka, Rikkyo, Ritsumeikan, Saitama (to be confirmed), Tokyo, Tokyo Gaigodai, Waseda, Yamagata

Persian University of Tehran (Dehkhoda International Centre for Persian Studies)

Portuguese Universities of *Coimbra, *Porto, João Pessoa, São Paulo

Russian St Petersburg (The Benedict School, State University), Moscow (Language Link), Yaroslavl (State University), Tver (State University), Volgograd (Language Link) and Petrozavodsk (State University) (Please see regulations for details of requirements concerning the length of stay)

Spanish Universities of *Barcelona, *Barcelona (Autónoma), *Bilbao (Deusto), *Alcalá de Henares, *Madrid (Autónoma), *Santiago de Compostela, *Almería, *Seville, *Valladolid (Miguel de Cervantes), *La Rioja (Logroño), *Valencia, *Vigo, Santiago de Cuba (Centro de Lingüística Aplicada), Buenos Aires (Universidad del Salvador), Santiago de Chile (Pontificia Católica), Puebla (Universidad de las Américas), Montevideo (ORT)

Turkish *University of Istanbul

For further information on these institutions:

• follow the links to their websites from the School’ s Residence Abroad Blackboard site

• read the relevant city / region tip sheets, which a re available via the School’s Residence Abroad Blackboard site

• visit the School’s Student Resource Centre and / or the Study Abroad Unit’s Study Abroad library for information packs, course unit directories etc.

• consult your Residence Abroad Tutor • make contact with the Manchester students who have previously studied / are

currently studying there How do I secure a place at a partner university? Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portugu ese and Spanish Erasmus and other official University exchange places are allocated by Residence Abroad Tutors / Erasmus Coordinators at their discretion, on the basis of student preferences (as expressed on the Declaration of Intent form, for which the deadline is January 31st 2010, November 28th 2009 for Japanese) and the practicalities of making the best possible use of the places available (e.g. giving some students their second or third choices if otherwise places would remain unfilled). Where appropriate, a student’s academic record (including

Page 16: resid abroad

16

work and attendance) as well as his/her reasons for choosing a particular partner institution may also be taken into account. Please note that Latin American exchange places are normally only available to those students achieving an average of 60% in their first year of study. Any student who is dissatisfied with the place allocated may bring his/her case to the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee for a final decision. This should be done by setting out the reasons for dissatisfaction in writing and sending them to the Chair of the Committee. Russian students should closely follow the instructions provided by their Residence Abroad Tutor at the initial briefing meeting to secure a place on their chosen RLUS course. Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish students must apply for a place at the relevant partner university listed above.

Applying to Your Host University Once you have been allocated a place at a partner university you will be required to complete their application process. Deadlines for applications usually fall in May or June (but are earlier for universities in Japan). Your Residence Abroad Tutor and the Residence Abroad Coordinator will be happy to advise and support you.

Work [Please note that this option is not normally available for Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish. Opportunities for work are very limited in Japan]

Work as an English Language Assistant (ELA): See the University’s Study and Work Abroad Handbook 2010-11 and the Residence Abroad Blackboard site for information and guidance.

Other Approved Employment: Work placements for 2010-11 must be fully confirmed and approved by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor by 30 April 2010. Your Residence Abroad Tutor will need to see an offer letter and / or contract detailing you r role and responsibilities before they can give their approval. A ‘training agreemen t’ must normally be established between the employer, the University and the studen t. Once you have your Residence Abroad Tutor’s approval you should visit the Blackboard Residence Abroad site to download Erasmus and / or non-Erasmu s versions of this document and full instructions. Paid or unpaid employment, internships, voluntary w ork and other self-organised activities must ALWAYS be approved in advance by th e relevant Residence Abroad Tutor (this does not apply to the British Council o r Comenius ELA schemes which are pre-approved activities). All cases where the T utor recommends that approval be withheld will be referred to the Residence Abroa d and Exchanges Committee for a final decision.

Page 17: resid abroad

17

See the University’s Study and Work Abroad Handbook 2010-11 and the Residence Abroad Blackboard site for further important information and guidance.

Dissertation research Students spending an 8 week vacation period abroad may also undertake dissertation research. They must agree an appropriate research plan in advance with their (provisional) dissertation supervisor. On their return, they must provide to the supervisor satisfactory evidence of completion of this plan, in the form of sources gathered and a detailed research journal.

Funding and Fees See chapter six of the University’s Study and Work Abroad Handbook 2010-11 for information and guidance on funding (including Erasmus) and fees. Master of Modern Languages students should pay particular attention to section 6.2.4 which makes it clear that students are eligible to receive one Era smus grant for a study placement and one for a work placement during their higher ed ucation career (i.e. MML students may not undertake an Erasmus Study placeme nt in more than one academic year. This is also true for Erasmus Work placements). Students who are spending eight weeks abroad attending one or more language courses or in unpaid employment can apply to the School for £600 to be paid into their bank accounts in advance. If you are going to be in paid employment or will have the benefit of free board, lodging and/or travel during your eight weeks abroad you are expected to provide evidence of your income (both wages and other grants such as Erasmus Work) and/or other benefits for your period abroad. The vacation residence grant will then make up the difference between this income and the maximum amount of £600. (If you fail to submit evidence of your expected income by the deadline stated on the application form you will not receive a grant at all.)

Planning Your Period of Residence Abroad The formal process of applying for and confirming your period of residence abroad does not usually begin until your second year of study. The timeline below should help guide your residence abroad planning: October-December 2009

• attend compulsory Residence Abroad Briefing meetings to gain full details on the options open to you, meet returning students and ask questions

• begin to focus research on potential universities, employers etc.

• if you plan to find a job you should perfect your CV and covering letter and begin approaching potential employers

21 November 2009 Internal deadline for British Cou ncil English Language

Page 18: resid abroad

18

Assistantship Applications (reference requests must be made at least one week prior to this deadline)

28 November 2009 Declaration of Intent Deadline for Japanese December 2009 Japanese students advised of exchange allocations 31 January 2010 Declaration of Intent Deadline for Chinese, French,

German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish 31 January 2010 Internal deadline for applications for Erasmus/other

university exchange places via the Declaration of I ntent form

February/March 2010 Students advised of Erasmus/other university exchange allocations

April/May 2010 • British Council English Language Assistantship offer / rejection letters are sent to applicants

• final Residence Abroad and Study Abroad Unit Briefing meetings

30 April 2010 Deadline for submission of Confirmati on of Residence

Abroad Plans form (‘yellow form’) 30 April 2010 Final deadline for approval of work p lacements January- August 2010 Deadlines for applications to partner universities April - September 2010 Begin to research accommodation options

Page 19: resid abroad

19

SECTION TWO: During your Time Abroad

Responsibilities of the School and Responsibilities of the Student Responsibilities of the School: Within the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures the School’s Residence Abroad Coordinator, your subject discipline Residence Abroad Tutors and Academic Advisers will do all they can to help support you during your period of residence abroad. We certainly will not forget about you but of course, we cannot provide exactly the same level of pastoral care as we do in Manchester. We hope that you will reap the rewards of having to make your own decisions and take responsibility for yourself. The School will f orm part of a support team, including parents and frien ds, providing you with prompt advice and guidance via email and telephone both pr ior to, and during, your period of residence abroad. Responsibilities of the Student: Keeping in Touch You must regularly check your University email account for communication from the School and other University contacts (your University email account will serve as the main means of communication). Take the initiative and promptly inform the Residen ce Abroad Coordinator / relevant Residence Abroad Tuto r of any problems / changes to your circumstances.

You should also maintain regular contact with your Academic Adviser (Personal Tutor), who may be a useful source of alternative / additional advice and guidance.

Staff Visits Wherever possible, a member of staff will be coming to visit you . You must make every effort to ensure that you are able to meet hi m/her. (If you will be working, this must be made clear to employers before contracts are signed.) Students will be able to claim reimbursement of travel expenses where appropriate. Please see Section 11 of the School Residence Abroad Regulations 2010-11 (Appendix 1) for further detail.

Occupational Health, Special Circumstances & Exemption Students who anticipate that, for reasons beyond their control, they may be unable to fulfil the residence abroad requirements must contact the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor as soon as the difficulties become apparent. The Tutor (in consultation with the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee) will advise the student on the best course of action and will agree appropriate changes to the student's residence abroad plans with him/her. Students who do not follow the agreed plan or fail to contact their Residence Abroad Tutor as soon as problems arise will be deem ed to have flouted the

Page 20: resid abroad

20

residence abroad regulations and will be subject to the procedures set out in the Residence Abroad Regulations 2010-11 (Appendix 1, S ection 1.7).

Changes to Arrangements

Changes to the residence abroad arrangements record ed on the "yellow form" confirming residence abroad plans can normally NOT be made. Students are therefore urged to research their choices carefully in advance. Where students are planning to take up work placements, it is their re sponsibility to obtain information (preferably in writing, in case of problems arising later) from the proposed employer about the level of exposure to the target language that they are likely to experience. If students are experiencing problems of any kind w ith their chosen residence abroad activity, they must contact the relevant mem ber of staff in SLLC immediately for advice. It is not acceptable for students to ar range any changes of activity without prior consultation with, and approval from, the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor. Students who are found to have done so will be considered to have flouted the residence abroad regulations and will be subjec t to the procedures set out in the attached Residence Abroad Regulations 2010-11 (Appe ndix 1, Section 1.7).

Requirements and Collecting Evidence

The Learning Log Each subject discipline will distribute a Learning Log (a collection of residence abroad tasks and questionnaires which acts as your residence abroad PDP) to students via email and / or Blackboard. Students are required to fill in the questionnaires and return them to the subject discipline concerned by the specified dates. We would also encourage you to complete the Learning Log tasks, so that you can receive feedback on your linguistic progress, but this is not a formal requirement (with the exception of Chinese and Japanese). For further details please see the relevant Learning Log.

Helping Other Manchester Students You are required to help other Manchester students by responding to their questions about your residence abroad activity / the city / region you are living in etc.

Studying Abroad: the School’s requirements and how to collect evidence Provided you have completed the relevant application forms, your host university will be expecting you to arrive. They will normally contact you prior to your arrival with instructions, details of orientation activities etc. Don’t panic if this doesn’t happen, or friends receive the information and you don’t. You should be able to resolve the problem with a simple email or phone call to your host university’s International Office.

Page 21: resid abroad

21

You are likely to be one of many Erasmus / Exchange / Visiting International students, so look out for notice boards, clubs, societies or any associations intended for this group or for international students in general. In some countries they have a web presence, so you may be able to locate them on the internet before you leave the UK. Use your ingenuity to find them (and, as always, ask Manchester students currently at, or recently returned from, the relevant institution). Registration is likely to be a very frustrating process, so prepare yourself by getting tips from former students and re-reading the information you have been sent detailing what will be required of you and the website for relevant documentation/ directories of course units etc. In some universities you will be faced with long queues, short office hours for the university administration, extra bureaucracy and a generally less polite and helpful attitude than you are used to at Manchester. The main point for you to bear in mind is that you always need to take the initiative . Students on the continent are expected to organise things for themselves and to find out what they don't know, so sitting back and waiting for information to come to you can have serious consequences. When in doubt, ask questions . Make use of the university's International Office and go to see your designated Erasmus / International Exchange Coordinator about any academic issues. For country specific information, guidance and tips see the relevant Residence Abroad Information sheet/ Blackboard site. The following sets out the requirements which are normally applicable to all students undertaking a period of study abroad, unless they are overridden by the more specific requirements stipulated by individual subject disciplines. Students of Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Middle Eastern Studi es should pay particular attention to the relevant Residence Abroad Informat ion sheet/ Blackboard site. This also applies to those students taking part in a Lat in American exchange. Students spending 16 or 32 weeks abroad All students studying at a foreign university must normally follow an appropriate number of courses (as determined by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor) and complete the associated examinations or other assessments and collect appropriate evidence in the shape of a transcript of results to prove that they have done so. Students are normally required to pass the relevant assessment(s ) for each course taken. In cases of exam failure, credits for residence abroad may be withheld and, where appropriate, students may be obliged to pay back al l or part of their Erasmus Study grant. However, students who can provide satisfacto ry evidence of having fully engaged with the course in question (e.g. lecture n otes, handouts, revision notes, homework, essays) are usually considered to have fu lfilled the residence abroad (and hence Erasmus) requirements. If you miss an examination due to ill-health or som e other form of special circumstances you should immediately contact your R esidence Abroad Tutor to make them aware of the situation and collect eviden ce to back up your case (e.g. doctor’s note).

Page 22: resid abroad

22

What should I do if staff and / or students at my h ost university decide to go on strike? If this situation arises you should NOT return home. It is your responsibility to ensure that you take steps to maximise your exposure to the target language through independent study, part-time work, voluntary work, joining clubs and societies, language exchanges, social activities, visiting museums, and getting to know your area. Keep Manchester informed of the situation and maintain contact with your host university for information on rescheduled classes, examinations etc. Erasmus Study The more specific requirements for students undertaking an Erasmus exchange are:

• to complete 25-30 ECTS credits or equivalent per semester • to complete their host institution’s Learning Agreement form and return a signed

copy to the Residence Abroad Coordinator.

If your host institution fails to provide a Learning Agreement form you can use the University of Manchester form which is available for download from the Residence Abroad Blackboard site Erasmus students must closely follow the instructio ns provided by the Study Abroad Unit in order to guarantee payment of the Er asmus grant. Failure to return the relevant paperwork will lead to the withdrawal of Erasmus funding and status.

Tip : Before you return to Manchester, you should make sure your host university understands how important it is that you receive a transcript of your results. It is essential that you keep hold of lecture notes, essays and han douts as back-up in case you have problems obtaining a transcript or you fail a course unit.

Working Abroad: the School’s requirements and how t o collect evidence British Council English Language Assistants A brief training course is usually given in each country. This normally takes place before you start (in September / October), and students report that it is well worth it both for the professional training and for making personal contacts. The British Council provides prospective ELAs with a helpful booklet and gives a tremendous amount of information and support through its website at www.languageassistant.co.uk, so take advantage of it. Occasionally, Schools are not entirely sure what to expect of ELAs. In such cases you should not hesitate to show them the British Council information spelling out your duties. You may need to be firm and clear about what you are and are not prepared to do. Sometimes you may be asked to help out with a class at very short notice. You are within your rights to refuse to do so, but if you decide to say ”Yes”, it will earn you a lot of good will. Having a stock of class activities ready in your bag can prove invaluable in such circumstances, so try and get some materials together before you go!

Page 23: resid abroad

23

What you get out of it depends very much on what yo u put in - it always pays to show willing and take the initiative. Get involved - don’t just sit at home watching television. If you are having difficulty getting to know people, take up a hobby and join a club. Say “Yes” to any chance of meeting new people (provided it’s safe, of course!), even if your natural instinct is to say “No”. ELAs are paid in monthly arrears, which means that your first salary instalment may not arrive until the end of October. Schools may be able to arrange a payment in advance, but you should take enough money out to cover the first six weeks’ expenses (at least £1000). Students working as English Language Assistants in schools will be deemed to have fulfilled the requirements on receipt of a satisfactory report, either from an authorised representative of the school at which they taught, or from the Education Ministry of the country or federal state concerned. The report may take the form of a ‘transcript of work’. Other Approved Employment If you take up a form of approved employment other than an ELA post, you are required to submit, on your return to Manchester, a ‘transcript of work’ from your employer confirming the dates worked and commenting on your performance.

Erasmus Work students must closely follow the instr uctions provided by the Study Abroad Unit in order to guarantee payment of the Er asmus grant. Failure to return the relevant paperwork will lead to the withdrawal of Erasmus funding and status. Some advice from previous work placement students: • ‘Make sure you have a mentor figure in the company, whom you know you can

approach if you have any problems. Before the start of a placement, it’s easy to assume everything will go according to plan, but obviously this can’t be guaranteed, and it’s essential you have someone who can help should there be difficulties’.

• ‘Make sure you know what your role is before you get there on the first day: it helps your mental preparation and concentration on arrival. Plus, if appropriate, you can do a bit of reading up on the company/particular aspect of the business in which you’ll be involved’.

• ‘Familiarizing yourself with some relevant vocabulary could prove massively helpful in speeding up the learning process and settling into your role when you arrive’.

• ‘If unsure: ASK!’ If you are within reach of a university you should make a point of looking into the possibility of registering as a visiting student or simply sitting in on lectures. Having student status usually gives you a range of financial benefits and it could also give you the opportunity to meet further speakers of your target language. The cost of registering as a visiting student

Tip : You should also ensure that you are able to provide other evidence (e.g. payslips) if necessary.

Page 24: resid abroad

24

varies from country to country and you may have to wade through some bureaucracy but those students who persevere usually find it is worth it.

Students spending 8 weeks abroad: Students who spend eight weeks of the summer vacation abroad pursuing an approved activity (e.g. one or more language courses, paid or unpaid work placements, dissertation research, or a combination of these activities) lasting at least six weeks in total are required to submit on their return appropriate documentary evidence:

• in the case of language courses this consists of certificates of satisfactory work and attendance

• a satisfactory report from the employer is required for work placements. Students should also ensure that they are able to provide other evidence (e.g. payslips) if necessary.

• Students undertaking dissertation research must provide their supervisor with satisfactory evidence of completion of their research plan, in the form of sources gathered and a detailed research journal.

If fewer than six of the required eight weeks of the time abroad are taken up by the approved activity/activities, students are expected to submit on their return a project in the target language of 500 words per week not spent on that activity. (Example: a student attending only one five-week course will write a project of 1500 words, as three of the eight weeks abroad have not been spent on a course.) The topic of the project is to be agreed with the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor in advance. In any case, all students spending eight weeks abroad, but pursuing an approv ed activity for a period shorter than eight weeks, must provide evidence of the dura tion of their stay (e.g. flight tickets).

Course Unit Selection for your Final Year

You will be notified via email of when course unit descriptions are available via our website during the second semester. You will also be advised of when online course unit selection will take place. If you have not received this information by 15 th April 2011 please let us know at once, by telephone (0161 275 8123), fax (0161 275 3031) or email to the Residence Abroad Coordinator or relevant UG Support Officer. Please remember that options and other information may not reach you if you don’t keep your contact details up to date on the Student System and / or fail to check your University email account .

Page 25: resid abroad

25

SECTION THREE: Returning to Manchester

Submitting Evidence You must submit appropriate evidence that you have fulfilled the residence abroad requirements to the Residence Abroad Coordinator by 30th September 2011 (30 th September 2010 for students spending only summer 20 10 abroad). Evidence will be closely examined by the Residence Abroad Coordinator and Residence Abroad Tutor to ensure that it fulfils the requirements for your degree programme. You will receive an email confirming that you have submitted satisfactory evidence and that you are considered to have fulfilled the School’s residence abroad requirements Tip: submit your evidence as soon as you can in ord er to allow time for the resolution of any potential problems (e.g. missing examination results etc.). Faxed, emailed, scanned and photocopied evidence is usuall y acceptable. You are required to keep original copies of everything you send / ha nd in as back-up in case it is misplaced / lost in the post etc.

Providing Feedback

You will have with ample opportunity to give feedback on your experiences via Learning Log questionnaire 2 and email. You are also encouraged to provide feedback in person during the office hours of your Residence Abroad Tutor and the Residence Abroad Coordinator. Some Residence Abroad Tutors will hold informal group debriefing meetings which you will be expected to attend. We will use the feedback we receive to better inform future residence abroad students about what to expect and to further develop our practice in the area. We’ll also expect you to help out, wherever possible, with briefing students undertaking residence abroad in 2011-12, responding to their questions about your residence abroad activity and the city / region you lived in etc.

Page 26: resid abroad

26

Appendix 1: Residence Abroad Regulations 2010-11 University of Manchester School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures

Residence Abroad Regulations 2010-2011 Chair of the School Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee: Dr Wiebke Brockhaus-Grand (Room S3.26; [email protected] k, tel. 07973 709 099); Residence Abroad Coordinator: Mr Dan Herman (Room S3.6; resid [email protected], tel. 0161 275 8123, fax 0161 275 3031)

Please note that, although these regulations convey most of the relevant information, students are expected to check regularly the appropriate res idence abroad noticeboards, web pages and Blackboard sites for further details (such as the d ates of meetings). Students must also regularly check their University email accounts, as information will be communicated via this method. It is their responsibility to adjust the se ttings of any spam filters to ensure that messages from the School are received.

Failure to comply with these regulations will lead to the withholding of some or all of the credits for the period of residence abroad. Where up to 20 credits have been withheld, in exceptional circumstances students may be permitted to make up these credits in the course of the final year of study. Where all credits have been withheld , this will lead to students being put on track for an unclassified (ordinary) degree. All cases wh ere the withholding of some or all of the credits is proposed must be discussed at a meeting of the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee. In preparation for such a meeting, the R esidence Abroad Coordinator will contact the student either directly or through another memb er of staff to establish whether any special circumstances need to be taken into consideration.

1. Regulations

1.1 Period of residence abroad . There are compulsory periods of residence abroad for most students following Single and Joint Honours and the Integrated Master of Modern Languages programmes of study in the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures, and for those students following Honours programmes in Combined Studies that involve a modern foreign language. The period of residence abroad varies in nature and length according to the degree programme for which the student is registered, and the definitions given below do not apply to Russian, where special arrangements are in place (please refer to section 6). Satisfactory completion of a 32-week period of residence abroad (or equivalent) carries 120 credits.

Note that in what follows references to ‘countries where a particular language is spoken’ are to be understood as ‘countries where the language in question is an official language’. In countries where there is more than one official language the student will be required to reside in an area where the target language is spoken. (The only exception to this is Russian, where a broader interpretation of the phrase is intended.) Ab-initio students are required to complete a perio d of at least 16 weeks / one semester under approved conditions in a country whe re the target language is spoken.

Page 27: resid abroad

27

The following list indicates the standard requirements for various degree programmes. It may, however, be possible to make slightly different arrangements, provided that the conditions set out in the paragraphs immediately following the list are met.

• Single Honours in Chinese Studies, French Studies, German Studies, Italian Studies and Japanese Studies: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks

• Single Honours in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin Ame rican Studies: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks. However, those students who wish to continue to study Portuguese in their final year are required spend EITHER 32 weeks in a Spanish speaking country plus 8 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country OR 16 weeks in a Spanish speaking country and 16 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country

• Single Honours in Arabic Studies, Hebrew Studies, P ersian Studies, Turkish Studies: the period of residence abroad is an academic year

• Single Honours in Middle Eastern Languages: the period of residence abroad is an academic year split equally between the two languages

• Joint Honours in American and Latin American Studie s: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks. However, those students who wish to continue to study Portuguese in their final year are required spend EITHER 32 weeks in a Spanish speaking country plus 8 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country OR 16 weeks in a Spanish speaking country and 16 weeks in a Portuguese speaking country

• Joint Honours which include one European language i n the title, including English Language and a Modern Language, English Literature and a Modern Language, History and a Modern Language, History of Art and a Modern Language, Linguistics and a Modern Language, Modern Language and Business & Management: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks

• Joint Honours in European Studies and a Modern Lang uage: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks. However, under exceptional circumstances, the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee may consider applications from students to undertake a 16 week period of residence abroad in a country of their minor language alongside a 16 week period of residence abroad in a country of the language named in the degree title.

• Joint Honours in two Modern European languages : the period of residence abroad is normally EITHER 32 weeks in the country where one of the languages studied is spoken plus eight weeks in the country where the other language studied is spoken OR 16 weeks in the country where one of the languages studied is spoken plus 16 weeks in the country where the other language studied is spoken. (See below for further details.)

• Joint Honours in a Modern European language and a M iddle Eastern Language: the period of residence abroad is EITHER two academic semesters in the country where the Middle Eastern language is spoken plus eight weeks in the country where the Modern European language is spoken OR one academic semester in the country where the Middle Eastern language is spoken plus 16 weeks in the country where the Modern European language is spoken

• Joint Honours which include one Middle Eastern lang uage in the title, including English Language and a Middle Eastern Language and Linguistics and Middle Eastern Languages: the period of residence abroad is an academic year

• Joint Honours which include Chinese or Japanese and a non-language discipline in the title: the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks

• Joint Honours which include Chinese or Japanese and another language in the title: the period of residence abroad is EITHER 32 weeks in Japan or China plus eight weeks in the country where the other language studied is spoken or 16 weeks in China or Japan plus 16 weeks in a country where the other language is spoken. Attention is drawn to the discipline requirements.

• Master of Modern Languages : Please refer to the regulations for the Master of Modern Languages programme, which are published separately

• Honours in Combined Studies : if the total value of course units in a modern foreign language amounts to 180 credits or more, the period of residence abroad is 32 weeks;

Page 28: resid abroad

28

otherwise, the requirement is for eight weeks’ vacation residence in a country in which the language studied is spoken

The above figures are to be understood as minima and do not include periods spent away from the country/countries where the language(s) being studied is/are spoken. Where, for reasons beyond the student’s and/or the School’s control, it is impossible to engage in an activity for the full 32 weeks (e.g. because contracts for certain types of English Language Assistantships last for only 28 weeks), it is strongly recommended that students find an additional activity abroad for the outstanding period. Please note that this does not apply to self-organised work placements, where the 32 week period is a requirement for Residence Abroad Tutor approval.

Students who are required to undertake a ‘year abro ad’ are urged to use vacation periods to spend, in addition, as much time as poss ible in countries where the target language is spoken.

Joint Honours students who are required to undertake a period of residence abroad for more than one language must complete a total of at least 32 weeks abroad (with a minimum of 12 weeks in the country of one of the two languages, e.g. 12 weeks in country A and 20 weeks in country B, or 14 weeks in country A and 18 weeks in country B etc.). If fewer than 12 weeks are spent in one country, the requirement for the other country automatically becomes 32 weeks.

Students whose residence abroad activity falls only slightly short of the requisite 16 or 32 weeks may prove they were in the relevant country using flight tickets or accommodation receipts for up to 2 or 4 weeks respectively.

Students in Combined Studies whose total credits in a European or Middle Eastern language do not amount to 180 credits may, with the permission of the School, interrupt their studies in Manchester and fulfil the residence abroad requirement by spending 32 weeks in the country/countries of their target language(s).

1.2 Approval of arrangements. While Residence Abroad Tutors and the Residence A broad Coordinator will offer help and advice, it is ultim ately the responsibility of students to ensure that the necessary arrangements are made for the period or periods they are required to spend abroad as an integral part of the degree programme for which they are registered. All such arrangements must be approved, before the period of residence abroad begins, and students are required to submit to the Residence Abroad Coordinator by 30 April a yellow form to be countersigned by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor confirming their arrangements for resi dence abroad. Approval for any subsequent change in arrangements will only be give n in exceptional circumstances. Students are advised that their residence abroad plans constitute serious commitments, which they will be expected to honour. Students who make changes to their arrangements which have not been approved by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor(s) in advance, and/or who pursue activities considered unsuitable by the School’s Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee will be deemed to have flouted the residence abroad regulations and will be subject to the procedures set out in 1.7 below.

1.3 Approved activities . Approval will normally be forthcoming for the following types of activity:

− study at a university, normally as an Erasmus / official Latin American / Chinese / Japanese

exchange student; − work as an English Language Assistant (ELA), under the auspices of the British Council or

Comenius programmes;

Page 29: resid abroad

29

− in the case of Russia, attendance of a course organised by Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS) at a Russian university or private language school;

− in the case of Middle Eastern Languages, attendance at a university or language school as stipulated by the Residence Abroad Tutor for Middle Eastern Studies;

− other approved employment . This does not apply to Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Persian or Turkish.

Except where special arrangements are in place, all students must complete a Declaration of Intent form, stating their proposed residence abroad activities and submit this form by 31 January (28 November for Japanese). Where proposals include activities other than those listed above, subject disciplines will need to be satisfied that students will derive sufficient linguistic and cultural experience from them before approval can be given by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor. Paid or unpaid employment, internships, voluntary work and other self-organised activities must always be approved in advance by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor. All cases where the Tutor recommends that approval be withheld will be referred to the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee for a final decision. All students are required to complete the Self-Refe rral Health and Safety Questionnaire issued by the University’s Student Occupational Hea lth Service prior to departure. Students are expected to make their Residence Abroa d Tutor or the Residence Abroad Coordinator aware of any special circumstances that could have an impact / are having an impact on the period of residence abroad. They s hould do this as soon as possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made early enough for students to benefit fully. Erasmus and other official exchange places are allocated by Residence Abroad Tutors / Erasmus Coordinators at their discretion, on the basis of student preferences (as expressed on the Declaration of Intent form) and the practicalities of making the best possible use of the places available (e.g. giving some students their second or third choices if otherwise places would remain unfilled). Where appropriate, a student’s academic record (including work and attendance) as well as his/her reasons for choosing a particular partner institution may also be taken into account. Any student who is dissatisfied with the place allocated may bring his/her case to the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee for a final decision. This should be done by setting out the reasons for dissatisfaction in writing and sending them to the Chair of the Committee.

1.4 Students undertaking a period of residence abro ad are required to complete the online registration process in September 2010. In c ase of difficulties with financial registration students should contact the Student Se rvices Centre. If difficulties are experienced with any other aspect of the registrati on process students should contact their Undergraduate Support Officer in the first in stance. As soon as possible after arrival students must inform the University of thei r new address and telephone number abroad, by updating their records on the Student Sy stem. Students must immediately update the system with any subsequent changes of ad dress or telephone number . If students have problems logging into the Student System they should contact the Student System Helpdesk to regain access and advise the Residence Abroad Coordinator or Programme Support Officer of their new contact details via email. Any changes in arrangements that they make for their stay abroad m ust have the PRIOR approval of the appropriate Residence Abroad Tutor. When required, students must make the necessary arrangements to meet any member of staff who comes to visit them during their time abroad.

1.5 In order to be awarded the appropriate number of c redits for residence abroad, students must submit satisfactory evidence that the y have fulfilled the relevant requirements. Failure to provide such evidence will attract the sanctions set out in 1.7 below.

Page 30: resid abroad

30

The following sub-sections set out the requirements which are normally applicable to all students participating in the relevant activity, un less they are overridden by the more specific requirements stipulated by individual subj ect disciplines. (a) Students spending 16 or 32 weeks abroad (i) All students studying at a foreign university must normally follow an appropriate number of courses (as determined by the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor), complete the associated examinations or other assessments, and bring back a transcript of results to prove that they have done so. Students are normally required to pass the relevant assessment(s) for each course taken. In cases of exam failure, credits for residence abroad may be withheld and students may be obliged to pay back all or part of their Erasmus Study grant. However, students who can provide satisfactory evidence of h aving fully engaged with the course in question (e.g. lecture notes, handouts, revision notes, homework, essays) are usually considered to have fulfilled the Erasmus (and hence residence abroad) requirements.

Students must also complete and return to the subject discipline concerned by the

specified dates all the questionnaires detailed in the Learning Log. The more specific requirements for students undertaking an Erasmus exchange are to

complete 25-30 ECTS credits or equivalent per semester. In addition, students must complete their host institution’s Learning Agreement form and return a signed copy to the Residence Abroad Coordinator.

• Chinese: students must BOTH obtain a pass in all units at their host institution AND

reach an agreed minimum standard in Chinese language, which can be demonstrated by EITHER: o passing HSK5 (or higher) and submitting the notification slip/certificate to the

Residence Abroad Coordinator by 15 September OR o passing an equivalent examination offered by EAS in Manchester during

Registration Week; • German : as part of the 25-30 ECTS credits per semester, students must take two

courses which are taught and assessed in German, and are available not only to foreign students. One of these courses must be concerned with an aspect of German / Austrian / Swiss culture, history and/or linguistics. A course certificate awarded merely on the basis of attendance (Teilnahmeschein) is not acceptable for either of these courses;

• Italian : students studying at an Italian University must take the examinations for all courses studied;

• Russian: students are required to follow the courses specified in Section 9 satisfactorily;

• Japanese: students must BOTH obtain a pass in all units at their host institution AND reach an agreed minimum standard in Japanese language, which can be demonstrated by EITHER: o passing JLPT2 (or higher) and submitting the notification slip/certificate to the

Residence Abroad Coordinator by 15 September OR o passing an equivalent examination offered by EAS in Manchester during

Registration Week; • Middle Eastern Studies: students are required to submit a certificate of attendance

at the foreign institution(s) to which they are attached, a report from the institution(s) regarding their work, transcripts of marks of examinations or of formal assessment and a 1000-word report about the period of residence abroad.

(ii) Students working as English Language Assistants in schools will be deemed to

have fulfilled the requirements on receipt of a satisfactory report, either from an

Page 31: resid abroad

31

authorised representative of the school at which they taught, or from the Education Ministry of the country or federal state concerned. In addition, students must complete and return to the relevant subject discipline by the specified dates all the questionnaires detailed in the Learning Log.

(iii) Students who take up other approved forms of employment will be deemed to have

fulfilled the requirements on receipt of a satisfactory report from their employer. Students should also ensure that they are able to provide other evidence (e.g. payslips) if necessary. In addition, students must complete and return to the relevant subject discipline by the specified dates all the questionnaires detailed in the Learning Log.

(b) Students spending eight weeks abroad

(i) Students who spend eight weeks of the summer vacation abroad pursuing an approved activity (e.g. one or more language courses, paid or unpaid work placements, dissertation research, or a combination of these activities) lasting at least six weeks in total are required to submit on their return appropriate documentary evidence (see (iii) below). If fewer than six of the required eight weeks of the time abroad are taken up by the approved activity/activities, students are expected to submit on their return a project in the target language of 500 words per week not spent on that activity. (Example: A student attending only one five-week course will write a project of 1500 words, as three of the eight weeks abroad have not been spent on a course.) The topic of the project is to be agreed with the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor in advance. In any case, all students spending eight weeks abroad, but pursuing an approved activity for a period shorter than eight weeks, must provide evidence of the duration of their stay (e.g. flight tickets).

(ii) Information about language courses and work placements can be found on the Residence Abroad notice boards (between S3.18 and S3.22) and in the residence abroad leaflet racks (between S3.6 and S3.7). The Residence Abroad Coordinator will provide students with access to a list of courses/activities undertaken by students in previous years.

(iii) Appropriate documentary evidence in the case of language courses consists of certificates of satisfactory work and attendance, while a satisfactory report from the employer is required for work placements. (Students should also ensure that they are able to provide other evidence (e.g. payslips) if necessary.) Students undertaking dissertation research must agree an appropriate research plan in advance with their (provisional) dissertation supervisor. On their return, they must provide to the supervisor satisfactory evidence of completion of this plan, in the form of sources gathered and a detailed research journal.

1.6 Students who anticipate that, for reasons beyond their control, they may be unable to fulfil the residence abroad requirements laid down under 1.5 above must contact the relevant Residence Abroad Tutor as soon as the difficulties become apparent . The Tutor (in consultation with the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee) will advise the student on the best course of action and will agree appropriate changes to the student’s residence abroad plans with him/her. NB. Changes to the residence abroad arrangements wi ll normally not be approved retrospectively . Students who do not follow the agreed plan or fail to contact their Residence Abroad Tutor as soon as pro blems arise will be deemed to have flouted the residence abroad regulations and will b e subject to the procedures set out in 1.7 below.

Page 32: resid abroad

32

1.7 Failure to comply with these regulations will l ead to the withholding of some or all of the credits for the period of residence abroad. Where u p to 20 credits have been withheld, students may, in exceptional circumstances, at the Committee 's discretion, be permitted to make up these credits in the course of the final year of st udy. Where all credits have been withheld, this will lead to students being put on track for an unc lassified (ordinary) degree. Where students have been engaged in an Erasmus-funded activity, st udents may be obliged to pay back all or part of their Erasmus grant. (If the remaining Eras mus-funded period falls below six months as a result, this will also invalidate any fee-waiver pr eviously applicable and students will become liable to pay the reduced residence abroad fee to t he University of Manchester.) All cases where the withholding of some or all of the credits is proposed must be discussed at a meeting of the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee. In preparation for such a meeting, the Residence Abroad Coordinator will contact the student either directly or through another member of staff to establish whether any mitigating circumstances need to be taken into consideration.

1.8 There are normally two sets of circumstances under which students are considered for

exemption from periods of residence abroad : (a) Students unlikely to benefit from further residence abroad The Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee may exempt those students from the relevant residence abroad requirements who meet both of the following conditions. Firstly, they should be able to demonstrate that they have had recent experience of living and studying or working in the country of the target language for a continuous period at least equivalent to that required by these regulations. (In this context, 'recent' is normally understood to mean not more than three years prior to the beginning of the required period of residence abroad.) Secondly, their level of competence in the language concerned should already be so high that no, or very little, further improvement can be expected to be achieved. (b) Students affected by special circumstances Students who, for compelling medical and/or personal reasons, anticipate being unable to spend the required period(s) abroad should contact the Residence Abroad Coordinator as soon as possible to discuss their situation. Independent documentary evidence is normally required for the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee to agree to exempt a student from the usual residence abroad requirements. (If these special circumstances were in existence before the student was admitted to the programme of study, they should have been raised during the admissions process.) It should be noted that financial hardship is not normally considered a valid reason for exemption, unless this was wholly unforeseeable when the student embarked on the degree programme concerned. Students who do not fulfil the residence abroad requirements in their entirety do not benefit from the same exposure to target language and target culture as their peers. For this reason, students whose applications for exemption have been accepted are strongly advised not to proceed directly to the final year of study, but to take advantage of the opportunity to spend Year 3 in Manchester, registered as full-time students, but paying only the reduced residence abroad fee. During this period, they are then able to improve their language skills and cultural understanding by taking advantage of one or more of the following:

• Access to the University Language Centre with its extensive range of language learning resources (including on-line), enabling them to put to full use the independent language learning skills practised under guidance from their tutors during Years 1 and 2

• Access to the University library • Permission to attend regularly classes in their subject discipline(s) at Levels 1 and/or 2

(chosen in consultation with their Personal Tutor), but without participating in assessments or gaining credits

• Permission to take one or two Tandem courses in their language(s) of study, provided that they commit themselves to full participation, including assessment (but any credits gained will not count towards their degree programme)

Page 33: resid abroad

33

• Access to contact details of incoming exchange students, so that they can practise their speaking skills informally

Students who, for whatever reason, do not wish to remain enrolled for Year 3 will be given permission to interrupt their studies and leave Manchester. However, in such cases the University can accept no responsibility for any sho rtcomings in students’ skills, competences and understanding which may become appa rent when they return for their final year of study and such shortcomings will not be accepted as grounds for any appeal or complaint at a later stage. Students who opt for this course of action will be required to sign a disclaimer to the effect that th ey accept the element of risk involved. A third option is for students to proceed from Year 2 directly into final year, but this almost inevitably puts them at a disadvantage compared to students returning from a period of residence abroad, and the University can accept no responsibility for any shortcomings in their skills, competences and understanding which m ay become apparent during the final year of study. Such shortcomings will not be accepted as grounds for any appeal or complaint at a later stage. Students who opt for th is course of action will be required to sign a disclaimer to the effect that they accept th e element of risk involved.

2 Funding

European Union students taking part in Erasmus Study exchanges or placements under the auspices of Erasmus Work which last a full academic year are likely not to have to pay tuition fees in Manchester. All other students are required to pay a reduced residence abroad tuition fee. (This is a matter of Department for Business, Innovation and Skills policy and not under the control of the School or the University.) Students taking part in the RLUS Russian study programme for either one or two semesters have their tuition fees paid in advance to the Russian institutions by the University of Manchester, but are still liable to pay the reduced year-abroad fee to the University of Manchester at the appropriate time. Students taking part in pre-arranged study programmes for either one or two semesters at University of Alexandria, Egypt (Arabic), University of Jordan (Arabic), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Hebrew) and / or the International Center for Persian Studies, University of Tehran (Persian) have their fees paid by the University of Manchester (in advance for Arabic and Hebrew, by reimbursement for Persian), but are still liable to pay the reduced residence abroad fee to the University of Manchester at the appropriate time.

A measure of financial support is available to students who will be spending eight weeks abroad. Those attending one or more language courses or in unpaid employment while abroad can apply to the School for £600 to be paid into their bank accounts in advance. Students in paid employment and those benefitting from free board, lodging and/or travel during their eight-week period abroad are expected to provide evidence of their income (both wages and other grants such as Erasmus Work) and/or other benefits for the period abroad and the initial grant will make up the difference between this income and the maximum amount of £600. (Students pursuing this activity who fail to submit evidence of their expected income by the deadline stated on the application form will receive no grant.) Students on work placements of 12 weeks or more are likely to be eligible for an Erasmus Work award, details of which are made available to students every year via the Blackboard site for residence abroad and briefing meetings.

Page 34: resid abroad

34

3 Residence Abroad in China

Residence Abroad Tutor: Mr Ablimit Baki (Room S4.6 Tel. 0161 275 3236, [email protected])

Formal Links : Students whose degree programme regulations require them to spend their third year in China may apply for one of the places available to Manchester students either at Shanghai (Fudan and East China Normal), Nanjing, Beijing (Renmin, Normal and Tsinghua), Guangzhou (Sun Yat-Sen), Shandong, National Taiwan or CU Hong Kong.

Preparation . In order to help students get the most from their residence abroad a series of meetings is held during the course of Year 2, where students are provided with vital preparatory information and are given an opportunity to ask questions about their period of residence abroad. Practical information is given on how to find out about the town or city in which they will be living, and advice from any students who have already completed the period of residence abroad is passed on and discussed. Email addresses of students currently studying or working in China may be made available for the use of students who are planning their period of residence abroad and who may wish to contact them.

Language Attainment Requirement The minimum period of residence abroad is 32 weeks but students taking two languages (e.g. French and Chinese) can theoretically spend only 16 weeks in China. However, it would be most unwise for students to do so, unless they already have a very high linguistic attainment (likely only in cases of previous residence in the country). A pass in the language test is required in order to meet the residence abroad requirements and the test is the same for all students whether on single or joint honours programmes. All students must satisfy the residence abroad requirements by BOTH obtaining a pass in all units at their host institution AND by reaching an agreed minimum standard in Chinese language that can be demonstrated by either:

i) Success in the relevant public examination (the HSK) at the designated level (5) or higher demonstrated by the notification slip/certificate (a copy must be sent to the Residence Abroad Coordinator by 15 September) Or ii) A pass mark in an examination at the same level offered by EAS in Manchester in September. Students must make themselves available for this ex amination in September during Registration Week.

In the event of a student not presenting proof of a pass in HSK5 or not passing the September examination they will not have satisfactorily completed the requirements for the 120 credits from residence abroad.

4 Residence Abroad in a French-speaking country

Residence Abroad Tutor, Erasmus Coordinator, English Language Assistantships Tutor: Dr Darren Waldron (Tel. 0161 275 3217, [email protected]) Work Placement Tutor: Dr Barbara Lebrun (Tel. 0161 275 3231, barbara.lebrun@ manchester.ac.uk)

LLP ERASMUS STUDY exchange programmes . Students whose degree programme regulations require them to spend their third year in France may apply for one of the places available to Manchester students either at the Université Charles-de-Gaulle - Lille 3, Université Jean Moulin, Lyon 3, Université de Poitiers, Paris IV La Sorbonne, Université de Rennes II-Haute Bretagne, Université d‘Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, Université Stendhal-Grenoble 3, Université de Toulouse Le Mirail), Université de la Réunion. Further details of these

Page 35: resid abroad

35

institutions and practical advice on university study abroad are available via the Blackboard site residence abroad. Lyon 3 . At the Université Jean Moulin, Lyon 3, students from Manchester may take a variety of courses - e.g. Grammar; Translation; French Literature of different periods; computer skills. Students who pass their examinations at the end of the year receive the Diplôme d'Études des Universités Françaises. Students interested in studying theatre may apply to go to Avignon . Students pursuing an applied languages course may go to Paris . Students interested in literature and media studies may apply to go to Rennes . Students wanting to follow courses in Business Studies may select Poitiers . Students are able to complete a variety of different courses at the Université Charles-de-Gaulle – Lille 3, including literature, theatre studies and film.

English Language Assistantships . Application forms for posts as English Language Assistants in French and French-speaking schools may be obtained from the Residence Abroad Coordinator and must be returned (together with a reference from the student's academic adviser) to the Residence Abroad Coordinator by mid-November. Dr Waldron is responsible for dealing with assistantships and will be happy to help, should queries or problems arise. Employment . Students who wish to take up other forms of employment in a French-speaking country should be aware that the University is not in a position to arrange this for them. Dr Lebrun will be happy to advise and support students in the process of setting up a placement for themselves. Approval is required from Dr Lebrun. Further details and practical advice on work placements are available via the Blackboard site for residence abroad. Vacation residence . Students intending to fulfil the vacation residence requirement may do so by arranging a paid or unpaid work placement, taking one or more of the numerous university summer school courses in French as a foreign language which are offered by French institutions (see www.fle.fr for information), or conducting dissertation research. Details of the regulations governing these three options can be found in Section 1.5(b) and information about funding in Section 2. Preparation . In order to help students get the most from their residence abroad, a series of meetings is held during the course of Year 2, where students are provided with vital preparatory information and are given an opportunity to ask questions about their period of residence abroad. Practical information is given on how to find out about the town or city in which they will be living, and advice from students who have already completed a period of residence abroad is passed on and discussed. Email addresses of students currently studying or working in French-speaking countries are made available for the use of students who are planning their period of residence abroad and who may wish to contact them. More information about practicalities can be gained from existing students via the Blackboard site for residence abroad.

5 Residence Abroad in a German-speaking country

Residence Abroad Tutor, Erasmus Coordinator, English Language Assistantships Tutor, Work Placement Coordinator: Dr Wiebke Brockhaus-Grand (Room S3.26; [email protected], tel. 07973 709 099) LLP ERASMUS STUDY exchange programmes . German Studies operates LLP Erasmus Study exchange programmes with the Universities of Freiburg, Hamburg, Heidelberg and Leipzig as well as Berlin's Humboldt University in Germany, the University of Innsbruck in Austria, and the University of Basle in Switzerland (Swiss Erasmus Study shadow scheme).

Page 36: resid abroad

36

Further details of these institutions and practical advice on university study abroad are available on the Residence Abroad Blackboard site and in the Student Resource Room (S2.5). English Language Assistantships . Application forms for posts as English Language Assistants in German and Austrian schools may be obtained from the Residence Abroad Coordinator and must be returned (together with a reference from the student's academic adviser) by mid-November. Although there are often more assistantship places available than there are applicants, deadlines must nevertheless be adhered to. Dr Wiebke Brockhaus-Grand is responsible for dealing with assistantships and will be happy to help, should queries or problems arise. Most assistantships run for a full academic year, so it is only occasionally possible to combine them with other activities lasting for more than 12 weeks during any one year. Employment . Students who wish to take up other forms of employment in a German-speaking country should be aware that the University is not in a position to arrange this for them. However, Dr Brockhaus-Grand, whose prior approval is required for any work placement, will be happy to advise and support students in the process of setting up a placement for themselves. Students will find it helpful to start their search using the links on the Residence Abroad Blackboard site. It is essential to begin searching and applying as early as October, because arrangements will have to have been finalised by the end of April. Vacation residence . Students intending to fulfil the vacation residence requirement may do so by arranging a paid or unpaid work placement, taking one or more of the numerous university summer school courses in German as a foreign language which are offered by institutions in German-speaking countries, or conducting dissertation research. Details of the regulations governing these three options can be found in Section 1.5(b) and information about funding in Section 2. Further information and useful links are available on the Residence Abroad Blackboard site. Preparation . In order to help students get the most from their residence abroad a series of meetings is held during the course of Year 2, where students are provided with vital preparatory information and are given an opportunity to ask questions about their period of residence abroad. Practical information is given on all aspects of spending time in a German-speaking country and advice from students who have already completed the period of residence abroad is passed on and discussed. Email addresses of students currently studying or working in a German-speaking country are made available for the use of students who are planning their period of residence abroad and who may wish to contact them. An additional important source of relevant information is the Residence Abroad Blackboard site.

6 Residence Abroad in an Italian-speaking country

Residence Abroad Tutor, Erasmus Coordinator, English Language Assistantships Tutor, Work Placement Coordinator: Dr David Laven (Room W3.16.; [email protected])

LLP ERASMUS STUDY exchange programmes . Italian Studies operates LLP ERASMUS STUDY exchange programmes with the Universities of Bergamo, Bologna, Cagliari (t.b.c), Macerata, Naples (Federico II), Palermo, Perugia, Pisa, Ferrara and Siena (per stranieri). Students of History and Italian and of History of Art and Italian may be able to participate in exchanges with the Universities of Venice and Pavia respectively.

English Language Assistantships . Application forms for posts as English Language Assistants in Italian schools may be obtained from the Residence Abroad Coordinator and must be returned (together with a reference from the student's academic adviser) by mid-November. Assistantships are very limited in number and are available only to students spending a full academic year in Italy. Anyone seriously interested in taking up this option should see the Residence Abroad Tutor as soon as possible after the start of the academic year.

Page 37: resid abroad

37

Employment . Students who wish to take up other forms of employment in Italy should be aware that the University is not in a position to arrange this for them. However, Dr Laven, whose prior approval is required for any work placement, will be happy to advise and support students in the process of setting up a placement for themselves. Vacation residence . Students intending to fulfil the vacation residence requirement may do so by arranging a paid or unpaid work placement, taking one or more of the numerous university summer school courses in Italian as a foreign language which are offered by institutions in Italy, or conducting dissertation research. Details of the regulations governing these three options can be found in Section 1.5(b) and information about funding in Section 2.

Preparation . In order to help students get the most from their residence abroad a series of meetings is held during the course of Year 2, where students are provided with vital preparatory information and are given an opportunity to ask questions about their period of residence abroad. Practical information is given on how to find out about the town or city in which they will be living, advice from students who have already completed the period of residence abroad is passed on and discussed, and there is an opportunity to meet Italian students from those universities in Italy with which Italian Studies has exchange schemes.

7 Residence Abroad in Japan Residence Abroad Tutor: Dr. Peter Cave (Room NG.9, Tel. 0161 275 3195, [email protected]) Formal links . Hiroshima, Hitotsubashi, Hokkaido (to be confirmed), Kansai, Kansai Gaidai, Keio, Kobe, Kwansei Gakuin, Kyoto, Meiji, Meiji Gakuin, Nanzan (to be confirmed), Ochanomizu (women only), Osaka, Rikkyo, Ritsumeikan, Saitama (to be confirmed), Tokyo, Tokyo Gaigodai, Waseda, Yamagata universities

Preparation In order to help students get the most from their residence abroad a series of meetings is held during the course of Year 2, where students are provided with vital preparatory information and are given an opportunity to ask questions about their period of residence abroad. Practical information is given on how to find out about the town or city in which they will be living, and advice from students who have recently completed a period of residence abroad is passed on and discussed. Email addresses of students currently studying or working in Japan are made available for the use of students who are planning their period of residence abroad and who may wish to contact them. Language Attainment Requirement The minimum period of residence abroad is 32 weeks but students taking two languages (e.g. French and Chinese) can theoretically spend only 16 weeks in Japan. However, it would be most unwise for students to do so, unless they already have a very high linguistic attainment (likely only in cases of previous residence in the country). A pass in the language test is required in order to meet the residence abroad requirements and the test is the same for all students whether on single or joint honours programmes. All students must satisfy the residence abroad requirements by BOTH obtaining a pass in all units at their host institution AND by reaching an agreed minimum standard in Japanese language that can be demonstrated by either:

i) Success in the relevant public examination (the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or JLPT) at the designated level (2) or higher demonstrated by the notification slip/certificate (a copy must be sent to the Residence Abroad Coordinatorby 15 September) Or

Page 38: resid abroad

38

ii) A pass mark in an examination at the same level offered by EAS in Manchester in September. Students must make themselves available for this ex amination in September during Registration Week.

In the event of a student not presenting proof of a pass in JLPT2 or not passing the September examination they will not have satisfactorily completed the requirements for the 120 credits from residence abroad.

8 Residence Abroad in Arabic-, Hebrew-, Persian- an d Turkish-speaking countries Residence Abroad Tutor (specialist for Arabic and Persian): Dr Dominic Brookshaw (Room SG 10, Tel. 0161 275 3071, dominic.p.brookshaw@manchester. ac.uk) Dr Brookshaw is supported by: Dr Fikret Turan (Erasmus Coordinator, specialist for Turkish: Room SG.5, Tel 0161 275 3066, [email protected]) Mrs Sophie Garside (Exchange Coordinator, specialist for Hebrew: Room SG 21, Tel 0161 2775 3067) LLP ERASMUS STUDY exchange programmes : Middle Eastern Studies operates an LLP Erasmus Study exchange programme with Istanbul University Formal links . Middle Eastern Studies operates formal links with the University of Alexandria,

Egypt (Arabic), University of Jordan (Arabic), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Hebrew), International Centre for Persian Studies, Tehran (Persian) and Istanbul University (Turkish).

Preparation In order to help students get the most from their residence abroad a series of meetings is held during the course of Year 2, where students are provided with vital preparatory information and are given an opportunity to ask questions about their period of residence abroad. Practical information is given on how to find out about the town or city in which they will be living, and advice from students who have already completed the period of residence abroad is passed on and discussed. Email addresses of students currently studying or working in a Middle Eastern country are made available for the use of students who are planning their period of residence abroad and who may wish to contact them.

9 Residence Abroad in a Russian-speaking count ry

Residence Abroad Tutor: Dr Lynne Attwood (Room W408; [email protected]) Students are required to check the RLUS website for information about the various courses on offer and the cities in which they are located, as well as information about applying for visas etc.

Single Honours Russian (beginners): Students are required to spend the entire academic year in Russia, on courses organised by Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS). These courses are currently held in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslavl', Tver, Petrozavodsk and Volgograd. The courses offered by RLUS run for 36 weeks, 16 weeks (Semester 1 only), 18 weeks (Semester 2 only) and 13 weeks. Students may take a 36 week course in either St. Petersburg or Moscow, or divide the year between any of the six centres mentioned above, taking one 16 week and one 18 week course or one 13 week course and one 18 week course. The courses in Tver and Petrozavodsk are available only in Semester 1, and the course in Volgograd only in Semester 2. Single Honours Russian (A-level entry): Students are required to spend the entire academic year in Russia, normally on courses organised by Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS). These courses are currently held in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslavl', Tver,

Page 39: resid abroad

39

Petrozavodsk and Volgograd. Students may take a 36 week course in either St. Petersburg or Moscow, or divide the year between any of the six centres mentioned above, taking one 16 week and one 18 week course, or one 13 week course and one 18 week course. The courses in Tver and Petrozavodsk are available only in Semester 1, and the course in Volgograd only in Semester 2. Alternatively, subject to approval, students may make their own arrangements to work in a Russian-speaking country in lieu of attendance on a course. Joint Honours programmes (beginners) : students on programmes which require the study of two languages may choose to spend the entire academic year in Russia, or Semester 1 only, on courses organised by Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS). The courses are currently held in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslavl', Tver, Petrozavodsk and Volgograd. Students wishing to spend the academic year in Russia may take a 36 week course in either St. Petersburg or Moscow, or divide the year between any of the six centres mentioned above, taking one 16 week and one 18 week course, or one 13 week course and one 18 week course. The courses in Tver and Petrozavodsk are available only in Semester 1, and the course in Volgograd only in Semester 2. Students on joint honours programmes in which Russian is the only language studied (such as A Modern Language and Business and Management) must spend the entire academic year in Russia, on one or more of the courses referred to above. Joint Honours programmes (A-level entry) : students on programmes which require the study of two languages may choose to spend the entire academic year in Russia, or Semester 1 only, normally on courses organised by Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS). The courses are currently held in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslavl', Tver, Petrozavodsk and Volgograd. Students wishing to spend the academic year in Russia may take a 36 week course in either St. Petersburg or Moscow, or divide the year between any of the six centres mentioned above, taking one 16 week and one 18 week course, or one 13 week course and one 18 week course. Courses in Tver and Petrozavodsk are available only in Semester 1, and the course in Volgograd only in Semester 2. Alternatively, subject to approval, students may make their own arrangements to work in Russia in lieu of attendance on a course. In the case of students on programmes which require the study of two languages, it is also possible to spend both semesters in a country where the other language studied is spoken. In this case a minimum of eight weeks must be spent on an approved language course in Russia in the summer vacation preceding Year 4. Students on joint honours programmes in which Russian is the only language studied (such as A Modern Language and Business and Management) must spend the entire academic year in Russia. They can either attend one or more of the courses referred to above; or, subject to approval, they may make their own arrangements to work in Russia in lieu of attendance on a course.

Combined Studies (beginners and A-level entry) : students in the Honours School of Combined Studies whose Russian course units total 180 credits or more spend the entire academic year in Russia, normally on courses organised by Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS). The courses are currently held in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslavl', Tver, Petrozavodsk and Volgograd. Students may take a 36 week course in either St. Petersburg or Moscow, or divide the year between any of the six centres mentioned above, taking one 16 week and one 18 week course, or one 13 week course and one 18 week course. The courses in Tver and Petrozavodsk are available only in Semester 1, and the course in Volgograd only in Semester 2. Students in the Honours School of Combined Studies whose Russian course units total less than 180 credits are required to spend a minimum of eight weeks on a language course in Russia in the summer vacation preceding Year 3. Alternatively, permission may be sought for students to interrupt their studies and spend an academic year in Russia. Preparation : Meetings for all students due to go to Russia (either in Year 3 or the summer vacation) are normally held early in the preceding November, and then as necessary thereafter. A meeting will also be arranged with final year students, who have already spent the required period in Russia and will be able to offer advice and share their experiences. With the exception of students who choose to make their own arrangements for employment, all students are given

Page 40: resid abroad

40

assistance with the necessary arrangements (course bookings, visas, insurance, and, if they wish, travel and accommodation). Detailed briefing documents are also provided.

10 Residence Abroad in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaki ng country

Residence Abroad Tutor, Erasmus Coordinator, Work Placement Coordinator, English Language Assistantship Tutor:

Dr Iris Bachmann (Room N3.6, [email protected])

Dr Bachmann is supported by: Portugal: Prof. Hilary Owen (Room N3.3, [email protected]); Brazil: Prof. Lúcia Sá (Room N3.15, [email protected])

LLP ERASMUS STUDY exchange programmes: Spanish, Portuguese and Latin-American Studies operates LLP Erasmus Study exchange programmes in Spain with the Universidad de Almería, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Universidad de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Universidad de Deusto (Bilbao), Universidad de La Rioja (Logroño), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad de Valencia, Universidad de Vigo and Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes (Valladolid); and, in Portugal, the universities of Coimbra and Porto.

Other formal links: . Spanish, Portuguese and Latin-American Studies also operates other formal links with the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago); Universidad de las Américas, Puebla (Mexico); Universidad ORT (Montevideo); Universidad del Salvador (Buenos Aires); Universidade Federal de Paraíba, João Pessoa (Brazil); Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil,) and the Centro de Lingüística Aplicada (Santiago de Cuba). Please note that Latin American exchange places are normally only available to those students achieving an average of 60% in their first year of study. English Language Assistantships . Application forms for posts as English Language Assistants in Hispanic and Portuguese schools may be obtained from the Residence Abroad Coordinator and must be returned (together with a reference from the student's academic adviser) by mid-November. Assistantships run for a full academic year, so it is not possible to combine them with other activities lasting for more than 12 weeks during any one year.

Employment . Students who wish to take up other forms of employment in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country should be aware that the University is not in a position to arrange this for them. However, Dr Iris Bachmann, who has responsibility for the approval of work placements and voluntary work, will be happy to advise and support students in the process of setting up a placement for themselves. Students are required to seek prior approval from her for any work placement. Further information is available through the Residence Abroad Blackboard site.

Vacation residence . Students intending to fulfil the vacation residence requirement may do so by arranging a paid or unpaid work placement, taking one or more of the numerous university summer school courses in Spanish or Portuguese for foreigners which are offered by institutions in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, or conducting dissertation research. Details of the regulations governing these three options can be found in Section 1.5(b) and information about funding in Section 2.

Preparation In order to help students get the most from their residence abroad a series of meetings is held during the course of Year 2, where students are provided with vital preparatory information and are given an opportunity to ask questions about their period of residence abroad. Practical information is given on how to find out about the town or city in which they will

Page 41: resid abroad

41

be living, and advice from students who have already completed the period of residence abroad is passed on and discussed. Email addresses of students currently studying or working in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country are made available for the use of students who are planning their period of residence abroad and who may wish to contact them.

11 Staff visits

Members of the academic staff will visit students spending a period of residence abroad, if it is feasible to do so, and certainly if they are in countries in continental Europe and spending both semesters in the same country. The timing of meetings varies between language disc ipline areas, and students will be given an indication of likely dates well in advance. All students must make every effort to attend, travelling if nec essary to the centre designated for the meeting. (Expenses incurred will be refunded.) These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to discuss progress, offer feedback on the experience of the period of residence abroad, consider the range of optional course units available in the final year of the degree programme, and raise any other matters of interest or concern with the visiting tutor. It is the responsibility of students during the period of residence abroad to facilitate arrangements for visits by members of staff, and to maintain contact with the language di scipline(s) with which they are registered in Manchester throughout the year.

Page 42: resid abroad

42

Appendix 2: Contact List

CONTACTS IN THE SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LINGUISTICS AN D CULTURES Dan Herman Residence Abroad Coordinator Contact for: general information, advice and guidance on residence abroad, the residence abroad regulations, vacation grant, fulfilling the residence abroad requirements. Phone: 0161 275 8123 Email: [email protected] Dan is assisted, on a part-time basis, by Stuart Davis, Residence Abroad Officer (see contact details below). Residence Abroad Tutors Contact for: academic questions (advice and/or approval of course choices)

Name Phone Email (@manchester.ac.uk)

Chinese Studies

Mr Ablimit Baki 0161 275 0906 ablimit.baki

Dr Darren Waldron (Erasmus exchanges and ELAs)

0161 275 3217 darren.waldron French Studies

Dr Barbara Lebrun (work placements)

0161 275 3231 barbara.lebrun

German Studies

Dr Wiebke Brockhaus-Grand (Erasmus exchanges, ELAs and work placements)

0161 275 3180 07973 709 099 wiebke.brockhaus-grand

Italian Studies Dr David Laven 0161 275 3126 david.laven Japanese Studies

Dr Peter Cave 0161 275 3195 peter.cave

Dr Dominic Brookshaw 0161 275 3070 dominic.p.brookshaw Dr Fikret Turan (Turkish) 0161 275 3066 fikret.turan

Middle Eastern Studies Mrs Sophie Garside

(Hebrew) 0161 275 3067 sophie.garside

Russian and East European Studies

Dr Lynne Attwood 0161 275 3133 lynne.attwood

Dr Iris Bachmann (Erasmus / Latin American exchanges, ELAs and work placements)

0161 275 3026 iris.bachmann

Prof. Hilary Owen (Portugal)

0161 275 3687 hilary.owen

Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Prof. Lúcia Sá (Brazil) 0161 275 8666 lucia.sa

Page 43: resid abroad

43

Undergraduate Support Team Contact for: enquiries about final year course options, submission of Learning Log tasks

Name Phone Email (@manchester.ac.uk)

East Asian Studies

Emily Birch 0161 275 8667 emily.j.birch

Wendy Howat 0161 275 3183 wendy.howat French Studies Gill Worrall 0161 275 3209 gill.worrall German Studies

Rachel Corrigan 0161 275 3182 rachel.corrigan

Italian Studies Angela Aspden 0161 306 1727 angela.aspden-2 Linguistics and English Language

Gillian Woodward 0161 275 3124 gillian.woodward

Master of Modern Languages

Stuart Davis 0161 275 3242 stuart.davis

Residence Abroad Officer

Stuart Davis 0161 275 3242 residenceabroad

Middle Eastern Studies

Mirka Hukelova 0161 275 3595 miroslava.hukelova

Russian and East European Studies

Stuart Davis 0161 275 3242 stuart.davis

Wendy Howat 0161 275 3183 wendy.howat Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Bernadette Cunnane 0161 275 3040 bernadette.cunnane

European Studies

Rachel Corrigan 0161 275 3182 rachel.corrigan

MLBM Mirka Hukelova 0161 275 3595 miroslava.hukelova Undergraduate Coordinator

Fiona Hallard 0161 276 1625 fiona.hallard

Undergraduate Coordinator

Linda Fraser 0161 275 3242 linda.fraser

Undergraduate Manager

Elizabeth Nolan 0161 275 8056 elizabeth.m.nolan

The School’s fax number is 0161 275 3031.

Page 44: resid abroad

44

Appendix 3: Checklists for Work, Study, ELAs and 8 Weeks Abroad Checklist for Study Abroad Before You Go:

1. Attend Briefing Meetings 2. Research potential universities 3. Submit Declaration of Intent Form (n/a to MES and Russian) 4. Receive host university place allocation from your Residence Abroad Tutor/

Erasmus Coordinator 5. Apply to host university 6. Attend Pre-Departure Briefings 7. Complete and submit Erasmus Contract to Study Abroad Unit (Erasmus only) 8. Complete and submit Confirmation of Plans (“yellow”) form to LLC Residence

Abroad Coordinator During Your Time Abroad:

1. Complete and submit Erasmus Learning Agreement form(s) (see instructions on Blackboard), where completing period of Erasmus Study

2. Complete and submit relevant Learning Log questionnaires and tasks (see instructions on Blackboard)

3. Attend all relevant lectures, seminars and examinations 4. Answer questions from Manchester students considering study abroad 5. Get your Erasmus Certificate of Attendance (Erasmus only) signed and submit it to

the Study Abroad Unit 6. Complete your Erasmus Report and submit it to the Study Abroad Unit 7. Request your Transcript of Results

When You’re Back:

1. Submit Transcript of Results to the School of LLC Residence Abroad Coordinator 2. Make the effort to welcome incoming exchange students from our partner

universities 3. Answer questions from Manchester students considering study abroad 4. Make yourself available to help at briefing meetings and the Study Abroad Unit’s

Pre-Departure Briefings to tell other students about your experiences abroad Checklist for Work Abroad Before You Go:

1. Attend Briefing Meetings 2. Prepare CV and covering letter 3. Research and apply to potential employers 4. Submit Declaration of Intent Form 5. Seek approval for placement from Work Placement Coordinator

Page 45: resid abroad

45

6. Complete Work Training Agreement form (see Blackboard for instructions and proforma)

7. Attend Pre-Departure Briefings 8. Complete and submit Erasmus Contract to Study Abroad Unit (Erasmus only) 9. Complete and submit Confirmation of Plans (“yellow”) form to LLC Residence

Abroad Coordinator During Your Time Abroad:

1. Complete and submit relevant Learning Log questionnaires and tasks (see instructions on Blackboard)

2. Answer questions from Manchester students considering work abroad 3. Get your Erasmus Certificate of Attendance (Erasmus only) signed and submit it to

the Study Abroad Unit 4. Complete your Erasmus Report and submit it to the Study Abroad Unit (Erasmus

only) 5. Request Transcript of Work

When You’re Back:

1. Submit Transcript of Work to the School of LLC Residence Abroad Coordinator 2. Make the effort to welcome incoming exchange students from our partner

universities 3. Answer questions from Manchester students considering work abroad 4. Make yourself available to help at briefing meetings and the Study Abroad Unit’s

Pre-Departure Briefings to tell other students about your experiences abroad Checklist for British Council ELA Before You Go:

1. Attend Briefing Meetings 2. Request reference from Academic Adviser 3. Submit completed application form to Residence Abroad Coordinator 4. Submit Declaration of Intent Form 5. Seek approval for placement from Work Placement Coordinator 6. Complete Work Training Agreement form 7. Attend Pre-Departure Briefings 8. Complete and submit Erasmus Contract to Study Abroad Unit (Erasmus eligible

ELAs only) 9. Complete and submit Confirmation of Plans (“yellow”) form to LLC Residence

Abroad Coordinator 10. Receive school allocation from British Council 11. Make contact with host school(s)

During Your Time Abroad:

1. Complete and submit relevant Learning Log questionnaires and tasks (see instructions on Blackboard)

Page 46: resid abroad

46

2. Answer questions from Manchester students considering British Council ELA scheme

3. Submit Erasmus Report and Erasmus Certificate of Attendance to Study Abroad Unit (Erasmus eligible ELAs only)

4. Request Transcript of Work from your host school(s) When You’re Back:

1. Submit Transcript of Work to the School of LLC Residence Abroad Coordinator 2. Make the effort to welcome incoming exchange students from our partner

universities 3. Answer questions from Manchester students considering the British Council ELA

scheme 4. Make yourself available to help at briefing meetings and the Study Abroad Unit’s

Pre-Departure Briefings to tell other students about your experiences abroad Checklist for 8 Week Vacation Period Study Abroad Before You Go:

1. Attend Briefing Meetings 2. Research potential language courses 3. Submit Declaration of Intent Form 4. Submit Vacation Residence Abroad Form 5. Pay for language course 6. Attend Pre-Departure Briefings 7. Complete and submit Confirmation of Plans (“yellow”) form to LLC Residence

Abroad Coordinator During Your Time Abroad:

1. Complete and submit relevant Learning Log questionnaires (see instructions on Blackboard)

2. Attend all classes and examinations 3. Answer questions from Manchester students considering vacation study abroad

When You’re Back:

1. Make the effort to welcome incoming exchange students from our partner universities

2. Submit course certificate/ transcript of results to the School of LLC Residence Abroad Coordinator

3. Answer questions from Manchester students considering study abroad 4. Make yourself available to help at briefing meetings and the Study Abroad Unit’s

Pre-Departure Briefings to tell other students about your experiences abroad Checklist for 8 Week Vacation Period Work Abroad

Page 47: resid abroad

47

Before You Go:

1. Attend Briefing Meetings 2. Prepare CV and covering letter 3. Research and apply to potential employers 4. Submit Declaration of Intent Form 5. Seek approval for placement from Work Placement Coordinator 6. Submit Vacation Residence Abroad Form 7. Complete Work Training Agreement form (see Blackboard for instructions and pro-

forma) 8. Attend Pre-Departure Briefings 9. Complete and submit Erasmus Contract to Study Abroad Unit (Erasmus eligible

work placements only) 10. Complete and submit Confirmation of Plans (“yellow”) form to LLC Residence

Abroad Coordinator During Your Time Abroad:

1. Complete and submit relevant Learning Log questionnaires (see instructions on Blackboard)

2. Answer questions from Manchester students considering work abroad 3. Submit Erasmus Report and Erasmus Certificate of Attendance to Study Abroad

Unit (Erasmus eligible work placements only) 4. Submit Transcript of Work to the School of LLC Residence Abroad Coordinator

When You’re Back:

1. Make the effort to welcome incoming exchange students from our partner universities

2. Answer questions from Manchester students considering work abroad 3. Make yourself available to help at briefing meetings and the Study Abroad Unit’s

Pre-Departure Briefings to tell other students about your experiences abroad Checklist for 8 Week Dissertation Research Abroad Before You Go:

1. Attend Briefing Meetings 2. Identify area of research 3. Identify provisional dissertation supervisor 4. Submit Declaration of Intent Form 5. Agree research plan with provisional dissertation supervisor 6. Submit Vacation Residence Abroad Form 7. Attend Pre-Departure Briefings 8. Complete and submit Confirmation of Plans (“yellow”) form to LLC Residence

Abroad Coordinator

Page 48: resid abroad

48

During Your Time Abroad:

1. Complete and submit relevant Learning Log questionnaires (see instructions on Blackboard)

2. Answer questions from Manchester students considering dissertation research abroad

When You’re Back:

1. Make the effort to welcome incoming exchange students from our partner universities

2. Meet with provisional dissertation research supervisor and prove completed research plan

3. Answer questions from Manchester students considering dissertation research abroad

4. Make yourself available to help at briefing meetings and the Study Abroad Unit’s Pre-Departure Briefings to tell other students about your experiences abroad

Page 49: resid abroad

49

Appendix 4: EU Work Comparison Table for Legal Req uirements Please note that this table is provided for guidanc e only as many of the

stipulations below do not apply to placement studen ts. For further detail on the status of placement students in EU co untries visit

http://www.eu-next.eu/ Country

Working Hours

Rest Periods Annual Leave Written Terms

Belgium Maximum daily working hours = 8 hours per day Maximum weekly working hours = 38 hours per week

Minimum daily rest period between work = 11 consecutive hours Minimum weekly rest period in each 7 day period = 1.5 days (includes the 11 hour daily rest period)

Minimum of 20 days per year Plus 10 public holidays per year

No requirement for written contract terms. However, a couple of the exceptions are fixed-term contracts and student contracts Working on a Sunday and public holidays is only allowed in a few limited cases

France Maximum

daily working hours = 10 hours per day Maximum weekly working hours = 48 hours

Minimum daily rest period between work = 11 consecutive hours Minimum weekly rest period in each 7 day period = 35 consecutive hours (must include Sunday and includes the 11 hour daily rest period)

Minimum of 5 weeks per year Plus 10 public holidays per year

No requirement for full written contract but employer must supply employee with a written statement of the essential terms. Also written contract is necessary for, amongst other things, fixed term contracts

Germany Maximum

daily working hours = 8 hours per day Maximum weekly working time = 6 days per week (48 hours)

Minimum daily rest period between work = 11 consecutive hours Minimum weekly rest period in each 7 day period = 1.5 days (includes the 11 hour daily rest period)

Minimum of 24 working days per year if work a 6 day week Annual leave reduces proportionally for each day worked less than 6 days per week e.g. for a 5 day week minimum annual leave will be 20 working days per year Plus between 9 - 13 public holidays per year depending on which state working in

Employment terms must be documented in writing

Spain Maximum

daily working hours = 9 hours per day Maximum weekly working hours = 40 hours per week

Minimum daily rest period between work = 12 hours Minimum weekly rest period in each 7 day period = 1.5 days (includes the 11 hour daily rest period)

Minimum of 30 calendar days per year Plus 14 public holidays per year

Temporary contracts lasting more than 4 weeks must be in writing. If no written contract employees must be provided with written particulars of employment such as name of company, date on which employment begins, remuneration, place of work, hours of work, holiday and holiday pay entitlement

Page 50: resid abroad

50

Appendix 5: Extract from 2003 Working Time Directi ve

(DIRECTIVE 2003/88/EC) Every member of the European Community must comply with and implement the 2003 Working Time Directive into their national legislation. Member States' are still entitled to apply or introduce laws, regulations or administrative provisions more favourable to the protection of the safety and health of workers or to facilitate or permit the application of collective agreements or agreements concluded between the two sides of industry which are more favourable to the protection of the safety and health of workers. 1. Daily Rest Every worker is entitled to a minimum daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours per 24-hour period. 2. Breaks If the working day is longer than six hours, every worker is entitled to a rest break, the details of which, including duration and the terms on which it is granted, shall be laid down by national legislation. 3. Weekly Rest Period Every worker is entitled to a minimum uninterrupted rest period of 24 hours plus the 11 hours' daily rest period in each seven-day period e.g. 1.5 days rest. 4. Maximum Weekly Working Time The average working time for each seven-day period, including overtime, must not exceed 48 hours. 5. Annual Leave Every worker is entitled to paid annual leave of at least four weeks in accordance with the conditions for entitlement to, and granting of, such leave laid down by national legislation and/or practice. The minimum period of paid annual leave may not be replaced by an allowance in lieu, except where the employment relationship is terminated.

Page 51: resid abroad

Appendix 6: Case Studies

Case Study 1 John would love to spend his French year abroad in an office based environment to give him some vital skills for the ‘real world’. However, he doesn’t have any family contacts to help him out. He is certain that he would only be interested in studying abroad if he can’t secure a placement. He is also a little unsure as to whether he would be able to afford to work abroad. John attends the briefing meetings for study, work and the British Council’s ELA scheme before plotting the following plan of action: he will heed the advice provided at work placement meetings and start work on honing his CV and speculative covering letter. He decides that the ELA scheme isn’t for him as, although it is reasonably well paid and secure, it isn’t office based. John has to send off around 100 applications to companies he has decided to target himself and companies where Manchester students have previously worked. His tenacity pays off: in April he lands several telephone interviews and he is offered a receptionist job in a small media company in Paris. He works out that if he is ultra careful he will be able to live on his Student Loan and Erasmus Work grant.

Case Study 2 Paula is studying as an exchange student in Mexico and at first having a great time studying and socialising. However, mid-way through her first semester, everything starts to look gloomy to her, she doesn’t feel like socialising any more, loses her appetite and can’t sleep properly. She really is struggling to attend lectures and sometimes she doesn’t even feel able to leave her room. Exams are coming up and she realises that she has missed so many classes that she probably won’t pass them, so she makes contact with the Residence Abroad Coordinator to ask what she should do. He is sympathetic because he realises that she is probably suffering from depression and therefore ill. He makes it clear that her health is of paramount importance and explains that the University wouldn’t want her to stay on unless she was well enough to do so. He advises her to visit a doctor and make use of the counselling service at her host university. The counselling helps to a certain extent but the medication prescribed by the doctor is having some very unpleasant side-effects, making her anxious to return home to her family and friends as soon as possible. The Residence Abroad Coordinator puts her in touch with the Chair of the Residence Abroad and Exchanges Committee, who explains that she can be excused part of her period of residence abroad on health grounds, if she provides a doctor’s certificate. Paula does this on her return to the UK, but she remains registered as a student at Manchester for the rest of the academic year, taking a Tandem course unit, sitting in on some classes, making use of the Language Centre and setting up an informal language exchange with a Spanish Erasmus student. That way, she feels she is still well prepared for her final year, even if she didn’t spend a full year abroad.

Page 52: resid abroad

52

Appendix 7: Further Reading It is recommended that you also purchase a travel guide for the country/city you will be visiting. Public libraries are a good source for this kind of material. For example, a simple keyword search on the online catalogue for Manchester Central Reference Library (http://www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries ) brings up many titles. Of course, the internet also features a wealth of this kind of information, and a starting point for many of you might be http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ and http://www.roughguides.com/ Guides to Living, Studying and Working Abroad by Co untry (many of the books listed below are available for reference from the School’s Resource Centre, the Careers and Study Abroad libraries):

General Study

The Study Abroad Handbook (Palgrave Study Guides) by Anna Lidstone, Caroline Rueckert

Get Set for Study Abroad (Get Set for University) by Tom Barron General Work

International Voluntary Work (Directory Of...)

Working Abroad: The Complete Guide to Overseas Empl oyment by Jonathan Reuvid Guardian" Guide to Working Abroad by Nick Clayton Work Your Way Around the World by Susan Griffith Summer Jobs Worldwide 2009 by Vacation work Belgium Live and Work in Brussels (Live & Work) by Derek Blyth China Moon Living Abroad in China by Stuart Strother and Barbara Strother Live and Work in China by Jocelyn Kan , Lau Hakwan Simple Guide to Customs and Etiquette in China (Sim ple Guides)

by Caroline Mason , Irene Sanderson (Illustrator) France

Live and Work in France (Live and Work) by Victoria Pybus

Studying and Working in France: Student Guide (Stud ying and Working): by Russell Cousins , Ron Hallmark , Ian Pickup

Study Abroad Paris: Your Complete Guide to an Amazi ng Study Abroad Experience by John Chrisman , Audrey Queyreyre

Going to Live in France: Comprehensive, Up-to-date, Practical Information About Everyday Life (How to) by Alan Hart

France (Working & Living) by Monica Larner Germany

Studying and Working in Germany by Peter James , David Kaufman

Living and Working in Germany by Pamela Wilson Italy Living and Working in Italy by Graeme Chesters Living, Studying, and Working in Italy: Everything You Need to Know to Live La

Dolce Vita by Travis Neighbor Ward , Monica Larner Live and Work in Italy (Live & Work) by Victoria Pybus Italy (Working & Living) by Kate Carlisle Israel

Living and Working in Israel: How to Prepare for a Successful Longterm Stay (How to books. Living & working abroad) by Ahron Bregman

Japan Live and Work in Japan by David Roberts , Elisabeth Roberts Living Abroad in Japan (Adapter Kit) by Ruthy Kanagy Portugal Live and Work in Portugal (Live & Work) by Guy Hobbs Russia Live and Work in Russia and Eastern Europe by Jonathan Packer Spain Live & Work in Spain (Live and Work) by Guy Hobbs Turkey Living and Working in Turkey: A Thorough, Co mprehensive and Reliable Guide for

Short or Long-term Visitors by Huw Francis

Page 53: resid abroad

53

Appendix 8: Frequently Asked Questions 1. Are there any grants available from the University to support me during my period

of residence abroad? Please see chapter six of the Study and Work Abroad Handbook. You’ll find information on LEA and Student Loans funding too there too. 2. Do I have to pay fees? Please see chapter six of the Study and Work Abroad Handbook. 3. How do I get a place at a University? Please see page 15 of this handbook for information on partner universities and how to secure a place at one of them. 4. How long have I got until I have to make a final decision? The deadline is April 30th 2010 but you are strongly advised to make a firm decision at a much earlier date. 5. Does the University help us to find accommodation? As in Manchester, accommodation is ultimately YOUR RESPONSIBILTY . However, we do provide some guidance notes (see chapter seven of the Study and Work Abroad Handbook). 6. I am struggling to cope with my time abroad, what should I do? You should let your Residence Abroad Tutor / the Residence Abroad Coordinator know as soon as possible. They will be happy to help, advise and encourage you. If it isn’t possible for you to continue with your time abroad they will outline the options that are open to you for alternative fulfilment of the requirements. 7. Do I have to pass my exams at my host institution? Yes, you are required to pass your exams at your host institution. If you fail to do so you will be required to submit alternative evidence that you have engaged with the relevant course unit (e.g. lecture and revision notes, handouts, essays, homework).