VCU

VCU Global Education Office

Programs

University of the West of England

Bristol, England

University of the West of EnglandThe University of the West of England is a VCU International Partnership University, which allows students to study in Bristol, England for a semester or a year.

Students in the sciences are strongly encouraged to study for the full year (both the fall and spring semesters), and may be considered for one-semester placements (fall only) on a case-by-case basis. Art students may apply for either a year or a semester at UWE (fall or spring). All other students must study at UWE for the full academic year.

University of the West of England
Read about Matthew Simons’ experience at UWE »
Students pay tuition to VCU, along with a program fee, and pay their room and board directly to UWE.

View photos of what UWE can offer you »

Apply now

Applications should be submitted to Stephanie Davenport in the Education Abroad office by May 1 for the fall semester or full year and Sept. 15 for the spring semester. Applicants should complete the VCU application for study abroad and UWE application form. Students will need to obtain a recommendation/nomination from their department.

These forms are available at the Education Abroad Office and online:  

Students must have a 3.0 GPA to apply and are selected on the basis of their academic record and emotional maturity.

Visit the website for more information about UWE, or view these frequently asked questions. Additional information for international students is also available on the UWE site.

Curriculum

Students can choose from courses, known as “modules” in the UK, in mathematics, statistics/operations research, psychology, geography, urban studies, the arts, forensic chemistry, English, history, international history with international politics, philosophy, politics, international relations, criminal justice/criminology, and sociology. Students study in one discipline area only. It is not possible to study across disciplines in most cases.

The exact courses you will take should be discussed with your academic adviser. Modules at UWE typically run for the full year, so not all modules will be available to VCU students who study for only one-term. During the exchange period, VCU students will focus mainly on their major field of study. Students wishing to take classes outside their major field of study will be allowed to do so on a case-by-case basis.

More detailed module information can be found here:

For module information in disciplines not listed above, or for more information regarding module pre-requisites, contact Stephanie Davenport (davenportse@vcu.edu).

*Year-long studies only

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Transfer of credit

Students must earn the equivalent of a C grade or higher in a given course to be eligible for transfer credit. Students are required to take the necessary steps to ensure that transcripts are received from the university upon return to VCU. Your grades at UWE will not be calculated in your GPA, unless you are attempting to graduate with Latin honors. Many classes at UWE are self-paced, which requires students to be organized and independent in their study habits.

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Academic calendar

Fall semester: late September until early January
Spring semester: mid-January until mid-May

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Housing

There are different types of housing at UWE

  1. University housing: including dormitories and apartments located throughout the city on the various campuses of UWE
  2. Off-campus housing: managed by the university and shared with other students; located around the city
  3. Rooms for rent in a private homes and other off-campus, non-UWE options

 For more information on accommodations in Bristol, visit the UWE housing website at www.uwe.ac.uk/accommodation/options.shtml.

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Tuition and fees

Tuition for VCU students is based on VCU tuition and fees. Room and board are paid directly to UWE.

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