The reciprocal exchange program between the University of Iowa and the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, England, allows undergraduate students to spend a semester or academic year there and be fully integrated with British students in student housing and regular classes. Because of the one-for-one reciprocal nature of the exchange, cost is based on students’ regular UI tuition; room and board is comparable to Iowa costs in the Mayflower residence hall. Added expenses include airfare, a UI administrative fee, and as much travel as students care to do during December and the long Spring break.

Academic Program

University of Iowa students enroll in classes that are part of the regular curriculum at the host institution. This means participating in a system that is significantly different from the U.S. broad-based, liberal arts education, both in terms of calendar and specialization of studies. Students usually take between three and five courses each semester, earning between 24 and 32 semester hours of transfer credit for the academic year.

Upper-level course work in the sciences is often organized in concentrated 10 week classes which limits students to an all-science curriculum. Traditionally, most classes in the British system are year-long. Recent "modularization" has resulted in splitting these into half-year classes, each assessed independently, allowing choices closer to our semester system.

Despite the fact that you are on exchange, you are required to undertake the same form of assessment as the local British students do in order to earn transfer credit at Iowa. This means that if you do not sit the exam or turn in a required final paper, your British academic record will report a grade of 0. Become familiar with the British grading system - it is quite different from the U.S. A score of 60% is considered a high mark. Iowa does not convert British marks into U.S. A-F grades to report on your UI record. The course title and credit hours will appear with a mark of R in classes where you earned the minimum passing grade or better; if your grade is less than passing, you will earn no credit at all. However, this does not mean that you are taking courses on a Pass/Fail basis. You will earn a final mark in terms of their system, and your British academic record will always report these. In future, when official transcripts of your college work are requested, you will need to provide both an Iowa transcript and the British academic record – your British results will be highly visible

Cultural Activities

The University of Birmingham Guild of Students organizes events and excursions throughout the academic year, and is home to almost 200 student groups, including societies (focused on like-minded people having fun doing activities together), volunteering projects, support groups, and residents’ associations.

Program Dates

The academic year begins in mid-September and runs through mid-June, with a month-long winter break and another generous break during the Easter holiday period.

Classes begin: January 7, 2013. An orientation program will precede this, dates TBA
Easter vacation: March 23 - April 21, 2013
Exams end: June 14, 2013

For More Information

John Rogers, Coordinator
The University of Iowa
Study Abroad | International Programs
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242-1802
Phone: 319-335-0353
Fax: 319-335-0343
E-mail: john-e-rogers@uiowa.edu

The University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham was established by Queen Victoria by Royal Charter in 1900 and was the UK’s first civic or “redbrick” university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. It is home to almost 27,000 students, 4,000 of whom come from 150 different countries. It is situated in a park-like suburban setting and has its own rail station, making the trip downtown fast and convenient.

Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom (after London), with a vibrant city center dedicated to commerce, the arts, sport, and entertainment. It has its own international airport and is two hours from London by train. The central location of Birmingham and its extensive rail and road links makes it easy to travel through the U.K. Daytrips to Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon or to the beautiful towns of the Cotswolds are favorites.

United Kingdom

The "United Kingdom" (UK) refers to the four countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This is in contrast to another common name, "Great Britain," which excludes Northern Ireland. The UK Exchange program offers exchange with universities in England and Scotland. Life and culture in the UK is different from that in the US. Experiencing this rich tradition is what the UK Exchanges are all about!

Some quick general facts about the UK:

• The UK uses the British Pound as its currency. Click here for a quick look at current exchange rates.

• Communication from the UK is easy. Post offices are common, public phones are available, phone cards are available in most shops, internet cafes are available almost verywhere andare affordable, and most British universities offer extensive computer and internet resources.

• British food is unique! Try fish and chips, bangers 'n mash, steak pie, Indian curry,'neeps and tatties, haggis and more!

• The UK is a relatively safe environment. Police are helpful and visible. Emergency services are reliable. Pharmacies, called 'Chemists', are common and carry a wide variety of medicine and other essentials.

• The UK has a temperate climate, influenced by the ocean that surrounds it. It is never too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. Rain is common most of the year. Make sure to take plenty of warm clothes and waterproof shoes.

Living Arrangements

The University of Birmingham offers accommodation in student housing. Student housing in the UK tends to resemble the style of Mayflower Residence hall, with 4-6 students sharing a 'flat' with common kitchen and bathroom facilities and individual rooms, however variations to this style do occur. Meal structure varies between the three universities.

Travel Arrangements

Students will make their own travel arrangements with advice and coaching from Study Abroad.

Local Transportation

Travel within the United Kingdom is very well organized. Busses and taxis (and subway systems in larger cities) make getting around town quick and easy. Trains and busses also interconnect every city in Britain, making inter-city travel easy, fairly cheap and as quick as possible. You are never far from interesting places such as London or Ireland. Ferries and bargain airlines also allow you to reach many destinations in mainland Europe very inexpensively.

Eligibility

The UI participant should be in junior or senior standing and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale). Students should have a declared major and have a good understanding of requirements in their major.

Costs

The principle of exchange is simple: students pay regular tuition and fees to their home universities, and then trade places with a student overseas. All U.K. exchange operate on this principle: students pay their regular UI tuition and mandatory student fees, plus a study abroad administrative fee, and then study at our partner university without further tuition payment.

Other costs include airfare, ground transportation, a police registration fee, books, and personal expenses. For current information on costs and payment schedules, contact the Office for Study Abroad.

How to Apply

A preliminary application form is due early in the semester prior to study abroad. It can be useful to include proposed study plans for two of the possible exchange sites, since some sites can fill depending on the numbers of participants during any given year. Applicants are usually notified of their status as exchange nominees by March for the following fall/academic year. Nominees also complete the host institution's application form. Application forms and further information are available from Study Abroad, 1111 University Capitol Centre.

Application Deadline

A preliminary application is due early in the semester prior to study abroad. Final applications are due on March 1 for fall and academic year students, and on October 1 for spring semester students.

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1111 University Capitol Centre
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802
USA

Phone: (319) 335-0353
Fax: (319) 335-0343
E-mail: study-abroad@uiowa.edu

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1111 University Capitol Centre
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802
USA

Phone: (319) 335-0353
Fax: (319) 335-0343
E-mail: study-abroad@uiowa.edu