Get Ready to Go - Study Abroad - University of Leeds

Module Selection on arrival:
It can be frustrating not to know what you will study whilst overseas but some institutions will expect you to select
modules on arrival. It may be possible to attend several modules and see which ones you think you would like to
continue with.
Ensure you have understood the academic requirements for your period abroad so you are able to select the
correct number of modules when you arrive. Arrival in a host country and at a host university can be a very
daunting time so it is advisable to fully understand what is expected of you by your school at Leeds so this is not
another concern for you at this time.
Learning Agreement (Requirement of the Erasmus programme)
A requirement of obtaining the Erasmus funding is that you complete a Learning Agreement. Some European
institutions will require this document at application stage and you will be advised accordingly if this is the case,
otherwise it is your responsibility to complete the document and provide a copy to the Study Abroad Office (See
sample documents – Annex 3).
You need to list the modules and number of credits you wish to take at the host institution and obtain approval
from your school Study Abroad Coordinator at Leeds. A template Learning Agreement can be downloaded from
the Downloads page on the Study Abroad website.
If you are not able to complete the document for any reason prior to departure you should complete it as soon as
you can upon arrival. The completed Learning Agreement must be signed by the host institution and then faxed to
the Study Abroad Office at: +44 113 343 4968.
If there are any issues with your proposed list of modules either the Study Abroad Office or your Study Abroad
Coordinator will contact you via email.
Credit Load
Partner institutions will use different credit systems than the University of Leeds. Institutions in the same
country will also use varying systems; for example in Canada, Carleton University may expect students to
take 3-4 credits across the full year (modules are normally weighted with 0.5 credit) although McGill
University will expect you to take 12 - 15 credits each semester.
The Study Abroad Office can tell you how many credits past study abroad students have taken at your host
institution although you must check this fulfils the academic requirements of your school.
Students studying in a foreign language are sometimes allowed to take a reduced credit load
ECTS – European Credit Transfer System
Most institutions within Europe use ECTS.
1 ECTS credit is equivalent to 2 Leeds credits. For example, a 20 credit Leeds module is equivalent to 10
ECTS.
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