Staff Visits to Study Abroad Host Institutions

The University guidelines for Student Study Abroad require regular visits by an academic representative of the Department to institutions hosting 'with Study Abroad' students. To facilitate this, all academic staff planning to make visit to Australia, North America, New Zealand, or Europe should inform the appropriate Study Abroad Co-ordinator who has a budget to cover the associated addtional travel costs. On their return the Department's representative must supply (to the appropriate Study Abroad Co-ordinator who will notify Education Committee that it has been received) a written report of their visit.

Before You Leave

The appropriate Overseas Study Co-ordinator will brief you on any issues that require particular attention and help arrange an itinerary for your visit. If you are visiting North America obtain a copy of the Exeter JYA Prospectus to give to the Study Abroad Office.

Read the information about Year 3 of Programmes with Study Abroad and note the academic level expected of students going abroad referred to there. Take copies of the relevant module descriptions, and the agenda below, for reference during your visit.

During your visit please address as many of the issues on the following agenda as possible, and add others you consider necessary. If you are unable to meet someone from their Study Abroad Office, try to discover the information from other sources.

Hosts outside Europe - Suggested Agenda

1. Meeting with the Physics Department Contact
   1. Confirm name and details of contact who will be responsible for Exeter students.
   2. Meet physics course instructors (if possible) to:
      1. compare the level of their courses with the Exeter equivalents;
      2. identify the text books used;
      3. understand the assessment methods, e.g. coursework, tests, exams, etc.
      4. note the number of hours of homework expected for a course and whether homework will contribute to the final grade;
      5. obtain a detailed syllabus, if one is available.
   3. What are the local terms for the 'credit' and 'level' of modules? How many credit-hours (in North America), and at what level, would a typical (local) physics student do? What is the normal balance between physics and other subjects?
   4. For how many hours per week is a typical physics student expected to work?
   5. How many hours per week of lectures, etc. are associated with a 3 credit-hour course?
   6. How long are lectures and at what time of day? Are there any local conventions regarding office hours, questions, lecture notes, etc.?
   7. Will topics not mentioned in class be examined (e.g. set reading)?
   8. What arrangements, if any, are made for referred assessments (e.g. resit examinations)?
   9. Discuss and confirm the applicability of the grade conversion table in the Exeter Physics Handbook.
   10. Check appropriateness of the host institutions courses listed in the Exeter module descriptions for PHY3201-6. Do any involve laboratory work?
   11. Visit facilities:
       1. Laboratories (if applicable)
       2. Lecture rooms
       3. Library
       4. Computing and IT
       5. Access to email and the WWW
   12. Are there Junior/Senior year physics students who would be prepared to give advice to students by email before they arrive and/or act as mentors when they do arrive?
   13. How many physics students graduate each year?
   14. What are the main areas of physics research in the Department?
   15. Who is responsible for health and safety in the Department?
   
   
2. Meeting with the Study Abroad Office
   1. Is there an orientation week for international students, and what does it comprise?
   2. Dates of Orientation Week, Semesters and Vacations?
   3. Typical living costs:
      1. Accommodation?
      2. Commuting?
      3. Is a bicycle/automobile required?
      4. How much is an automobile likely to cost to buy and insure?
      5. Will students be expected to buy text books? Is there a second-hand market?
      6. What is the annual loan required by a typical student?
   4. Accommodation:
      1. What accommodation is available, and where is it?
      2. Is it furnished?
      3. Are rooms shared?
      4. Cost?
      5. Is a deposit required on arrival, and how much is it?
      6. Food provision?
      7. Available during vacations?
   5. Who organises (J1 in North America) visas?
   6. What workload and assessment is associated with typical non-physics courses taken which might be taken as options?
   7. Is it possible for students to undertake paid work.
   8. Information about Fraternities/Sorrorities?
   9. Is the campus alcohol-free? What is the state law regarding drinking age?
   10. Insurance
       1. Does the institution have regulations/guidelines regarding health insurance for international students?
       2. Are exchange students required to purchase the institution's health insurance?
   11. Does the institution provide information and services to international students on health and safety and legal issues? Please give details.

Visits to European Hosts - Suggested Agenda

1. Meeting with the Physics Department Contact
   1. Confirm name and details of contact who will be responsible for Exeter students.
   2. With the contact (and individual instructors, if possible):
      1. discuss the level of their courses;
      2. identify the text books used;
      3. understand the assessment methods, e.g. coursework, tests, exams, laboratory, etc.
      4. obtain a detailed syllabus, if one is available.
   3. Are language modules available, at what cost, and how many hours per week study?
   4. For how many hours per week is a typical indigenous physics student expected to work?
   5. How many hours per week of lectures, etc. are associated with courses?
   6. How long are lectures? Are there any local conventions regarding office hours, questions, lecture notes, etc.?
   7. Will topics not mentioned in class be examined (e.g. set reading)?
   8. What arrangements, if any, are made for referred assessments (e.g. resit examinations)?
   9. Discuss the appropriateness of the ECTS credit assignment for the chosen courses.
   10. Check availabilty of appropriate courses to comply with the requirements in the Exeter module description for PHY3302. Do any involve laboratory work?
   11. Visit facilities:
       1. Laboratories (if applicable)
       2. Lecture rooms
       3. Library
       4. Computing and IT
       5. Access to email and the WWW
   12. Are there indigenous physics students who would be prepared to give advice to students by email before they arrive and/or act as mentors when they do arrive?
   13. How many physics students graduate each year?
   14. What are the main areas of physics research in the Department?
   15. Who is responsible for health and safety in the Department?
   
   
2. Meeting with the institution's Erasmus office
   1. Is there an intensive language course before the start of the academic year?
   2. Is there an orientation week for Erasmus students, and what does it comprise?
   3. Dates of orientation week, intensive language course, semesters and vacations?
   4. Typical living costs:
      1. Accommodation?
      2. Is a bicycle/car required?
      3. Will students be expected to buy text books? Is there a second-hand market?
      4. What is the annual expenditure required by a typical student?
   5. Accommodation:
      1. What accommodation is available, and where is it?
      2. Is it furnished?
      3. Are rooms shared?
      4. Cost?
      5. Is a deposit required on arrival, and how much is it?
      6. Food provision?
      7. Available during vacations?
   6. Is it normal for students to undertake paid work?
   7. Insurance
      1. Does the institution have regulations/guidelines regarding health insurance for international students?
      2. Are exchange students required to purchase the institution's health insurance?
   8. Does the institution provide information and services to international students on health and safety and legal issues? Please give details.