Erasmus
The Erasmus programme provides students with an opportunity to study in a different country within continental Europe. Erasmus exchanges are generally subject-specific, with a grant available for your time abroad.
Non-EU Exchanges
Non-EU Exchange provides students with an opportunity to study outside of Europe, across destinations in Asia, North America, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Often, these exchange destinations are not subject specific.
You will receive information about information sessions throughout the academic year, starting in September and continuing through to April. Whilst you will also be emailed, the dates and times will be available on our website. Attending the information sessions is mandatory, and by applying to exchange at UCD, you are agreeing that you have attended all necessary sessions.
You should only pay your normal tuition fees to UCD; your host university will not ask you to pay tuition fees. However, you may be liable for other fees such as visas, flights, accommodation, student contribution, application fees, etc.
There is a set number of places available at each partner university. This number may depend on our agreements and can change every year. Some universities may only have one semester available, whilst others may have more than ten - these spaces must be allocated either to the subject the agreement is under, or shared equally between the subject areas.
Students should aim to have a 3.0 average GPA, as most universities have this as a minimum requirement.
Students will need to meet their UCD college-specific requirements, which can be found on your College's website.
All exchange applications should be submitted via the SISweb system by the deadline. The deadline is strict; no late applications or excuses will be accepted.
You will find the application under Programme Services; it is called My Exchange Application. The form should be used to apply for both inside and outside of Europe - it is one application. Once submitted, applications cannot be edited.
In the form, you will be expected to fill in the following:
For European universities (Erasmus):
Erasmus agreements are subject-specific; therefore, if it is available for both of your subjects, you are applying for separate spaces.
However, joint major students should list a university only once if it is offered for both of their subjects.
For Non-EU Universities
Universities outside of Europe are not subject-specific. Joint major students should list a Non-EU university only once with their preferred subject.
Do not list the same university more than once on your application.
Students are sorted by GPA. The UCD Global team will work through the list until they have used all the places available.
Your motivational statement will be used if you have the same GPA as another student and are competing for the same spot, so it’s very important to put in the effort!
Once applications close, the exchanges team will take between 1-2 weeks to allocate places.
Offers can happen within 1-4 weeks after applications close, so it is important to keep an eye on your email.
Students are allocated at the same time, for both inside and outside of Europe and all duration preferences. Students who have applied for universities with early deadlines may receive offers first, as they will need to complete applications to their host university - this does not mean they have been placed earlier than you.
Placing students on exchange takes time and careful consideration, and we will not be able to place all students. We aim to email everyone within a month of the application closing date to let them know whether or not they have been successful.
You will receive one offer.
If you choose to reject this offer, you risk not going on exchange at all, as we cannot guarantee that we will be able to give you another offer.
If you choose to reject, you will only receive another offer if a space higher on your list becomes available in your subject area and you are the student with the next highest GPA.
You have received this offer because by the time we reached your application, this was the first space available place on your preferences list.
You will receive an email if you have been made a conditional offer.
You will need to log in to your exchange application to accept or reject your offer. You will have 5 days to complete this action, after which time, if no action is taken, your application will be cancelled.
You should not have listed anywhere you would be unhappy to go, but if you receive an offer and no longer wish to go to that destination, you can choose to reject it.
If you reject it, we cannot guarantee you will be given another offer. If you choose to reject, you will only receive another offer if a space higher on your list becomes available in your subject area and you are the student with the next highest GPA.
This is an impossible question to answer. You can only be considered for spaces that become available if you have rejected your initial offer or did not receive an offer in the first instance.
If you are wishing for somewhere higher on your list, you are relying on another student to reject their offer, and you being the student with the next highest GPA in your subject area.
Once the first round of allocations has finished, we will advertise the remaining spaces for a round 2 application. This application will usually take place via a Google Form and not via SISweb. The spaces available will not have been filled due to various reasons, but they will likely not be universities you listed in your initial application. There may not be any universities left over for your subject area.
There will be no Round 3, but you are invited to keep your application open in case any spaces open up. If a student drops out, then we will allocate the space based on GPA.
Yes. Your offer is conditional on you applying and being accepted to your host university.
You can apply once you have been instructed; do not apply before you have been told to do so. You will not be able to apply to your host university until you have been nominated by your exchange coordinator. Nominations happen at different times of the year, and you should keep an eye on your email for confirmation.
Very small, but it does happen. Less than 2% of our students get rejected each year from their host university. It’s very important that you put effort into your application. If you are rejected from your host university, we will not be in a position to offer you an alternative destination.
It is your responsibility to check whether or not you need a visa to enter the country you are visiting. Your host university will also be able to advise you.
You should not book flights or accommodation until you have been accepted by your host institution.