Did You Know?

In 2007, GT won the national Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. This is a prestigious award for institutions of higher education presented by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.


Sheffield Exchange Program

SHEFFIELD - UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Program Level: Undergraduate
Number of Weeks/Term: 16


BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.

Top

LOCATION INFORMATION
England
England is the most populous home nation of the United Kingdom (UK). It accounts for more than 83% of the total UK population, occupies most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and shares land borders with Scotland, to the north, and Wales, to the west. Elsewhere, it is bordered by the North Sea, Irish Sea, Atlantic Ocean and English Channel.

England is named after the Angles, one of a number of Germanic tribes believed to have originated in Angeln in Northern Germany, who settled in England in the 5th and 6th centuries. This is also the origin of its Latin name Anglia. It has not had a distinct political identity since 1707, when Great Britain was established as a unified political entity; however, it has a legal identity separate from those of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as part of the entity "England and Wales".

Sheffield
Sheffield, 40 miles east of Manchester, was once one of the largest producers of steel in the world. The industrial heritage has taken its toll on the city, however, in recent years significant funds have been directed into revitalizing Sheffield's city centre.

Main points of interest in Sheffield include the Cultural Industries Quarter with its clubs and dinning opportunities, Castlegate with its traditional markets and Devonshire Quarter and pedestrianized Moor Quarter with their shopping opportunities.

The city's most prominent tourist attraction is the Magna centre, housed in the building of a former steel works. The science adventure centre, which was the first to be opened in the UK offers numerous interactive displays themed after the elements of earth, air, fire and water.

Top

PROGRAM DATES
Academic Year: mid-September -early June
Spring Term: early February - early June

NOTE: Students may participate in this program for the spring or for a full academic year.

YEAR PROGRAM STARTED:
2004

Top

HOST INSTITUTION ACADEMIC INFORMATION
University guides reflect Sheffield's status as one of the UK's leading universities. The Sunday Times made them their University of the Year 2001-2, and the Virgin 2003 Alternative Guide ranks them third in the country. Teaching quality assessments rate their teaching very highly across a wide range of subjects, and official research assessments confirm their reputation as a centre for world-class research in many disciplines.

Sheffield has more than 23,000 students, from more than 120 countries, and 5,500 staff. The University of Sheffield is a popular choice with applicants, and once they arrive, students enjoy the experience so much that many settle in Sheffield after they graduate.

Research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls Royce, Unilever, Boots, AstraZeneca, GSK, ICI, Slazenger, and many more household names, as well as UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.

The University's history stretches back to 1828, when the Sheffield School of Medicine was founded, and their University Charter was granted in 1905.

Please note that the following departments are looking for students with higher GPAs than the normal minimum requirement of 3.0. You should bare this in mind when choosing courses from these departments: Business Studies, English Language & Linguistics, English Literature, History, Information Management, Law, Management, Politics, and Psychology

Top

ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES

Subject Areas Available:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • City Planning
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • English
  • History, Technology, and Society
  • International Affairs
  • Literature, Communication, and Culture
  • Management
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Modern Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy, Science, and Technology
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Language Information
All courses are taught in English.

Course Information
For detailed course information: click here and click here

Research Option
Research opportunities may be available at Sheffield. Exchange students would conduct research as part of their course load for a variable amount of credit. Please check with program advisor for more details.

Top

CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of GT exchange programs is added as transfer credit on the GT transcript. Since it is important to know which kind of credit students will earn abroad as soon as possible, GT requires that courses be pre-approved for transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, and the credit transfer system information (listed below), students should submit course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit to request their approval. If taking Math classes, for example, then the student should go to the GT School of Mathematics to get permission for the courses to transfer to GT. If approved, the GT School of Mathematics signs the Foreign Credit Approval Form showing how the courses will transfer so that students will know which type of credit they should expect to receive.

For detailed credit transfer instructions click here

For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here

Please note that the more popular departments may have capacity problems, and classes in these departments often fill up quickly. You are not guaranteed a spot an any particular class until you have notification from the university, and this might not happen until you arrive on campus. Arrange to have backup courses pre-approved in case of this event.

The maximum credit load for one semester is 60 Sheffield credits, which can transfer to GT as 12 credit hours, but you will most likely take only 3 courses per semester. Exchange students usually follow modules/courses at levels 100 and/or 200, although this will vary from subject to subject and according to each student's academic background.

CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
This information is intended for undergraduates students only. Graduate students must speak with their academic unit to to determine the acceptance of transfer credits.

Sheffield uses the following credit transfer system:
1 Sheffield credit = 0.357 GT credits
20 Sheffield credits = 7 GT credits

GRADING SYSTEM
Sheffield uses the following grading system listed below:
Sheffield Grade = US Grade
70-100 (A) = A
60-69 (B) = A
50-59 (C) = B
45-49 (D) = C
40-44 (E) = D
1-39 (F, FX) = F

Top

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:

  • Georgia Tech degree-seeking undergraduate student
  • 3.0 GPA or higher
  • undergraduates complete at least two semesters of college-level study prior to participation
  • at least 18 years of age by the program's departure date
  • enroll in 12 or more credit hours at the host institution and earn a C or higher for each course
  • international students (non-US citizens) may have additional requirements set by the overseas university
  • all students must have completed all the prerequisites for any courses they wish to take

    Top

    PROGRAM COSTS
    The same matriculation, tuition and other mandatory fees (including transportation, technology, activity, health, and athletic) apply to a term abroad as would normally at Georgia Tech. Exchange students must pay tuition and fees to the GT Bursar for each semester they are abroad. No other expenses associated with this program are paid to GT; instead, these expenses are paid on site.

    Keep in mind the costs of books, health insurance, food, living expenses, and travel money, as well as pre-departure costs like your passport and plane ticket. In general, England is more expensive than the United States so you will want to devise and use a budget.

    The currency in all of the United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check the newspaper or click here for the most current rates.

    DON"T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info: click here

    Students who participate in this program are eligible to apply for a study abroad scholarship that is available through BUTEX: click here. Please contact your OIE advisor for additional details.

    For the 2009-10 school year, Sheffield is offering several scholarships to incoming exchange students from the US. For more information, click here.

    Following are cost estimates for one semester at Sheffield that may help you prepare for your term(s) abroad. All costs are in USD.

    In State Tuition $3,035
    Out of State Tuition $3,285
    GT Mandatory Fees $818
    Books and Supplies $365
    Administrative and/or Application fees $0
    Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals) $690
    Roundtrip Airfare $900
    Room and Board $3,550
    Additional Language Instruction $0
    Mandatory Insurance $150
    Total $9,508 (in state)
    $9,758(out of state)

    *Out-of-state students pay in state tuition, plus $250 for this exchange program.

    *Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates based on tuition rates posted by the GT Bursar for "continuing students." Guaranteed tuition rates, graduate tuition rates, and MBA tuition rates vary. Please check the GT Bursar's web site click here to confirm actual tuition rates based on degree, term, or level of study. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.

    Top

    HOUSING AND MEALS
    Housing

  • on-campus dormitories
  • off-campus apartment/room for rent

    The University of Sheffield guarantees exchange students dormitory housing. The costs listed for housing are room plus 16 meals a week for 20 weeks. If you choose to get a double room or a room that does not include meals, you can reduce your housing costs. All dorms are located on or around the campus and are within walking distance of classes. To learn more about housing options click here .

    Meals
  • meal plan
  • on-campus dining

    Top

    INSURANCE
    Students participating in this program will be assessed $150 per semester for mandatory insurance coverage. You will be covered by T.W. Lord and Associates. For detailed information about this insurance plan, click here. This cost is included in the above cost estimates for the program.

    Top

    EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
    The University of Sheffield's state of the art athletic facilities offer a wide range of individual, intramural, and club sports activities. Activities offered include squash, tennis, aikido, lacrosse, archery, basketball, water polo, snowboarding and much more. Sheffield also has a very active student's union that consists of many other student clubs and other activities. For more details click here .

    Top

    CLIMATE
    England is rainy, but the temperature is very mild. It never swelters, it rarely freezes and experiences only an occasional snow. Evenings are cool in the summer and quite pleasant. The average temperature in this region is between 35ºF and 78ºF. Be sure you have a rain "slicker" and a good umbrella before setting off for Leeds.

    Top

    VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
    Complete information about how to apply for or renew a U.S. passport is available from the GT Office of International Education or online: click here

    Depending on how long you will be in the UK and whether or not you intend to work, you may or may not need to apply for a visa prior to departure. Visa regulations and interpretations can change, so be sure to check the UK Border Agency web site frequently: click here

    Top

    YOUR NEXT STEPS
    To begin the process of participating in this exchange, please do the following:

  • Attend an exchange program information session. For dates visit: click here. If you are unable to attend, please make an appointment with the OIE staff member listed below.
  • Download the OIE Exchange and Study/Work Abroad Application instructions at click here and submit the completed application by the appropriate deadline.
  • Deadlines: Fall/academic year/summer applications are generally due in mid-February. Spring applications are generally due in early to mid-September. Specifics are listed in the application packet.
  • Visit the host institution's course information link located under "academic disciplines". Print course descriptions of all the courses of interest that you believe will fit into your GT academic plan.
  • Make an appointment with your Academic Advisor to review course options, bring course descriptions to help.
  • If you need to get or renew a passport, you should start that process now! Passport information is online: click here.
  • For financial aid information click here
  • For scholarship information click here

    Top

    EXPERIENCES OF FORMER STUDENTS
    click here

    Top

    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Ms. Becky Gunter, Semester Study Abroad Advisor
    GT Office of International Education
    631 Cherry Street
    Savant Building, Suite 211
    Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
    Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
    E-mail: becky.gunter@oie.gatech.edu
    OIE web site: click here



    Host/Program Web Site: click here

    Top

    Hidden Fields:
    Sheffield
    England
    Europe
    Semester
    16
    12
    English
    For more info, contact OIE.
    Can I go abroad while pursuing a GT degree?
    GT students have many opportunities to participate in semester/exchange and study abroad programs. In a semester program, you actually take classes with the host university’s students and faculty. (In some cases, this means that you must have excellent knowledge of the local language to participate). Semester program participants usually pay normal GT tuition and fees for each term abroad. Credits can be pre-approved to transfer back to GT so that you do not get behind in your studies. The application deadline for fall and academic year programs is in early February; for spring programs the deadline is in September/October.

    In a study abroad program, the courses are taught by GT faculty and you register for regular GT courses. Residents pay normal matriculation fees, but do not pay ancillary fees (athletic, health, etc.). Non-residents only pay resident matriculation plus $250 ($1500 for GTL Summer/$2000 for GTL Spring/Fall) . This is a savings of over $6,000 for out-of-state students who participate in GT study abroad programs as full-time students! Deadlines for summer study abroad programs vary from early January to mid-February.

    In most cases, if you are eligible for financial aid or scholarships, you can apply your grants, scholarships, and/or loans toward the expenses associated with participating in all GT programs.
    GT’s International Plan: More than just study abroad
    Your major is participating in this new initiative!
    The International Plan is an intensive, degree-long program designed to prepare GT graduates professionally and personally for successful lives in the 21st century. Requirements of the program include international coursework, two terms abroad (any combination of study, research or internship abroad), proficiency in a second language, and a culminating course. Students who complete the program will have a designation on their diploma indicating completion of the degree with global competence: for example, “BS in Mechanical Engineering: International Plan.” For more information or an application, contact your major advisor or OIE and visit the website: click here