YA Handbook 2012-2013 V3 2

Year Abroad Handbook
2012-2013
Key Dates:
Year abroad initial meeting:
30 October 2012
University selection form submission deadline:
30th November 2012
Preliminary assignment of Universities:
1st February 2013
Application submission deadlines to universities:
1st March 2013
(Any applications to ANU may have to begin earlier).
You must keep to the dates indicated above to remain on the
year abroad program; there can be no extensions to the
deadlines due to the complex nature of arranging the
exchanges.
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Why Study Abroad?
Requirements and Important Dates
Being Abroad
Registration and Fees

Course choice
Getting your grades
3rd year project
MSci project
7
7
8
9
Locations
10
10
U.S.A.
U.C. Berkeley
U.C. Los Angeles
U.C. Santa Cruz
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
10
14
18
21
General Information
Visas and Immigration
Insurance
Money Matters
24
25
28
29
Australia
32
32
35
35
37
37
Australian National University

General Information

Insurance
Money Matters
Canada
39
University of British Columbia
39
General Information
Insurance
Money Matters
43
44
45
46
Europe
49
University of Utrecht
Aachen University
Universit de Strasbourg
Universit Paris Diderot
49
52
54
57
General Information
Insurance
59
60
60
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Money Matters
60
Additional Financial Information
62
What now?
64
Institution Application form
67
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Why Study Abroad?

Deciding whether studying abroad is the right decision for you is one of the biggest decisions of
your degree. There are countless reasons why studying abroad is an amazing opportunity and
listed below are just several to help you decide:
Live in a new country

Experience an entirely new city, country and culture as only a resident can. Integrate yourself into
the local community by getting acquainted with all the different cultures and traditions. Visit some
of the most amazing locations on earth: skiing in British Columbia, hiking in Yosemite National
Park, relaxing on the beach in Malibu or cycling round the canals of Amsterdam.
Meet New People

One of the many advantages of going abroad is that you are guaranteed to meet a whole new set
of people, both academically and socially. Academic contacts made during a year abroad can be
invaluable should you decide to carry on with your academic career, opening up a whole realm of
opportunities you may not have had, had you stayed at Imperial.
Going abroad will give you a whole new level of independence that you cant get by staying in
London. You will have the opportunity to socialise with a whole new group of students, both
undergraduate and graduates, who are likely to become great friends for life. Great excuse to go
back for a reunion.
Sample a Different Academic System

Unfortunately, work is still a major part of your year abroad, but this need not be as bad as it
sounds. Every university specialises in different disciplines and by studying at another university,
you have the opportunity to study courses that Imperial cannot offer you. Many of the universities
available to you contain some of the top researchers in the field, giving you the opportunity to
study at the cutting edge of science in subjects you might not even have heard of. You also have
the opportunity to undertake independent research with professors specialising in your specific
area of interest. You may even have the opportunity to publish your research.
Fieldwork Opportunities
Studying abroad gives you the chance to go out and learn about some of the most amazing
locations on earth. Youll get the chance to study parts of the world that most people only dream
of being able to see: the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the San Andreas Fault or the
Alps. You will be able to come away with detailed knowledge of the geology, geophysics and
tectonics in areas of the world you otherwise may never have visited.
These are just a small selection of the reasons for going abroad. Throughout the rest of this
handbook many other reasons will be highlighted as well as answering many of your questions.
This is your first stop guide to choosing where to go on your year abroad and how to prepare
before you go and once youre there.
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Requirements and Important Dates

Prerequisites
To be eligible for a year abroad, you must be enrolled in one of the following degrees:
MSci Geology with a Year Abroad (F601)
MSci Geophysics with a year abroad (F664)
You are also required to achieve an average of over 70% in both Year 1 and your January
examinations in Year 2. In marginal cases the decision may not be finalised until the Examiners
Meeting in June of your second year.
Should you wish to change your degree to one of the appropriate courses you will need to fill out
the Request to Change Degree Course form, which is available from the Earth Science and
Engineering website. This must be returned to Dr Lorraine Craig at the earliest possible
convenience; once the January exam results are in, available places at each establishment are
filled quickly.
Departmental Contacts
The key departmental contact both before and after you leave is the Academic Tutor, Dr
Lorraine Craig. She makes the ultimate decision as to which student goes to which university. It
is also important to keep your Personal Tutor frequently updated before you leave and during
your year abroad.
Important Pre-Departure Dates
Preliminary Year Abroad Meeting Tuesday 30 October 2012, 17:00
Confirmation of Students achieving Year Abroad status - Friday 1st February 2013
Deadline for submission of forms to your university of choice - Friday 1st March 2013
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Being Abroad
Registration and Fees
At Imperial
Whilst on your Year Abroad you will still remain a student at Imperial College London. It is likely
that you will leave the UK before the start of the Imperial College session. You must make sure
you register with Imperial College before the end of October 2013. You can register online at
www.imperial.ac.uk/studenteservice . Should you wish to update your address to your new
address abroad, you can also do this through the same website. Make sure that you update
your address on ESESIS too.
Unfortunately you still have to pay Tuition Fees to Imperial; however, these fees should be no
more than 50% of what you would pay for a standard year at Imperial. If you are charged more
you should contact Dr Lorraine Craig who will endeavour to solve this for you. If you receive
Tuition Loans from your local education authority/student loan company you need only apply for
50% of the full year charge. This will then be paid directly to Imperial College as in your previous
two years. If you do not receive Tuition Loans you should note that you may not receive the
Invoice for fees owed before you leave, make sure somebody keeps an eye out for it at home.
Fees can be paid online at www.imperial.ac.uk/payments.
NOTE THIS MAY BE CHANGING
FOR STUDENTS ON THEIR YA IN 2013.
At your Host University

The registration system at each university is very different and will depend on the particular
agreement Imperial has with your host university. This depends upon your student status at your
chosen university, for instance UCLA regards Imperial students as partly unofficial students while
UBC classes you as an official student (see your appropriate university below for more details).
Once you have submitted all your forms and been offered a place, the international office at your
host university will send you information about how to register for courses. At some
establishments the international office staff will register you for your classes, but at others you are
expected to do it yourself.
All of the universities detailed below have online course catalogues and registration facilities. You
will require your student identification number or student username in all cases, so make sure
you have been assigned one of these either by the International Office or during registration.
Popular courses reach capacity quickly and so you should register for courses at the earliest
possible opportunity. Some universities may want you to register for courses at the start of each
quarter/term while others may want you to sign up for your years worth of classes before the start
of the first quarter/term.
As well as registering for courses, you will have to pay your fees. Make sure you understand what
each fee is for and keep a note of how much you have spent and what it was for. You will be sent
information regarding fee payment from the International Office as soon as you have been
offered a place. The various orientation events at each university also offer a large amount of
information about every aspect of your new university. At US universities the international
orientation program is compulsory according to immigration laws, while elsewhere it is merely
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highly recommended. Nevertheless, these are the best way to find out anything you are confused
about or are interested in and are a full of people in exactly the same situation as yourself.
Make sure you go to see the international office as soon as you arrive on campus to make sure
you understand all the immigration processes. See the Visa and Immigration sections for each
country below for more information about this.
Course Choice
One of the great aspects of going on a year abroad is the opportunity to take classes not offered
at Imperial. However, try and stick to courses that are relevant to your respective degree, keeping
a good balance between mathematically based and geoscience-based courses. Study the list of
courses available carefully and read through the course descriptions to make sure it doesnt
include material you have already studied. Take particular note of any pre-requisites to make
sure you have enough prior knowledge to understand the course content. Contact students from
previous years who have been to your university in the past to see what courses they took and
what theyd recommend.
During your year abroad you should study higher level undergraduate classes as well as several
graduate courses. Higher level undergraduate classes are the equivalent of a level 4 ESE course
and will appear as level 6 courses on your Imperial transcripts. Graduate courses are the
equivalent of ESE level 5 courses and will appear as level 7 on your Imperial transcripts. You
should aim to take the equivalent of 18 - 20SMEs on your year abroad keeping in mind that
independent fieldwork/research will count as 4 or 5SMEs; however, the amount of courses you
will need to complete this requirement will vary with the institution. See the individual university
pages below or talk to Lorraine for more information on how many courses to take.
Once you have decided upon your courses but before you register for them, you must discuss
your choices with your personal tutor and Dr Lorraine Craig. If you do not do this you may not
get accredited for the work you do abroad!
Getting your grades

Once you have completed your courses you will need to have your grades assessed by Imperial
in order to convert them to the UK marking system. Lorraine will email you the appropriate
assessment form which you must have completed by your professor for every course that you
take. These must to be returned to Lorraine or you will not be allowed to advance to your final
year at Imperial. It is recommended that you go about completing these forms at the end of each
term, DO NOT LEAVE ALL OF THEM UNTIL JUNE!
As well as this, you will be given an Excel spreadsheet in which you can compile a list of all the
classes you take and the grades you receive at your host university. This must also be returned
to Lorraine in June and will be used in the Examiners Meeting in September to convert your
grades.
Auditing classes
At institutions where you are not classified as an official student you may be required to audit
classes that you are not paying for. You will have to approach the particular lecturer to explain the
situation and ask permission to attend the class. It is highly unlikely that you will not be allowed to
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attend. Be sure to explain that you wish to be graded like any other student so as Imperial can
assess your performance.
Independent Geology/Geophysics projects
Geologists
Students enrolled on the Geology with a year abroad (F601) degree are required to complete 5
weeks independent field mapping (worth 4 SME at level 4 tier) in one of several locations. Once
you return, you must complete a mapping report in the same format as the MSci mapping
students, but with a shortened length, and with reduced amount of electronic maps and crosssections. This must be submitted before you head on your year abroad. Unlike previous years,
this fieldwork is now completed in the summer term of the second year after the Kinlochleven
field trip. You must ensure you keep on top of the project work, as some university semesters
may begin within 6 weeks of your return from mapping.
Key Dates for Geologists
BSc and MSci Geology students leave for Kinlochleven Saturday 18th May 2013
2-day Independent Mapping preparation in London Starts Monday 3rdJune 2013
MSci Geology students depart for Independent Mapping no later than Wednesday 5th June
2013
Final Deadline for 3rd year project material End
Geophysicists
August 2013.
Students enrolled on the Geophysics with a year abroad (F664) degree are required to complete
independent research worth 4 SME at the level 4 tier. You have the choice of completing this
research with the rest of your year during the spring and summer term of your second year at
Imperial, or with a supervisor at your host university during your year abroad. If you decide to
complete your research with the rest of year you will need to take part in the field camp to
Morocco in year 2 to undertake the necessary fieldwork. This is the recommended option for
you.
You should choose a university that specialises in the specific area that interests you. Once you
have been accepted to your university you can begin to look through the faculty list to find a
lecturer who works in an area that interests you. You can always email this lecturer and let them
know your interest in their subject and the possibility of doing a project with them. Once you
arrive on campus you should stop by and visit them to discuss your options in person.
Once you have found someone to supervise you and agreed upon a title, you must get the title
and intended content confirmed by Lorraine and your personal tutor. You have to write a
research report with a word limit of 7500 words. For more details you should refer to the
information provided on ESESIS regarding the Independent Geophysics Project or contact
Adrian Muxworthy.
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This type of project also gives you many other opportunities. In the past students completing
independent research have attended professional conferences where they have presented their
research and some have even submitted their research for publication. Talk to your individual
supervisor to see what opportunities are available to you.
Key Dates for Geophysicists
BSc and MSci Geophysicists Morocco field camp Starting 13th March 2013 (may be changed
by one day...)
Deadline for evidence of work completed (e.g. Literature review) Friday 28 June 2013
Final Deadline for 3rd year project material End
August 2013
MSci Project
Before you complete your year abroad, you will have to make a decision on the topic for your
MSci project, which you will carry out in your final year. Start looking for possible projects and
supervisors from the 1st February 2014. Be sure to take this seriously, as there are a limited
amount of research topics, so if you do not act quickly your favourite project title might get filled
by someone else. The third year project (both for geophysicists and geologists) is an excellent
introduction to project work and will give you an idea of the level of work and research needed to
complete your MSci project.
The Fourth Year Project Handbook is likely to be available for download from early March
onwards. Check the fourth year section of the departments website. From March onwards, staff
will post project titles onto the website as well. If you like a particular project, e-mail the
supervisor to let them know you are interested. If you know a lecturer that specialises in an area
that interests you but isnt on the project list, e-mail them to see if they would mind you doing your
project with them. If they are happy to do a project with you, they will most likely cater a project
specific to your interests and their speciality. You should aim to get your project confirmed
with your supervisor by mid-May 2014.
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Locations
The following universities have formal exchange agreements with the Imperial College Earth
Science and Engineering department. The Student Contacts provided are those of Imperial
College students who have recently spent their year abroad at the respective institution. They are
the best people to contact in regards to any queries you may have in all aspects of the year
abroad system.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

University of California, Berkeley
Earth and Planetary Science Department
Berkeley general website:
Earth and Planetary Science Department website:
Department contacts: Margie Winn
Gretchen von Duering
http://berkeley.edu/
http://eps.berkeley.edu/
margie@eps.berkeley.edu
gvd@eps.berkeley.edu
Location:
Berkeley, San Francisco, California
Student Population: 35, 800 (54% Male, 46% Female) - ~3x Imperial College size
- 25, 500 Undergraduates
- 10, 300 Postgraduates
Specializes in:
Seismology, Astrophysics and Tectonics
Suitable for:
Top Geophysicist
UC Berkeley is located within the town of Berkeley, 13 miles east of Downtown San Francisco, on
the east side of the San Francisco Bay.
Curriculum
Berkeley operates on the Semester system, which is very different to the term system of British
universities. On this system the year is separated into 2 terms of equal length. Typically
universities on the Semester system start earlier than British and Quarter system universities and
thus finish earlier also. The dates for the 2013/14 academic year are:
Fall Semester:
Spring Semester:
Thursday 22nd August 2013 Friday 20th December 2013

Tuesday 14th January 2014 Friday 16th May 2014
(Spring Break: Monday 24th Friday 28h March 2014)
A more detailed Academic calendar can be found under the Students section on the main
website.
Like all UC universities, Berkeley employs the mid-term and final exam system. This means for
the majority of your classes you will be required to complete 2 exams as well as coursework.
Mid-terms are held halfway through the Semester and are usually worth between 20-25% of your
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total grade. Final exams are held in the last week of the Semester and are cumulative, i.e. you
will be examined on material from the entire Semester. Typically finals are worth more than midterms although this depends on the class you are attending. Be aware, that during midterms you
will still be expected to complete homework and coursework for all of your other courses as well
as revision for your exams. This is very different to what you are used to here at Imperial and so
you should make sure you organise your time well: time management is an essential skill.
However, this system does mean that you will not have to revise for exams, or do any other
related work, during your holiday periods.
At Berkeley, you are required to take a minimum of 16 units, excluding any 3rd year project work.
The units per course at all UC universities are different to Imperials SME system: most classes
are typically worth 4 units, with particularly work intensive classes being worth more. Be sure to
check how many units each class is worth so you dont fall short of the requirement. You should
avoid Lower division undergraduate classes as these are more appropriate for younger years and
non-Geoscience degrees. You are expected to take at least one or two graduate classes as well
as Upper division undergraduate classes. Many graduate classes will require you to undertake a
term project, which involves some element of independent research related to the course. You
should pick your graduate classes carefully and check the syllabus to see if the work is
manageable. Talking to the professor in person to better understand if you can cope with the
material is highly recommended.
The courses offered by the EPS department can be found at:
http://eps.berkeley.edu/education/courses.php
And the schedule of classes found at:
http://schedule.berkeley.edu/
Supervisor for 3rd year project
When attempting to choose a supervisor for your independent research you should look carefully
at the faculty list and find someone who specialises in an area that interests you. It may be useful
to pick a supervisor that teaches a class you are considering attending so you get to know them
better. Professors typically have several research projects running concurrently and so may
incorporate you into an already existing project or design one to your specific interests.
Berkeley specialises in Seismology and Tectonics and is a world leading institute for the study of
earthquake science and ancient tectonic settings. It is an excellent place for students interested
in the study of earthquakes, including individual earthquake studies, earthquake forecasting and
earthquake prediction.
A full EPS department faculty listing can be found at:
http://eps.berkeley.edu/development/administration/people_temp/faculty.php
Course materials
For almost all of your courses you will need to buy the recommended textbooks. These can be
purchased at the Student Union bookstore on campus or online and can be bought new or used.
Be aware that textbook costs can mount up with single textbooks costing upwards of $40. Also
take into account a very busy bookstore in the first week of the semester, so make sure you find
out what books you need and their availability quickly. The books can also be re-sold to the store
for half the value at the end of the course or online. Speak to the Imperial students who have
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previously attended Berkeley to see if they have any of the books you need and if they would
lend/sell them to you.
Computing/ Library facilities
Computer access is available from the main campus library (Doe Library) as well as Moffit Library
and the Earth Sciences and Map library located in McCone Hall (the Earth and Planetary Science
Department). The university also has a wireless network which you can use anywhere on
campus. The Library facilities are excellent with access to many journal papers and plenty of
study rooms in all three libraries. Should you live in the international house you will get access to
their own 24hr library and wireless internet.
Student Identification/ E-mail Account
As a visiting student you will have to check in at the International Office at International House
once you arrive (www.ias.Berkeley.edu/siss). They will help you with orientation and introduce
you to UC Berkeley, the facilities and whats around the area. Health insurance can be purchased
from the Tang Health Centre (www.uhs.berkeley.edu) on Bancroft Avenue with costs for visiting
scholars of about $100 per month.
For a student card, known as a Cal ID, you will need to see Margie Winn or Gretchen von
During, in the EPS department, who will register you into Berkeley. You are advised to get this
sorted out immediately upon arrival, as long queues form at the beginning of the academic year.
For your ID card, go to the Cal ID office located in Sproul Hall on campus with the necessary
documents and they will issue you with your card. Gretchen will also help you sort out how to get
a college email address.
Accommodation
At Berkeley you will be classified as a Visiting Scholar and as such will not be guaranteed
accommodation in student halls. However, should you wish to you can still apply to the halls of
residence although the main preference is given to official students. Most of the housing is
composed of shared rooms typically between two or three people. There is also the option of
living in co-operative housing (where everyone takes turns cooking, tidying, and cleaning) which
has the lowest prices of all university accommodation.
As a visiting scholar, the International House (http://ihouse.berkeley.edu/) located on Peidmont
Avenue, is also an option. Visiting scholars stand a higher chance of obtaining a place here than
other accommodation providing they apply early. However, the International House is the most
expensive of all the university accommodation (about 700pm) and the students are mainly
exchange graduates (21yrs+).
Berkeley is a student town with many students looking for roommates throughout the year, as a
result private accommodation is not too difficult to find. Single rooms typically cost $650-$750 a
month, however, American students typically share rooms during their undergraduate degree and
so finding a shared room is often easier and cheaper. Peidmont Avenue and the surrounding
area is one of the best locations to live. Located in the centre of the student area it has some of
the liveliest nightlife and is close to the major Fraternities. If youre looking for a quiet area to live,
this should not be your first choice.
General housing website:
http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/housing/
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Halls of Residence overview:

http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/uchousing.html
Private accommodation:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/
https://calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/
Public Transport
The University Bear-Transit run shuttle buses around campus and the surrounding area at a cost
of $1 for a visiting scholar, as well as a free night shuttle. Local AC transit buses operate within
Berkeley and surrounding cities such as El Cerrito, Emeryville and San Francisco. It is possible to
purchase a season/semester pass from their website using your student Cal card ID
(http://www.actransit.org/). Biking is also an excellent way to get around the town with many
biking lanes on the roads. Cheap bikes can be easily purchased from craigslist as many students
cycle to and from college.
For quick transportation around the Bay area there is the BART underground system with the
closest station, Downtown Berkeley, located just off campus. The BART system serves both San
Francisco and Oakland International airports. Another airport link is the Bayporter, a door-to-door
shuttle service which costs ~$30 per trip.
Within San Francisco itself, public transportation includes the BART, municipal buses, and for a
more historical ride, the street and cable cars. San Francisco is compact enough to allow walking
as a viable option; however, you will need to be fit to walk up and down all the steep hills that San
Francisco is famous for.
Nightlife
The Greek community located on Peidmont Avenue hold house parties every Thursday and
Friday and is one of the liveliest areas in Berkeley. Alternately, the mixed sex houses, or coops,
regularly have dance parties for a small donation (~$2). Berkeley also has a vibrant bar scene
with many locations including an Irish bar within a 10 minute walk of campus. If you wish to get
away from the college scene, a 30 minute subway ride takes you directly to downtown San
Francisco, and some of Americas most exciting nightlife.
Student Contacts
Matt Wilks: matthew.wilks08@imperial.ac.uk
I enjoyed my year abroad at UC Berkeley more than I could ever have imagined. The best things
about the year for me were the great new friends I made, the opportunity to study and do
research in a prestigious department with different specialisations to Imperial (e.g. mantle
seismology in contrast to exploration seismology) and the opportunity to live near one of the
worlds most culturally vibrant and lively cities; San Francisco. All in all, my year at Berkeley was
amazing and it has definitely made me consider going to graduate school in the US
Adam Holt - UC Berkeley 2009-2010
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University of California, Los Angeles

Earth and Space Sciences Department
UCLA general website:
Earth and Space Sciences Department website:
Department Contact: Lauri Holbrook
http://www.ucla.edu
http://www.ess.ucla.edu
holbrook@ess.ucla.edu
Location:
Westwood, Los Angeles, California
Specializes in:
Tectonics, Seismology, Space Physics, Petrology
Suitable for:
Geology and/or Geophysics
UCLA is located in Westwood, Los Angeles, 5 miles east of the Pacific coast and Santa Monica.
Westwood sits in the foothills of Beverly Hills and Bel Air and is only a short bus ride from
Hollywood and Downtown LA
Curriculum
UCLA runs on the Quarter system, which is similar to British universities Term system. The year
is split into four Quarters: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Summer session is reserved for
transfer students and those needing to catch up on classes, and as such the majority of students
only attend for the Fall, Winter and Spring Quarters similar to British universities. The dates for
the 2013/14 academic year are:
Fall Quarter:
Winter Quarter:
Spring Quarter:
Monday 23rd September 2013 Friday 13th December 2013

Thursday 2th January 2014 Friday 21st March 2014
Wednesday 26th March 2014 Friday 13th June 2014
A more detailed Academic calendar can be found under the Prospective Students section of the
main UCLA website.
Like all UC universities, UCLA employs the mid-term and final exam system. This means for the
majority of your classes you will be required to complete 2 exams as well as coursework. Midterms are held halfway through the Quarter and are usually worth between 20-25% of your total
grade. Final exams are held in the last week of the Quarter and are cumulative, i.e. you will be
examined on material from the entire Quarter. Typically finals are worth more than mid-terms
although this depends on the class you are attending. Be aware, that during midterms you will still
be expected to complete homework and coursework for all of your other courses as well as
revision for your exams. This is very different to what you are used to here at Imperial and so you
should make sure you organise your time well: time management is an essential skill. However,
this system does mean that you will not have to revise for exams, or do any other related work,
during your holiday periods.
You are expected to complete between 7 and 9 classes in total including at least 1 or 2 Graduate
classes with the remaining comprising of Upper division undergraduate courses. Classes
generally last between 60 and 90 minutes with an average of 3 hours lecture per class per week.
This time is generally split down into 2 or 3 classes a week. Some classes have additional
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laboratory work on top of typical lecture hours. These can be considerably time consuming and
are most common in petrology classes although not exclusively.
A full list of the courses offered by the ESS department can be found at:
http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/schedule/catalog.aspx?sa=E%26S+SCI&funsel=3
A timetable for classes can be found by selecting a particular Quarter and the ESS department
at:
http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/schedule/schedulehome.aspx
Supervisors for 3rd year Project
UCLA specialises in Space Physics and Petrology and is a world leading institute for the study of
Planetary Geology and Mineral studies. It is a great place for students interested in the study of
Mineral physics and planetary compositions. The faculty also includes professors who were
members of the first teams to model a geomagnetic reversal and successfully image an
earthquake using InSAR.
A full ESS department faculty listing can be found at:
http://www.ess.ucla.edu/people/faculty/
Course Materials
For almost all of your courses you will have to buy textbooks. These can be purchased at the
bookstore on campus or online. Be aware that textbook costs can mount up with some costing
over $100. Some classes, especially graduate classes, will suggest course readers, which
include the important sections from several textbooks photocopied and bound together. These
are only available from the Campus bookstore and often cost between $10 and $40. The degree
to which these textbooks are used can vary immensely. It is quite possible to complete a course,
and do well, without actually purchasing the textbook, but the ultimate decision will have to be
made by you. Talk to previous students who may have taken the same course to find out if you
need the textbook. Often books suggested by the lecturers for courses can be found in the ESS
library and can be borrowed for up to an entire Quarter.
Computing/Library facilities
The computer lab is located on the 4th floor of the Geology building and can be accessed 24/7
during the Quarter. All the computers contain the standard programs as well as more specialised
programs such as Adobe Illustrator and MATLAB. You will require a student log on and password
to access these computers which will be assigned to you when you arrive. Just speak to one of
the Steves who runs the computer lab.
The department library is found just down the hall from the computer lab and contains an
excellent selection of Earth Science journals and textbooks. The department library is far more
useful for earth science books than the main campus library, Powell Library.
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Student Identification/E-mail Account

Upon arrival on the UCLA campus you will need to visit the Dashew Centre for International
students where they will ask you to sign up for an orientation meeting and to provide proof that
you have health insurance. Once you have done this you can get your Student ID card, known as
a Bruincard, and your UCLA email address from Kerchoff Hall. You will need to obtain your
Bruincard as soon as you arrive. This will allow you access to the libraries, sport events and
other campus activities. The Bruincard can be obtained from the Bruincard office, located in
Kerchoff Hall and your email address can be assigned to you from the Bruin Online Office across
the hall. The cost of the card is $10 (2012-13).
Fee status for 2013-2014 students (amount may change)

In order for Imperial Students to attend UCLA they are now required to pay Tuition fees to
UCLA. As a result you will be required to pay Campus fees of $2,698 (2010-2011) split over
three Quarters and class fees of $243 per unit. Class units at UCLA are different to SMEs
at Imperial and do not correspond to classes. Typically each class is worth 4 units;
although more work intensive classes can be worth up to 6 units.
Accommodation
At UCLA, you will be classed as a visiting graduate scholar or researcher; therefore you will
not be housed in UCLA accommodation, and will have to live off-campus. Westwood is the best
location for students with the vast majority of undergraduate students living in Westwood Village.
UCLA is situated right in the centre of Westwood, between Sunset Boulevard and Wilshire
Boulevard. Typically the majority of students live on the cheaper, west side of Westwood close to
the fraternities on Gayley Avenue. Alternately, the east side is more residential and expensive but
is closer to the Geology building and the sororities on Hillgard Avenue.
American students generally share rooms in private housing and there are always
advertisements for roommates throughout the year. Depending on the location and size you can
expect to pay between $500 and $800 a month for a shared room with single rooms often costing
in excess of $900 a month.
Should you wish to live outside of Westwood, Santa Monica and Culver City are cheaper and still
within the UCLA vicinity. However, both these locations will require you to get public transport into
college. While cheaper than London, you should note that public transport is not as good as
London, running for only limited hours and rarely late at night. Unlike San Francisco, LA is not a
city recommended for cycling. A city built for the car, LA contains huge freeway like roads that are
constantly full with traffic. Wilshire Boulevard is the main access to Westwood and is over 12
lanes wide in places and one of the biggest commuter routes in LA.
UCLA students mainly advertise for roommates online at:
UCLA Community Housing - http://www.cho.ucla.edu/
Craigslist - http://losangeles.craigslist.org/roo/
In theory it is best to sort out accommodation before you leave; however, it is more practical to
sort it out as soon as you arrive in Los Angeles. Look for cheap hotels within Westwood to stay in
while you sort out housing:
Royal Palace, Westwood - http://www.royalpalacewestwood.com/
- 16 -
($30+/night)
Claremont Hotel, Westwood - http://www.claremonthotel.net/
(~$30/night)
Public Transport
Public transport around Westwood only really consists of buses. The big blue bus company
(www.bigbluebus.com) costs only 25 cents for those with valid UCLA ID; however, this only runs
to limited locations and does not function at night. The Metro bus company (www.metro.net) runs
to more locations including Downtown and Griffith Park and costs only $1.25. Express buses on
the Metro system stop less frequently but do run throughout the night. LA also has a subway
system (like Londons tube system); however, this only runs in the east of the city in the
Downtown area and not around Westwood and Santa Monica.
Metro buses run to and from LAX airport but take back routes and are therefore fairly slow and
expensive. A much better option is the LAX Flyaway which can be pre-booked if desired, costs
only $5 per trip and has a pick up and drop off location right in the centre of Westwood Village.
Nightlife
Westwood Village is an entirely student populated town and as such has an active nightlife. Every
Thursday and Friday Gayley Avenue is packed full of students going in and out of fraternity
parties and during the first week of every Quarter this area becomes very lively. Within the
shopping district of Westwood are several bars: BrewCo is a favourite of the Geology department
with different events each night including Trivia Night to Karaoke. Close by is Acapulcos which
every Monday is packed with students for Margaritas for only $2. Barneys Beanery is a newly
opened Sports bar that offers 75 varieties of beer and has over 100 TVs showing sports from the
entire world. Alternately, if you want to get out of Westwood just a short bus ride away are Santa
Monica and Venice beaches with many bars and clubs which are always packed on a weekend. If
youre feeling especially posh, Malibu is just north of Santa Monica and despite being expensive
is always an amazing night out.
Student Contacts
Tom Robinson - tom.robinson@pg.canterbury.ac.nz
Faye Knight f.knight07@gmail.com
Ellie Sansom eleanor.sansom08@imperial.ac.uk
Los Angeles is one of the most amazing places you will ever get the chance to go to. Its
constantly sunny and you never get tired of going down to the beaches or into Hollywood to see
the stars. Coming to UCLA has given me the opportunity to go to some of the most amazing
places: I have camped out in the Mojave, been up to Yosemite and seen the Redwoods, mapped
brand new fault scarps in Mexico and partied in San Diego to name just a few. UCLA is hard work
and its very demanding but also the most fun you will ever have. I have made some really great
friends here and had the chance to meet some of the worlds leading earth scientists UCLA is a
great place to spend a year abroad.
Tom Robinson UCLA 2009-2010
University of California, Santa Cruz

Earth and Planetary Sciences Department
UCSC general website:
Earth and Space Sciences Department website:
- 17 -
http://www.ucsc.edu
http://www.es.ucsc.edu
Department Contact: Cathy Smith
csmith@es.ucsc.edu
Location:
Santa Cruz, California
Student Population: 16, 300 (47% Male, 53% Female) - ~Imperial College size
Specializes in:
Geomorphology, Seismology and Global Environmental Change.
Suitable for:
Geology and/or Geophysics
UCSC is located on Californias Monterey Bay; 75 miles south of San Francisco, 45 miles north of
Monterey, and just over the coastal mountains from Silicon Valley and the San Jose International
Airport. The campus overlooks the beaches of Monterey Bay and is situated in the Redwood
forests 2 miles from downtown Santa Cruz.
Curriculum
UCSC runs on the Quarter system, which is similar to British universities Term system. The year
is split into four Quarters: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Summer session is reserved for
transfer students and those needing to catch up on classes, and as such the majority of students
only attend for the Fall, Winter and Spring Quarters similar to British universities. The dates for
the 2013/14 academic year are:
Fall Quarter: Saturday 21st September 2013 Thursday 12th December 2014
Winter Quarter: Friday 3rd January 2014 Thursday 20th March 2014
Spring Quarter: Friday 31st March 2014 Thursday 12th June 2014
A more detailed Academic calendar can be found under the Office of the Registrar section of the
main UCSC website.
Like all UC universities, UCSC employs the mid-term and final exam system. This means for the
majority of your classes you will be required to complete 2 exams as well as coursework. Midterms are held halfway through the Quarter and are usually worth between 20-25% of your total
grade. Final exams are held in the last week of the Quarter and are cumulative, i.e. you will be
examined on material from the entire Quarter. Typically finals are worth more than mid-terms
although this depends on the class you are attending. Be aware, that during midterms you will still
be expected to complete homework and coursework for all of your other courses as well as
revision for your exams. This is very different to what you are used to here at Imperial and so you
should make sure you organise your time well: time management is an essential skill. However,
this system does mean that you will not have to revise for exams, or do any other related work,
during your holiday periods.
You are expected to complete between 7 and 9 classes in total including at least 1 or 2 Graduate
classes with the remaining comprising of Upper division undergraduate courses. Classes
generally last between 60 and 90 minutes with an average of 3 hours lecture per class per week.
This time is generally split down into 2 or 3 classes a week. Some classes have additional
laboratory work on top of typical lecture hours. These can be considerably time consuming and
are most common in petrology classes although not exclusively.
A full list of courses offered by the ESS department along with a class schedule can be found at:
http://reg.ucsc.edu/soc.htm
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Supervisors for 3rd year Project

UCSC specialises in the study of Global Environmental change including Climate Change and
the study of Ice Sheets both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial. UCSC also has a strong
Geomorphology field, which focuses on erosional forces of both modern and ancient systems. It
is an excellent department for either a Geologist or Geophysicist with a strong interest in
environmental Geology.
A full ESS department faculty listing can be found at:
http://eps.ucsc.edu/
Course Materials
need the textbook. Often books suggested by the lecturers for courses can be found in the ESS
The whole UCSC campus is covered by wireless Internet access and computer labs can be
found in the Science Library which is a 2 minute walk from the ESS department. Courses that
require the use of computers will be held in classroom labs, which are also available to students
during the session. The Earth and Planetary Science resources are kept in the Science Library.
Due to Imperials agreement with UCSC, you will not be an official student, and therefore will not
automatically be given student identification. You will be classed as a Junior Specialist and
therefore will obtain staff identification. Once you have gained your identification you can obtain
an email account and access to the university computers from Kerr Hall, as well as check out
books from the libraries.
Fee status for 2013-2014 students (amount may change)

In order for Imperial Students to attend UCSC they are now required to pay Tuition fees to
UCSC. As a result you will be required to pay Campus fees of $2,698 (2010-2011) split over
three Quarters and class fees of $243 per unit. Class units at UCSC are different to SMEs
- 19 -
at Imperial and do not correspond to classes. Typically each class is worth 4 units;
although more work intensive classes can be worth up to 6 units.
Accommodation
As you will not be classified as an official UCSC student you will not be able to live in halls of
residence and will have to live off campus. Living in Santa Cruz is comparable to living in
London in terms of rent, depending on where you want to live. West of River Street is where the
majority of students live due to its proximity to the UCSC campus; however, this is the more
expensive side of town and rents decrease east of the river that runs through the centre of Santa
Cruz.
American students generally share rooms in private housing and there are always
advertisements for roommates throughout the year. Depending on the location and size you can
expect to pay between $500 and $800 a month for a shared room with single rooms often costing
in excess of $900 a month.
In theory it is best to sort out accommodation before you leave, however, it is more practical to
sort it out as soon as you arrive in Santa Cruz. Look for cheap hotels on Ocean Street to stay in
while you sort out housing and get over jet lag. The best place to be geographically is Ocean
Street and Soquel, where you can walk to Downtown. There is a Best western and Travelodge
close to this intersection which are both decently priced.
The best place to search for student housing is online at:
Craigslist: www.craigslist.org
UCSC Community Housing: http://housing.ucsc.edu/rates/index.html
Public Transport
Santa Cruz has a particularly good public bus system and routes and schedules can be found at
www.scmtd.com. When you arrive at UCSC you will be able to purchase a discounted bus pass
from TAPS, located on campus. The buses do not run 24 hours but generally run a regular
service from 6am to 10pm and frequently from campus to downtown. There is a free shuttle
service run on campus which runs approximately every 5mins and is very useful for getting
around campus.
The Route 17 bus service runs to San Jose Diridon Station. Here there is a bus station, Caltrain
station and Amtrak station. From here you can get to San Jose (SJC) International Airport in
around an hour and San Francisco (SFO) International Airport in around 2 hours. The best way to
get from SJC or SFO, quickly and stress free is using the Santa Cruz Airporter which must be
pre-booked by calling (+1) 831 475-0234. Costs from SJC to Santa Cruz are typically in the
region of $60 while from SFO to Santa Cruz this can be as much as $110.
Nightlife
Santa Cruz has a vibrant and active nightlife especially around Ocean Street and the Beach
Boardwalk. There are many local bars and clubs including 99 Bottles of Beers which houses an
impressive collection of 99 different varieties of beer, over half of which are on tap. Other popular
bars in the area include Acapulco, the Attic and Blue Lagoon. Due to Santa Cruzs small size,
nowhere is too far away and many bars are within 5 minutes bus ride of campus and are located
in the downtown area.
- 20 -
Student Contacts
Imperial College has not had students attend UCSC for several years. It is best to go via the
UCSC international site.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Earth and Space Sciences Department
MIT general website:
Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences website:
Department Contact: Dr Vicki McKenna
Location:
Student Population:
Specializes in:
Suitable for:
http://www.mit.edu
http://eapsweb.mit.edu/
vsm@mit.edu
Boston, Massachusetts
10, 400 (64% Male, 36% Female) ~Imperial College size
Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary sciences
Geochemists and/or Planetary Geologists
MIT is located in the Cambridge district of Boston on the north bank of the Charles River basin
and consists of over 168 acres of land. It has produced many famous students including more
than 26 Nobel Prize winners and 4 of the astronauts who have walked on the moon, most notably
Buzz Aldrin. MIT is located just minutes from the Atlantic coast and downtown Boston and only a
3 hour drive from New York.
Curriculum
The EAPS undergraduate program provides students with the opportunity to study the
geophysical sciences necessary for understanding the Earth and solar system. Undergraduates
develop skills in quantifying and modelling natural systems in which longer time scales and larger
space scales are principal considerations. Being able to analyze the behaviour of complex
systems an important skill developed through the study of the geophysical sciences can
later be adapted to the study of problems in virtually any field.
MIT employs the semester system, with two terms per year. The summer months are used for
field work. The dates for the 2013/14 Academic year are:
Autumn: Tuesday 3rd September 2013 Friday 20th December 2013
Spring: Monday 3rd February 2014 Thursday 23rd May 2014
MIT schedules its final exams to be held at the end of each semester, and insists on all
coursework being completed and submitted before students leave for the holidays. This means
that you will not have any work or revision to do over the breaks; however, you will need to
manage your time accordingly in order to make sure you complete all your coursework and revise
for your exams sufficiently. Good time management is a necessity. You are expected to take
around 7 classes whilst at MIT. The month of January is set aside for Independent Activities
Period during which you can take a whole range of fun classes or take part in numerous off
campus actives. Part of the undergraduate curriculum requires students to complete PE classes.
These are also available to you and can be a great way to pick up something new relatively
cheaply.
- 21 -
A full schedule of the classes offered by the EAPS department can be found at:
http://eapsweb.mit.edu/academics/courses
Supervisors for 3rd year project
MIT specialises in Geochemistry and is an excellent institution to complete research and to
experiment, both physically and computationally. MIT has produced some of the best theoretical
and computational researchers in history and as a result is possibly the best institute to complete
such research. MIT also has a strong planetary department and is an excellent place to complete
research into the geology and structure of other bodies with the solar system. Research into Mars
and places such as Titan are key to understanding the evolution of Earth and looking into the
discovery of new life and new resources, and MIT is an excellent place to complete such
research. You might also be able to link with a planetary scientist within the department.
A full EAPS faculty list can be found at:
http://eapsweb.mit.edu/people
Course Materials
need the textbook. Often books suggested by the lecturers for courses can be found in the EAPS
The MIT campus has many Library facilities throughout many of which specialise in particular
subjects. The Engineering and Science Libraries are probably most relevant to you and are
conveniently located close to the Geology department. There are four Engineering and Science
Libraries: Aero/Astro, Barker, Lindgren and Science. These are likely to contain the vast majority
of all references that you need and should be your first port of call. Computing facilities can be
found in all libraries and are open to use by all students during library opening hours. Alternatively
there are computer facilities within the EAPS department which are open to you when classes are
not being taught.
You should visit the MIT Card Office in the basement of the Stratton Student Centre to receive an
MIT ID card. You will need to present a valid picture ID (a passport is sufficient) when requesting
an MIT Card. Driver's licenses from foreign countries, college/university IDs from other
institutions, credit/bank cards, or insurance cards are not accepted. You MIT ID card will give you
access to all campus buildings and can have money put on it for use in campus stores to buy
books, snacks, accessories etc.
You can get an MIT email address from the Information Services and Technology (IS&T)
department either in person or over the phone. This email address works exactly like your
Imperial email address, providing you with contact to the entirety of the MIT campus.
- 22 -
Accommodation
As a 'visiting graduate student', standard undergraduate housing is unfortunately not available to
you. It is highly recommended that you take the initiative to contact one of the Independent living
groups during the summer prior to arriving in Boston to enquire about living there. These houses
are a great way to meet undergraduates and are substantially cheaper and closer to campus than
any other option of living. Each living group has its own ethos and identity so don't be afraid to
email the house manager to ask for more information or a Skype tour. Greek life is also very big
at MIT, with over half of the male population being members of a fraternity. It is recommended
that you contact someone who was previously on the exchange for help choosing if you are
interested in boarding at a frat house. Unfortunately this option is only open to male students as
sororities do not accept boarders.
Independent Living Groups - http://web.mit.edu/reslife/fsilg/organizations.html
Public Transport
Boston's public transportation system, the MBTA, known as "the T", was the first subway in the
United States, and continues to be one of the easiest ways to get around Boston and Cambridge.
The closest subway station to campus is Kendall Square on the Red Line, you may also want to
consider going to Central Square (also on the Red Line) or taking the #1 or CT1 bus across the
Charles River from Back Bay, depending on where you are coming from and your destination on
campus. Public transportation fares and schedules may be found at the MBTA website. You may
want to consider buying a stored value CharlieCard or an unlimited use weekly or monthly pass.
Nightlife
Boston has a bustling nightlife and is an excellent place for live music at bars and clubs. Nightlife
in the city is never boring and plenty of the bars and clubs close to campus cater for students with
cheap deals on beer and food. MIT also has a busy Greek scene, with Fraternities regularly
holding parties that are always worth going to. Fraternity parties can be very loud and busy so if
this is not your idea of fun it might be worth avoiding, otherwise, these are excellent places to
meet new people and have a great time.
Students to contact
Harriet Lau - harriet.lau08@imperial.ac.uk
I had an amazing year at MIT. The work can be very testing and you are definitely not guided
through the year, but if you are committed to getting the most out of your year abroad, there are
an incredible amount of very accessible opportunities, both in the academic and
extracurricular arena, for you to enjoy.
- 23 -
General Information
Dialling Codes UK to USA: (+01)

USA to UK: (+44) Omit the leading 0
Toll Free Numbers Any number starting 1-(800), (888), (877), (866), (855)
Emergency Services Dial 911
Time Zones Eastern (EST/EDT), GMT -5hrs: MIT
Central (CST/CDT), GMT -6hrs: UT Austin
Mountain (MST/MDT), GMT -7hrs
Pacific (PST/PDT), GMT -8hrs: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSC
Currency US Dollar ($)
Typical exchange rate 1 ~ $1.55
$1 ~ 0.64
US Embassies in the UK
London:
24 Grosvenor Square,
London,
W1A 2LQ
Telephone 020 7499 9000
Visa Information helpline 09042 450100 (1.20/min)
Belfast (Consulate):
Danesfort House,
223 Stranmillis Road,
Belfast,
BT9 5GR
Telephone - 028 9038 6100
British Consulates in the USA

California:
San Francisco:
1 Sansome Street,
Suite 850,
San Francisco,
CA,
94104
Telephone - (415) 617 1300
Los Angeles:
11766 Wilshire Blvd,
Suite 1200,
Los Angeles,
CA,
90025-6538
Telephone - (310) 481-0031
- 24 -
Massachusetts:
Boston:
1 Memorial Drive,
Suite 1500,
Cambridge,
MA,
02142
Telephone (617) 245 4500

You are advised to apply for a visa as soon as possible; however, you cannot apply until
you have been granted your DS-2019 form. You should note that the visa process can be
very slow and last minute do not panic, the process can be frustrating at times but it will
get sorted, no student has not gotten their visa in time. You are therefore advised to book
your flights in advance, before you get your visa, in order to guarantee flights to the US
before the start of classes.
For detailed information on the visa application process and US immigration laws, visit the
website of the US Embassy in the UK (www.usembassy.org.uk). The majority of foreign nationals
can apply for a US visa from within the UK; however, there are a small number that will need to
return home in order to apply, check the website for a list of these countries.
As a student exchange visitor to the US you will need to obtain a J-1 visa. In order to apply for
this, you need to have a DS-2019 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status). Your
host university will send you one of these to fill out once your application has been accepted. This
form will be extremely important throughout your stay, do not lose it. You need to apply for your
visa as soon as you receive your DS-2019, but note that the US Embassy cannot issue your visa
more than 90 days prior to the start of your study program (listed on your DS-2019). You will also
need to fill out an online non immigrant visa application form (DS-160). In addition to this
application fee, all J-1 visa applicants must pay a $180 (~115) SEVIS fee. This fee must be
processed at least three business days prior to the date of the visa interview. Proof of
payment of this fee must be presented at your interview either via the paper receipt that will be
posted to you automatically or the electronic receipt. Applications for the J1 visa, associated
forms
and
payment
information
can
be
obtained
from
this
link:
http://london.usembassy.gov/exchange.html
Once you have filled out the form you need to schedule an in-person interview at the US
Embassy/Consulate Office. To do this you need to call 09042 450100 (1.23/min), and have your
passport number ready as well as your DS-2019 form. You can have your interview at either the
Embassy in London or the Consulate office in Belfast. You should note that waiting times at the
Consulate in Belfast are often much less than those in London, and if you can get to Belfast
easily this may be a better option.
You will be required to pay a $160 (~105) MRV application fee. Whilst scheduling your interview,
you will be asked if you want to pay by credit card over the phone. If you do not wish to pay by
credit card you will be sent a paying in slip allowing you to pay in person at any Barclays bank.
This payment must be made in cash (s or $s) and you will be charged if you do not pay at a
Barclays. You should take the receipt along to the interview as proof of payment. You should note
that this application fee is completely non-refundable.
- 25 -
On the Day of the Interview

You will need to take with you:
- Printed confirmation page of your DS-160 online form
- your DS-2019
- your electronic application (MRV) fee receipt or the paying in slip receipt
- your SEVIS fee receipt
- A passport sized photo complying with the specific requirements of the US State
department if the required online upload failed or was unsuccessful while
completing the online application. These specifications for the photograph can be
found
at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visaphotoreq/visaphotofaq/visaphotofaq_5328.html
You should note that photos from a booth do not satisfy these. A photo shop
like Snappy Snaps can do Visa photos for you.
- Your passport (if damaged a new one is recommended).
- Proof of sufficient funds (see below).
- Your Imperial registration cover letter showing your intention to return to the UK
after your year abroad.
- A letter of reference from Lorraine.
You should anticipate being at the embassy for up to 5 hours, especially around June or July.
You can check the current waiting times for visa interviews and the visa processing times at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4788.html?post=London&x=98&y=7
Once your interview is complete you will be required to leave your passport with the embassy and
therefore have to purchase an envelope for the return of your passport once visa processing has
been completed. The fee for the courier service starts at 14.50, payable by credit/debit card or in
cash. Routine visa applications take about 5 working days to process, so you should have your
visa and passport back within a week.
To access the embassy you must bring your interview confirmation letter and your MRV
application fee receipt. You must come on your own, unless you have a translator or have
assistant for a disability. Do not take large bags, such as backpacks, suitcases, or packages into
the Embassy. Visa applicants are not permitted to bring large bags inside the Embassy, and
there is no place on the grounds to store them. Except for prescription medication, baby formula,
and breast milk, no liquids of any kind are allowed into the Embassy. All other liquids will be
discarded. Check their website for more up-to-date security information.
A set of your fingerprints will be electronically scanned. If you have a cut or blister on any of your
fingers or thumbs, your application will not be processed. You will be required to reschedule an
appointment for a later date.
Proof of funds
In order to get your DS-2019 you will need to provide your host university with proof of funds.
Your specific host university will let you know how much exactly; typically this is between 6,000
and 7,000. In order to prove this you will need to provide either a recent bank statement
showing sufficient funds or a signed letter from your parents confirming they intend to support you
with sufficient funds. At the interview you also need to provide proof that you have sufficient funds
to cover your year abroad. Costs vary widely between universities, and it is advisable to have
proof of at least 6,500.
- 26 -
Whilst in the USA

Upon arrival at the US airport you will be required to fill out an I-94 arrival form. Make sure the
attendant on the plane gives you the correct white form rather than the green one (I-94W)
intended for short term visits. Once you have passed through immigration they will staple it into
your passport. You must hand in this form when, and only when, you leave the country
(excluding short trips to Mexico or Canada). If by any chance you dont, see the embassy website
for the address to send it to. If they do not have on record that you have left the USA, you will
have huge problems when you try to visit the USA in the future.
You are required to state an address for where you will stay; so if you havent sorted out
permanent accommodation, make sure you book somewhere temporary to stay and have its
address with you for the flight.
The American immigration procedure at airports is notoriously erratic. Some people are waved
through with only a quick glance at their visa and passport, others are asked to produce proof of
sufficient funds along with documents proving their intention to return home at the end of the
year. Should you be asked for documents that you do not have on your person the system is
unforgiving you will be placed on the next available flight back to the UK. Make sure you have
all the necessary documents (DS-2019, bank statements, Imperial registration certificate etc.) in
your hand luggage, it is far better to have them and not need than the alternative
One thing that can lead passport control to question your intentions is a one-way ticket. It is
always better to have a return ticket, even if it is an open one.
You can enter the USA up to 30 days before the designated start date on your DS-2019 and
you are allowed to stay for up to 30 days after the expiry date on your DS-2019. This date
should be stamped onto your I-94.
You must go to your host universitys international office as soon as possible after arrival for
check in and document verification. Dont forget to take your passport and DS-2019.
Any changes to your US address must be reported to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (BICE) by your host university, through SEVIS. This mandatory process can be
done through the international office at your host university.
Travelling Home for Christmas
In order to temporarily leave the USA on a J-1 visa you must go and register your intent at your
host universitys international office. Take along your passport, DS-2019 and the exact dates of
travel as they need to amend your DS-2019. This is vitally important as if they do not amend
your DS-2019 form, you will have trouble re-entering the USA.
For more immigration information, see your host universitys international office or the US
Department of States website (www.travel.state.gov).
- 27 -
Insurance
General Information
Health insurance is compulsory for international students by every US University. This can be
particularly expensive but is necessary: hospital visits can potentially cost thousands and it is
always cheaper to pay insurance costs than hospital costs.
Regular travel insurance does not comply with any universitys health insurance policy. You have
to be insured to a certain level and each university has its own regulations and recommended
plan. Universities that classify you as an official student will automatically charge you for
university health insurance at the start of each Semester/Quarter although you can waive this
charge and buy your own insurance. Those universities that do not classify you as an official
student require you to purchase your own private insurance. You must make sure that and
private insurance plan fills your universitys criteria (see sections below).
One important detail to check is the amount of excess you have to pay for each claim. If you just
need a simple check up it is often cheaper to pay for it yourself rather than claiming it on
insurance. Also, university insurance sometimes only covers you for 80% of the charge, i.e. you
have to pay the remaining 20% yourself. If you do decide to waive your universitys insurance, in
all cases you still have access to their health centres and facilities. It just makes getting an
appointment a bit more of a hassle (always take along your insurance details and receipt).
UC Berkeley
For details of Berkeleys health services and insurance, see:
www.uhs.berkeley.edu/students/insurance/index.shtml
The cost of Berkeleys UC SHIP for 2013-14 is $1782/year (two semesters). $891 will
automatically be added to your fee payment schedule each semester unless you are approved to
waive it. Dental and Optical care are mostly covered by the plan; see the website for further
details.
To receive a waiver, the substitute plan must have coverage comparable to the Berkeley plan
and be from a recognized company that is owned, headquartered and operated in the United
States. Foreign insurance plans with U.S. affiliates/representatives, travel insurance plans and
reimbursement programs do not qualify. For more information on waiving Berkeleys insurance
see: www.uhs.berkeley.edu/students/insurance/WaiverFAQs.shtml
UCLA
For information about UCLAs health services and insurance, see:
www.studenthealth.ucla.edu
As an undergraduate, you will automatically be enrolled onto UC SHIP plan which costs $439.34
per quarter, or $1318.01 year (three Quarters) for 2013-14 and the appropriate amount will be
charged to you BAR account at the start of each Quarter. Optometric care is included in this plan,
but dental care is excluded. However, if you opt for the year-long Plus plan upgrade
($284.38/year extra) dental cover will be included.
- 28 -
The waiver process at UCLA is an online procedure (see above link) and the deadline is the last
day of fee payment. If you choose to waive the universitys plan, you will need to fill out this form
each Quarter.
As an international student, any private plan must meet the following specifications:
- Be from a US owned company that is headquartered and operated in the United States.
- Provide no less than $100,000 in lifetime benefits.
- Have a maximum of $5,000 per year out-of-pocket expenses for hospitalisation, surgery
and emergency care.
- Have a facility, covered under your plan, providing full services within 25 miles of UCLA.
- Not be a travel insurance policy or reimbursement policy.
- Benefits of $10,000 for medical evacuation and $7,500 for repatriation.
UCSC
For details of UCSCs health services and insurance, see:
www2.ucsc.edu/healthcenter/
The UCSS UC SHIP plans costs in 2013-14 are $501 per quarter or $1503 per year (three
Quarters). Optical and Dental care is excluded from this cost but can be provided for an
additional $20.68 and $94.79 per quarter respectively.
The requirements for replacement private plans (if you chose to waive) are available on the fees
section of the website.
MIT
For details of MITs health services and insurance, see:
http://medweb.mit.edu/
You will automatically be enrolled on the standard health insurance package as part of your
visiting student status. However, it is required that you purchase the extended student plan for
$1,980.00/year (2013/14, two Semesters), which can be done at MIT medical once you have
arrived.
Money Matters
Before leaving the UK, draw up a budget for your year abroad and make sure that you have your
finances in order. If you havent already, set up an internet banking facility and make sure that
your statements will get sent home rather than to your UK term-time address.
Using your UK debit/credit card
Make sure you have a Visa or MasterCard debit/credit before leaving for the USA. These major
brands are accepted everywhere in America for use at ATMs, shops and other stores. Be sure to
have a card that wont expire while you are out there and dont forget the PIN.
It is also worth asking at UK banks for their policy on charges for overseas withdrawals. Some
banks or building societies may charge you 2.5% with a minimum charge of 2.50 for every
withdrawal. However, others do not charge for overseas withdrawals, notably Nationwide Building
Society (however, the American bank ATM you withdraw from may charge you, but again not all
do). Whatever the case, it is more economical to withdraw as much as you can (the daily limit is
- 29 -
$500). Keep an eye on the exchange rate as well, as this can have a big effect on the amount
you withdraw in -sterling, an exchange rate of 1.5 $/ can vary a lot from 1.7 $/! Ensure you
parents are signed onto your account in the UK to facilitate cash transfers and tell your bank you
are going abroad so your card is not frozen.
Opening a Bank Account

Creating a bank account in the US is the easiest way to look after your money and is very easy to
set up. You will need you passport, at least one other form of photo ID (your host university
student ID card is best but a UK drivers license also works) and a valid local address. You can
typically open a bank account with any amount of money. The quickest, safest and easiest way to
open an account is with travellers cheques, or from money you have taken out of your UK bank
account. Be aware that US banks can charge you for many services. Shop around for student
friendly banks; Washington Mutual (WaMu) and Bank of America are excellent places to start.
Employment
On your J-1 visa you will only be allowed to work on campus if you wish. It is highly
recommended though that you do not work while on your year abroad due to academic
workload, a new academic system, new friends etc. Students can only work a maximum of 20
hours per week, but this can still impinge on your studying. If you do get employed do not rely on
work wages to help fund your year. If you are still keen about working then talk to your lecturers
within the earth science department. It is possible that some professors will be looking for
research assistants to help them. Not only could this get you a job, but research work looks great
on your CV.
If you are authorised to work on campus by your universitys international office, you will need to
obtain a social security number (SSN). SSNs are issued by the Social Security Administration
(SSA) and there should be a branch of the SSA near you. In order to get a SSN you need to fill
out the application form (Form SS-5) and take it to your nearest SSA branch along with your
passport, another form of approved identification, your DS-2019 and a signed, headed letter from
your employer/international office. For more information and SSA branch locations, see
www.ssa.gov.
Taxes
If you do decide to work on campus, you will need to file tax return forms to the Inland Revenue
Service (IRS) and pay any applicable taxes. Even if you decide not to work, all visitors on a J-1
visa need to file certain forms. For more information on these processes and to download the
forms you need to fill out, see the IRS website (www.irs.gov) or go to your universitys
international office. The filing deadline is 15th April.
One type of US tax that can catch visitors out is sales tax. This is a state tax added to any item
sold, especially essential food items. Sales tax percentages vary from county to county and range
from 4-10%. Sales tax is not included in the price marked on items for purchase or on menus in
restaurants. Be prepared to pay more than the advertised price, when you get to the register.
Tipping
In the USA it is expected that you give a tip to people who provide you with a service, including
servers in restaurants and bars, taxi drivers and hair stylists. If the service is acceptable, a tip of
15% (before taxes) is acceptable. Superior service warrants a larger tip (~20%)
- 30 -
Drinking
All states in the USA have a minimum drinking age of 21, which includes buying alcohol and entry
to many nightclubs and bars. This is very strictly enforced (much more than in the UK) and if you
do get caught drinking underage anywhere (including in your apartment) you may be heavily
fined. There is also a chance that you could have your visa revoked.
Driving Laws
If you have a full driving license you can technically rent a car. However, many rental companies
have a minimum age of 25 and it is unusual for companies to rent to someone under 21. Try the
National Car Rental Company if you are aged between 21 and 25. An international driving permit
certainly makes the rental process easier. These only cost 5.50 and are available from selected
UK Post Offices nationwide.
- 31 -
AUSTRALIA
*EXCHANGE AGREEMENT NOT YET IN PLACE*
Australian National University
Research School of Earth Sciences
ANU general website:
Research School of Earth Sciences:
Department contact: TBC, consult Lorraine
http://www.anu.edu.au
http://rses.anu.edu.au
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Student Population: 16, 700 (Roughly Imperial sized)
10, 000 Undergraduates
6, 700 Postgraduates
Specialised in:
Earth Chemistry, Earth Environment, Earth Materials & Process, Earth
Physics.
Suitable for:
Geologists, Geophysicists, Environmentalists
ANU is located on the north shore of the Lake Burley Griffin in the centre of Canberra, the
Australian Capital. The campus is its own community, an area of greenery with places to meet,
greet, live and learn.
Curriculum
The Australian system works differently to the UK system. ANU has two semesters, a winterspring semester from July to December, and a summer autumn semester from February to
June. Due to the change in seasons, you begin your course half way through the academic year,
with the second winter semester first. Each semester is split into two periods.
Semester 2: Monday 22nd July 2013 Friday 1st November 2013 (end semester exams for
approximately 2 weeks after this date), Break 9th 20th September 2013.
Semester 1: Monday 24th February 2014 Friday 6tht June 2014 (end semester exams for
approximately 2 weeks after this date), Break 14th 25th April 2014.
A more detailed academic calendar can be found under about and profile on the ANU website.
ANU runs 2 semesters with 2 teaching periods either side of the break. In one year you must
complete 48 credits, 12 in each term, split into two 6 credit courses. The majority must consist of
5 Science Major level courses (3000), along with 3 elective courses preferably at the same level..
Exams may take place before the mid semester breaks depending on your course choices, as
well as the end of term. Time management is essential, especially in the first term as you will
have to complete your 3rd year research project at the same time.
A full list of courses and further course and elective information can be found at:
http://studyat.anu.edu.au/programs/4600HBSC;study_options.html
- 32 -
A detailed schedule of earth science classes can be found at:

http://studyat.anu.edu.au/programs/4600HBSC;study_options.html
Registering for courses
As part of your application you submit a choice of modules you wish to undertake. Once you are
accepted your choices will be reviewed by the university for eligibility. Further selection can be
made during drop in sessions organised for exchange students. Remember to select courses
which you have the desired pre-requisites.
Enrolment
Once you accept your offer you will be issued with an ISIS username and password for college
logon. It is also required for enrolment. Enrolment must take place straight after your arrival on
campus. It is recommended you arrive a few days before the beginning of semester. An
international student orientation then takes place, and is followed by enrolment with the college.
Further enrolment information can be found at:
http://info.anu.edu.au/studyat/international_office/exchange/course-selection
http://students.anu.edu.au/studyat/international_office/exchange/course-selection (Copy/paste)
http://students.anu.edu.au/manage/enrol.php
Enrolment requires you to present both your passport and visa as an international student.
Course costs
Course costs to be covered by any exchange agreement.
Supervisors for the 3rd year
ANU does not provide project supervision; written projects must be supervised by ESE and
preferably completed before departure.
Course Materials
Some of the courses will require textbooks, most of which can be borrowed from the on campus
library, or bought, either new or second hand. Other materials can be purchased from on campus
stores.
Library/Computer facilities
The main campus library is located within the J. B. Chifly building. Here you can loan textbooks
and ebooks. Online facilities are also available. Library opening hours change year round.
Consult the library website for a full range of services:
http://anulib.anu.edu.au
Multiple ICT facilities are located in most campus buildings.
Student identification
Student ID cards are issued from Level 3 of the Chifley building, InfoPlace upper during
enrolment periods. You must bring your passport to receive your studentcard.
- 33 -
Accommodation
ANU offers an accommodation guarantee for new undergraduate exchange students. On campus
accommodation is a mix of catered and non-catered, and can be applied for via:
http://accom.anu.edu.au/UAS/186.html. Prices range from $150-$350 a week for fixed term
contracts, in addition to a deposit and other fixed costs. Information for renting property off
campus is also available through this website. Websites such as gumtree are also a good source
of off-campus accommodation. Prices range from $150-250 a week for a flatshare.
Public Transport
Action buses provide reliable public transport throughout Canberra. Payment is most often by a
re-paid card similar to an oystercard called a MyWay card. A student MyWay can be acquired
from the action bus website (below). Prices are variable and available from the website, but are
typically $1 - $2. Transfer between buses is free for 90 minutes within an initial ticket purchase.
Several bus routes serve campus. The main bus interchange, at the Civic is a 10 minute walk
from campus. During evenings during semester, a Unisafe bus travels throughout campus and
out to the interchange.
Further bus information is found at: http://www.action.act.gov.au.
Nightlife
Most student nightlife is concentrated on campus and around the Civic with a range of pubs and
clubs to choose from.
Student Contacts
No recent students have attended ANU, so it would be best to contact their international office to
find out more.
- 34 -
General Information
Dialling Codes UK to Australia: (+61)

Australia to UK: (+44) Omit the leading 0
Toll free Numbers Ten digit numbers starting 1800
Emergency Services Dial 000, 112
Time Zones Various, _+8 - +11 UTC (GMT)
Canberra +10 UTC Winter, +11 UCT Summer
Currency Australian Dollar (AUS$)
Typical exchange rate 1 ~ AUS$1.54
AUS$1 ~ 0.65
Australian High Commission in the UK
Australian High Commission
Australia House,
Strand,
London
WC2B 4LA
Tele - 020 7379 4334
Visas, Tele 020 7420 3690
British High Commission in Canberra, Australia

British High Commission
Commonwealth Avenue
Yarralumia
ACT 2600
Tele +61 (0) 2 6270 6666

As Australia is part of the Commonwealth, visa application for British and Irish citizens is
a fairly painless process. All year abroad students need to apply for an Australian Non
Award Student Visa (sub-class 575) before arriving in Australia. Different levels of
assessment for your student visa depend on your country of nationality. You cannot apply
earlier than 124 days before the start of your course, and confirmation of your enrolment
is required for your visa to be issued. Your assessment level can be found here:
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/assessment-levels.pdf. EU Students generally are at
level 1, the lowest level of assessment and the fastest processing time.
Further detailed information about the application
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/applying-student.pdf.
process
can
be
found
here
Level 1 students are entitled to apply for an electronic visa. Further information is available from
http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/students.htm.
- 35 -
Other students must apply via the Australian High Commission in London, addressed at this link:
http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/u/united-kingdom/. Further information about obtaining
visa application forms can be found here: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/575-0/applyperson.htm.
For level 1 applications, accompanying your application form must be:
-
Electronic confirmation of Enrolment certificate or letter of acceptance from your host

university.
A certified copy of your passport valid for your entire period of study
Proof of funds (see below)
Four photographs of yourself fitting required specifications. For these specifications see,
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/checklists/visa_575_1.pdf.
Proof of Funds
You must declare that you have enough money during your stay in Australia to pay for:
tuition fees (Student loans plus bank funds are sufficient)
living expenses (Student loans plus bank funds are sufficient)
Travel costs to and from Australia
See http://students.anu.edu.au/think/life.php for an example total costs for a student. The basic
amount required is $18 600. Further information here: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/studentvisa-living-costs.htm
Processing Fee
The processing fee for an Australian study permit is AUS$535 (~350). If you apply in person at
the London office, you can pay using a debit card or bankers draft. If you post your application
you need to obtain a bankers draft Pounds Sterling, made payable to the Receiver General for
Canada. These can be purchased at most banks. DO NOT SEND CASH!
Further payment information available via: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/converter.htm
Send, or take in person, completed application forms and accompanying documents to the
relevant address on this link: http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/u/united-kingdom/
Processing can take up to 12 weeks, so apply for your permit as soon as you have your
acceptance letter. For up to date processing times visit:
https://www.ecom.immi.gov.au/inquiry/query/query.do?action=eVisa
Information about what happens post application is available here:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/575-0/after-you-lodge.htm
Information about extending your stay is available here:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/extending_your_stay/
Conditions you must satisfy to hold the visa:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/visa-conditions-students.htm
- 36 -

On the condition that your visa is still valid at the time you plan to return, you are free to leave
Australia and return as you please. Nonetheless, it is still good to let your host universitys
international office know when you plan to travel to check that all your documents are still valid.
Insurance
All overseas students are required to register for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
prior to entering Australia. This covers medical and hospital care. It also pays for most
prescription drugs, emergency transport and treatments such as radiology and pathology. It does
not cover dental and optical work and certain other medical issues, though you can have these as
optional add-ons.
ANU
ANU will organise OSHC for you on acceptance of their offer with their preferred supplier of
insurance. You must pay on acceptance of the offer. 2012/13 charges are $435 for one year.
Further information is available at:
http://info.anu.edu.au/studyat/assets/International_Office/getting_in/OSHC.pdf
Money Matters

Make sure you obtain a Visa or MasterCard debit/credit before leaving for Australia. These major
brands are accepted everywhere in Australia for use at ATMs, shops and other stores. Be sure to
Society (however, the Australian ATM you withdraw from may charge you, but again not all do).
Whatever the case, it is more economical to withdraw as much as you can. Keep an eye on the
exchange rate as well, as this can have a big effect on the amount you withdraw in Pound
Sterling, an exchange rate of 1.3AUS$/ can vary a lot from 1.7 AUS$/.

Opening a bank account in Australia is not complicated and makes everyday life easier, within 6
weeks of arrival. You will need your passport and a valid local address. It is worth bringing your
student card just in case. You can typically open a bank account with any amount of money. The
quickest, safest and easiest way to open an account is with travellers cheques, or from money
you have taken out of your UK bank account.
Australian banks vary widely in the services they offer and how much they charge for them. It is
certainly worth shopping around for the best deal and many banks have accounts created
specifically for students. Some banks will charge for an account on a monthly basis. transaction
- 37 -
fees. This fee is generally waived for student bank accounts. NAB and Commonwealth bank are
a good place to start.
Employment
If you have an Australian student visa, you are allowed to work for up to 40 hours per fortnight
while studies are in session (during semesters, including exam periods). You cannot work during
holiday periods; however, you can work once studies have ended for the year. You cannot
commence work before you start.
Taxes
You must obtain a tax file number before you start working, see:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/working_while_studying/
Applications for the TFN can be made here:
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?doc=/content/27156.htm
The sales tax in Australia on most products is approximately 10%
Tipping
Tipping in generally not expected, but always welcome!
Drinking
The legal age for purchasing and drinking alcohol in Canada is 18. Be expected to show ID
whenever you go out so you should always take some out with you.
Driving Laws
Generally, students can drive in Australia on an international driving licence for their duration of
stay. However, it is beneficial to obtain an Australian licence to use as Identification. Further
information is available here:
http://australia.gov.au/faq/existing-licence-driving-in-australia
- 38 -
CANADA
University of British Columbia
Earth and Ocean Sciences Department
UBC general website:
Earth and Ocean Sciences website:
Department contact: Jason Currier
http://www.ubc.ca/
http://www.eos.ubc.ca/
jason.currier@ubc.ca
Location:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Specializes in:
Geological Engineering, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science
Suitable for:
Geologists and/or Geophysicists
UBC is on the Point Grey Peninsula, on the western edge of Vancouver about 20 minutes from
Downtown. Surrounded by beach and forest, UBC is a community in its own right, with shops,
pubs, bars and cafes dotted all around the large campus.
Curriculum
The Canadian system works very differently to both the UK and the US systems. UBC has two
sessions: a winter and summer session. Winter session runs from September to April and
summer session runs from May to August. Summer session is typically reserved for students
requiring extra credits or needing to catch up on missed courses: as such Year Abroad students
only attend for the winter session. Each session is split down into two terms whose dates for
2013/14 are:
Term 1: Tuesday 3rd September 2013 Wednesday 18th December 2013
Term 2: Monday 6th January 2014 Wednesday 30th April 2014
(Spring Break: Monday 17th Friday 21st February 2014)
A more detailed Academic calendar can be found under the Students section of the main
website.
Similar to American universities, UBC operates on the Mid-term system. These are typically
scheduled half way through the term and account for around 20-25% of your total grade.
However, unlike the US systems these Mid-terms are not always entirely based upon lecture
material and can often involve external reading from textbooks or recent publications. Final
exams are taken in the last week of term before the holiday meaning that you are not expected to
do any studying during your time off. However, you may have coursework or research that is not
due until the very end of term, and you will have to keep on top of this while studying for your
exams. Time management is an essential skill. Some courses also have lab sessions which will
typically involve practical work or experiments. This generally accounts for the coursework
section of the class and, depending on the class, can take up a large majority of the total work for
the class.
- 39 -
Students typically take 4 or 5 courses each term which in the third year, are at the 300 and 400
level. Each course typically runs 2 or 3 times a week for an hour at a time. Lab sessions last for
2-3 hours, and are timetabled once a week. Generally classes are worth 3 UBC credits, which are
roughly 1.5 Imperial SMEs; however, this varies depending on the number of teaching hours.
A full list of EOS classes on offer can be found at:
http://www.eos.ubc.ca/courses/
A detailed schedule of classes can be found at:
https://courses.students.ubc.ca/cs/main?pname=subjarea&tname=subjareas&req=1&dept=EOS
C
Electives
It is possible to take courses from other faculties as electives although humanities courses will
not usually be credited by Imperial. Electives are commonly from the mining department,
geography department or applied science department but, in theory, can be from any. Detailed
course listings can be found at:
https://courses.students.ubc.ca/cs/main?pname=subjarea&tname=subjareas&req=0
The EOS department also has a list of recommended electives which can be found at:
http://www.eos.ubc.ca/academic/undergraduate/07W-HonsGeol-ProgGuide.pdf
Registering for Courses
Registration is completed online by logging onto the Student Service Centre (SSC) using your
CWL login (see below). Here you can find course summaries, timetables and lecturers contact
details, as well as put together a timetable for yourself and later check exam results. The first
step is to look up the course you wish to take to add it to your work list, and then you can
register for courses. The Go Global office (responsible for arranging exchange students) will send
you a form for your course choices and then register for you, but you can make any change
yourself later.
Supervisors for 3rd year projects
UBC specialises in several areas including Geological Engineering, which is an important area for
attempting to solve key problems that often affect large scale building projects such as bridges
and dams. UBC is one of the worlds leading institutes for producing Geological Engineers who
have gone on to work on problems such as building skyscrapers in earthquake prone zones,
engineering flood defences throughout the world and strengthening buildings in areas regularly
hit by hurricanes/typhoons. UBC also specialises in Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences
which can either be studied as separate specialties or combined into an Environmental Geology
speciality.
A full EOS department faculty listing can be found at:
http://www.eos.ubc.ca/about/faculty/
Course Materials
Textbooks are required for some courses, although you can find some of them in the library.
Many are available second hand from upstairs at the campus shopping area known as The
Village. If you do not wish to buy second hand books you should note that text books can often
- 40 -
be expensive, with the newest editions often reaching $100 or more. Most courses in the EOS
department provide printed course materials and lecture notes for about $15 per course, which
must be paid to the lecturer or bought at the campus bookstore.
Computing/ Library facilities
A newly refurbished computer lab is located on the 1st floor of the EOS Main building. To use a
computer here you will need to set up an EOS account. Details of how to do this will be emailed
to you at the start of the year, or alternatively reception are always happy to help you.
Computers are also available in the many libraries on campus. To use these you can use your
CWL login (see below). Wireless internet is available everywhere on campus for free. There are
several libraries on campus, which are open to all students during term time. Most Geology and
science books can be found in the Irving K. Barber Library on the East Mall. Some may also be
found in the Main Library, also known as Koerners Library on the Main Mall.
Student Identification
You will need to collect your UBC student card from the UBC Bookstore in the first few days of
term. Be warned, this goes for several thousand students, so be prepared to wait in line! Make
sure you have some other ID on you UBC will email you details of exactly what you need. You
also need to collect your U-Pass from here, your travel card for the year (see below).
Accommodation
As an exchange student, you are entitled to a place in university accommodation, which works
out at around 80/week and includes free internet. At UBC many students live in university
accommodation which is not limited to first years, with the exception of Totem Park and Place
Vanier residences. For more information on University accommodation you can visit:
http://www.housing.ubc.ca/vancouver.htm
It is also easy to find accommodation off campus. Many current students will have arranged
private accommodation over the summer, but there will still be people looking for flatmates.
Unlike in the US, you are unlikely to have to share rooms. Most students find a place to live
through craigslist, which is used for almost everything in Vancouver.
http://vancouver.craigslist.org/
Public Transport
UBC has excellent bus links to just about anywhere in Vancouver. Night buses also run to the
campus. All UBC students are automatically signed up for the U-Pass, a deal that the university
has with Translink, the Vancouver transport company. You can use your U-Pass in all zones on
any public transport for $25 a month. You are charged approximately $90 at the start of each
term. For more information you should visit:
http://www.upass.ubc.ca/
Nightlife
Vancouver has a busy nightlife and unlike the UK and US the legal drinking age is 19. The
Granville Street and Gastown areas of Downtown Vancouver have many bars and clubs
comparable to Piccadilly Circus and are open until the early hours of the morning.
Vancouver is also one of the premier destinations worldwide for outdoor sports. A two hour drive
north of the city is the world class ski resort of Whistler Blackcomb, and a student season pass is
- 41 -
only $400. During the ski season Greyhound buses depart from the UBC campus every Saturday
and Sunday morning and will return you in the evening.
Student Contacts
Luke Bridgestock - luke.bridgestock07@imperial.ac.uk
Humphrey Knight humphrey.knight08@imperial.ac.uk
Paddy Goodarzi patrick.goodarzi09@imperial.ac.uk
Vancouver, eh? A beautiful city with a really friendly vibe, which has some of the best outdoor
sports available on its doorstep. Vancouver is an amazing place. Its a very clean and green city
surrounded by the ocean and forested mountains. There is even a nudist beach on campus! If
youre into outdoor sports then Vancouver is the place to be. Classes I would particularly
recommend are the ore deposits courses (EOSC 331 and EOSC 424) as they are well taught and
can offer an insight into the mineral exploration industry in Canada. Some courses offer single
day trips and there is a field course (EOSC 328) at the end of the year in May. UBC students
dont do nearly as much field work as the RSM so the trips will not be very challenging. They are
however a great opportunity to see geology unavailable to us in the UK.
Luke Bridgestock UBC 2009-2010
West-coast Canada has a very liberal attitude that emulates California, but without the fiscal
draw-backs of an American college. Campus even has its very own nudist beach. Getting out of
UBCs enormous campus and exploring Vancouver is essential as theres so much to do and
transport is so cheap. If youre used to picturesque Fulham then youll find campus scenery
staggering. But being surrounded by mountains and ocean isnt just for good views if youre
keen on ski-sports, or even if youre not, Whistler is an absolute must-do.
The brand new $150million geology department is excellent, particularly if youre interested in
exploration geology and mining. They offer a number of petrology courses with a lot of
microscope and rock ID work. The range of courses isnt quite as diverse as at RSM, there are
much less computer based courses. Most courses are considered hard-rock which cater for the
vast majority of geologists who go into min-ex. Attendance at Round-Up Canadas second
biggest exploration and mining conference, is highly recommended with vast quantities of free
food, beer, and networking.
If you love sport then hockey is a serious passion for all Canadians, tickets for games are very
expensive but completely worth it. Just dont call it ice hockey. Or tell them you play field
hockey.
And dont worry about Canadian weather. Vancouver has a similar climate to London. That of
course means lots of rain, but theres more snow!
Patrick Goodarzi UBC 2011-2012
- 42 -
General Information
Dialling Codes UK to Canada: (+01)

Canada to UK: (+44) Omit the leading 0
Toll free Numbers Any number starting: 1-(800), (888), (877), (866) or (855).
Time Zones Eastern (EST/EDT), GMT -5hrs
Central (CST/CDT), GMT -6hrs
Mountain (MST/MDT), GMT -7hrs
Pacific (PST/PDT), GMT -8hrs: UBC
Currency Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Typical exchange rate 1 ~ CA$1.62
CA$1 ~ 0.61
Canadian High Commission in the UK
Canadian High Commission
Macdonald House,
1 Grosvenor Square,
London
W1X 0AB
Tele - 020 7258 6600
Canadian Consulate General/ Visa Section in London
38 Grosvenor Square,
London
W1X 0AA
Tele - 020 7258 6699
British High Commission in Canada

British High Commission
80 Elgin Street
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1P 5K7
Tele 1 613 237 1530
Emergency/Out of Hours Tele - 1 613 239 4288
Consulate General,
1111 Melville Street,
Suite 800,
Vancouver,
British Columbia
V6E 3V6
Tele 1 604 683 4421
- 43 -

As Canada is part of the Commonwealth, visa application for British citizens is a fairly
painless process. All year abroad students need to apply for a study permit: The citizens
of some countries are also required to have a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in addition
to the study permit. If you are not a British citizen check the following website to see if you
need a TRV: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-how.asp
If you do require a TRV it is not necessary to make a separate application or pay a
separate fee; an officer will automatically issue it at the same time as the study permit. The
study permit application form is IMM1294 and can be found via this link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp. You can submit this
form either by post (accompanied by a self addressed Special Delivery envelope so they
can return your documents) to the address below, or in person at their London office.
For extensive information on the visa application process and Canadian immigration laws, visit
the website of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at, www.cic.gc.ca or the
Canadian High Commission Visa website at: www.canada.org.uk.
Unlike for US visas, not many nationalities can apply for a visa at the London High Commission.
If you are not a British citizen, find out which visa office you should apply to at the following
website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-map.asp?q=3
Accompanying your application form must be:

Letter of acceptance, from your host university, signed by a university official.
A passport valid for your entire period of study (most European nationals do not need to submit
their actual passport. A copy of the identification page will suffice. For exceptions see the CIC
site).
Proof of funds (see below)
Two photographs of yourself fitting required specifications. For these specifications see,
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/photospecs.asp
A letter of reference from Lorraine
Proof of Funds
You must prove that you have enough money during your stay in Canada to pay for:
tuition fees (Student loans plus bank funds are sufficient)
living expenses (Student loans plus bank funds are sufficient)
return transportation (~500)
See http://www.students.ubc.ca/youbc/va/costs.cfm for an example of living costs for UBC

students. However, do not worry about having to show funds for these exact amounts as you will
pay much lower tuition fees than the average UBC student. If you can show funds of ~4000 plus
your student loan then you should be fine. This proof should be in the form of bank statements
(these can be from your parents provided that it is accompanied by a signed letter confirming
their support).
Processing Fee
The processing fee for a Canadian study permit is CA$125 (~80). If you apply in person at the
London office, you can pay in cash in either Canadian Dollars or Pound Sterling. You must have
- 44 -
the exact money as no change will be given. If you post your application you need to obtain a
bankers draft in Canadian Dollars, made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. These
can be purchased at most banks. DO NOT SEND CASH!
Send, or take in person, completed application forms and accompanying documents to:
Immigration and Medical Division
Canadian High Commission
38 Grosvenor Street
London
W1K 4AA
Processing can take weeks and sometimes even months to be completed, so apply for your
permit as soon as you have your acceptance letter. For up to date processing times visit:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/.
Should your application be approved, you will receive a letter of introduction confirming your
approval. This letter is not your study permit. When you arrive in Canada, you must show
this letter to a Canadian Immigration officer at the port of entry. The officer will determine
whether you may enter Canada and how long you may stay. You will be issued a study
permit at this time. You must leave Canada on or before the date on your study permit, set by the
officer or have your status extended by an officer in Canada.
It is possible to have your permit extended. See the CIC website for more details and the relevant
forms. It is recommended that you start this process 90 days before your permit runs out
On the condition that your study permit is still valid at the time you plan to return, you are free to
leave Canada and return as you please. Nonetheless, it is still good to let your host universitys
international office know when you plan to travel to check that all your documents are still valid. If
you had to get a TRV as well as the study permit, you must make sure that your TRV is multientry rather than single-entry. If it is the latter, take it along to the international office and they can
advise you on how to amend it.
Insurance
UBC
UBC requires all international exchange students to have basic health insurance. It is not
possible to opt out of this plan. As an exchange student (rather than a degree-seeking
international student) you do not have to purchase the extended cover. However, note that the
basic cover does not cover dental or optometric claims. If you are worried about these it is
advisable to buy your own extended insurance policy.
Basic Insurance
Anyone living in British Columbia for three months or longer is enrolled in the Provincial Health
Insurance Plan (MSP). This costs CA$64/month, paid directly to MSP but does mean that you
will not have to pay up front for any medical care. It is vital that you apply as soon as you arrive
as it can take up to three months for your application to be processed. More information about
premiums
and
how
to
enrol
are
available
at:
- 45 -
www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/index.html or the international student advisors in the

International House at UBC.
In order to cover you for the three months prior to your MSP starting, UBC automatically enrols
you onto the basic iMed plan which covers you for doctors visits and some hospitalisation. This
costs CA$150 and is automatically added to your fee schedule. More information can be found at
the following website:
www.david-cummings.com/imed.
General information regarding health insurance at UBC can be found at:
http://www.students.ubc.ca/international/handbook.cfm?page=insurance&view=general
Money Matters

Make sure you obtain a Visa or MasterCard debit/credit before leaving for Canada. These major
brands are accepted everywhere in Canada for use at ATMs, shops and other stores. Be sure to
Society (however, the Canadian ATM you withdraw from may charge you, but again not all do).
Whatever the case, it is more economical to withdraw as much as you can (the daily limit is
C$500). Keep an eye on the exchange rate as well, as this can have a big effect on the amount
you withdraw in Pound Sterling, an exchange rate of 1.6C$/ can vary a lot from 1.8 C$/.

Opening a bank account in Canada is not complicated and makes everyday life easier. You will
need your passport, at least one other form of photo ID (it is best to use your host university
student ID card) and a valid local address. You can typically open a bank account with any
amount of money. The quickest, safest and easiest way to open an account is with travellers
cheques, or from money you have taken out of your UK bank account.
Canadian banks vary widely in the services they offer and how much they charge for them. It is
specifically for students. Normal bank accounts in Canada are charged around $10/month for
transaction fees. This fee is generally waived for student bank accounts. A good place to start is
HSBC or the Bank of Montreal.
Employment
If you have a Canadian study permit that is valid for at least six months, you will be allowed to
work on campus as long as you are registered for full-time study. This means that you can work
or volunteer for any on-campus employer, including departments, individual faculty members,
commercial outlets, student organisations or off-campus facilities formally affiliated with the
- 46 -
University. If you do decide to work, you will need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
This is an easy and cost-free process.
As an exchange student you are able to work on campus, either for UBC itself or any other
company on campus. However, you should think very carefully before committing to a job as a
year abroad is a challenging enough experience on its own. Under no circumstances should you
rely on any wages to help fund your year. You will have to apply for a SIN (Social Insurance
Number) which you can only do once you have found a job; however, this is a straightforward
procedure. Just take along your study permit, passport and signed employment contract to your
nearest Human Resources Centre of Canada (HRCC) office. For branch location enquiries, an
application form, or any further information see your international office or visit
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/home.shtml.
The current boom in the mining and oil industries means that it is very easy to find summer work
and gain excellent field experience in Canada after the academic year has finished. Work permits
can be negotiated for this, again once you have a job offer. UBC also employs students on
various research projects over the summer, which is advertised casually in Term 2.
Taxes
The UK and most European countries have signed a tax treaty with Canada, enabling you to
work and not pay Canadian income tax. In addition to this, you may be eligible for various tax
credits. Moving expenses such as transportation and storage of personal items, travel and
temporary accommodation may be eligible for deductions, so save your receipts for the costs
incurred in relocating to Canada. The Canadian fiscal year runs from 1st January-31st December.
To receive these rebates, or to file your income tax forms if your country has not signed the
treaty, you must do so by 30th April 2007. For more information on taxes and to download any
forms, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca or speak to the staff at
your international office.
In Canada there are three types of sales taxes: provincial sales tax (PST), goods and services
tax (GST) and the harmonised sales tax (HST). These are added to most retail goods and
services, so beware; the price on the tag will not be the one that you pay at the checkout.
The percentages of each of these vary from state to state. In BC the PST is 7.5%, the GST is 6%
and there is no HST. However, this will differ should you leave BC for another state.
Tipping
Tipping service staff is as expected in Canada as it is in the USA. A fair percentage is ~15%, but
if you have great service expect to be encouraged to tip more (20%).
Drinking
The legal age for purchasing and drinking alcohol in Canada is either 18 or 19, depending on
which state you are in. In BC it is 19. Be expected to show ID whenever you go out so you should
always take some out with you. It is also illegal to drink in public places in Canada and this is
strictly enforced.
Driving Laws
If you have a full drivers license and you are registered as a full-time student, your license will
allow you to drive in Canada as long as you are a student. As you are abroad for one year only,
buying a car is not a sensible option. Also, once you attend UBC, for CA$90 (~55) you can
- 47 -
purchase a U-Pass that provides you with unlimited public transportation everywhere in
Vancouver. This is automatically invoiced at the beginning of the year and is a great deal.
have a minimum age of 25 and nobody will rent to someone under 21. Try the National Car
Rental Company if you are aged between 21 and 25. An international driving permit makes the
rental process easier and only costs 5.50 and is available from selected UK Post Offices
nationwide.
- 48 -
EUROPE
University of Utrecht
Faculty of Geosciences
Utrecht general website:
Faculty of geosciences website:
Department contact: Wim Spakman
http://www.uu.nl/
http://www.uu.nl/EN/faculties/geowetenschappen/
wims@geo.uu.nl
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Specializes in:
Solid Earth Dynamics, Environmental Studies
Suitable for:
Geologists and/or Geophysicists
Utrecht University is a research university comprising of seven faculties which collectively span
the entire academic spectrum in teaching and research. Founded in 1636, the University is now a
modern, leading institute enjoying a growing international reputation. In the Shanghai Ranking,
Utrecht ranks 1st in the Netherlands, 9th in Europe and 47th worldwide. Utrecht offers a broad
range of 46 undergraduate and 196 graduate programmes, including many English-taught
programmes. Every year, more than 2,000 international students and researchers stay in
Utrecht for variable periods of time.
Curriculum
Utrecht operates on the Semester system similar to American Universities with each semester
being split into two periods. The dates of the 2013/14 Academic year are:
Semester I: Period I Monday 2nd September 2013 Friday 1st November 2013
Period II Monday 11th November 2013 Friday 24th January 2014
Semester II: Period I Monday 3rd February 2014 Friday 11th April 2014
Period II Monday 21st April 2014 Friday 13th June 2014
A more detailed Academic Calendar can be found under the Current Students tab on the main
website.
All courses taught throughout Utrecht are taught in English and you do not need to know any
Dutch as almost everyone you meet will speak exceptionally good English; however, it will
obviously be helpful. You are expected to take 2 classes per period, totalling 8 for the year.
These should consist of classes from the Masters Programme.
The courses offered by the Geosciences department can be found at
- 49 -
http://www.geo.uu.nl/homegeosciences/studying/programmesinengl/exchangeprogramm/courses
/24317main.html
Financial assistance
Your exchange will take place under the Erasmus agreement and you should be eligible for a
small grant (~ 350) arranged through Imperial College. Further details can be found on the
Imperial College Registry website:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/proceduresandregulations/qualityassurance/collaborative
Utrecht specialises in Solid Earth Dynamics which is a key aspect for developing an
interconnected view of all Earth Science aspects. This is a varied area of Geosciences ranging
from plate tectonics, coastal erosion, volcanic eruptions etc. Utrecht is one of the worlds leading
institutes for studying such areas and is home to some of the worlds leading researchers within
Solid Earth Dynamics. Also, like many universities throughout the world, Utrecht now has a
strong influence in Environmental Studies especially Climatology.
A short list of the Faculty within the Geosciences Department can be found under the faculty
structure section of the department website.
Computer/Library facilities
Utrecht has several library facilities on campus including a main library and several faculty
libraries. One of these faculty libraries is the Geosciences library and can be found on the ground
floor of the TNO building within the main campus. You can find several computers in here which
contain specialist Geoscience programmes. The Geoscience Library is only open weekdays;
however, the main library found just off campus in the city centre is open 7 days a week and also
contains computing facilities although not with some specialist programmes.
Accommodation
As an exchange student on the ERASMUS scheme you are entitled to apply for housing through
SSH Short Stay, a local housing corporation that Utrecht has an agreement with. SSH provide a
range of furnished accommodation specifically for international students and Utrecht staff. If you
make use of this offer Utrecht will also cover the administration fees for you. Housing is limited
and Utrecht cannot guarantee anyone a place so you should make sure you apply early to ensure
you get a place. This scheme is only available to international students enrolling onto the
international, English taught programme. Anyone fluent in Dutch and wishing to enrol onto the
Dutch taught programme should keep this in mind. For more information on this scheme and
other ways to find accommodation visit the main website and follow these links: International
Students > Arriving and Living in Utrecht > Accommodation.
Public Transport
Utrecht is just half an hour from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport via the train which runs every 30
minutes direct from the Schiphol Plaza to Utrecht Central Station at a cost of ~7.80 (~6.50).
The Netherlands has a very good public transportation network, which makes it easy to get
around. However, the most common means of transport within the city is a bicycle. Cycling is
very popular with specific bicycle paths and traffic lights designed to make cycling around a busy
city as safe as possible, investing in a second hand bike is a good idea.
- 50 -
Similar to Londons Oyster Card system, Utrecht runs the OV-chipkaart which is gradually
replacing all other public transport tickets and works exactly like the Oyster Card. The bus
network within Utrecht is very good and runs all over the city and even out to the suburbs,
however, the ticketing system is complicated and you are therefore advised to get an OVchipkaart.
Nightlife
Utrecht is a real student city, with no less than 50, 000 of its 300, 000 residents being students.
The city is crisscrossed by canals which encircle the city centre and provide an extremely
picturesque scene. Along the canals you will find the wharves, which provide are mostly used as
outdoor terraces for restaurants where you can enjoy a drink or a meal looking over a canal lit by
decorative lights framing the contours of the bridges.
In terms of culture, Utrecht is a real festival city, with festivals like the Spring Dance Festival, the
Holland Early Music Festival, The Holland Animation Festival and the Dutch Film Festival. When
not hosting a festival, Utrecht is the stage for the Cultural Sundays - cultural events inspired by a
location, theme or particular art form.
Student Contacts
Imperial College ESE sent its first students to Utrecht for the 2012/13 academic year.
Martin Suttle: martin.suttle10@imperial.ac.uk
Jonathan Hardman: jonathon.hardman10@imperial.ac.uk
- 51 -
RWTH Aachen University

Faculty of Georesources and Materials
Aachen general website:
http://www.rwth-aachen.de
Faculty website:
http://www.fb5.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~hgv/Georessourcen/lidx/1/
Department contact: Klaus Reicherter
k.reicherter@nug.rwth-aachen.de
Location:
Student Population:
Specializes in:
recycling
Suitable for:
Aachen, Germany
36, 000, ~2.5x Imperial College size
Applied Geology, resource extraction and management, geophysics,
Geologists and/or Geophysicists, Environmentalists
RWTH Aachen University is primarily a technical research university, comprising of ten faculties,
which collectively span the entire academic spectrum in teaching and research. Founded in 1865,
the University is now a modern, elite German institute, enjoying a good international reputation,
based in the city of Aachen. Aachen is situated close to the borders of the Netherlands and
Belgium, and is a city of 250,000 people. It also includes the Lindt chocolate factory! The
university has the largest industry funding in Germany, similar to Imperial. Aachen offers a range
of degrees across undergraduate and postgraduate level, and provides a wide range of subjects
within the broad spectrum of Earth Sciences, providing lecturing in subjects such as recycling and
minerals engineering, outside the scope of subjects at Imperial, which may be of interest. Many of
the modules are English taught, though not all. Fluency in German is necessary in order to
attend.
Curriculum
Utrecht operates a broad 2 semester system, both semesters covering 6 month periods. The
semesters include 3 months teaching, and exams outside of the 6 months. They also include all
the holiday periods throughout the year. You wont be lecturing in August and September! The
academic dates for 2013/14 are:
Semester I: Monday 30th September 2013 Sunday 30th March 2014
Semester II: Monday 31st March 2014 Friday 28th September 2014
A more detailed Academic Calendar for the current academic year can be found here:
http://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/Studium/Im_Studium/~egv/Semestertermine/lidx/1/
The
dates provided above are provisional. The structure of your year will be indicated to you once we
are informed by Aachen.
Some of the courses at Aachen are taught in English. However, many modules will be in
German, as is daily life. It is therefore essential you speak reasonable German to attend
Aachen. There should be enough modules for students to study in English.
The faculty contains several different degree programs with various module lists. These are
available in German on the link provided below:
http://www.fgeo.rwthaachen.de/cms/Geowissenschaften_und_Geographie/Studium/~lfs/Studiengaenge/ by clicking on
the lecture courses relevant to your study and under curriculum under the program profile.
- 52 -
Information will be made available once Aachen provide the necessary information.
Computer facilities are available in the department building close to the lecture facilities and in
group learning rooms within the department. Computers are also available in the library.
Accommodation
As an exchange student you are entitled to apply for student accommodation, see this link:
http://www.studentenwerk-aachen.de/en/wohnen/home.asp. Aachen do not guarantee placement
in these residences so make sure you apply early. Prices range from 160-190 a week and are
inclusive, with single apartments available at the higher end. Out of university accommodation is
more expensive at 250-350 depending on requirements. However it may be difficult to locate
suitable accommodation, especially with all students starting back in October.
Public Transport
As part of a 200 per term administration fee, a public transport ticket is included. This is a North
Rhine-Westphalia travel card, so you can use all buses and trains in this big western region of
Germany for free; including those in Aachen you may need to use. As Aachen is not a campus
university, you may have to travel between lecture sites. A bike is also good for this!. You can
also easily visit Cologne, Bonn or other big cities on this ticket.
Nightlife
Aachen is a real student city with more than 30.000 students. There are many places students
can go for student prices! There are different clubs and pubs and theres also a student cinema
twice a week for 2.60 for a movie. You will never be bored!
Student Contacts
The department has never sent a student to Aachen. However Constanze Herbertz, an exchange
student from Aachen with the department is willing to answer any questions to may have.
Constanze Herbertz adriane.herbertz11@imperial.ac.uk
- 53 -
Universit de Strasbourg
Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre
Strasbourg general website:
EOST website:
Department Contact: Judith Fuhrmann
www.unistra.fr
http://eost.u-strasbg.fr
judith.fuhrmann@eost.u-strasbg.fr
Location:
Strasbourg, France
Specializes in:
Geophysics, Planetary Science
Suitable for:
Geophysicists and/or Geologists
Strasbourg is a relatively young university that has emerged as one of the foremost research
universities in Europe in recent years. The university is situated in eastern France on the border
with Germany and just a short drive from Switzerland and the Alps. Unlike any other university
offered by Imperial, Strasbourg does not offer English taught courses: fluency in French is
necessary in order to attend.
Curriculum
Similar to Utrecht and some American universities, Strasbourg operates on the Semester system.
The provisional dates for the Academic year 2013/14 are:
Provisional term dates
Semester I: Monday 2nd September 2013 Friday 13th December 2013
Semester II: Tuesday 2nd January 2014 Friday 5th July 2014
(Spring Break: Monday 15th Friday 19th April 2014)
A more detailed Academic calendar can be found under the Studies and Admissions tab on the
main website.
Strasbourg runs a very different exam system to any university in the UK or US. Classes taken
each semester require two exam sessions, taken at different times of the year. The first set of
exams for Semester I are taken during the first week back from the Christmas break. The first set
of exams for Semester II are typically scheduled for the first week in June, although this is subject
to change. The second sets of exams for both Semesters are sat in the final week of the year.
This means that you will need to revise everything you have studied throughout the entire year
for the final round of exams.
All classes at Strasbourg are taught in French, and as such you will need to be fluent in
French in order to be eligible to attend Strasbourg. Although the majority of people you will
meet both at the university and around the city will have some proficiency in English, you will
struggle to get through daily life speaking just English.
- 54 -
Strasbourg specialises in all aspects of Geophysics from seismic exploration to solid earth
dynamics. It is one of Europes leading institutes for the study of all things Geophysical making it
an excellent place for anyone interested in a range of research opportunities from exploration to
stress analysis. EOST also has several observatories available which it uses for a range of
studies from Astronomy to Planetary studies. Strasbourg is therefore an excellent place for
anyone interested in Planetary Geology or Space Physics.
The Strasbourg University Library Network (SCD) consists of a network of 31 libraries, containing
almost 2 million books and more than 27, 000 periodicals and data bases covering all disciplines
taught at the University. The SCD is organised around three areas: Science and Health, Social
Sciences and Humanities, and Law, Economics and Management. The majority of information
you will require will be found in the Science and Health section. All libraries on campus contain
computer facilities which are available to use during library opening hours. There are also
computer facilities with the EOST department that are available to you when they are not being
used to teach.
Also within the city close to campus is the National University Library of Strasbourg (BNU) which
is the second most important university in France. This library contains more than 3 million works;
however, these cover the Humanities and Social Sciences and are unlikely to be of much
academic use to Earth Science students.
Accommodation
The university halls of residence run by the CROUS offer a range of apartments and studio flats;
however, these are for both international and French students with only 30% being reserved for
international students. Although places are given preferentially to exchange students if you wish
to get a place in halls you should apply early to avoid disappointment. Alternatively you can find
private accommodation from advertisements placed in the CROUS or student insurance groups,
or alternatively by using private estate agents within Strasbourg as you might here in London.
CROUS - http://crous-strasbourg.fr/etudiants-etrangers/
Public Transport
Like all European cities, Strasbourg has an excellent public transport system and is especially
designed for cyclists. The city contains over 470km of cycle paths of which the university
campuses are connected making it an excellent way to get around. Bikes can easily be rented for
just half a day for 5 (~4) or for as long as 10 months for just 100 (~83). See
www.velocation.net for more information on hiring bikes.
Buses and trams run by the Strasbourg Transport Company (CTS) serve all campuses in
Strasbourg. A CTS map is available on their web site. You also have access to a student travel
card which you can top up monthly or annually and entitles you to cheaper public transport
- 55 -
tickets. Buses and trams run all over the city at regular intervals and are a cheap and easy way to
get around the city. For more details visit www.cts-strasbourg.fr.
Nightlife
Strasbourg's wealth of artistic and creative venues puts it at the cutting edge of live entertainment
and new music. Let yourself be won over by the city and explore its cultural life through its
heritage and its major international cultural events. Enjoy this experience at reduced rates thanks
to the Culture card, a real master key for cultural activities. The Culture Card is available to all
students enrolled at the Universit de Strasbourg and entitles holders to reduced rates at cultural
events throughout the Alsace region. There are also several key festivals held annually in
Strasbourg including the Festival international de musique and Musica. Strasbourg holds many
festivals and theatre events and is the premiere spot in France for such cultural events.
Student Contacts
It has been several years since a student last went to Strasbourg. It would be best to contact the
universitys international office to find out more.
- 56 -
Universit Paris Diderot

Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre
Diderot general website:
http://www.univ-paris-diderot.fr
STEP website:
http://www.univ-parisdiderot.fr/english/sc/site.php?bc=formations&np=ficheufr&n=14&g=sm
Department Contact: Zarie Rouas
zarie.rouas@univ-paris-diderot.fr
Location:
Paris, France
Student Population: 26, 000
- 2, 300 Postgraduate Researchers
Specializes in:
Geophysics, Planetary Science, Geochemistry
Suitable for:
Environmentalists, Geologists and Geophysicists.
Paris Diderot (also known as Paris 7), is born out of the University of Paris, formed in the 12th
Century. It took up its current name in 1994 and is a leading French University. Located along the
banks of the river Seine in central south east Paris, it is a short distance from the city centre,
well placed to access all the excitement and bustle Paris has to offer. Diderot does not offer
English taught courses: fluency in French is necessary in order to attend.
Curriculum
Similar to Utrecht and some American universities, Diderot operates on the Semester system.
The provisional dates for the Academic year 2013/14 are:
Semester I: Monday 9nd September 2013 Saturday 14th December 2013
Examinations in the week prior to the start of the second semester.
Semester II: Monday 20th January 2014 Saturday 26th April 2014
(Spring Break: Monday 26th April Sunday 11th May 2014)
Exams follow spring break, Final possible exams ending June 29th.
A more detailed Academic calendar can be found in the university calendar under about the
university: http://www.univ-paris-diderot.fr/sc/site.php?bc=universite&np=calendrier
Paris Diderot has a large community of around 6000 exchange and international students. French
is the dominant language in the university and in daily life, and it is a pre-requisite that you speak
French in order to attend the university. There are French language courses which can be
undertaken to improve the standard of your French during your time at the university.
Financial assistance may also be provided in certain cases to students from the EU and abroad
on exchange with the university. Details can be found in the international student guide on this
link:
- 57 -
http://www.univ-paris-diderot.fr/guides/guide_inter_ang/PDF/catalogue.pdf
Please search through the STEP website for lecturer contacts and discuss directly if you wish to
pursue a research project with the university.
Diderot is sited close to the National French Library in Paris, making available a vast resource of
literature to students of the university. The university has several libraries including a central
library, information for which is available on this link: http://bibliotheque.univ-paris-diderot.fr/.
Computer facilities are located throughout the campus, faculty buildings and the library, which
has a vast online catalogue and online resources for students to use.
Accommodation
In order to live in Paris for the duration of your studies you must obtain a residence permit for the
prefecture you choose to live in. The relevant links can be found on page 33 of the international
student guide here: http://www.univ-paris-diderot.fr/guides/guide_inter_ang/PDF/catalogue.pdf/
The university halls of residence run by the CROUS offer a range of apartments and studio flats;
however, these are for both international and French students with only a small number being
reserved for international students.
CROUS - http://www.univ-paris-diderot.fr/sc/site.php?bc=international&np=LogementsEtudiants
Although places are given preferentially to exchange students, if you wish to get a place in halls
you should apply early to avoid disappointment. www.ciup.fr is an alternate accommodation site
for international students in the South of Paris.
Alternatively, you can find private accommodation, again available from the international student
guide linked above. It is a difficult process to gain accommodation in Paris, so apply early. The
guide details all the additional information required to obtain accommodation in Paris such as
guarantor information. You should expect to live on at least 1100 a month in Paris, with at least
140 a week in university accommodation, and higher in the private sector.
Public Transport
Paris has a dense urban metro system like London, and operates a zonal system from zones 1
through to 8 in a similar fashion to London. A student travel card similar to an Oyster student card
can be obtained, known as an ImagineR card from this link: http://www.imagine-r.com/. Prices
range on zones and regions to use the card, but are cheap compared to London. Cycling is also
a good way to get around Paris.
Nightlife
There is a huge amount of nightlife within Paris on a similar level to London. Unlike Imperial
however, there is a lot going on within the university also, with plenty of local pubs and clubs to
enjoy.
Student Contacts
No students from the department have yet to attend Diderot. Contact their international office for
further details, or look up online forums.
- 58 -
General Information
Dialling Codes UK to Netherlands: (+31)UK to France: (+33)UK to Germany (+49)

Europe to UK: (+44) Omit the leading 0
Time Zones Central European (CET/CEST), GMT +1hrs: Utrecht, Aachen, Strasbourg
Currency Euro ()
Typical exchange rate - 1 ~ 1.25
1 ~ 0.80
Dutch Embassy in the UK

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
38 Hyde Park Gate,
London,
SW7 5DP
Tele 0207 590 3200
(Just 5 minute walk from Imperial College)
British Embassy in the Netherlands

British Embassy,
Lange Voorhout 10,
2541 ED,
The Hague
Tele (+31) 70 4270 427
French Consulate in the UK

Consulat General de France a Londres,
21 Cromwell Road,
London,
SW7 2EN
Tele 0207 073 1200
(Just 2 minute walk from Imperial College)
British Embassy in France

British Embassy,
35 rue du Faubourg St Honor,
Paris,
75363
Tele (+33) 1 44 51 31 00
o
German Embassy in the UK

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
23 Belgrave Square
London
SW1X 8PZ
Tele - 020 7824 1300
(15-20 minute walk from Imperial)
- 59 -
British Embassy in France

British Embassy
Wilhelmstrasse 70
D-10117 Berlin
Tele +49 (0) 30 / 20457-0

If you are a European Citizen, then you do not need to worry about getting a student visa
in order to study in the Netherlands, Germany or in France. Any person who is a citizen of
an EU member country is entitled to go and live, study and work in any other EU member
country without the need of a visa. The French, German and Dutch Embassy websites
state that no minimum passport duration is required to enter the country for European
citizens; however, you are encouraged to have a valid passport for the duration of your
stay to avoid complications. If you are not a European citizen you should contact your
countries embassy in order to determine whether or not you need a visa to attend Utrecht
or Strasbourg.
If you do not require a visa to attend Utrecht, Aachen, Diderot or Strasbourg you are free to travel
within the European Union as and when you wish. You could come home every weekend if you
choose to, although we highly recommend that you dont do this. Just make sure that your
passport is valid for the duration of your stay to avoid any unnecessary complications.
If you do require a visa to attend Utrecht, Aachen or Strasbourg you should contact your
countries embassy or that of the Netherlands, Germany or France in order to discover if and how
you can travel home for Christmas.
Insurance
Unlike the US and Canada, EU citizens are not required to get private health insurance in order
to attend a European university: your E111 covers you for medical expenses anywhere in the EU.
Make sure you have your E111 with you at all times and that it is valid for the entirety of your
stay. Nonetheless, you may wish to look at cheap long term travel insurance or cheap private
insurance to be sure. Non EU citizens should see their individual host university for specifics on
what, if any, insurance is needed.
Money Matters
- 60 -

Make sure you obtain a Visa or MasterCard debit/credit before leaving for Europe. These major
brands are accepted everywhere in Europe for use at ATMs, shops and other stores. Be sure to
Society (however, the European ATM you withdraw from may charge you, but again not all do).
Whatever the case, it is more economical to withdraw as much as you can (the daily limit is
500). Keep an eye on the exchange rate as well, as this can have a big effect on the amount
you withdraw in Pound Sterling, an exchange rate of 1.2 / can vary a lot from 1.0 /.

Opening a bank account in Europe is not complicated and makes everyday life easier. You will
need your passport, at least one other form of photo ID (it is best to use your host university
student ID card) and a valid local address. You can typically open a bank account with any
amount of money. The quickest, safest and easiest way to open an account is with travellers
cheques, or from money you have taken out of your UK bank account.
European banks vary widely in the services they offer and how much they charge for them. It is
specifically for students. A good place to start is Santander.
Employment
Any EU citizen has the right to work with France, Germany and the Netherlands; however, you
should seriously consider the implications of taking on a job on top of an already busy and
stressful year abroad. Under no circumstances should you rely on any wages to help fund your
year. You should also note that working within Europe it is more than likely necessary for you to
be fluent in that countries particular language. This should not be a problem in Strasbourg or
Diderot as any student attending should be sufficiently proficient in French in order to enrol.
However, Dutch is not necessary to enrol at Utrecht and therefore apply for a job with little or no
knowledge of Dutch is likely to affect your employment prospects. In Germany, as with France,
you should have no trouble getting a job as you should be able to speak a reasonable level of
German. Whatever you choose you should make sure that any work you do intend to complete
does not interfere with your studies; a year abroad is a very demanding year and requires a lot of
work.
Drinking
The legal age for purchasing alcohol in France is 18; however, there is no age limit for
drinking alcohol in private. Like in the UK, you can expect to show ID when buying alcohol,
although this is not as strict as the US or Canada.
In Germany, minors aged 14 can possess and drink wine and beer with a parent or guardian; and
without a parent or guardian at 16. You can possess and drink spirits at 18.
The law is very different in the Netherlands. The legal drinking age is 16; however, purchasing
alcohol is split into 2 categories. To buy any alcohol less than 15% ABV you must be aged 16
- 61 -
and over and to purchase alcohol more than 15% ABV you must be over 18. Typically anyone
who looks under 20 is asked to provide ID when purchasing alcohol.
Driving Laws
If you have a full drivers license you are allowed to drive within Europe as long as you have
insurance for the vehicle you are driving. As you are abroad for one year only, buying a car is not
a sensible option.
have a minimum age of 25 and nobody will rent to someone under 21. Try the National Car
Rental Company if you are aged between 21 and 25. An international driving permit makes the
rental process easier and only costs 5.50 and is available from selected UK Post Offices
nationwide.
Additional Financial Information

A common misconception and one that puts many people off studying abroad, is that it costs a
small fortune. This is not true.
Tuition Fees
All tuition fees are taken care of in the reciprocal exchange. You pay Imperial 50% of your
student fees as if you were spending the year in the UK - if you are LEA funded, your LEA will
also still be required to pay us as if you were here. For information on your particular university of
choice you should see the appropriate section above. Please note that all fees are approximate
and are liable to change. You will be notified with the most up to date information closer to the
time of your departure.
Other Expenses
Obviously the cost of living varies with country, area and choice of accommodation type, but in
virtually all cases it is less than student costs in London. At all institutions you are expected to
pay for your accommodation.
A major additional expense that you will have is flight tickets. Probably the cheapest place to
buy tickets is online. A good place to start is STA Travel at: www.statravel.com, or go and see
them on High Street Kensington.
It is often advisable to book your flights before you have secured your visa as this process can be
slow and often last minute. However, find out how much your airline will charge you for a
cancellation/change of departure date. Also, always check that your ticket is valid for your return
journey, especially if you plan to be away for longer than 12 months.
Another aspect to take into consideration when budgeting, are any additional compulsory fees
that the university may charge you during registration. American universities are the worse for
this. Last minute fees can include Government fees, lab/computing costs and transport costs and
can often cumulate to over 100. These vary from year to year and vastly from institution to
institution and they are certainly something that you should research prior to arrival.
Fun
A year abroad provides a fantastic opportunity to see a different country in all its colours. You are
encouraged to get out and travel around as much as you can. Your fellow international students
- 62 -
will almost definitely be up for going along too, which will make it cheaper as you can split the
costs.
Despite these additional expenses, when you take into account the lower costs of living, even
with flights, insurance etc. your year abroad should cost about the same amount of money as a
third year at Imperial would cost.
Imperial College Insurance Policy
One useful thing to bear in mind regarding insurance is that all students and staff of Imperial
College are insured under the College policy whilst on College business. This includes students
who are away on placement as part of their degree. The policy covers you for emergency medical
treatment and emergency travel expenses whilst you are on your placement.
Summary of Cover from the Colleges Overseas Travel Insurance Policy:

Emergency medical treatment received during an overseas journey, including Repatriation
Expenses incurred in bringing an Insured Person to their normal Country of Domicile following
injury, sickness or death.
Cover: Unlimited, subject to policy wording. Subject to 50 per claim excess, 100 in the
case of dental treatment
Additional accommodation and travel costs necessitated by illness
Cover: 10,000. Subject to 50 per claim excess
Cancellation, curtailment or travel re-arrangement due to illness, accident, jury service, hijacking or strikes by transport services
Cover: 5,000. Subject to 50 per claim excess
Personal public liability

Cover: 1,000,000. Subject to 50 per claim excess
Lost personal baggage

Cover: 1,500, limited to 1,000 per item. Subject to 50 per claim excess
Money and tickets

Cover: 150. Subject to 50 per claim excess
Notable exceptions include dentistry and optometry.
For more detailed information on college insurance policy for overseas travel see:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/finance/sections/insurance/overseastravelinsurance
or contact the Finance Division Insurance Officer at insurance@imperial.ac.uk.
The document to carry with you is the cover note and this is available as a PDF file from the
above link. Please note that what is included in this handbook is a guide only and not a legally
binding statement.
However, this policy cannot be used as the primary insurance policy by students at any of the
universities detailed in this handbook (i.e. it cannot be used to waive the universities insurance
plans). But it could be useful to bear in mind, especially if you have an accident whilst travelling
during the holidays, have to cancel flight tickets or if you lose any valuable items, as the
- 63 -
university policies listed below only cover health related claims. Whichever insurance policy you
end up purchasing, remember to read the policy documents through thoroughly, paying special
attention to activities that are not covered (e.g. skiing).
Additional financial support
Access to Learning Fund (ALF)

Imperial uses ALF to assist students who need additional support, whether because they have
higher than expected costs, or unexpected difficulties. The ALF is available to year abroad
students who have trouble paying for additional costs such as flights and insurance. Before
submitting an application, you must have applied for the maximum student loan entitlement and
priority will be given to students from lower income families.
For more information e-mail student.support@imperial.ac.uk or go to:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/studentfinancialsupport/alf
LEA support
For home students, it is possible to apply to your Local Education Authority/SAAS for extra
funding. Some LEAs will pay for two return flights (allowing you to travel home for Christmas),
insurance costs and visa costs. But note that this is subject to means-testing and you will need
the funds available to meet the cost initially, as the LEAs will reimburse, not pay in advance.
Other LEAs offer no extra funding. Contact yours for more information (see
www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk for LEA contact details). Either way, if you have taken out a
student loan, you will still receive exactly the same loan payments as you would if you stayed in
the UK (including the London weighting). You should investigate this possibility of support with
your LEA as soon as possible.
Career Development Loans

If you are a UK resident, havent taken out a student loan and dont think you will be able to meet
the costs of the flights etc. associated with a year abroad, then you can apply for one of the
governments Career Development Loans. These are deferred repayment loans that can be used
to fund any full time, part time or distance learning course as long as it is vocational (i.e. gives the
applicant the skills needed for an occupation, trade or profession) and lasts no longer than 2
years. The learning provider must be registered with the CDL administrators. For more
information, go to www.direct.gov.uk/cdl .
Corporate Sponsorship
If you have specific interests, for instance, in the mineral or petroleum industries you may be able
to find sponsorship from groups or companies associated with these. Especially if you are willing
to fit your independent project to their needs. Getting sponsorship takes a lot of time and energy,
so if you are going to try and sort this out, start the process as early as possible.
What Now?
You have attended the November preliminary meeting, decided that you want to spend your third
year abroad and the Academic Tutor has confirmed that you have met the academic
requirements. Once you have carefully researched each university, you need to fill out the Year
Abroad University Choice form which can be found on the departmental website or at the back of
this handbook.
- 64 -
Accompanying this form should be a short (max 500 words) essay presenting a well-reasoned
argument for why you wish to go to your first choice university. Your essay should discuss how
studies at this particular institution fit with your long-term goals. If you are a geophysics student
and plan to conduct independent research while abroad you could give possible subject areas to
focus on.
The deadline for the submission of this form is Friday 30th November 2012 and although we try
to meet everyones first choice, the allocation of places is done strictly on the overall weighted
average of your marks basis. If you are not currently registered for the Year Abroad degree you
will have a lower priority when it comes to allocation of places than students who are currently
registered. Indeed, if you are not currently registered, a place may not become available.
Due to the extremely tight schedule of subsequent applications, students that miss this deadline
will not be considered for the year abroad scheme.
All year abroad students will be confirmed and assigned their host university by Friday 1st
February 2013. It is then your responsibility to complete and submit the relevant application
forms to your designated university. As each university has a different application system, a
detailed breakdown of this process will not be included in this handbook. However, you will be
given as much support as you need, including where to obtain the forms and who to send them
to once completed. The deadline for submission of the relevant application forms for the
University you will attend is Friday 1st March 2013.
Once you have confirmation of your place at your exchange university, which can be as late as
June or July, you can go about applying for visas and sorting out flights etc. The following
sections of this handbook will guide you through these pre-departure formalities as well as giving
some country specific information. Also, each university has an international office. Their
websites have a wealth of information and you should certainly browse through them. Remember
it is your year abroad and up to you to sort it out.
Pre-departure
This handbook is by no means comprehensive. You should always check out our host
universitys international website section and download any student handbooks they provide.
For students going to the University of California, the Education Abroad Programs website
(http://eap.ucop.edu) provides a wealth of information about every respect of studying in the USA
as an international student.
Whichever country/university you choose to go to, you will become very familiar with your host
universitys international office. They can answer virtually any question you may have and it is
essential that you pay them a visit.
There is also the Study Abroad Office at Imperial. Adrian Hawksworth (Room 320, Sherfield
Building, a.hawksworth@imperial.ac.uk, (+44) 20 7594 8044), the Student Placement Officer is
an excellent source of information, especially concerning Imperial issues.
It is very important to keep in touch with your personal tutor - not just when you are in trouble. For
more pressing academic issues, Academic Tutor Lorraine Craig (l.craig@imperial.ac.uk, (+44)
207 594 6436) may be able to help. You may be on the other side of the World, but there is still a
support base for you at Imperial.
- 65 -
Packing Checklist
Below is a brief check list that is useful to consult whilst undertaking the formidable task of
packing. Some important things to remember, but this list is far from comprehensive.
Passport valid for the length of your journey.

All visa documentation, including receipts if possible.
Original offer of admission letter from your host university.
Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, student loan statements).
Flight ticket (preferably return).
Credit/debit cards and bank details, travellers cheques.
Drivers license/international driving permit (if applicable).
Medical and immunisation records.
Medical insurance documents (if you already have them).
At least two passport photos.
Adaptor plugs.
As for clothes, it is often cheaper to buy any new clothing you require out there. This is especially
relevant for colder countries such as Canada, where specialist clothing can be 50% cheaper,
especially with the exchange rate. If you dont think you can fit all that you need into a suitcase
within the weight allowance of your aircraft carrier, look into posting some of it. However, it can
sometime be cheaper to pay excess baggage rather than postage. Check out the prices of each
and decide from there.
Lost Documents
Before you leave the UK, make sure you photocopy/scan all your documents, including your
passport, visa, letter of acceptance and all the receipts from fees that you may have paid. Also
make sure that if you buy travellers cheques, you write down all the cheque numbers and the
number to call if they get lost/stolen. Take one copy with you and leave the other one at home
with someone you trust. But if you do lose any important documents, your first port of call should
be the international office, as they can advise you on the next best step. If you have any serious
problems (e.g. lost/stolen passport) during the holidays or at the weekend you should call the
British Embassy in you host country on the telephone numbers listed in the earlier sections of this
handbook.
Also, make sure you have the international lost and stolen report number for your bank, as free
phone numbers often dont work from abroad.
Should I do it?
Your year aboard will be your best year at university by far, it may even be the best year of your
life. It gives arise to so many opportunities; make sure you take advantage of everything at your
disposal. You will have to work hard, but you will most definitely enjoy yourself and have the time
of your life.
- 66 -
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
GEOSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE COURSE
YEAR ABROAD UNIVERSITY CHOICE FORM
Submission Deadline Friday 30th November 2012
______________________________________________________________
Name ..
Year
Degree Title ...
Choose your top three universities of preference by labelling them 1-3, with 1 being your first
choice and 3 being your third choice.
UC
Berkeley
UCLA
UBC
University of
Utrecht
Universit de
Strasbourg*
RWTH Aachen
University*
Universit Paris
Diderot*
UCSC
ANU*
* Before specifying these universities, you must have consulted Lorraine Craig
I confirm that I have discussed my choices with the Academic Tutor and/or my personal tutor/a
member of ESE academic staff.
Signature of student .
Date
Please accompany this form with an essay (max 500 words) explaining why you have
selected your first choice institute.
- 67 -

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Year Abroad Handbook

Why Study Abroad?

Requirements and Important Dates

Registration and Fees

Australian National University

Visas and Immigration

University of British Columbia

Additional Financial Information

Institution Application form

Why Study Abroad?

Live in a new country

Meet New People

Sample a Different Academic System

Requirements and Important Dates

Important Pre-Departure Dates

Preliminary Year Abroad Meeting Tuesday 30 October 2012, 17:00

At your Host University

Getting your grades

Independent Geology/Geophysics projects

2-day Independent Mapping preparation in London Starts Monday 3rdJune 2013

Final Deadline for 3rd year project material End

Final Deadline for 3rd year project material End

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Thursday 22nd August 2013 Friday 20th December 2013

Halls of Residence overview:

University of California, Los Angeles

Monday 23rd September 2013 Friday 13th December 2013

Student Identification/E-mail Account

Fee status for 2013-2014 students (amount may change)

Claremont Hotel, Westwood - http://www.claremonthotel.net/

University of California, Santa Cruz

Department Contact: Cathy Smith

Supervisors for 3rd year Project

Fee status for 2013-2014 students (amount may change)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dialling Codes UK to USA: (+01)

British Consulates in the USA

Visas and Immigration

On the Day of the Interview

Whilst in the USA

Opening a Bank Account

A detailed schedule of earth science classes can be found at:

Dialling Codes UK to Australia: (+61)

British High Commission in Canberra, Australia

Visas and Immigration

Electronic confirmation of Enrolment certificate or letter of acceptance from your host

Travelling Home for Christmas

Using your UK debit/credit card

Opening a Bank Account

Dialling Codes UK to Canada: (+01)

British High Commission in Canada

Visas and Immigration

Accompanying your application form must be:

See http://www.students.ubc.ca/youbc/va/costs.cfm for an example of living costs for UBC

www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/index.html or the international student advisors in the

Using your UK debit/credit card

Opening a Bank Account

The courses offered by the Geosciences department can be found at

RWTH Aachen University

Universit Paris Diderot

Dialling Codes UK to Netherlands: (+31)UK to France: (+33)UK to Germany (+49)

Dutch Embassy in the UK

British Embassy in the Netherlands