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Study abroad

All History students have the opportunity to spend part of their degree studying at one of the University of York's prestigious international partners. This can either be as part of a 3-year degree (both straight History or joint honours) or through our 4-year ‘History with a Year Abroad’ course. Options are:

  • Apply to spend all of your second year abroad. Applications are submitted during your first year at York.
  • Apply to spend Autumn term of your second year abroad. Applications are submitted during your first year at York. NB: This one-term option is not available for History and Politics joint students. All other joint honours students must discuss the feasibility of the one-term option with both departments before applying.
  • For single subject History students only, apply to transfer into our 4-year degree History with a Year Abroad programme. This is subject to availability and academic performance. Applications are generally submitted during your second year at York.
  • For History and Politics join honours students, we are pleased to offer the 4-year History and Politics with a Year Abroad course jointly with the Department of Politics. Applications are submitted during your second year at York.

Further information specific to History students can also be found on the University's Study Abroad web pages. 

Worldwide exchanges

There are many exchange schemes operated by the University through which you can spend your entire second year abroad, or third year if you transfer into our 4-year degree History with a Year Abroad or History and Politics with a Year Abroad programmes. These include destinations in Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Details of destinations are available on the University's Study Abroad web pages.

The History Department also runs dedicated exchange programmes which enable undergraduates to spend a year at certain partner universities, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Beloit College in Wisconsin, and Waseda University in Tokyo. Students spend the academic year at these partner institutions, and are able to take courses that reflect the strengths of these leading institutions. At Illinois, for example, American and world history are especially popular subjects.

Meetings about these programmes take place during the autumn term and students submit applications in January.

You will not pay tuition fees to your host institution; instead you will pay reduced tuition fees to York. You will be responsible for meeting other costs, including accommodation and travel expenses while on exchange. Some opportunities for financial support may be available.

The University administers these World Wide Exchange (WWE) schemes and students through the Centre for Global Programmes (CGP). Further information may be obtained from the Study Abroad team (tel. 01904 322846). Details of the arrangements for applying this year will appear on the Study Abroad web pages in November.

If you apply you will need your supervisor's support, so you should discuss an application with him or her, and with the International Officer at history-international-officer@york.ac.uk.

European exchanges

The History Department maintains a number of student exchange arrangements with European partners. These were first developed under the ERASMUS+ scheme sponsored by the European Community and are now being continued through the UK Government's Turing Scheme. For updates on how the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union will affect exchanges, please see the University's EU advice web page for students.

The details of these exchange arrangements may vary from year to year; currently, however, they are with universities in

For more information on the departmental European exchanges, see the University's Study Abroad web pages or contact the International Officer at history-international-officer@york.ac.uk.

Frequently asked questions

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When do I apply?

Students apply for credit-replacing exchanges during their first year at York.  Meetings take place during the autumn term, and students submit applications in January.

Single-subject History and History and Politics joint honours students can apply to transfer to a four-year programme, History with a Year Abroad or History and Politics with a Year Abroad, in January of their second year. Students interested in transferring to a four-year course should get in contact with the International Officer as soon as possible (ideally during the first year) to register their interest.  This is particularly important for students who want to study abroad in a language other than English.

How much does it cost?

You will not pay tuition fees to your host institution; instead you will pay reduced tuition fees to York. Find out more detail about York fees.

You will be responsible for meeting all other costs, including accommodation and travel expenses while on exchange. Some opportunities for financial support may be available.

Teaching quality

All of our international partner institutions have been selected due to the quality of their History teaching.

Will I get my first choice of destination?

You may not get your first choice of destination, and there is greater competition for places at some institutions than others. When you apply for study abroad, you will list several choices in order of preference.

University of Illinois

Paris Sorbonne

Place de la Republique, Paris

National University of Singapore Cultural Centre