International

Our diverse international community of staff and students drives our teaching and research excellence. Together we find solutions to the challenges facing our world today.

Connecting with our inclusive international community

The College of Physical Sciences and Engineering is home to a diverse and vibrant international student and staff community. This creates a wonderful mix of experiences, thought processes and ideas which uniquely shape and enhance our teaching and research.

Working in partnership

We have agreements with over 50 institutions across the world, such as Xiamen University in China, the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India, and Rutgers University in the USA, to facilitate exchanges between students and staff. Our aim is to share our knowledge, facilities and skills with other experts across the world to address key challenges.

For example, scientists from the School of Chemistry are developing key strategic research collaborations with counterparts in Zhejiang University, China to address key global challenges of air pollution, water pollution and clean energy.

Experience life in a different environment

Many of our subjects can be studied with the addition of a year abroad at one of our overseas partner institutions. Depending on your chosen degree programme, students can choose from a range of partner institutions across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australasia to experience studying and living in a completely different environment.

Putting theory into practice

We encourage participation in plenty of fieldwork, which allows students to put the theory they have learned into practice. Students from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences are currently able to visit a minimum of two overseas locations, investigating topics such as the sustainability of Switzerland’s water resources by examining glaciers in the Swiss Alps.

Learning a new language

Learning another language can really enhance the employability of our students, which is why we offer some programmes with language tuition built in before students put their skills to the test with a year abroad. Our engineering programmes with a year in Spain, France or Germany, for example, are very popular with students who enjoy a challenge.

Making a difference

All of our students have the opportunity to make a difference internationally as well as gaining practical skills through the University’s Global Opportunities Centre. Architecture and engineering students recently volunteered to help build hospitals and schools with local communities in Africa, while a group of geology students undertook a placement in Middle America with the Panama Canal Authority.