The reciprocal exchange programs between the University of Iowa and the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, allows undergraduate students to spend a semester or academic year fully integrated with their British peers in student housing and attending regular classes.

You can learn more about your options at Kent on their International Office website, and you can take a tour of campus on Kent’s Virtual Tour Page.

Academic Program

Courses

Kent offers a huge variety of courses that can be applied to nearly any University of Iowa major, minor, certificate, general education, or general elective requirement. Review the Choosing Your Modules section of Kent’s website for information about the courses available to study abroad students.

You can find Kent’s course catalog using the Module Catalogue.

Depending on each course’s prerequisite requirements, students on this program are eligible to enroll in courses from Level 4, Level 5, and Level 6.

Some departments may restrict the courses available to study abroad students. Contact your study abroad advisor, and the international office at Kent for more information.

Students will earn 16 semester hours of transfer credit each session.

Canterbury vs. Medway campuses

Kent’s main campus is located in Canterbury, but students can also enroll oat courses taught on the campus in Medway. The Medway campus is located a short bus ride away from Canterbury. Students must live on the Canterbury campus.

Extended exam period and alternative assessments

The exam period at Kent takes place in January. If you are planning to study at Kent during the Fall semester, you may be required to remain at Kent until well into January to complete your exams. However, it is often possible to arrange for alternative assessments that would allow you to complete your exams in December. You will need to work directly with the international office at Kent prior to departure to the UK to make arrangements for alternative assessments.

If you are planning to study at Kent for the Fall semester only, contact your UI study abroad advisor to discuss your options for arranging alternative assessments.

Flexibility Regarding Course Offerings

Foreign universities are typically unable to provide a final course catalog for the upcoming semester until shortly before the semester begins. Students usually do not know which specific classes they can take before arriving abroad, and they usually do not register for classes until they arrive in their host country- this means that there is no way to guarantee that you will be able to enroll in your preferred courses. Your final course schedule may not be finalized until you are already abroad and attending classes.

Because of these differences, all students must meet with their academic advisor before going abroad to discuss how the differences in course availability will affect their degree progress and graduation plans. It is important to develop a back-up plan in case your preferred courses are not available when you arrive at their host university.

The British Grading System

As a study abroad student, you are required to undertake the same form of assessment as the local students do in order to earn transfer credit at the University of Iowa.

The grading system in the UK is significantly different from the US system. Grades are given as 'marks', and a score of 60% is typically considered a high mark. UI does not convert British marks into US letter grades. While you WILL receive academic credit for the courses you take in the UK, you will NOT receive a typical A-F grade.

This does not mean that you are taking courses on a Pass/Fail basis . In order to receive credit for the course, you must receive a passing grade in the host university's system and, in the future, when official transcripts of your college work are requested, you will need to provide both an Iowa transcript and the academic record from the host institution – the grades you earn for the courses you took abroad will be clear and will influence future scholarship application and graduate school admissions decisions.

Transcripts

Kent will send Fall semester transcripts to the University of Iowa by the end of the following March, and Spring semester/Academic Year transcripts to the University of Iowa by the end of the following July.

Students can expect their grades to be applied to their UI grade reports within 2-3 months after they arrive to the University of Iowa.

Applying credit toward a UI degree

Unless UI Study Abroad has an approval on file for the courses you take abroad to be applied toward a specific major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, you will receive general elective credit for your course.

If you plan to apply the credit you receive for your program course to a major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, contact your UI study abroad advisor for details on the process. 

Cultural Activities

The University of Kent student union organizes event and excursions throughout the academic year, and is home to many clubs and societies that makes meeting British students easy.

Program Dates

Program dates vary from year to year, but typically follow the University of Iowa’s academic calendar.

You can find detailed semester dates for the upcoming sessions on the Term Dates website.

Spring semester students will study at Kent during both their Spring Term and Summer Term.

Students should consider these dates tentative until they receive final dates for their session abroad from the host university prior to the start of the program.

For more information

Steps to Studying Abroad

1. Before initiating an application for this program, students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa.
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students must call the Study Abroad office at 319-335-0353 to be assigned to the appropriate study abroad advisor.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive program application instructions.

Study Abroad
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-0353
Email: study-abroad@uiowa.edu

Where You Will Study

Founded in 1965, the University of Kent’s academic focus areas include natural sciences, business, humanities, social sciences, and technology. The university has a ‘Big Ten University feel’. It currently enrolls around 19,000 students, and is situated on 300 acres of parkland about two miles from the Canterbury city centre.

Kent’s campus offers accommodation for 5000 students, and includes shops, restaurants, cafeterias, pubs, sports and fitness facilities, a theatre and cinema, and is well connect to the rest of the city by foot and by bus.

Canterbury

Canterbury, a city of 55,000 people, is located in southwest England, about 90 minutes from London. Canterbury one of the top tourist destinations in England. It is home several historical sites, including the Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury Castle, and St. Augustine’s Abbey. It is also home to a huge variety of museums, musical venues, shopping areas, and unique architecture- all contributing to a small but thriving modern city with plenty of living connections to England’s rich history.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (UK) refers to the four countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This is in contrast to another common name, Great Britain, which excludes Northern Ireland. Each part of the UK has a distinct culture and history. Experiencing these rich traditions is what studying in the UK is all about!

Cultural Resources

• University of Kent’s Facebook page
  
• University of Kent's YouTube channel
  
• University of Kent on Instagram
  
• UK’s official tourism page on Instagram
  
• Website for the City of Canterbury
  
• Information for Incoming study abroad students
  

US Department of State Country Information

The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.

Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.

Living Arrangements/Accommodations

Accommodation on campus is either in colleges or in self-catered houses or flats/apartments. UI students are requried to live on the Canterbury campus.

You can find more information about the housing options at Kent on the university's Accommodation page.

You will make the final arrangements for your accommodation at Kent directly with their international office prior to departure. You may be required to pay for some or all of your accommodation costs before you arrive in Canterbury.

Student housing in the UK tends to resemble the style of Mayflower Residence hall, with 4-6 students sharing a 'flat' with common kitchen and bathroom facilities and individual rooms, however variations to this style do occur. Meals can be cooked in the flat, or purchased at cafeterias.

University of Iowa students are required to stay in housing arranged through the host university. Iowa students cannot stay in privately arranged housing.

Housing Costs and Deposits

Housing costs will be paid directly to your host institution. You will receive details about how to pay for your housing abroad from your host institution prior to departure. You should plan to pay a housing deposit early in the semester prior to your departure.

Estimated housing costs are provided under the Application tab above.

Passport

All students need a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a passport, it is important that you apply for one as soon as possible to ensure you receive it before the program begins. US citizens can find more information about how to apply for a passport on the US Department of State’s website.

US citizens can find more information about how to renew a passport on the US Department of State’s website.

Students with a valid passport should check the expiration date. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER the anticipated return to the US from studying abroad. If your passport is not valid for at least 6 months after your anticipated date of return to the US, you must renew your passport before applying for the visa you will need to enter your host country.

Expedited processing service is available for US passports (although this still takes several weeks and is at an additional cost). UI Study Abroad encourages students to ask the passport agency at the time of application whether expedited service is recommended.

Non-US Citizens

Students who are not US citizens should contact their consulate for more information if they need to get a new passport or renew their passport.

Travel Arrangements (Flights)

UI Study Abroad will not arrange a group flight to your study abroad destination. Students will purchase their own plane tickets to their host country, though UI Study Abroad can assist by providing advice regarding airline booking options.

You are advised not to purchase plane tickets until:

1. You have received an official offer of acceptance from your host university, and have submitted confirmation materials to UI Study Abroad.
2. You have finalized your housing arrangements abroad.
3. You are aware of both the semester start date and the move-in date for your accommodations abroad.
4. You have received your visa (if required- contact your study abroad advisor for more information).

Plan to arrive as early in the day as you can the day before the official program activities begin.

If you have questions about purchasing plane tickets, please contact your UI study abroad advisor.

Local Transportation

Canterbury offers a good city bus system with frequent trips between the campus and the city center.

In general, travel within the United Kingdom is very well organized. Busses, and taxis (and subway systems in larger cities) make getting around town quick and easy. Trains and busses also interconnect every city in Britain, making inter-city travel easy, fairly cheap and as quick as possible. You are never far from interesting places. Ferries and bargain airlines also allow you to reach many destinations in mainland Europe very inexpensively.

Eligibility

This program is open to University of Iowa students who fulfill the following requirements:

• Good academic and disciplinary standing- Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Iowa. Students placed on either academic or disciplinary probation for any period of time overlapping with the study abroad program dates are ineligible to study abroad on a University of Iowa program. Academic and disciplinary history will also be considered when determining whether a student is prepared to represent the University of Iowa as part of this program. Students who are not in good standing at any point overlapping with the program dates will have their acceptance revoked, and will be responsible for the associated late withdrawal fees.
  
• Minimum 3.0 UI and Transfer GPA- Students must have a minimum 3.0 UI and Transfer GPA to participate in this program (transfer GPAs lower than 3.0 may be considered on a case-by-case basis).
  
• Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing required- Students must have sophomore, junior, or senior standing at the time the program begins. First year students cannot participate in this program.
• Approval by UI study abroad advisor- A student’s application must be reviewed and approved by their University of Iowa study abroad advisor.
  
• Acceptance by host institution- Students must be accepted by their host institution as a temporary visiting student. Acceptance by the host institution is typically automatic for students that have been nominated by their study abroad advisor, but the final acceptance decision is made by the international student office and the sponsoring departments at the host institution based on their own internal requirements.
• Attendance at mandatory orientation programming- Students must attend all in-person and online pre-departure orientation programing presented by UI Study Abroad.
  
• Clear interest and commitment- Students must demonstrate a clear academic or personal interest in the program’s subject matter, and a commitment to engage responsibly in coursework abroad.
  
• Demonstrated preparedness and maturity- Students must demonstrate preparedness to take on the heightened responsibilities associated with international study and travel. Students must demonstrate a commitment to behave responsibly abroad while respecting cultural differences. Students are expected to obey both local laws and program directives conveyed to participants before and during the program. The University of Iowa Code of Student Life applies to all program participants while abroad.
  

Ongoing Industrial Action in the U.K.

Universities in the U.K. have recently been impacted by ongoing indistrial action. U.K. exchange/direct enrollment program applicants must understand the very real possibility of cancelled classes, independent study adaptations and/or delayed grading.

Applicants without a high degree of flexibility regarding course availability, class cancellations, and delayed grading should consider postponing an application until the situation resolves, or choose to apply to a different program.

Costs

Students will be responsible for paying many of their program costs through their University of Iowa U-Bill, while other costs will be out-of-pocket costs paid by the student directly to vendors before and after going abroad. Refer to the cost sheets below for details on the costs associated with this program.

The cost sheets outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. They include fees charged on students’ U-Bill as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.

Costs for future sessions are usually similar to the current session, however students can expect a modest increase in overall costs each session. Final cost sheets for future sessions are typically available early in the semester before the session begins.

Cost Sheets

Cost Sheet- University of Kent Exchange- Fall 2023

Cost Sheet- University of Kent Exchange- Spring 2024

Calculating Fees

The cost sheets are based on the fees described below:

• University of Iowa Study Abroad Administrative Fees
• University of Iowa’s CISI health insurance
• University of Iowa Tuition and Fees, housing, flight, and other costs of attendance.

Cost sheets do not include the following optional costs:

Personal Travel Costs

Costs for personal travel are not included in the cost estimates provided on the cost sheet. If you plan to travel outside of your host city or country during or after your study abroad program, you will need to budget for additional funds to cover the cost of your personal travel.

The cost of personal travel depends entirely on each student’s individual travel plans and spending habits. Estimates for personal travel costs provided by past students on this program vary significantly from $1,500 to as much as $9,000 or more per session.

Costs charged to the U-Bill

• Application Fee- (charged at the time of application, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed.)
• University of Iowa Tuition & Fees- (charged shortly before departure.)
• Study Abroad Fees- (charged shortly before departure.)
• CISI Health Insurance- (charged shortly before departure.)

Out of Pocket costs (not charged to U-Bill)

• Round trip airfare from Cedar Rapids- (paid by student directly to travel agent or airline- approx. 6-8 weeks prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed)
• Food- (paid by student at their discretion while abroad)
• Housing- (charged upon arrival to the UK)
• Housing Deposit- (paid by student shortly before departure to the UK, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed)
• Visa/Immigration fees- (paid by student on arrival to the UK, or shortly before arrival/before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed. See the Immigration/Visa section under the Predeparture tab for more information.)
• Immigration Health Surcharge- (paid by student on arrival to the UK- only required for students studying for the full academic year)
• Local Transportation- (paid at student’s discretion while abroad)
• Cell phone- (paid at the student’s discretion while abroad)
• Passport- (paid by student prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed.)
• Textbooks- (paid as needed while abroad)
• Medical Exam/Immunizations- (paid by student as needed prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
• Personal expenses- (paid by student at their discretion while abroad)
• Personal travel expenses- ( paid by student at their discretion while abroad )

Scholarships & Financial Aid

You can find information about options for funding your study abroad experience, including financial aid, scholarships, grants, etc., on UI Study Abroad’s Finances page.

How to Apply

This is a two-part process. You apply first with the University of Iowa. If approved, you will submit a separate application to the host university abroad.

• Meet with the appropriate study abroad advisor to discuss your study abroad plans well ahead of the application deadline. Your application will not be approved until you've completed this step. You can set up an appointment by calling UI Study Abroad at 319-335-0353 or through the Advising Appointment section of your MyUI account.
• Meet with your academic advisor(s) to discuss how this program might fit your graduation plans, and make a back-up plan in case your preferred courses are not available when you arrive on your host university’s campus (see the Flexibility Regarding Course Offerings section for more information.)
• If you and your academic advisor agree that the program is a good match for you, complete the UI Study Abroad application. Please note that the non-refundable $50 application fee will be charged to your U-Bill as part of this online application.
• If you meet the requirements for the program and there are sufficient spaces available, you will be nominated to study at the host university by UI Study Abroad.
• Once nominated, you will receive details about how to complete the visiting student application for the host university abroad. Your application will be reviewed by the host university, and they will contact you with your final acceptance decision.
• Academic Year and Fall semester students can expect to receive their final acceptance decision from the host university by early summer, and Spring semester students can expect to receive their final acceptance decision from the host university by late November.

Post-Acceptance

Confirmation

If you are accepted to your program, you will be asked to commit to participating in your program by submitting the University of Iowa Confirmation of Participation form, and by completing requirements for your host university.

After you have formally confirmed your plans to participate, you will work both with UI Study Abroad and your host university. Follow instructions from both. Later in the semester, your UI Study Abroad advisor will contact you regarding orientation sessions, registration, and other required UI procedures and documentation.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Fall and Academic Year sessions are due on February 24.

Applications for the Spring session are due on September 24.

Limited Admission

Admission to this program is limited to a small number of students each semester, based on the current exchange balance with the host university.

Complete applications from eligible students will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Interested students are encouraged to submit complete application materials as soon as possible to increase their chances of securing a place in the program during their chosen session.

Enrollment for the Spring 2025 session is limited to 1 semester student.

Contact your study abroad advisor for updates on available spaces for future sessions.

Health & Safety Planning

Students should carefully review the following materials starting at least two months prior to departure:

Prepare for Departure

Health and Safety

Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance Information

Immigration/Visa

All program participants are required to complete immigration requirements to enter and study in your host country. UI Study Abroad and your program provider/host institution abroad will provide you with immigration instructions prior to departure.

Note that permission to enter and study in your host country is provided exclusively by the host country’s government based on that country's immigration requirements. Your host country’s immigration requirements may include considerations related to specific national origin, national heritage, criminal background status, and similar issues that can make it impossible to receive permission to enter the country in some cases. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for more information.

It is essential that you thoroughly review all of your immigration materials before you leave for your host country to ensure that they are absolutely complete and accurate. It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that all of your immigration materials are in order and fully accurate before you leave for your host country. If any of your immigration materials contain inaccurate information of any kind, contact your UI study abroad advisor immediately to discuss your options.

Do not take steps to complete your host country’s immigration requirements until you receive more information from UI Study Abroad.

Review the UI Study Abroad Travel Documentation website for further guidance on the immigration/visa process.

Orientation

In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.

Online Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course "Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation" prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.

Program-Specific Orientation

This orientation will be facilitated by your UI study abroad advisor and will cover content specific to your program and host country. It could be conducted in a group setting or one-on-one depending on your type of planned activity abroad. Your study abroad advisor will send you more information about this mandatory in-person session.