Tuition Fees
To study abroad (or complete an international placement), you do not pay tuition fees to the host university; instead you pay a reduced fee to DMU. This fee includes the ongoing support from the DMU Global, and all other services offered by DMU such as the Library, DSU, Student Services, Counselling and Welfare. The fees for students planning to study abroad are as follows:
Studying abroad in 2024-25
If you are currently in your second year of undergraduate study and applying to study abroad next year the tuition fee for that year is: £650 (Home students) or £750 (International students).
Studying abroad in 2025-26
If you are currently in your first year of undergraduate study, you will need to apply to study abroad next year. The tuition fee for 2025-26 is: £1385 for all students
Deposit
If you are offered the opportunity to study on exchange, a refundable deposit of £100 will be payable at the time of accepting your place. The deadline for acceptance and payment will be 14 days after being notified you have been selected.
Financial Support
Any loans, grants or scholarships you are entitled to are not affected by studying on exchange. This includes the Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan, and Maintenance Grants.
UK Tuition Fee Loan
If you normally apply for a UK Student Loan, you are strongly advised to apply for one for your period abroad. Being an exchange student does not affect your eligibility to apply for one. However, you should only apply for the tuition fee loan amount that you have been requested to pay by DMU. For example, if you only have to pay £650 to DMU during your year abroad, you should only apply for a tuition fee loan to cover that amount.
It is your responsibility to supply full information of your period abroad to your academic department and to Student Finance for your funding. This information will be used to ensure that University records are correct and the correct tuition fee is applied.
If there is a discrepancy in the amount Student Finance states you must borrow and the amount DMU states you must pay, please contact Student Administrative Support on sas@dmu.ac.uk or call 0116 257 7595 (option 3).
Do I need to provide evidence of my study abroad plans to Student Finance?
Once your study abroad plans are confirmed, DMU Global will share your information with the university Student Funding team who will in turn pass this information to Student Finance electronically.
Student Finance should therefore not ask you to obtain written confirmation from DMU of your year/semester abroad plans. If they do, or if they ask you to complete their ‘Course Abroad Form’, please contact us on studentexchange@dmu.ac.uk for advice.
How will they assess my student loan application?
As an exchange student, you are entitled to have the maintenance part of your Student Loan. Your tuition fee loan should be in line with what you have been asked to pay to DMU.
Can I qualify for a maintenance loan or grants?
Students who have not been eligible for a Maintenance Loan or Grant in the first two years of their study may still be eligible for it, for their year abroad. Please check with the relevant funding body.
Other financial support from Student Finance England
Travel Grant
You may be able to claim a retrospective travel grant from Student Finance following your period abroad. The travel grant is income-assessed and can cover reasonable costs as decided by Student Finance England. Check the Travel Grants web page for more information.
If you indicate on your SFE application that you intend to apply for the travel grant, Student Finance may ask you to complete their ‘Course Abroad Form’ and obtain a signature from DMU.
How to apply
- Apply for student finance for your study abroad using your student finance account. You can register and set up an account if you don’t already have one.
- You’ll then receive a ‘Course Abroad Form’.
- Once you’ve filled in and returned the form, you’ll automatically receive a travel grant form if you’re eligible.
Keep all receipts for any expenses you want to apply for – you’ll need to send photocopies when you apply. Subsequently, the money will be paid direct into your bank account.
For further information on the travel grant, please contact Student Finance directly.
Turing Scheme Funding
DMU has been awarded funding from the UK Government’s new Turing Scheme to support students going to study and work abroad. This has currently been confirmed for academic year 2023-24. We are awaiting confirmation about funding for future years and will update this once information is available.
The amount of funding students are entitled to will depend on the cost of living of their host country:
Group 1 destinations
£380 per month OR £490 for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
Group 2 & 3 destinations
£335 per month OR £445 for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
To find details of which countries are listed in each group, visit the cost of living groups page.
Additional support for those from disadvantaged backgrounds
The definitions of what constitutes a student from a disadvantaged background used can be found here.
Alongside the higher grant rate, students from disadvantaged backgrounds will also receive funding towards the direct costs of travel, depending on distance between the UK and the destination. You will also be eligible to claim for additional travel expenses, including the costs of visas, passports, and health insurance.
Additional support for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
For participants with SEND, the scheme will fund up to 100% of actual costs for support directly related to these additional needs, if these cannot be facilitated by the host institution. For further details regarding this and to discuss your individual situation, please contact studentexchange@dmu.ac.uk or the Global Disability Officer.
Practicalities
Once you have been accepted to study abroad we will run preparation sessions that will cover a range of practical and logistical topics including arranging accommodation and booking flights. However, you can find important information about insurance and visas below to help you prepare.
Insurance
All students will need to purchase appropriate medical insurance for the duration of time spent overseas. Some host universities offer insurance coverage in association with a provider they work with. In this case, students are recommended to purchase their policy with the recommended provider unless the university offers the opportunity to complete a waiver form. This allows students to purchase a policy independently as long as it meets the coverage requirements of the host university/country.
Medical insurance may also be a pre-requisite for visa applications or can feature in the host university application process. We also recommend that you purchase travel insurance to cover personal possessions.
For students going to the EU, you can apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to access necessary state-provided healthcare. Further details of what is meant by medically necessary healthcare, how to apply for the GHIC and who is eligible to apply can be found here.
Visas and immigration
All students (apart from EU nationals studying in an EU country) will require a visa or resident permit to study abroad. You will receive detailed information regarding any immigration requirements from your host university.
You will need to have been formally accepted by your host university before you can apply for a visa or residence permit. Your place is confirmed upon receiving a letter of acceptance, which is required to start your visa application. Depending on the immigration rules of your host destination, you may be required to attend an interview or book an appointment to provide your biometrics at the local embassy.
Visa or resident permit applications have varying costs that students will need to factor into their budgeting. This commonly includes a visa application fee, as well as potential costs towards a police or medical certificate. Students may also be required to demonstrate proof of funds to support oneself while studying in that destination. The amount you are required to show will be provided to you by the host university or in the visa application instructions. This information can be obtained by consulting the local embassy website for your host destination.