Masters International exchange
Study overseas and broaden your horizons.
Combine your Masters studies in Manchester with the cultural experience of university life in another country.
Study overseas and broaden your horizons
Combine your Masters studies in Manchester with the cultural experience of university life in another country.
Spend semester 2 abroad
First-hand knowledge of another culture can be crucial in business. Increase your cultural awareness and enhance your employability with a fantastic overseas study experience in semester 2.
You can opt for the international exchange if you study one of these courses:
The exchange option is open to all students on these courses; however, as there are limited exchange places, entry is competitive. On arrival at Alliance MBS in September you will need to produce a motivational statement for a particular set of exchange options that you want to consider. This will be evaluated and, if necessary, interviews will take place to match you with the available exchange options. It is important to research your options as it will strengthen your decisions and your application.
Where can I go?
Availability of places at exchange partners is dependent on current balances and contract renewals.
You can choose from a wide range of carefully selected exchange partners across the world. They are all monitored and we work closely with them to ensure that you enjoy a successful exchange and a smooth return to Manchester.
Can I go on exchange to my home country?
This is possible, but you will need to make a strong case to the selection committee as to why you think this will benefit your development. The Exchange Programme is highly competitive and priority may be given to students who the committee feel will benefit most from the opportunity to experience another culture.
Asia / Australasia
Europe
Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Copenhagen, Denmark >>
Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland >>
RSM Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands >>
Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden >>
Universitá Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milano, Italy >>
Universität St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland >>
Universität zu Köln, Köln, Germany >>
Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium >>
North America / Latin America
What is the application process?
Attend the Exchange Information Session
Attendance of this session is essential if you want to apply for the exchange programme. It is usually held during induction week and application forms and key information will be given out.
Follow-up sessions will take place during semester 1 and include opportunities to network with current exchange students and those who have already studied abroad. There will also be an International Fair and pre-departure meeting.
Research your exchange options
Visit the websites of each exchange partner to gain relevant information, gather feedback from students who have studied there and talk to your Programme Director or a member of Alliance MBS International Team about going on exchange.
Carefully consider where you want to go as you may not get your first or second choice.
- Do you have a particular location in mind?
- What is important to you? Think about academic profile, facilities, travel or social opportunities
- How much will it cost? Are there scholarships available?
- Are you prepared to go alone?
Choose your institutions
You will need to select three universities and rank them in order of preference. You will also need to write a personal statement giving reasons for your choices.
Your Programme Director will decide where you go based on your academic background and your personal statement.
Submit your application
Submit your application by the stated deadline to the Alliance MBS International Team at exchange.ambs@manchester.ac.uk
Attend an interview
You will be invited to attend an interview with the Exchange Programme Director once your application and professional statement have been reviewed.
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Previous academic background, grades and achievements
- Knowledge and research of partner universities
- Professional statement
Final decision on your application
If your application has been successful, you will be offered a place on the exchange programme within 3-4 working days of the interview.
This offer is conditional upon your successful completion of semester 1. If you fail an assessment or any disciplinary actions are taken against you in semester 1 (such as poor attendance, non-contribution to coursework, etc.), your offer will be withdrawn and you will be unable to participate in the external programme.
What do I need to do before departure?
Once your have been offered a place on the exchange programme there are some essential tasks that need to be completed before departure.
Research course units
You will need to research course units at your host institution and agree a programme of study with your Programme Director.
Complete a Learning Agreement
You will need to complete a Learning Agreement in consultation with the Exchange Programme Director. This document details the units that your will study on exchange and the credit that you will receive from them on your return to Manchester.
This document is essential and it must be returned to the Alliance MBS International Team within four weeks of starting an exchange semester at a partner university. If the document is not returned in this time frame there are two potential outcomes:
- Your permission to study abroad in Semester 2 will be withdrawn and you will be expected to return to Manchester
- If you are an Erasmus student, you will be required to return your Erasmus Grant to the University.
Tuition fees and other expenses
You do not pay any additional tuition fees to go on exchange, you will pay your tuition fees as usual to The University of Manchester. However, before applying to spend a semester abroad on exchange, you should consider the following expenses:
- Travel costs including flights, transfers and in-country travel
- Living costs (you may have to demonstrate you have the necessary funds to satisfy immigration requirements in certain countries)
- Books and supplies (the cost of purchasing books for academic purposes may be considerably higher in some countries)
- Accommodation costs, particularly if you are required to live off-campus
- Vaccination costs (if applicable)
- Visa application costs (this may also involve travel to the host country’s embassy e.g. the US Embassy is located in London)
- Medical insurance (if applicable)
- Food and entertainment
- Any other personal expenses
Most exchange partners provide a breakdown of estimated living costs on their website.
Funding your semester abroad
Erasmus+ (European) grant
If you are going on exchange to a partner institution in the EU, you will be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant funded by the European Commission. All full-time students registered at The University of Manchester are eligible to apply for this funding. This non-repayable grant is a contribution towards the increased costs of taking up a study placement overseas.
Studying abroad: travel grants for students (UK)
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for financial support to help cover the cost of up to three return flights, as well as medical insurance and travel visas.
Passport and visas
Passport
Passport
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your exchange and for at least 6 months after you return to the UK. Your passport may also be required if you need to apply for a student visa as some host institutions may request a copy of it as part of the application process.
Visas
It is likely that you will require a visa if you are a UK or EU student studying outside the EU, or if you are a student from outside the EU and are planning to study in another EU country.
Immigration laws are complex and subject to frequent change, therefore we recommend that you check the latest requirements with the relevant embassy. Your host institution may also provide guidance about visa requirements.
Visa applications can be a lengthy process, in some cases lasting weeks or even months. We therefore recommend that you start the process as early as possible and ensure that you do everything required to make the process go smoothly. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the necessary visa documentation.
If you are a Tier 4 student and have any concerns about implications of studying abroad, you should consult the Immigration Team at the University Student Services Centre >>
Accommodation
Accommodation abroad
Most of our exchange partners will assist you in finding accommodation. Please refer to the relevant institution's website or fact sheet for information.
Accommodation costs vary according to country, university and whether you opt for private or shared accommodation. You should also consider the current exchange rate.
Semester 1 accommodation in Manchester
If you wish to apply for first semester accommodation only, we currently recommend that you seek accommodation in the private sector rather than via the University.
The University Accommodation Office are highly unlikely to accommodate single semester applicants due to the significant increase in accommodation applicants, along with a significantly reduced accommodation stock following the closure of the Grosvenor group of Halls.
If you leave your accommodation early due to an exchange programme, you would continue to be held to the terms and conditions of your agreed residency contract if you accepted an offer for a full year of accommodation. We would endeavour to fill the vacancy created by your early departure, however this is not always possible. If we were able to find a suitable replacement, you would then be released from financial liability from the day the new resident took up occupancy. You would still be required to submit an Early Leavers Request Form with an explanation of why you were departing your accommodation.
If you are successful in obtaining first semester accommodation in our halls and, after arrival, you do not obtain a place on an exchange programme for your second semester, you should contact the accommodation office as soon as possible, and no later than mid-November. They will then be able to extend your accommodation agreement for the full year.
We recommended that you consult with Manchester Student Homes if you require accommodation terms that we cannot provide. There may be more suitable options within the private sector.
Language courses
All of our exchange partners offer their units in English, however, a working knowledge of the language of the country you are visiting will be a great benefit to you. Living and studying in another country will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to improve your language skills. Whether socialising, shopping, dealing with day to day situations, having some language skills will give you the confidence to make the most of your time abroad.
The University Language Centre offers courses in a range of modern foreign languages >>
Your return to Alliance MBS
At the end of your semester abroad on exchange, you will return to Manchester and continue working on your dissertation.
Your host university will prepare a transcript of your results - some partner institutions send this directly to Alliance MBS and others may give it to you. It is essential that Alliance MBS obtains the original transcript as soon as possible after your exchange period, so ensure that you follow any procedures set by the host university to enable this. If you have any outstanding debts at the host institution, it is unlikely that your transcript will be released until these have been cleared.
Alliance MBS Transcripts and Grade Conversion
Unit titles from our partners will not appear on your Alliance MBS transcript. However, we will indicate that you spent a semester abroad at the host university.
Credits and grades will be considered in degree classification to acknowledge the integral nature of the exchange programme. You will also be issued with a copy of your transcript from the host university which can be used in conjunction with your Alliance MBS transcript.