Study AbroadA Colourful Bus

The term or year abroad is often an experience of a lifetime.  It’s not just an opportunity to study at a Latin American university.  It’s also a chance to experience the realities you’ve studied in your modules, become really fluent in Spanish and/or Portuguese, and enjoy doing research on a topic that really inspires you for your BA dissertation.  At the same time, you can do some voluntary work, pursue interests such as learning salsa or capoeira …and explore the varied and diverse landscapes of the region.

You’ll have lots of choice about where to go and what to do. We have agreements with universities in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. In addition to study abroad, there are a limited number of internships available, mainly through our partner universities.

You can also find out from our students what the Study Abroad experience is really like by reading their stories.

You can also see some of our students photos from their time abroad on the Latin American Studies at the University of Essex Facebook page.

Aims and Objectives of the Year Abroad

  • To improve your Spanish and/or Portuguese languages
  • To enjoy an intimate knowledge of a particular Latin American country and culture
  • To collect sufficient data for your dissertation

Anyone on a four-year degree can choose from the following options: 

  • Option 1: Two semesters at a Latin American University (mode A)
  • Option 2: One semester each at two different Latin American Universities (mode A)
  • Option 3: With special permission, one semester at a Latin American University; and one semester doing an approved internship with a non-governmental organisation (mode B).

Structure of the Year Abroad

Students must complete a year of study in a Latin American Country.  For the purposes of the Year Abroad a 'year' is defined as two semesters or equivalent at a Latin American University.

Students will undertake an assessed Year Abroad which will count towards their final degree assessment.  Further details are given in the rules of assessment.

There are two possible programmes:

Mode A

A1 - Two semesters of study in a Latin American University.

A2 - Students will take a full course load. The level of modules depends on the requirements of the host institution. The Director of Latin American Studies can advise regarding the appropriate number. The module choices will be subject to the approval of the Director of Latin American Studies. Students are required to achieve at least level 4 in the relevant language to be allowed to study abroad. They must continue with their study of the language in the host institution by taking modules that will allow them to achieve the required C1 level within the European Framework at the end of the year abroad.

A3 - Students will be assessed in accordance with the requirements of the host university which will provide transcripts showing grades obtained for each module. These grades will be converted into Essex equivalents in accordance with a published conversion scale approved by the Dean of the Faculty and published annually in the Study Abroad Student Handbook.

Mode B

B.1. One semester of study at a Latin American University followed by an approved work placement in Latin America.

B.2. Students will take a full course load during the first semester at their chosen Latin American university. The number of modules depends on the requirements of the host institution. The Director of Latin American Studies can advise regarding the appropriate number. Students are required to achieve at least level 4 in the relevant language to be allowed to study abroad. They must continue with their study of the language in the host institution by taking modules that will allow them to achieve the required C1 level within the European Framework at the end of the year abroad. 

B.3. The internships will be established and approved by the Director of Latin American Studies. All internships will have a named host supervisor. There will be a double selection process for internships - at Essex by the Director of Latin American Studies and by interview with the host institution supervisor in Latin America. The host institution supervisor will be responsible for monitoring student progress on the internship. The Director of Latin American Studies will be your Essex supervisor.

B.4. The internship will be assessed by means of a portfolio comprising an Internship Diary (45%) a 3500 word General Report (40%) and a 2500 word Internship Report (15%). The Internship Report and the General Report will be written in Spanish or Portuguese and all work will be double-marked by University of Essex staff.


B.5. The mark given for the portfolio will comprise one of the three assessed elements of the Year Abroad in Mode B (worth 30 Essex credits).   The semester of study at a Latin American University will comprise two of the three assessed elements in Mode B (worth 2x 30 credits).

 

Students are also expected to do some research for their Dissertation during the Year Abroad. This research will be honed during the final year when students take the Dissertation module CSS831.

Students must pass the required number of Essex credits to ensure a smooth re-entry into the 4th year at Essex. Failing to comply with the requirements of the year abroad may lead to withdrawal from the University or having to change Course.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Students must successfully complete the third year - the Study Abroad in order to proceed to the fourth year.

Internships

Internships are available at the following:

Assessment

Voluntary workWhichever BA course you choose, your term or year abroad will count towards your degree.  Your university module marks will be converted into UK equivalents, and your internship (if applicable) will be assessed on a portfolio of work.  The portfolio includes a 2,500 word Internship Report in English (15%), and two pieces of work in Spanish or Portuguese: an Internship Diary (45%); a 3,500 word General Report (40%).  

It is also a requirement of the Year Abroad that you do work for your Dissertation. Detailed preparation for the dissertation is an important element of the compulsory half-module CS241-5-SP Doing Research for a BA Dissertation that you will take in the Spring Term of your second year.  You will be taught how to prepare and research your dissertation topic as part of this half-module.  You should liaise closely with your dissertation supervisor at Essex whilst in Latin America.  Contact with your supervisor is extremely important because gaps and mistakes in data collection cannot be rectified back in England.  The Dissertation, approximately 10,000 words in length, must be submitted no later than the Friday of the second week of the Spring Term of the candidate's Final Year.  You will be given support and guidelines for writing the dissertation in CS831-6-FY The Dissertation Seminar which you will take in the Autumn Term of your final year. 

Further details about the assessment required during an internship.

Voluntary work

Even if you are not doing an internship, there are always plenty of opportunities to do voluntary work during your term or year abroad.  Doing voluntary work can be very rewarding: it’s a chance to make a contribution to local projects, meet people from a wide range of social backgrounds, develop skills, and have some fun.  It’s also the sort of experience that employers look for.  Our students have participated on all sorts of projects.  They’ve worked with orphans and young offenders in La Paz, Bolivia, as well as with street children in Bahia, Brazil; and in Cuba, they’ve taught English in after-school classes in community centres and helped develop teaching resources for the English department at the University of Santa Clara.

Further details are also available on the Study Abroad Office website.