ENGLAND - ISEP University of Bradford

To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Good academic and judicial standing during time of application AND time of participation in program
• Undergraduates must have completed at least two semesters of study at Lake Forest College AND have junior status or higher before participation. 
• At least 18 years of age by the program’s departure date. 
• Be able to stay at the host program for the duration of the semester, including through the exam and travel periods
• Minimum GPA of 2.75.  

Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information).

Surrounded by the spectacular English countryside, Bradford is situated in the heart of the UK and is 20 minutes from Leeds and one hour by train from Manchester. There are excellent roads, rail and air links to other parts of the UK. 

Just a short bus ride away from the city center is Saltaire, a perfectly preserved Victorian village, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is home to Salts Mill, which houses one of the largest collections of artwork by Bradford-born David Hockney. The picturesque village of Haworth, once home to the literary family the Brontes, lies among magnificent countryside, and the dramatic surroundings of Ilkley Moor provide a wonderful setting for the elegant spa town of Ilkley. The Yorkshire Dales are very popular with tourists from all over the world.

The local community, a diverse mix of 486,000 people from around the world, is known for its friendliness and welcoming attitude.

With a thriving urban center, Bradford offers a booming social scene, historic heritage, and a host of exciting cultural venues such as the fascinating National Media Museum, which is the most visited museum outside of London. Bradford is also the UNESCO first city of film.

The University of Bradford is a traditional institution with a long history of high-quality research, learning, and teaching but also forward-thinking, modern and student-orientated. The University has won awards for sustainability and provides state of the art facilities for students on campus. Academically it has one of Europe’s leading business schools plus the world’s largest Centre for the study of peace and conflict. Students are taught by academics from around the world, which is backed up by high-quality research spanning over almost 50 years.

Bradford is invested in looking toward a future that continues to build on its foundations of academic excellence and inspires students, scholars, and teachers alike. 

The UK education system generally emphasizes independent, self-directed study over class time, attendance, and participation. Coursework may be less structured than you are used to in your country and students may be assigned significant outside reading that they will not be tested on until their final exam. Required readings and definite assignments are given throughout the semester are less common. Students can expect an extensive reading list covering all topics to be discussed to be distributed at the start of the course. This will be used for independent research. British students typically consult a large number of sources from the library rather than intensively studying a few books purchased by everyone taking a course. In addition, students are required to write more essays and take fewer objective tests. Because there are usually fewer assignments counting towards the final grade, a final exam or paper carries much more weight. For these reasons, self-discipline, self-motivation, and good time management are very important in keeping up academically.

COURSEWORK

Modules (remember that in Britain “course” refers to a degree program) often take the following forms: lectures, which are sometimes completely optional; tutorials, in which a small number of students meet with the lecturer; and seminars, larger discussion classes often based upon seminar essays. Students should be aware that there is often less face time with professors, and that tutors are often your most hands-on academic contact. You will have to be self-motivated and proactive.

British students often sit for final exams in May or June that cover the full year’s work and determine the grades for the class. With the growth of modularization, however, there has been an increase in the number and variety of modules offered on a semester basis.

The idea of an undergraduate being “undeclared” in their major is not common in the UK. British students tend to specialize in their field of study earlier; sometimes they may even start specializing in their majors during the final year of high school. General education or basic courses are not as commonplace at UK universities because they have already been covered at the GCSE level. Many faculties assume that a university student has a basic understanding of the concepts that will be addressed in the course. For this reason, it is common for third-year International students to take first-year and second-year courses at a UK university. The curriculum in these courses is not considered introductory or “lower-level.”

It may be more difficult to enroll in multiple modules across different academic departments in the UK. Instead, students may need to focus on choosing classes within one or two departments. 

Strong or unique academic fields at Bradford most recommended for ISEP students include peace studies and politics; archaeological sciences; business and management; chemical and forensic sciences; economics; computer science / ICT; and media studies. Students study 60 Bradford credits (between 3-6 modules per term) to earn 4 Lake Forest credits. 

Courses are weighted as follows: 
M: 10 credits
D: 20 credits
L: Typically 20 credits

Please note: “L” modules are assessed at the end of each academic year and are not appropriate for semester students. 

Courses in biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, nursing, and pharmacy are not available to ISEP students. Students who request courses in these fields will not be considered for placement at this institution. Availability may be limited for psychology courses accredited by the British Psychological Society.

HINTS FOR RESEARCHING COURSES

The International Office appreciates that sometimes it is hard for students to be able to find courses on a university’s website. Therefore, wherever possible we will add the course lists to the Study Abroad page to show what courses are available to ISEP students here. Once you have obtained the list you can look up the descriptions in the Module Catalogue (see link below) by entering the code number. However, please feel free to contact the International Office directly for a list of courses if you require our help at international-office@bradford.ac.uk

Alternatively, you can search for the courses as follows:

• 1. Access the Module Catalogue
• 2. Choose “Search by Provider”
• 3. Select a Provider, Academic Year, Teaching Period (either semester 1 or 2), Module Occurrence (select “A”), and Module Level
• 4. “Add to basket” modules (courses) you would like to take
• 5. “View basket”
• 6. “View module”

Please review the ISEP country handbook for more information on the education system.

ORIENTATION

In semester 1 the University holds a general orientation program over a period of one week before the start of teaching. A specific International Student Information Point is the focal point for new international students and this is organized by the International Office with the assistance of student helpers. During orientation, students will attend an induction session with the International Office as well as the academic department. Students will formally register with the University and receive a student ID card, IT and library access and e-mail address. Once students formally register with the University they can then register for classes. Students will be able to finalize the timetable with the academic advisor during the week and the International Office will register students for their choice of courses. This will be explained at the Induction meeting with the International office. A wide range of activities will take place during the one-week orientation which will be organized by the Students’ Union, the International Office, and academic departments. These will include a series of daily lunchtime talks including student safety, how to open a bank account etc. There will be daily local walking tours to the shopping area, campus tours, visits to local places of interest including York, Haworth, Skipton and Bolton Abbey. Students may also go on a trip to Ikea to purchase items for their rooms!

Many social events such as the Freshers Fayre organized by Students’ Union will take place during the first week specifically for new students joining the University. 

In semester 2, orientation is a one full day and comprehensive induction which will consist of: welcome meeting by International Office staff, induction to key students services, meet students’ union, key personnel, formal enrollment, registration of classes including refreshments. A trip to a place of interest will be organized on the following weekend and new students are strongly encouraged to take part to integrate with other students.

ARRIVAL DETAILS

Airport pickup will be provided upon coordination with the International Office. The host will provide arrival directions with acceptance packet.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

The University campus offers a variety of social activities for students, including over 70 clubs and societies, many shops, and numerous cafes. The Theatre in the Mill and the Tasmin Little Music Centre offer professional performances and provide activities for all students.

The Students’ Union offices make up the social center of the University with three bars, pool tables, jukebox, video games, vending machines, a nightclub, and an independent student radio station.

The Athletic Association oversees the activities of about 33 clubs, each dedicated to the promotion of a particular sport. The University is one of six national Centres of Excellence for Cricket. Bradford’s geographical position also makes it an ideal center for outdoor sports such as climbing, orienteering, potholing, mountain biking, hang-gliding, and even canoeing and sailing on local rivers and reservoirs. 

The International Office organizes regular trips to various parts of the country such as York and the seaside, providing an ideal way for students to make new friends and see more of the UK. 

ISEP students are housed in private residence halls, which are less than 10 minutes walk from the University’s city campus area and close to the University’s Health Centre. The library, sports center, students’ union, teaching areas and social areas are all nearby. The halls have self-contained single study flats of six or eight bedrooms, with internet access, a shared kitchen, dining area, and bathrooms. ISEP participants receive a meal stipend to prepare their own meals or to purchase meals. There are many supermarkets and restaurants nearby. 

For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange to Bradford includes orientation, on-site director, university fees, housing, and the equivalent of 19/meals per week.  

Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 programs:

Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of January 2018. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change.

You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution.

Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices.  

Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.