Academics

• Firstly, remember that in the UK, classes are "modules,"  and "Semester 1" refers to our fall semester, while "Semester 2" refers to our spring semester. 

• To view the module subjects at York, click on the below link:

https://www.york.ac.uk/study/international/applying/visiting-students/courses/ 

Subjects:

Archaeology

Biology 

Chemistry 

Computer Science

Education 

English and Related Literature

Environment and Geography 

History

History of Art

Language and Linguistic Science

Mathematics

Natural Sciences 

Philosophy (includes Psychology)

Politics 

Psychology

Social Policy 

Social and Political Science

Physics

Sociology

• Certain classes at the University of York might require prerequisites. For example, you probably cannot take an upper-level math or science course without demonstrating advanced prior knowledge in the area. 

• Year 2 and Year 3 modules are appropriate for your major.  Year 1 modules are appropriate for common area requirements. 

• When applying to the University of York, you will apply to a specific department--which may require a writing sample or supplemental materials. You cannot apply to "post graduate" modules. 

The Holy Cross credit approval system works like this: 

1. After you arrive in the UK, you will receive an email from Jared Chapman in the Registrar’s Office with instructions for submitting Course Approval Forms (CAFs). You'll submit one CAF per module.  You'll submit your CAFs as soon as possible and no later than 1 week after the start of classes. 

2. Once the Registrar's Office receives your CAFs, they will send classes you'd like to count towards your major(s) and minor(s) to the official Study Abroad Course Evaluators in the relevant department(s) for approval. The Registrar's Office will manage the approval of common area requirements themselves. 

3. Once the Registrar's Office hears back from the relevant parties about all of your classes, you will receive an email detailing which classes have/have not been approved. (If you talk to your advisors before you leave and stay in touch during the course selection process, you should not receive any 'surprise' rejections). 

Courses that are NOT accepted for Holy Cross Credit:

1. Online or hybrid (partially online) courses;

2. Pre-professional, business, law, and marketing courses;

3. Other non-liberal arts courses;

4. Courses of similar content to those you have already taken;

5. Any major courses required by your major department to be taken at Holy Cross;

6. Courses taken without a letter grade (e.g., auditing, pass/no pass, etc.)

One of the most common questions we get in the Office of Study Abroad is whether or not a certain class abroad will count towards a student's major, minor, concentration, etc. The answer is...maybe! Here's how it works:

If you think a class might work for your Major(s) or Minor...

You need to talk to the official study abroad course evaluator in your department.

You should obtain a course description and, if available, a syllabus for the class before contacting the course evaluator. They appreciate as much context as possible!

If you think a class might work for a common area requirement...

You need to talk to the Registrar's Office! You can send an email to Jared Chapman (jchapman@holycross.edu) to gain clarity on common areas requirements abroad.

You should obtain a syllabus or some information about the class before contacting Jared.

He appreciates as much context as possible!

FULL PROGRAM:   120 credits per year ( 60 credits per semester)  

  CREDIT CONVERSION:   

Host Grade HC Grade 

68+ A 

64-67 A- 

60-63 B+ 

54-59 B 

50-53 B- 

45-49 C+ 

41-44 C 

38-40 C- 

35-37 D

34 & below F 

All of the classes you take when you study abroad will be listed on your Holy Cross transcript, just as they are for any normal semester. Next to each class you take abroad, the letter grade you earned will appear, just as it does for any normal semester at Holy Cross. 

The difference is that the grades you receive abroad will not factor into your cumulative GPA. This means if you leave to study abroad with a 4.0 and you get all 'B's when you are at your host institution, your GPA when you return to Holy Cross will still be a 4.0. The system is designed with you in mind! 

Opting to spend a semester or year studying in a completely different academic system is brave. We want to celebrate the work you do abroad by reflecting the letter grades you earn on your transcript.  We also understand that it's normal to struggle in a new academic system. Therefore, we don't factor your grades into your overall GPA. The goal of this policy is to encourage more students to study abroad without fearing what a semester or year away might do to their GPA! 

NO. You cannot and will not take any classes pass/fail abroad. This is one of those "study abroad myths" that for some unknown reason seems to be passed down from study abroad generation to study abroad generation!

Your HC transcript, after your study abroad semester or year, will reflect the grades that you earn abroad. What will NOT be affected is your GPA.

You can look forward to much more academic independence when you study abroad. In the UK education system, there are frequently only one, sometimes two, assignments that account for your entire course grade. This puts a lot more pressure on that one assignment, but it means you are free from the myriad of smaller assignments you are accustomed to at Holy Cross.  

You will need to take the initiative should you need assistance. It is worth your time to educate yourself on the UK education system and review how to best prepare for UK exams and how to write a research paper-- academic expectations in the UK differ from the ones we are accustomed to in the United States. Read Arcadia Abroad's website for the most helpful tips!  

https://studyabroad.arcadia.edu/find-a-program/programs-by-country/england/know-before-you-go/#academic-matters

Each university has its own support services. At the University of York, Student Support Services are robust. 

The Academic Skills Community offers a range of in-person and online help to develop your academic writing skills to a high standard. An academic supervisor will also support you through your studies.

Additionally, please review the web pages below:

https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/supporting-students/academic/taught/ 

https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/supporting-students/disability/ 

If you utilize accessibility services at Holy Cross, please inform Emma Meade (Assistant Director of Study Abroad), and she will help you research your options at your study abroad location.