Hamline University
Programme Details
Minimum mark 60%
Level Undergraduate
Language/s English
Agreement Scope University wide exchange
Exchange Places 1 full year place for 2024/25
Overview
About: Founded in 1854, Hamline was Minnesota's first university, educating the state's earliest leaders. The Hamline curriculum is deeply rooted in the liberal arts and aims to prepare students to think critically, develop a worldly perspective and become creative problem solvers for the future. There are over 50 undergraduates areas of study to choose from if you choose to study here.
Contact at Hamline:
Dr Leila DeVriese - ldevriese01@hamline.edu
Highlights: Hamline University is the top University in Minnesota, ranked 1st out of 13 Minnesota universities by U.S. News & World Reporting. This is a relatively small university that has an intimate feel and a close-knit community, with 1,798 undergraduate students and 1,114 graduate students currently enrolled. Class sizes are small which means you will receive personal attention from your professors. Despite its small size, there are numerous social outlets including over 70 student organisations to get involved with. Hamline's Saint Paul campus is located in a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood with restaurants and businesses representing sixteen different countries.
Location: Hamline is located in the Midway district, so called because of its location midway between the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in the US. Saint Paul is the cultural capital of Minnesota and Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota. Minneapolis/Saint Paul Airport (MSP) is 15 minutes from the campus.
Academic information
Courses / Modules:
Have a look at the list of courses provided by Hamline University. Courses are subject to change each semester, however it will give you a good idea at what is on offer at the university.
Credit (Full-time Load per semester):
The majority of courses carry a value of 4 credits although some are valued at 0.5, 1 or 2 credits. 16 Hamline credits equates to 60 York credits so you will need to take at least 16 Hamline credits per semester, although Hamline allow students to take a maximum of 20 credits per semester.
32 Hamline credits = 120 York credits
This has been calculated by the University of York and students should not compare it with the requirements of other universities. Taking insufficient credits can lead to students failing the year. Any alteration to credits/modules must be discussed with your department prior to making any changes.
Teaching Periods:
The academic year at Hamline is divided into 2 semesters.
Fall semester: August to December
Spring semester: January to May
Language:
The programme is taught in English. You may be required to provide evidence of your English language ability if English is not your first language.
Student life
Accommodation:
All students will be placed with Hamline undergraduate students in Hamline residence halls. Exchanges students do not have the option of living off-campus or in single accommodations, unless an official request is made with the Office of Disability Services for a legitimate medical need.
Information about residence halls at Hamline can be found at Hamline's accommodation webpages.
Orientation / Welcome week:
There is an orientation to make you feel welcome, check the link to see what this can entail.
Support Services:
The Office of Counseling & Health Services is responsible for providing support and information for students and promoting physical health and emotional well-being.
This includes Counseling Services and Health Services. Click the links to read all about the support that is on offer.
Visas:
Generally speaking, you will need a J-1 exchange student visa, which you can get through an appointment at the US embassy. Hamline University has more information on how to obtain this visa, and how to maintain legal status whilst in the US.
Health insurance:
All international students in the US must have health insurance. At Hamline University, international students are automatically enrolled for health insurace if you are enrolled in at least 4 credits. Further information is available from the Hamline University International Student Health Insurance webpage. If you choose not to purchase health insurance through the university, you must check with the institution to see if it meets their minimum requirements.
Travel insurance:
If you are approved by the University of York to participate in this program, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries. You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange.
Student experiences
This is a new exchange, so you could be one of the first students from York to experience Hamline. However, we have had many exchange programmes in the United States. To understand what it is like to study in the United States, have a look at Beloit College, which is in the Midwest.
Ezephy, Education, Year Abroad 2016/17
"I enjoyed my first semester at Beloit… [Although] I had to get used to studying for 40-50 hours per week. It’s a very (very) full timetable but it feels worth it when I think that I am unlikely to ever be taught about these subjects in the future. I’m also enjoying having more diversity in the official credits I’m taking, by studying an interdisciplinary class on Romany Gypsies and a Logic class in addition to my Education related modules.
It’s a very close community, and a very busy one. I had to get used to being in a small, isolated space without public transport, to the food, the weather, to understanding all the words used in my classes to talk about the American education system. I had to get used to living around so many other people, but also with such a small number of people too.
Now that mid-term break is approaching and I am soon to be in the final quarter of my time here, I can feel myself wishing time would slow down. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to some very close friends (some of the closest I’ve ever had) and move out of the ‘Beloit bubble’ and back into the ‘real world’".
Sarah, History, Year Abroad 2017/18
"I am friends with lots of international students as well as Americans so I feel connected to the community but also like I have friends all over the world. I have a host family who I spend time with. They have lived their whole lives in Beloit so have shown me some cool traditions like Maple Tree Tapping and real Wisconsin cheese.
The campus is fairly insular so I have felt like a member of the Beloit College community pretty much since I got there. I have enjoyed how welcoming people have been and as a Londoner being introduced to "Midwestern niceties" was a shock but one that I definitely enjoy."
Top Tips for Studying in the USA
Please note: these tips have been provided by students who have studied abroad in the USA. Global Opportunities recommends that you use these as a guide only and do your own research on what is best for you.
Money and Banking:
'REVOLUT - cannot recommend this enough. Allows for free currency conversions and transfers into US bank accounts. It is cheaper even than Transferwise. The best way to pay bills to the university is to pay Flywire with a domestic US bank transfer through Revolut.'
'I used my UK or French bank accounts and I opened a bank of America account.'
'I used a Revolut Card which had a really good exchange rates. But I didn't open up a new Bank account.'
Staying Connected:
'I bought a sim from AT&T.....It was a monthly contract that could be cancelled at any time, so it's good for international students. I know some other [students] who either only used WiFi (there's wifi all around campus and it's usually reliable) or who changed their usual contract to an international one.'
'Pretty much every exchange student used Mint Mobile. Not all phones work on US frequencies though, so I bought a Google Pixel 3a which works everywhere.'
'At first, I got a new SIM card but it wasn't compatible with my European phone (due to the software or something). I then borrowed a phone from one of my American relatives.'
Food:
(Drexel University) 'I was on campus and I had a dining plan so I mostly got food in the university's dining facilities.'
(University of Denver) 'A micro fridge is a worthwhile investment for snacks and drinks outside of mealtime!'.
Paperwork and bureaucracy:
'The most tedious thing was getting the visa sorted, but after that most of the paperwork was easy to get done. You might feel like you've forgotten to do some things, but chances are you haven't and they'll send a reminder if you did.'
'Be patient, keep a well labelled folder, email when feeling stressed and your not sure what to do. The main thing is keeping in mind that the paperwork will end and once you arrive at our host country everything is easier face to face.'
'Be meticulous and create checklists. Get all the paperwork necessary for visas etc. before even beginning the process of applying. Flights do not necessarily get more expensive as the travel date gets closer. They can go down too (I booked a flight to NYC to save money before the Philly flight halved in price so I should have just waited).'
What I wished I'd known...:
'Research accommodation a bit more. Expect delays with communication. Expect the mundaneness of normal day to day living- expectation management is a useful skill. All the feelings are very normal!'
'How much it costs! I was happy to pay for the flights even though they're expensive, but having to buy 4-5 books for every module adds up quickly, especially when some of them are $50+ ....... Other things are more expensive too, like clothes, which can cost twice as much as they would here even after converting it.'
Useful links
Contact Global Opportunities
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Click here to make a virtual appointment to speak to one of our advisors
Hamline Uni brochure.pdf