Minimum mark 60%
Level Undergraduate
Language/s English
Agreement Scope English and Related Literature department exchange
Exchange Places 2 full year places for 2026/27
About:
Saint Louis University, located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities. Founded in 1818, SLU is recognised for world-class academics, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Rated among the nation’s top research universities, SLU boasts 15 graduate and undergraduate programs ranked among the top 50 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Academically, ethics, spirituality and compassion take centre stage, while outside the classroom, members of the SLU community provide more than 1.6 million service hours each year.
Contacts at SLU:
Contact international@slu.edu for more information.
Highlights:
The University wins recognition for its community service and engagement programmes, with it ranking 9th for top colleges in making an impact in the Princeton Review. It is also a trusted name amongst the wider public (39th most trusted in the USA) and ranks 6th in the best catholic colleges in the USA.
Location:
Saint Louis is located in Missouri and with a metropolitan area population of almost 2.8 million, is the largest area in Missouri and second largest in Illinois, which is just across the Mississippi river. The University is located in Midtown the west of the city, with a connection to the Metrolink network at Grand station. The nearest airport is Saint Louis, served by American, Delta, United and other carriers like Southwest and Lufthansa.
Courses / Modules:
Information on the courses available for English and Related Literature students can be found in the course catalogue
Students should consult with their departments/international coordinator regarding module selection.
Credit (Full-time Load per semester):
60 York credits = 12 SLU credits
Therefore you should take 24 SLU credits a year to equal 120 York credits
Teaching Periods:
Fall semester: August to December
Spring semester: January to May
Language:
Classes at SLU are taught in English.
You may be required to provide evidence of your English language ability if English is not your first language.
Accommodation and Meal Plan:
Exchange students will live in on-campus accommodation. Once your exchange application is submitted and other paperwork is completed such as Visas and Transcripts, the University will talk to you to reserve housing in one of the residence halls through the housing portal.
All students living in an on-campus residence hall are automatically enrolled in a meal plan at Saint Louis University. The meal plan covers 'meal swipes' at SLU's dining hall at Grand Hall.
More information about accommodation is available on the main exchange webpage.
Orientation / Welcome Week:
There is a mandatory period of Orientation that takes place in the second week of August. You'll complete various registration procedures, meet academic and support staff and learn more about your experience at Saint Louis University.
Support Services:
The University will offer a dedicated variety of social activities for international students, with advice on immigration and employment. There are also a range of support services, which you can read about in the New Student Orientation section the SLU website.
Visas:
You may need a visa to study in the USA. If you are a UK National you must refer to the government Travel Advice Page for the USA and the Living in the USA page to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate. If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.
There is more information from Saint Louis University on Visas on their main exchange webpage.
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.
Health insurance:
Neither the US Government, SLU or the University of York pays for Health Insurance, which is mandatory for all students.
You could be the first University of York student to study at and share your experiences of Saint Louis University, as this destination is new for 2025/26! Please read the student experiences on some of our other sites as a guide, or check out the following from the University of Rochester, a University of a similar size, which we hope will be helpful.
Susie, Sociology, Year Abroad 2019/20
I loved my year abroad. The fact that I had the chance to live not just in a different country but on a whole different continent for a year. Going to an American University sometimes felt like I was in a movie because roommates, Greek life, and 'football' games are real.
I wouldn't say I really had to overcome any difficulties. Of course there were some nerves when I first arrived and worries that it would be hard to make friends and I wouldn't be able to keep up academically. But I soon met people, got used to the way classes ran and having a roommate.
One of the best parts was of course the people I met. It was a small university so the group of exchange students was small, there were only 10 of us which allowed us to be close. The day we all went to Niagara Falls was one of my favourite moments of the whole experience. I then met other people through lectures, sports and orientation.
Something to know about Rochester is that it is freezing I spent the majority of my year abroad wading through snow and skating on ice rain. However, I also loved this because it meant you could just throw snow at your friends as you were walking to dinner or back from class.
There is so much to gain from living abroad for a year. It allowed me to take classes outside of sociology to explore my other interests.The travelling was one of the best perks. I got to explore Toronto under the autumn leaves, saw New York City at Christmas, even went ice skating in Central Park and enjoyed the South Carolina beaches for spring break. One thing I was hoping to gain from this experience was to improve my self-confidence. Moving abroad by myself, making new friends, travelling and everything that comes with spending a year abroad definitely helped me achieving this.
My year abroad, like for many others, was cut short due to Corona. Having to get back home was slightly stressful, leaving early was sad and online school with the time difference was a bit of a struggle. However, I am very grateful for the time I got. It is truly a year I will never forget and an experience I would recommend to all.
Katie, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Year Abroad 2019/20
Being a part of the international student community at Rochester has meant I have met and made friends with people from all over the world. I met some amazing people, and being so far away from home, these friends become your only ‘support system’ meaning you become extremely close very quickly. Therefore, these friendships, I hope, will be enduring.
Furthermore, studying abroad definitely increased my confidence and independence. Of course going to university anywhere requires an increased level of independence but when studying so far away from home, it is of higher importance. There were times that university was really difficult, I felt overwhelmed by academics, lonely and was sick of the repetitive food served in the dining halls. These times if I was studying in York, I may have caught the train home for a weekend. However, this was not an option and this meant I gained a new level of maturity and independence out of necessity.
This also meant that I had unprecedented levels of freedom which I enjoyed. I took advantage of being in a different country and was able to take weekend trips to different cities, something I would never do in the UK before now. This is something I plan to do more of when I return to University in the UK to explore more of the country (COVID-19 permitting).
The global pandemic interrupted the last semester of my time abroad and meant many plans were cancelled or changed. Although I certainly did not have as difficult a time as others must have, there were some unique challenges presented by this situation.Asking for help or support does not come naturally to me but it is a skill I have had to develop during my time at the University of Rochester particularly during the last half of this semester due to remote online study. This, I believe will aid me in being more proactive about seeking advise in my future studies and career.
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.'
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Book a virtual appointment with one of our advisors here, or email global-opportunities@york.ac.uk for further support.