Union
College
Programme Details
Minimum mark 60%
Level Undergraduate
Language/s English
Agreement Scope University-wide exchange, check with your department regarding compatibility with your degree programme
Exchange Places 2 full year place for 2025/26
Overview
About:
In 1795, Union College became the first college chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York. The name Union reflected the founders' desire to create a welcoming, unified academic community open to all the diverse distinguished graduates spanning over two centuries. Since its founding, Union has been defining—and redefining—the meaning of a liberal arts education. When a classical education was considered the only acceptable field of study, Union introduced a bachelor's degree with an emphasis on history, modern languages, science and mathematics.
Contacts at Union:
Ginny Casper casperr@union.edu
807 Union St, Schenectady, NY 12308, USA
Highlights:
Union is in the top 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges (US News and World Report). Ranked 14, Impact School, recognising opportunities for community service and student leadership and top 50 green colleges (Princetown Review). And is among the top colleges or universities in the nation with the most eco-friendly policies and greatest commitment to sustainability (The Princeton Review, Green Colleges)
Location:
Union is close to a major airport and train and bus stations, and there are a variety of accommodations near campus. Downtown Schenectady, just a short walk away, has many restaurants with a range of casual, ethnic and gourmet cuisines.
The Capital-Saratoga Region is brimming with young people (more than 55,000 college students live here) and offers arts, culture, shopping and recreation in nearby Albany, Troy and Saratoga Springs. Need more? New York City and Boston are three hours away by car, and Montreal, four.
Academic information
Courses / Modules:
Students must enrol in 3 courses per term (x3)
Main fields of study at Union
Students should look at the courses listed in the Course Catalogue available at Union
Students cannot choose courses until May 1st for the fall term.
There are mid-term exams and at the end of each 10 week term as well as final exams.
Credit (Full-time Load per term):
3 courses = 40 York credits (x 3 terms)
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:
Term 1: September - late November
Term 2: January - March
Term 3 : March - June
Language:
Classes at Union are 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:
Students are guaranteed accommodation at Union.
Support Services:
Students with specific needs are served by Accommodative Services at Union. Union also have a wide range of support services covering a number of issues.
Visas:
International Advising at Union
Medical Aid:
Required Health Insurance - all students must have this insurance. Union College will enroll the exchange students. You will be automatically charged for this insurance and will receive the bill and payment instructions via email (to your Union email) in August. There are a number of health services provided for students.
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, and as such we don't have any journals from students. However Beloit College is a very similar size and is also a Liberal Arts College so these comments may give you an idea of what to expect at Union.
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.'
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