Key facts and background
All American Studies majors, and joint-degree majors, spend their third year at a North American university that has been carefully selected for academic standard, levels of pastoral and administrative support and cultural and geographical environment. Whatever field most interests you or whichever part of North America appeals, Sussex will almost certainly have a partner university that can host you for the academic year.
Sussex has a top-flight set of exchange universities and you can expect to study at one of forty US and Canadian campuses.
It cannot be stressed too strongly that the Year Abroad is an essential and compulsory component of this four-year degree programme. However, it is dependent upon an average of a 3 grade in the tutorial reports for courses taken in the first six terms at Sussex. Provided a student carries out the work required, attends tutorials and seminars and turns in essays on time, this average grade should be perfectly possible to achieve. It will also be necessary to achieve an average of at least 50% in formal assessment grades for examinations and extended essays.
You will be given plenty of advice and information about the Year Abroad throughout the first two years at Sussex, starting from Day 1. You will be invited to attend meetings and also to meet returning final year students who will give you valuable insights into what awaits you. Make sure that you take advantage of every opportunity to learn more, so that you are prepared for and confident about what can be something of a culture shock. If for any reason you are unable to attend these meetings or seminars, you should make sure that the Director of the Year Abroad programme is aware of the situation, and that you receive all the necessary documentation to ensure a smooth trip.
Support and Guidance
Even while you are abroad, there is advice and support available to you from Sussex - either at the end of a phone, or via email - so there is never any reason to feel 'cut off' if problems should arise.