Eligibility

GPA	3.0
WIU hours completed	12
Student conduct	Good standing
Grad credit	Not available
Pre-requiste	Varies by course.  See the "Studying at BCU" tab for more details
Student Year	Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Exchange programs have very limited enrollments.  BCU only allows the nomination of two or three students maximum per semester.  It is strongly recommended you choose an alternate program(s) in case this program is filled.

Additionally, their application deadlines are earlier than other programs.  Please plan accordingly.

Entry Requirements

Passport: Required. Must be valid for at least six (6) months after your study abroad program ends.  For information on how to apply for or renew a passport, see Passports 101 .
Current passport processing times are 6-8-weeks.  Plan accordingly to avoid issues obtaining your visa, airine tickets, and other necessary items for travel.  Failure to receive your passport in time can lead to postponement of your program.

Visa/ETA:  Entry requirements vary based on the length of the study abroad program:
Programs shorter than 6 months:  You must apply for your UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to the UK. More information can be found on the UK immigration website .
Programs longer than 6 months:  You must apply for a student visa before entering the UK.  Visa requirements can be found on the UK Immigration website .
Traveling to England without the proper visa or paperwork can lead to denied entry, forced removal from your program, and financial consequences.

Health Insurance

It is University policy that you must have international health insurance for the time you are abroad.  Only two options are approved to meet this requirement:
  • WIU Student Health Insurance
  • A supplemental plan (Patriot Travel Medical) from International Medical Group (IMG) .

Health Precautions

COVID-19 - You are REQUIRED to follow the policies of your host school, host country, the CDC and TSA.  It is your responsibility to know and understand these policies.  If policies change before or during your program, it is your responsibility to comply with the new policies.  Failure to do so can result in removal from your program and/or the host country, financial consequences and academic consequences at the host school and WIU.

Walking/mobility/travel - Expect more walking than on-campus.  It is a mixture of urban (pavement/concrete) and natural (grass/dirt) terrain, including uneven/hilly terrain and up/down flights of stairs.  Some historic sites and tourist areas have limited handicapped accessibility.  Sidewalks in these areas can be narrow with uneven surfaces. 

Vaccinations - No vaccinations are required for entry into England.  Up to date vaccination recommendations are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website .

Accessibility - Accessibility and accommodation are very different from that found in the United States.  Please contact Disability Resources for questions on the availability of accommodations for your specific situation.

PLEASE NOTE  It is your responsibility to request accommodation from DR; staff are not legally permitted to inquire about such needs.  Requests should be made as early as possible so there's sufficient time to arrange accommodations in your location. 

Costs (Comparative Table)

last updated 4/7/2025         

Items	WIU	Birmingham
Tuition and fees, 12 semester hours, plan Y	5,140	5,140
Commitment Fee	--	75
Health Insurance	816	816
Passport	--	165
Student visa/ETA (ETA used for comparison)	--	Visa: 625 ETA: 20
Housing and meals	Housing: 3,795 Meals: 2,680	Housing: 4,530 Meals: 1,660
Books and supplies	480	701
Local transportation	840	1,150
Personal/misc. (phone, laundry, recreation, etc.)	950	2,490
Total	14,701	16,747*

*You are responsible for purchasing your own flights.  

Various types of aid are available to help fund your experience.  Check out our Financial Aid and Scholarships pages for more details.

Academics

Exchange students at BCU take 3-4 classes per semester, equaling 12-15 sh at WIU.  An "average" BCU class is 20 UK credits or roughly 4 WIU semester hours.  You must take at least 60 UK credits to maintain full-time status. 
Classes are graded on a 100 point scale with letter grades of A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, and F.

Classes at BCU are taught in English. 

Terminology
"Course" - Major
"Module" - Course or class 
"Faculty" or "School" - Department or School 

Exchange students are eligible to take classes from all areas except Acting, the Faculty of Art, Design and Media - Games and Healthcare subjects. 

Classes in Computing and Engineering require proof of pre-requisite coursework during the application process. 
Classes in Art, Design and Media require students to submit a portfolio of prior work during the application process. 
Music and Theatre classes require an audition during the application process.

All class requests are subject to approval by the BCU School/Faculty during the application stage.  Individual classes may require proof of pre-requisite coursework.
The majority of your classes must be taken from one academic area/School/Faculty.

Classes are listed by academic area.  Select your appropriate WIU major from the BCU Course search engine and choose "Course in Depth" from the menu bar.

Housing and Meals

The accommodation options at BCU are residence halls and private apartments.  Residence halls do not offer a meal plan; all meals are your responsibility.  You must apply for on-campus housing.  On-campus housing is not guaranteed.

More information on housing and meal options can be found on the BCU  accommodation webpage .