University of Kent


Image of people eating and talking outside with building around them
The University of Kent offers year-long and semester exchange options. Classes begin in late September and finish at the beginning of June.

Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 placements are not available at the University of Kent. If Fall 2024 placements are available, applications will open in January 2024.
Location: Canterbury, England
Language of Instruction: English
Program Type: Semester or Academic Year
Open to non-KU Students: No
Fulfills KU Core 4.2: No
Fulfills KU Core 5: No

  • Canterbury is a small city with a warm and friendly atmosphere. In medieval times it was a center for pilgrimage to the shrine of St Thomas à Becket, made famous by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. 
  • Modern buildings surrounded by open green spaces, courtyards, gardens, ponds and woodland, and the view across Canterbury and the Stour valley all help to make Kent an attractive and friendly campus.
  • The campus is self-contained, meaning that you are usually within walking distance of a wide variety of entertainment and dining, a library, banks, shops, public transportation, a medical centre, and launderettes.
  • Students live in university residence halls or student apartments in Park Wood, a 10-minute walk from the academic buildings. 

Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 placements are not available at the University of Kent. If Fall 2024 placements are available, applications will open in January 2024. 

The KU Great Britain Direct Exchange Program (GBDX) is designed to stimulate and enrich the intellectual development of KU students through a direct experience in the British academic and cultural environment, promoting friendship with Great Britain and broadening international horizons. To realize this mission, KU has signed direct exchange agreements with ten universities in Great Britain, which allow KU students to study for a semester or year abroad at greatly reduced costs. In exchange, British students from these same universities will study for a semester or year at KU.



With the exception of the Leicester program, a student participating in the Great Britain Direct Exchange may be one of a small number of KU students, or the only KU student, at a particular site. An international office is available at each site to provide student support.

Canterbury is a small city with a warm and friendly atmosphere. In medieval times it was a center for pilgrimage to the shrine of St Thomas à Becket, made famous by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The city centre shows much of its medieval history in ancient streets and buildings. Canterbury today has a thriving cosmopolitan atmosphere.  It is located just 56 miles from London, a one-hour train trip. English Channel ports are less than 20 miles away, and the Eurostar Terminal at Ashford, with connections to the Channel Tunnel with service to Brussels and Paris, is just a 20-minute train trip.

The University of Kent is built on 300 acres of parkland overlooking Canterbury. It was founded in 1965 and is still growing and evolving. Modern buildings surrounded by open green spaces, courtyards, gardens, ponds and woodland, and the view across Canterbury and the Stour valley all help to make Kent an attractive and friendly campus.

The campus is self-contained, meaning that you are usually within walking distance of a wide variety of entertainment and dining, a library, banks, shops, public transportation, a medical centre, and launderettes. Canterbury city centre is only 20 minutes walk away, or on a direct bus route.

Students may earn up to 30 hours of KU credit for the year or 15 credits for a semester. Most disciplines are offered in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Business. Students are encouraged to visit Kent's website to determine if the university offers a good selection of courses to meet specific graduation requirements.

Courses and grades will be posted as KU equivalents on your KU transcript and grades will figure into your KU GPA. The relevant KU academic department will make the final decision regarding posting of credit and grades, and their application toward graduation.

Steps to select courses at Kent (.docx)

University of Kent's Course Catalogue

Students live in university residence halls or student apartments in Park Wood, a 10-minute walk from the academic buildings. In most cases students will have a single room and will share a common kitchen and bath. Students will have meals provided in the halls, or prepare their own meals in Park Wood apartments.

SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.

Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.

Open to KU students who have achieved junior status by the beginning of the program and who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Exceptions may be made for sophomores with high academic qualifications who meet the course prerequisites. Some of Kent's academic departments may have additional requirements, including pre-requisites and number of credit hours completed.

University of Kent Website

University of Kent International Office

University of Kent Term Dates: KU students studying at Kent for the Spring semester must stay for both the Spring (instructional period) and Summer (final examination period) terms at Kent.

University of Kent City Website

Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Departmental Reviews