You know alot of unis offer a year abroad, at what point do you need to select this?at the start ?

[ShrunkInTheWashAgain]

Or can you dose,eat it once you're into the course?
In general

I mean it sounds fab, but adds to the costs

Not sure if this is the case in all, but at many you apply part way through the second year. Not everyone gets accepted, you have to have good grades and there be enough spaces in the overseas university you are applying to.

Usually make a decision in 2nd year. Some courses offer a term, or year, studying at a college abroad, others working for a year.

For some it will be compulsory others optional. Usually decided in second year although you can often apply to include it initially. If you take it as a study year within the course rather than an additional year you may find costs such as tuition are less, although living costs may be higher. For some courses there is the option to work rather than study.

Optional for my DD. Applied in 1st term of 2nd year. Competitive based on 1st year results. Not a great choice of unis for her subject (as needed courses delivered in english). Needed to take certain courses and pass them whilst abroad but degree class solely on final year results on return. Decided to do placement year instead.

Oh great, thanks so much for the information

Definitely talk to unis. At my son’s he decided after he started course he’d like to do year abroad but they didn’t have enough spaces after all those who’d signed up for 4 year degree had been allocated.
I think better to apply for year abroad from the beginning and then fine to change to 3 year degree at end of 1st year if you don’t want to go.

DD was told that she had to say if she wanted to do it when she applied BUT she could change her mind.
They said that if she hadn't said that she wanted to and then decided to it would be much harder to do it that way around

Compulsory for my DC as it was a language degree. Some languages went in their 2nd year whilst others went in 3rd year. Had an exam to be placed in a university oversees plus complete an entrance application. It was counted towards the final degree too.

Second year, based on merit. Changed my choice at the last minute. So glad I did!!

DD applied for a course that included it but could change her mind up to the first semester of the second year. Definitely easier than not applying for it then wanting to do it.
FWIW DD is genuinely having the time of her life abroad this year and I can’t recommend it enough.

Lots (most?) offer it as an option between second and third year and you can apply in second year. It's usually dependent on good performance in first year.

They don’t all have enough places for those who leave it late. It’s often a competitive process but those opting originally for the 4 year course should get preference. Otherwise, what’s the point?

When I applied for Uni it was a separate course, so there was PolIR, and there was PolIR with a year in X country (there was several options) and you had to apply for it when you applied for Uni.

My son changed from 3 yr to 4yr inc year abroad in 2nd year. However (and I think this is important) I had warned him that if he was going to do that they handed out places based on 1st year performance so he worked hard in 1st year, got a first, and had first pick of unis abroad from his department. There were quite a few people who wanted to go to certain countries etc who did not get any place as their 1st year results put them at the bottom of the list.
so my advice would be not to mess about in 1st year unless you really don’t care where you end up!