Introduction The Manchester Exchange Program, initiated in 1982, is one of a number of Education Abroad Programs conducted by The Pennsylvania State University in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and Asia. Almost 600 students from a wide variety of majors participate annually in these programs. Objectives The Penn State Manchester Exchange Program functions within the context of the objectives characterizing all of Penn State’s study abroad opportunities, especially to: 1. enable students to receive instruction in several disciplines within the context of another culture, and to enrich their general academic studies. 2. provide adequate professional training when a study abroad experience is especially desirable, and to add to the intellectual and professional development of students in specialized fields of study. 3. allow students to expand their knowledge of the culture of a country or region of the world by living and studying abroad, and at the same time to gain a more objective perspective of the values and way of life in their own country. 4. promote the university’s educational goals by providing opportunities for students to participate in a program designed to increase international understanding. 5. provide opportunities for students from cooperating universities in foreign countries to benefit from study at Penn State through reciprocal exchange programs. Specifically, the Manchester Exchange Program aims to: 1. enable Penn State undergraduate students to enroll at a British university in courses centrally related to their academic program. 2. enable students to interact with British professors and students in lectures, laboratories, and other academic activities as an integral part of the academic community at Manchester. 3. promote an awareness of, and to provide the opportunity to participate in, the cultural, social, and educational life of Great Britain, which has so profoundly influenced cultural, social and educational developments in our own country. 4. provide an opportunity for University of Manchester students majoring in American Studies to spend an academic year at Penn State, where they may enroll in regular courses and participate in the full educational, social, and cultural life of the University. Manchester In 79 AD the Roman legions arrived in Mancenion, a place of tents, and remained there for more than 300 years. From these beginnings Manchester grew to emerge in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as the commercial center of Britian’s industrial revolution. Today, the bustling city of 2.75 million provides one of the most stimulating and varied urban environments in Britain. As a result of its diverse population, Manchester has a wide variety of ethnic restaurants, the most distinctive of which can be found in the dozens of Chinese restaurants in Chinatown and the Indian cafés and restaurants in nearby Rusholme. Also, the city is a major cultural center, rich in theatre, arts, music, and fashion. Eight of its art galleries are 19th century (or earlier) and its main concert hall was originally built in 1843. Its theatres have helped make the Manchester area second only to London as a theatrical center. Located 180 miles north west of London, (about 2 hours by train,) Manchester lies at the center of a network of rail, highway, and air links that provide simple and rapid access to places of interest throughout the country and further afield. The University of Manchester While the notion of a university in the city of Manchester goes back to 1640 when a public meeting formally proposed the foundation of a University of Manchester, the city had in fact to wait over 200 years until the trustees of John Owen, a Manchester merchant, founded Owen’s College in 1851. The College first opened with five professors and 62 students. From these modest beginnings, the College grew to become the largest unitary university in Britain, with more than 80 departments in ten faculties - arts, business administration, economic and social studies, education, law, medicine, music, science, theology, and technology. Today it is famous worldwide as a center of learning and research. With 12,500 students it has a wide and flexible choice of courses and many amenities - including one of the top three university libraries in Britain as well as excellent laboratory and sporting facilities. The University boasts proudly of its past: the atom was split here by Rutherford; the first computer was built here; and the world’s largest steerable radio-telescope was built here at Jodrell Bank. Today, research ranges from the tracking of satellites to searching for minerals on the ocean bed; from the Dead Sea Scrolls to cancer and rheumatism; from remedies for pollution to techniques to help the mentally handicapped. Building on the foundation of more than a century, the University continues to strengthen the traditional disciplines while exploring new fields required by today’s needs. Program Description The Manchester Exchange Program enables Penn State students from a wide variety of majors to enroll in courses directly related to their academic fields at the University of Manchester; in return, students majoring in American Studies at the University of Manchester are able to take Penn State courses that contribute to the fulfillment of their Manchester degree requirements in the field of American Studies. Participants in the program spend a full academic year (two semesters) at the University of Manchester and enroll full time in regular courses. All exchange students are required to take a six credit course, Contemporary Britain: Politics and Culture. For the balance of their program of study, students are free to select any field(s) related to their total academic program at Penn State. Participants must, however, enroll in and complete a full-time course of study equal to at least 24 credits and may be permitted to enroll for up to 36 credits. Upon acceptance into the program, each student must plan a full-year academic program in consultation with his/her Penn State adviser and with the Office of Education Abroad Programs. Grading As with any course at Penn State, responsibility for assessing the students' academic achievement rests with the course instructors. At the conclusion of each course, instructors will prepare an evaluative statement to be translated into the appropriate Penn State grade. Accreditation Assignment of Penn State credit for all courses to be taken at Manchester will be worked out and approved in advance in consultation with the student’s academic adviser and the Office of Education Abroad Programs. Participants may choose from a variety of courses offered by the University of Manchester. If participants elect to take a course that has not previously been accredited by Penn State, they must work with the appropriate academic department to ensure proper accreditation. Living Arrangements Penn State students at Manchester may choose to live in regular university residence halls providing room and board or in a new residence complex offering single accommodations (without board) arranged in groups with a shared kitchen, bath facility and common room. The local coordinator in Manchester works with the Manchester housing office in making the assignments. Eligibility The Manchester Exchange Program is open to all regularly enrolled students at Penn State. Applicants must be in good academic standing; and must show evidence of maturity, stability, adaptability, self- discipline, and strong academic motivation. Participants typically are juniors at the time of commencing their study at the University of Manchester and should have a 3.0 G.P.A. or better. Final decision on acceptance of the Penn State nominees rests with the University of Manchester. However, the program is not recommended for students in science or engineering. Program Prerequisites Prior to departure, students must complete one three-credit course in 19th or 20th century British literature, history, politics, or art. Anthropology 297A (Ethnography of Culture Contact) is highly recommended. Orientation A carefully designed orientation program, conducted during the semester prior to departure, is intended to prepare participants for the adjustment to living and studying in Great Britain. Attendance at all orientation sessions is mandatory. Costs Tuition for the Manchester Exchange Program is the same as the University Park Campus. Room and board costs may be somewhat higher, depending on the kind of accommodation that students select. Both tuition and room and board are payable at the Bursar’s Office in accordance with the standard procedures and deadlines for regular charges at University Park. Students are also required to pay a $150.00 non-refundable program fee at the time of accepting an offer of enrollment. Round-trip air transportation is an additional cost to the student. Textbooks and personal expenses are extra. The Office of Education Abroad Programs is able to provide an estimate of overall expenses each year. Financial Assistance The standard forms of financial assistance are available through the Office of Student Aid. Since students remain registered at Penn State while abroad, financial aid packages continue during the period of time in which a student is enrolled in this program. The Office of Education Abroad Programs coordinates closely with the Office of Student Aid to help needy students obtain funds to cover the additional cost of study abroad. The Office of Education Abroad Programs also has a modest Grant- in-Aid Fund that can be drawn upon for exceptionally needy and qualified students. Health Insurance All participants are required to carry sufficient health and accident insurance. Personal liability insurance is strongly recommended. Planning Ahead In order to exploit the many advantages and opportunities of a study abroad experience, it is essential that students, in consultation with their academic advisers, plan well in advance. With careful planning every participant, regardless of major, not only gains regular Penn State credit while maintaining normal progress toward graduation, but can often apply the credits earned abroad to general education requirements, electives, language requirements, and/or in many cases, to major requirements. As part of the application process, students are required to check with their advisers or deans to discuss what impact study abroad may have on their progress toward graduation. For further information, contact your campus Education Abroad adviser or: Office of Education Abroad Programs The Pennsylvania State University 222 Boucke Building University Park, PA 16802-5900 Tel. (814) 865-7681