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  4. Spelman College (USA) Summer Exchange

Spelman College (USA) Summer Exchange

Summer 2026: Applications are now closed.

Neither late nor incomplete applications will be considered, therefore, please ensure that you submit your application and your most recent HEAR by the stated deadline.

Opportunity overview

In collaboration with Spelman College and London (UK) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (hereafter referred to as “the London Links”), Queen Mary has two funded spaces available on this short-term ‘immersion’ mobility opportunity for undergraduate Queen Mary full-degree, female-identifying students who self-identify as part of the African Diaspora.

If selected, you would meet and buddy-up with visiting students from Spelman College while they attend session 1 of the Queen Mary Summer School, 29 June – 17 July 2026. Then, you would attend the historic Spelman College in Atlanta (Georgia) in the USA for the start of their academic year for three weeks, dates are TBC at present but the programme will take place from mid-August-early-mid-September. Tuition fees are waived for participants in both programmes.

The London Links covers the cost of travel and accommodation for the selected Queen Mary students. The selected students must cover subsistence, local transportation in Atlanta and other related costs (e.g. passport, ESTA fee). Among other requirements, you must hold or be entitled to apply for a UK passport in order to be eligible to apply and to participate.

Please consult the informational flyer under the "Resources and find out more!" tab for full programme details, including eligibility and how to apply.

About Spelman

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a private, historically Black liberal arts institution and global leader in the education of women of African descent in Atlanta, Georgia. Spelman is dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and the intellectual, creative, ethical, and leadership development of its students and is renowned for its dedication to ethical leadership and social change. Spelman stands at the forefront of educating women of African descent through rigorous programmes that foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and lifelong learning.

For the past 15 years, Spelman College has been ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report on the list of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Spelman has a distinguished reputation for academic achievement, innovation and community engagement. Prospective students are encouraged to consult Spelman's website to explore its broad range of majors, global collaborations and transformative opportunities.

Through diverse learning modalities, Spelman empowers the whole person to engage the many cultures of the world and inspires a commitment to positive social change. Today, Spelman's student body comprises more than 2,100 enrolled students from 43 states and 10 foreign countries. With a faculty committed to mentorship and leadership development, Spelman offers a vibrant campus culture enriched by diverse extracurricular activities. This inclusive environment supports both personal and professional growth, equipping graduates to make a lasting impact on their communities worldwide.

About the London Links

The Links, Incorporated is a charitable organisation founded in 1946 by Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins, in Philadelphia, PA USA. Members come from variety of industries and are committed to espousing the ideals of friendship and service through delivering comprehensive philanthropic programs. Today the organisation serves international communities through its membership with chapters across the United States, United Kingdom and the Bahamas.

After serving the London community in partnership with other charitable groups for several years, the London (UK) Chapter was chartered in 2018 as the 288th chapter of The Links, Incorporated and was later separately registered as a charity and non-profit company by limited guarantee operating in England. The London (UK) Chapter supports women and youth providing mentoring, career skills workshops and other support to enable them to progress into higher education and working society.

Location

Queen Mary students completing the summer exchange programme with Spelman study at its main campus in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta is celebrated for its rich civil rights history, thriving arts scene and renowned Southern hospitality. According to the Lonely Planet, “this metropolis seamlessly blends heritage with modern charm,” offering visitors attractions such as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, lush green spaces and a vibrant culinary landscape.

Availability of degree apprentices

Queen Mary's academic schools in S&E and HSS are happy and supportive for degree apprenticeship students to take part in short-term opportunities abroad, and degree apprentices have and continue to participate in these programmes. However, this is subject to employer confirmation (as you are requesting time away) and Queen Mary teaching schedules.

If your degree course at Queen Mary is a degree apprenticeship, you must ensure your own availability to participate in your chosen outgoing summer programme before you submit an application for an outgoing summer programme managed by the Global Partnerships and Opportunities (GPO) team. Therefore before applying to the GPO team, you must: 

  • Secure the approval of your employer, to avoid being ineligble to participate after being made an offer to go abroad. Previous student feedback suggests that degree apprentices have most success in securing employer approval if the summer programme has relevance to their work and/or they can convince the employer of the benefit to the company of their participation in their desired programme. If your employer has issue with you being away for three to four weeks (for example), consider a summer programme with a shorter duration such as two weeks.  
  • Check your Queen Mary teaching schedule for conflicts, as many degree apprenticeships have semester C teaching which may also include a mandatory, one-week in-person "sprint week" in the summer where teaching is factored in for off-the-job hours. Degree apprentices cannot miss sprint week due to attendance requirements of those degree programmes, which are signed in paperwork at the start of the programme. Any absence will impact your grade in your course and may jeopardise your ability to obtain an offer of work at the end of your apprenticeship. If you are interested in a programme abroad that takes place during semester C teaching and/or sprint week, you will need to consider an alternative programme whose dates are compatible with your availability. 

Level of competitiveness

Competitive **

This summer exchange programme with Spelman is open to students from all faculties at Queen Mary (other eligibility requirements apply; see further sections). However, only two places are available each year, making the application process competitive. Prospective applicants should consult the informational flyer (see "Resources and find out more!" tab of this page) for detailed eligibility requirements and to ensure that they already meet all academic or other prerequisites before applying.

The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated a space on this programme. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of spaces available to Queen Mary students. 

Language of Instruction

English

Academic Calendar

Queen Mary participants attend International Student Orientation and attend the first 2-3 weeks of Fall semester classes on campus on Spelman with their enrolled full-degree students. The Fall semester at Spelman College (Spelman) begins with mandatory Orientation lasting approximately five days in mid-August, followed by the start of classes. Most classes meet three to four hours per week. For more information, please consult Spelman's official academic calendar.

Courses

Prior to arriving, Queen Mary participants typically submit their academic interests, enabling Spelman to recommend modules aligned with individual goals and intellectual pursuits. There is also flexibility for students to explore courses beyond their primary field of study. In addition, participation in at least one module focusing on the African Diaspora is required, reflecting Spelman’s emphasis on cultural and historical awareness. This mandatory component enriches students’ understanding of the College’s core values and unique academic heritage.

Spelman offers a wide range of undergraduate programmes. Disciplines such as English, History, Philosophy, African Diaspora Studies (Compulsory module) and Comparative Women’s Studies are among those open to exchange students, with detailed information available in the catalogue. Nonetheless, students are encouraged to broaden their academic experience by enrolling in courses beyond their primary field of study, such as the performing arts, social sciences or foreign languages (including American Sign Language).

While Spelman welcomes visiting students across most departments, modules in high-demand fields—including advanced humanities seminars—may have limited capacity or require specific prerequisites. Students also have the option to enrol in courses at partnering Atlanta University Centre institutions, such as Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, which enables them to further broaden their academic experience beyond Spelman’s own offerings.

During pre-departure, participants should liaise closely with London Links, Spelman colleagues and relevant departments, and their Queen Mary academic adviser to be able to get the most out of the academic offering at Spelman, once they are invited to formally select modules. This preparation will facilitate a seamless, enriching and academically rigorous experience at Spelman.

Teaching and Learning Environment

Seminars and lectures at Spelman encourage critical inquiry, collaborative discussion and independent research. Students can expect small class sizes and interactive teaching methods, fostering a tight-knit learning community. Academic staff offer mentorship and readily support exchange students throughout their studies, ensuring a rewarding, rigorous experience despite the abbreviated timeframe.

By balancing mandatory components with personally selected modules, Queen Mary participants enjoy both structure and flexibility in this immersive educational setting. This dynamic approach ensures that participants gain meaningful insights into Spelman’s academic ethos while cultivating broader perspectives in their chosen disciplines.

Evaluation and recognition

This short-term exchange at Spelman College (Spelman) allows visiting Queen Mary students to immerse themselves in a liberal arts environment while tailoring their studies to personal academic interests. Although no credits or transcript are formally awarded by Spelman, participation in this outgoing programme managed by Queen Mary's Global Partnerships and Opportunities (GPO) team can be permanently recognised on your official Queen Mary transcript: the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), documenting your engagement with Spelman’s curriculum. This does not affect your Queen Mary degree classification, nor do any results you achieved abroad appear on your HEAR.

To have your placement abroad included on your HEAR

Your placement abroad must meet the 2-6 weeks duration requirement (which the Spelman programme does) and be completed in full, and you must complete all 'After mobility' requirements as laid out in your Checklist by the stated deadlines (including completion/submission of your agreed promotional activity). You would receive a blank template document of the short reflective journal to complete at the same time as receiving your Checklist and other contractual documentation before mobility. You would then complete this and submit to summerschool@qmul.ac.uk no later than four weeks after the end of your short-term/summer placement abroad or by 31 August (whichever comes first).

The GPO team then sends Registry a list of those students who have met the requirements by the deadline. Once processed by Registry, the entry appears on your HEAR as a QM Extra under section 6.1, as “GO Summer! Short-term summer school placement abroad.”

Note: If you do not complete the above process by the deadline above, it will not be possible to add this QM Extra retrospectively at a later date, so you would not receive recognition for it on your HEAR.

Queen Mary student feedback

Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:

Takeovers on the Instagram @qmulgo account:

Accommodation

During this summer exchange programme, students are accommodated in a self-catering apartment complex close to Spelman College campus (Spelman). The accommodation provides a comfortable, convenient off-campus living experience, giving students immediate access to the College’s academic facilities and vibrant campus life.

Any prospective applicant who would have special accessibility needs if they were to be selected and participate in the programme should indicate their needs the application form in order to faciliate a positive and successful living experience if they are selected. Please also see further guidance in the below "Support services" section. 

Cost of living and financial support 

You can find general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Atlanta compared to London here. Bear in mind that living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle.

Although participation in this exchange programme is generously part funded by the London Links (who cover the cost of the flight and accommodation), participating students are responsible for personal expenditures such as obtaining/renewing their passport, paying the ESTA fee, all meals, local transportation in the Atlanta metropolitan area, and leisure activities. Atlanta is often considered a car-centric city with limited public transport infrastructure, so budgeting for transportation costs—whether through ride-sharing services, car rentals or public transit—is essential.

Future participants can consult the Office of Student Accounts, other Spelman university resources for general advice on budgeting, and participants are encouraged to read past participant feedback for advice and tips. These sources are periodically updated, ensuring students have access to the most relevant information on living expenses in Atlanta.

Turing Scheme funding for summer 2026 participants 

All Turing Scheme funding at Queen Mary is managed by the Global Partnerships and Opportunities (GPO) team. Successful applicants who participate in the programme at Spelman may be eligible for a Turing Scheme cost of living grant, to help with the cost of living while in Atlanta, as the Turing Scheme has recently updated their eligibility criteria and reduced the minimum mobility programme duration from 28 to 14 days. 

At Queen Mary, any available financial support managed by the GPO team is distributed according to Queen Mary's Funding priority group system, with priority group (1) being considered the highest financial need. This ensures that available resources and subsidised opportunities are prioritised for students from low-income and widening participation backgrounds. If eligible, you could receive a generous cost of living grant to help you cover your subsistence costs abroad: this would be £19 (priority groups 3-7) or £23 (priority groups 1 and 2) per day of your placement up through 31 August at the latest (as this is the end date of Queen Mary's funded project), even though the Spelman placement lasts beyond this date. As this is a grant, this is not money that you have to pay back except if you do not meet the requirements as a funding recipient (see below). Selected participants are not guaranteed to receive funding, but this will depend on their funding priority group and available funding remaining. You will be asked questions in the application form to help Queen Mary determine your funding priority group eligibility. Depending on your answers, you may also receive an email request from the GPO team to submit supporting documentation; if so, you will need to submit this within three business days in order to remain eligible for potential funding. 

Students qualify in one of our funding priority groups on the basis of various criteria, which can include the household income data held by Student Finance only if this is available to Queen Mary. For Spelman applicants, qualifying in a priority group on the basis of household income will be determined by the annual household income data for the current academic year held for you by Student Finance and accessible by Queen Mary as of 15 February 2026. If your household income is not assessed by Student Finance, or if you have not provided your consent before this date for Student Finance to grant your university access to your data (you need to verify this directly with Student Finance, yet if you are already in receipt of a Queen Mary Bursary, we have access to your data), Queen Mary will not have access to this information and will therefore not be able to consider you for a funding priority group on the basis of annual household income but only on the basis of the other qualifying criteria per our Funding priority group webpage. 

Queen Mary's wider requirements to receive a Turing Scheme grant 

If your application is successful, and if the GPO team then informs you that you will be eligible for Turing Scheme funding, you must fulfil the below requirements to remain eligible to receive Turing Scheme funding (the first two documents will be emailed to you during pre-departure). Failure to do so would result in you being required to pay back any funding received:

  • sign a Grant Agreement before departure (contains all requirements for funding recipients)
  • submit a duly completed Confirmation of Stay with start and end dates (forms will be provided to successful applicants upon notice of the selection outcome)
  • submit a certificate of completion of your agreed summer school programme shortly after the programme end date  
  • complete the one social media/promotional activity contribution (please note thta Spelman participants are already required to complete two promotional activity contributions, so no additional activities are required if you receive Turing Scheme funding, as your two activities already fulfil this requirement). 

Support services

Queen Mary wants all of our students to be able to enjoy the international opportunities we offer and get the most out of their placements abroad, including students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

If you think you might need any additional support in going abroad of whatever kind, it is a good idea to discuss this as soon as possible with us in the GPO team (summerschool@qmul.ac.uk) and our support teams in the University such as the Disability and Dyslexia Service and the Advice and Counselling Service. Please know that disclosing any SEND needs will in no way affect the score of any application you submit to go abroad, nor the merit you have for studying at a certain destination. You may also be interested in this "Mobility with Disability" guide published by Omio, with some tips and guidance about going abroad as a student with SEND.

Spelman is committed to providing a comprehensive support network that addresses students’ physical, mental and academic needs. Their Student Health and Wellness services include routine medical care, health education resources and referrals to external specialists when necessary. Students can schedule appointments for general check-ups, minor illnesses or injury assessments, and they also benefit from health promotion initiatives aimed at fostering healthy lifestyles.

For mental health support, Spelman operates a dedicated counselling service, offering short-term individual therapy, group sessions and crisis intervention. These services are confidential and facilitated by trained professionals, ensuring that students have access to expert guidance throughout their time on campus. Additional workshops and seminars on stress management, time management and mindfulness are held regularly, helping to promote resilience and emotional wellbeing.

Academic assistance is similarly prioritised at Spelman. Students can access tutoring, peer-assisted study sessions and skill-building workshops for guidance on topics ranging from writing support to exam strategies. For those requiring disability accommodations or learning support, Spelman provides a dedicated office to ensure equitable access to educational resources, including alternative assessment arrangements and assistive technologies.

Exchange students are encouraged to seek help early and maintain open communication with academic advisers, faculty members and the relevant support services. Detailed information on health services, counselling, disability support and academic resources is available through the Student Life webpage, where individuals can find contact details, appointment booking procedures and guidance on specific concerns. This integrated approach helps to create an environment in which every student can thrive both academically and personally.

Student life

Spelman fosters a welcoming campus environment that helps exchange students quickly integrate into its dynamic community. The academic year begins with a comprehensive Orientation programme, ensuring new students become familiar with Spelman’s academic standards, campus facilities and social ethos. Through interactive workshops, social events and mentoring sessions, exchange students develop key connections with peers, faculty and staff that support their academic and personal growth.

Beyond Orientation, Spelman’s commitment to holistic student development is reflected in its extensive range of student societies, clubs and athletics. With numerous opportunities to lead or participate, students can immerse themselves in academic organisations, community service initiatives or cultural interest groups. Many choose to join the Student Government Association for hands-on experience in leadership, advocacy and campus governance. Students can also engage in the Office of Student Life and Engagement initiatives, which coordinate volunteer programmes, internship opportunities and leadership workshops throughout the year.

Spelman champions physical well-being through its intramural and intercollegiate sports programmes, offering options such as basketball, tennis and soccer. Regular matches, practices and tournaments encourage teamwork, camaraderie and a sense of school spirit. Additionally, those interested in performing arts can explore Spelman’s Glee Club, various theatre productions and dance ensembles, all of which host performances and events open to the entire campus community.

Beyond campus borders, Spelman’s location in Atlanta presents a range of cultural, historical and professional opportunities. Students often collaborate with fellow Atlanta University Center institutions, including Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, to attend city-wide events, guest lectures, conferences and career fairs. Engagement in the surrounding community is strongly encouraged, with many students participating in local volunteering initiatives that address social justice issues, education outreach and community development.

Complementing these activities are numerous leadership and social events held throughout the year. Students can attend guest lectures, concerts, wellness workshops and art exhibitions at the Manley College Center, which serves as the central hub for student engagement. Traditions such as Founders Day also celebrate Spelman’s heritage, fostering a sense of history and belonging among students.

For more detailed information about Spelman’s student organisations, athletic opportunities and upcoming events, please visit Spelman's Student Life webpage. Engaging with these extracurricular offerings ensures a fulfilling and well-rounded exchange experience at Spelman.

Resources

For full details on this opportunity including eligibility and how to apply, please consult the below documentation (PDF flyer with full details + accessible PDF document also with full details):

Information session

We hosted an information session on 07/01/2026. You can access the recording via our QMPlus page.

For questions, please email summerschool@qmul.ac.uk.

Social Media

Spelman College:

The Links, Incorporated - London and Atlanta, GA chapters:

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