About
The University of Richmond is a private, predominantly undergraduate university located in Richmond, Virginia, spread over 350 acres in a beautiful suburban setting. Learn more about Richmond and its reputation on their Facts & Rankings page.
Location
The campus is only six miles from vibrant downtown Richmond, the capital of Virginia, and is two hours from Washington, D.C., the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia's beaches.
Level of competitiveness
Less competitive *
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Academic Calendar
- Semester 1: August to December (students must arrive in time to attend the mandatory, on-campus International Orientation programme, which takes place the week before teaching begins)
- Semester 2: January to May
More information on important dates can be found on the University of Richmond's academic calendar.
Courses
Please see the course catalogue. Many exchange students are surprised by the differences between the educational style of their home country and the University of Richmond. One of the most obvious distinctions is the method of teaching. There is continuous assessment in each class. Professors provide students with a detailed course syllabus for each course. The syllabus details when exams, papers, class presentations, readings and homework assignments are due. Usually there is an assignment due each class meeting. Students are expected to participate in class discussions. In fact, class participation is often calculated as part of the grade a student earns in a course. Attendance is always expected and, in some cases, required. For those who do not attend class according to the attendance policy, there may be a penalty on the final grade.
The University of Richmond offers undergraduate courses at levels 100 - 400. Not all courses are offered every semester and the level of difficulty of any given course is determined by each individual academic department. For example, some departments consider upper-level courses at the 200 level while other departments have 300 level classes available for freshman and sophomores. Students should check the online course description using the link above as well as any required pre-requisite course(s) listed.
Online course catalog: http://registrar.richmond.edu/catalogs/index.html. Please note: not all courses listed in the catalog are offered every semester. The courses offered are determined by individual departments and depend on many factors. It is possible that a course is not offered at all in a given academic year or is only offered every two years.
- If you submit your student application materials to Richmond by the priority deadline, you will have the opportunity to register on time and alongside the Richmond students.
- If the application materials are received after the priority deadline, course choices may be severely limited as Richmond students and other exchange students will have already registered.
Exchange students must have all course prerequisites and are encouraged to take no more than 4 units per term. Richmond recommends for exchange students take at least one course in a subject regarding the United States (e.g., art, music, theater, political science, history, religion, etc) or at least one course outside of the major. Taking all of your courses in a given department will be overwhelming and highly discouraged. Richmond students tend to enroll in 1-2 courses outside of their major each semester to balance their course load.
Restrictions: Undergraduate: Course numbers ending in "U" are offered by the School of Continuing Studies. These courses may not meet home institution degree requirements, are not available for undergraduates until arrival at Richmond, and will require special approval for registration. Business exchange students are NOT permitted to take courses in the School of Continuing Studies. There are a few courses that are restricted to a certain student population (for example, first year students).
Credits
Students studying at Richmond need to take 4 credits (4 modules) per semester.
Find out more about credit transfer and grade conversions at Queen Mary.
Information for exchange students coming to Richmond
Accommodation
Find out more about housing at Richmond.
Exchange students who meet all stated deadlines are guaranteed on campus housing. Approximately 92% of undergraduates live on campus. Exchange students are not permitted to live off-campus. Furnished short-term off-campus housing is difficult to find and public transportation is limited. There are two kinds of housing available to undergraduate exchange students:
- Residence Halls
- University Apartments
Due to the timing of the exchange applications, students are not able to request a specific type of housing and will be assigned based on roommate
compatibility.
Exchange students can remain on-campus during breaks but must apply through Residence Life by the designated deadline for each break period.
Cost of Living
Richmond provides information on the cost of living as a student here (ignore tuition costs, as you would not pay these as an exchange student). You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in the city of Richmond here.
Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Support Services
Richmond offers a wealth of support and services, from their Well-Being Center to various groups that nurture what's within - you'll enjoy a multitude of ways to take care of yourself in mind, body and spirit:
Campus Life
Richmond fosters a dynamic, inclusive and collaborative community. Learn all about the Student Experience at Richmond. You can also learn more about the below:
Social Media
The University of Richmond:
Resources
