As a Columbia Engineering student, you should plan ahead in order to undertake a for-credit study abroad experience. Here is some guidance on how to organize your plans for study abroad.
MAKE A FOUR-YEAR PLAN
As a Columbia Engineering student, your most likely plan will be to go abroad during the Spring of sophomore year or during the summer. If you are a Computer Science major, you may also be able to study abroad during your junior year. You can make a four-year plan with your CSA Advising Dean and advisers in your intended department. Here are some questions to ask to include a study abroad semester in your plan:
- Which requirements should I try to fulfill while abroad?
- Can any of the required classes normally taken in my planned term abroad be taken in a different semester?
- Which courses CANNOT be taken in a different semester, as they are prerequisites for other classes?
EXPLORE YOUR PROGRAM OPTIONS
With a basic schedule in mind, you should review the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE) website for programs and make an appointment with a UGE adviser to learn about the opportunities you have researched.
The following web pages will help pick a program that is the right fit for you academically, professionally, and personally:
- Academic Credit
- Financial Considerations
- Global Learning Assistants: Speak with Columbia students who have returned from a summer, semester, or year abroad!
- Well-being Abroad
- Identity and Diversity
SUMMER STUDY ABROAD
Summer study abroad can be a flexible time period for undertaking global experiences of many kinds. Make sure you understand the policies about Academic Credit Guidelines and Financial Considerations, as they can differ for semester and summer. It is possible to take many kinds of required and elective courses over the summer.
You can review summer program options on the Find a Program page.
GAIN APPROVAL
Once you have identified a program or two of interest, you can open an application by clicking on the “Start an Application” button at the top of a program brochure page.
We encourage you to work closely with your CSA Advising Dean, Department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Departmental Advisor to obtain SEAS Academic Clearance and complete the SEAS Course Approval Forms. All forms are available in your UGE Portal.
All technical courses must be approved by an instructor of the equivalent Columbia course and the department. Generally, the broader the course, the easier it is to find an equivalent course abroad. Students should be aware that courses that are specific to Columbia’s curriculum are usually more challenging to locate abroad.
All non-technical courses must be approved by your advising dean. More information about where Core non-technical courses can be taken abroad can be found on the Core Abroad webpage.
POPULAR PROGRAMS FOR COLUMBIA ENGINEERING students
Below are popular programs for Columbia Engineering students. Students who have gone on these programs have successfully completed requirements for a variety of majors. Research these options and plan to talk with a UGE adviser.
Semester:
- AIT-Budapest Computer Science
- Budapest Semesters in Mathematics
- CASA at Trinity College Dublin
- CASA at The University of Melbourne
- CIEE Spain: Engineering and Society in Madrid
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
- IFSA in Australia: University of New South Wales
- IFSA in Australia: University of Sydney
- IFSA in Ireland: University College Dublin
- IFSA in New Zealand: University of Auckland
- IFSA in New Zealand: University of Otago
- IFSA in the United Kingdom: Queen Mary University of London
- IFSA in the United Kingdom: University College London
- IFSA in the United Kingdom: University of Edinburgh
Summer:
This list is not exhaustive, and if you find a program that fits your needs but is not on this list, please speak further with a UGE Adviser about completing a petition.