Types of Programs
One of the most important things to consider when choosing an education abroad program is the type of program you're looking at, as this will playÌýa major role in shaping your day-to-day experience. Choosing the program type that's right for youÌýis just as important as choosing a particular city or country in which to study.
Explore all program types offered by clicking through the tabs below!
- Study Abroad Centers
- Direct Enroll & Exchanges
- Multi-Site
- Field Study
- Research
- International Internships
- CU Faculty-Led Programs
- CU in D.C.
IES, CIEE, Arcadia, IAU, ISA, DIS, College Year in Athens (CYA), CEA CAPA, CET, TEAN
Study Abroad Centers are where you take classes alongside other study abroad (usually U.S.) students, as opposed to directly enrolling at a local university.
On a Study Center program, you will:
- Be able to study in a non-English-speaking country with little toÌýno foreign language proficiency
- Have an organization able to address individual needs
- Receive U.S. style teaching and grading
- Have program dates that align with U.S. terms
- Be around other U.S. students most of the time
- Have more limited course offerings compared to direct enrollment (especially for STEM students)
Enrolling at a university abroad lets you take courses at a host university with local students. This allows you to:
IES, CIEE, Arcadia, ISA, TEAN
- Experience local university life
- Choose from a wide range of courses
- Meet local students your age
- Be immersedÌýin the language and culture of the host country
- Be independent and self-sufficient
You can directly enroll at a universities:
- In English-speaking countries (such asÌý)
- In non-English speaking countries but which offer coursework taught in English (likeÌý)
- Or in a non-English-speaking country with instruction in the local language, if you have advanced language proficiency (such as )
Note that:
- You must be proficient in the language of the host country before departureÌýif instruction is not in English
- Due to differences in academic calendars, it may not always be possible to do the program for only one semester
- Teaching styles and classroom expectations may differ significantly from the U.S.
Exchanges
Exchange programs are marked with aÌýÌýÌýand the acronym EAE (Education Abroad Exchange).
Exchange programs are a type of direct enroll program, where É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ has a reciprocal agreement with that partner university abroad. É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ students spend a semester or year at a partner institution abroad and students from the partner institution come to É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ in exchange.
- Exchanges often provide a higher level of independence than other programs
- Exchanges program fees are around in-state tuition
- Students who come to CU enrich our campus community
Some programs offer exchange positions exclusively and others offer both exchange and non-exchange positions. In cases where both are offered, exchange positions can be viewed similarly to scholarships - while they are available, they are not guaranteed. Students must be prepared to pay non-exchange fees for these programs. ÌýCompare exchange and non-exchange fees for programs offering both options on the Ìýpage.
- :Ìývisit 8-12 countries during a semester voyage
- :Ìýstudy in up to 3 different cities
- :Ìýfocus on a specific topic, such as climate change,Ìýand visit 3-4 continents to study that topic in different contexts
On a multi-site program, you spend your term abroad in more than one country, traveling extensively as part of the academic itinerary.
You will:
- Visit many different countries and learn about many different cultures in a short period of time
- Explore learning in different contexts
Considerations:
- No full immersion in a single culture
- Not always conducive to language acquisition
- Constantly new and different experiences mayÌýbe overwhelming
- Requires adaptability and eagerness to explore - once you get comfortable with one location, it's time to move and readapt
Ìý
SFS & SIT
Your learning takes place outside of the classroom on a field study program. Field study programs can include research or internship work, but either way, the focus is on getting you hands-on experience within a specific field!
- Focus on a specific academic theme
- Learn interactively
- Produce original research for an honors thesis or complete an internship/practicum
- Learn practical quantitative and qualitative research methods in both the human and physical sciences
- Abstract concepts discussed in a classroom setting can be explored in practical ways in the field
- Only take a set few classes with other U.S. students
- Have less time for independent travel on the weekends
Ìý
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Gain hands-on research experience and do a deep dive into a subject you're interested in. Assist with quantitative data collection on a long-term research project, work alongside researchers in a lab, or develop your own research project.
Arcadia, DIS, SIT, SFS, SEA
Internships abroad provide students with the opportunity to combine experiential learning and academic theory as a means to gain professional experience and develop a new perspective on a career field. You will experience what it's like to navigate the work culture in your host country and have the chance to expand your international network all while earning academic credit.
Ed Abroad internships include an accompanying course that complements the internship experience and allows students to receive credit for the experience. See the Internships Abroad page for more info on how internship credit may be applied to your degree.
Part-Time Internships
Some programs offer a part-time internship experience alongside regular coursework. Your internship would also be accompanied by a course that complements your internship experience.
Full-Time Internships
These are full-time internships that take place over the summer, with an accompanying course that complements your internship experience.
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Global Seminars:
Travel abroad with a small group of É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ students (approx. 10-25) and a É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ faculty member to study a specific topic. These programs run in the summer, including Maymester and Augmester options.
- Take courses in a small group setting with a CU professor
- Experience your coursework first-hand using local sites as your classroom
- Focus on a specific topic
- Receive letter grades
- Get to know a small group of É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ students
Learn more about Global Seminar Faculty Directors
Global Intensives
Global Intensives are short-term international programs embedded into a fall, spring, or summer course taught on the É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ campus. These are a great way toÌý"get your feet wet" with international travel.
- Enroll in a Global Intensive as one of your on-campus classes in the fall or spring.
- Go abroad forÌý10-12 days during spring break, after finals in May, during summer, or over fall break
- Take a course in a small group setting with a CU professor
- Focus on a specific topic
- Receive letter grades
- Get to know a small group of É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ students
Ìý
Spend time living, studying, and interning in the nation’s capital, putting classroom learning into real world action. You'll gain practical work experience by doing a professional internship in the day, and then continue your CU coursework by taking an academic courseÌýin the evening, as well as completing career readiness programming.
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ÌýÌýMorocco by Midori Patterson