Study Abroad
Studying abroad offers an exceptional opportunity to foster personal and academic growth and development while continuing to work on academic degree requirements. Students are encouraged to take their hard-earned knowledge of a language and put it to the test while living and studying in another country and culture.
Many academic programs in all of Northwestern’s six undergraduate colleges and schools have been designed to allow students to spend up to a year abroad; students should plan early and consult academic advisers even as first-year students.
Students usually spend a summer, 1-2 quarters or full year abroad during their junior year, although they are eligible to study abroad starting with the summer after completing their first year.
With careful planning, many of the courses taken abroad on Northwestern-sponsored and affiliated programs may be used to satisfy college and major/minor requirements. Please visit Global Learning Office (GLO) to explore programs.
- Northwestern Programs: In Northwestern study abroad programs, go abroad for one quarter as part of a Northwestern cohort. These programs offer a set curriculum based on a specific program theme, which is developed jointly between Northwestern and the partner university. Coursework engages with the location, sometimes involves Northwestern faculty, and typically includes field trips, excursions, and other experience-based activities.
- Affiliated Programs: Affiliated programs are designed and facilitated by partner universities and program providers in the US and abroad. All student services and support are provided by staff from the affiliated partner in the program location. Most questions regarding program specifics can be answered on the Affiliated Programs website, including detailed information about housing, courses, cultural activities, scholarships, the admission/application process, and more. Other program-specific questions should be sent directly to the program provider.
- Exchanges: In exchanges, you directly enroll at a Northwestern partner university abroad, which are some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. You have the flexibility to choose courses from the course catalog at your host universities. Some exchanges are restricted to certain departments or disciplines; others allow you to choose from a wide variety of courses across the university.
- Summer Study Abroad: There are Northwestern Programs and Affiliated Programs. You can find summer programs through: GLObal Gateway > Explore Programs > Term: Summer Quarter (Search). No login necessary to explore programs. Studying in an intensive summer program abroad is one of the popular options among students regardless of their majors. Undergraduate Language Grant is available for those study in an approved intensive summer programs. There may also be unaffiliated summer programs available; however students should carefully choose the option before you apply. Please read about Unaffiliated Summer Programs. Also, please consult the applicable study abroad coordinator (See Language Program Contact.) for more information.
- Journalism Residency Abroad: Open to Medill students only, the Journalism Residency (JR) program abroad is a quarter-long academic experience within a media workplace, which is a component of the BSJ degree. Medill and GLO partner to offer JR experiences in Argentina, Qatar, and South Africa in partnership with a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, media companies, and/or public relations firms.
- Global Engagement Studies Institute: The Global Engagement Studies Institute (GESI) is a study abroad program that provides undergraduates with the knowledge, tools, and experiences to partner with communities to confront shared global challenges. GESI provides opportunities in collaborative experiential learning – opportunities that develop global leaders while contributing to the sustainable development of communities in which our students work and learn. Working in internships, interdisciplinary teams of students join the efforts of local organizations to advance community-driven change. If you are looking for a program where you learn by doing and are ready to challenge yourself in the pursuit of global social change, GESI is for you.
- Semester in Qatar: Semester in Qatar is an intercampus program, offering Evanston students the opportunity to study at Northwestern's campus in Qatar. Learn more about eligibility, the application deadline, and course delivery.
- Funding: You are encouraged to apply for study abroad scholarships to help offset the cost of your program. For financial aid recipients, outside scholarships will reduce the amount of your subsidized loans for study abroad, if any.