Study Abroad

If you are thinking about Study Abroad as an engineering student, we recommend you consider the following questions to determine which program is right for you:

1. Review your CU-Boulder cumulative GPA. Most Study Abroad programs require at least a 2.75 GPA or above. There are a few programs that only require a 2.5 GPA.
2. Can you fit a Study Abroad experience into your engineering curriculum? You may want to consider a summer term program or graduate a semester later. You should start this process one year before your intended departure.
3. Decide on whether you want to do a summer, semester or academic year experience.
4. Do you want to take engineering courses, humanities courses, or both, during your Study Abroad program?
5. Do you want to do a Study Abroad in an English-speaking country or a country whose primary language isn’t English?
6. Do you have the necessary foreign language skills to study abroad in a foreign country? Most Global E3 or exchange programs in countries where English isn’t the primary language require intermediate proficiency in a foreign language. Intermediate proficiency is coursework completed at the 2000 level with a B average.
7. Decide in which region(s) you would like to do your Study Abroad experience.
8. Either look at Study Abroad programs online on the Study Abroad website or make an appointment to see a Study Abroad advisor. Make sure that your Study Abroad program is CU-approved; otherwise your credit will have to be transferred into CU.
9. Compare programs and costs. Look at the pros and cons. Are there any scholarships or grants for the Study Abroad programs you are considering?
10. Do you have questions on specific engineering programs, such as Global E3? Contact the Engineering Dean’s Office (303-492-5071) or Cindy Kraft at the Study Abroad office.
11. Decide which program you want to apply to. Check the application deadlines. General deadlines for fall are in early March and spring deadlines are in early October.
12. Complete your Study Abroad application.
13. Make an appointment with your staff and or faculty advisor to talk about courses that you can take while abroad. Remember, it’s your department that needs to approve your courses before you leave. Make sure you have some back-up courses in case some of the classes that you have selected are cancelled. If you need assistance with determining courses or understanding course descriptions at international universities, contact the Engineering Dean’s office.