Types of Programs

Enrolling at a university abroad lets you take courses at a host university with local students. This allows you to:

• Experience local university life
• Choose from a wide range of courses
• Meet local students your age
• Be immersed in 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 as TEAN New Zealand: Dunedin University of Otago)
• In non-English speaking countries but which offer coursework taught in English (like CIEE South Korea: Seoul Yonsei University)
• Or in a non-English-speaking country with instruction in the local language, if you have advanced language proficiency (such as CIEE Spain: Seville Advanced Liberal Arts)

Note that:

• You must be proficient in the language of the host country before departure if 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.

Explore Direct Enroll Programs

Exchanges

Exchange programs are a type of direct enroll program, where CU Boulder has a reciprocal agreement with that partner university abroad. CU Boulder students spend a semester or year at a partner institution abroad and students from the partner institution come to CU Boulder 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.  Compare exchange and non-exchange fees for programs offering both options on the Program Costs page.

Explore Exchange Programs

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 may be overwhelming
• Requires adaptability and eagerness to explore - once you get comfortable with one location, it's time to move and readapt

Explore Multi-Site Programs
 

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
   

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.

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.

Explore Programs with Part-Time Internships

Full-Time Internships

These are full-time internships that take place over the summer, with an accompanying course that complements your internship experience.

Explore Full-Time Internship Programs

Global Seminars:

Travel abroad with a small group of CU Boulder students (approx. 10-25) and a CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder students

Explore Global Seminars

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 CU Boulder campus. These are a great way to "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 for 10-12 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 CU Boulder students

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 course in the evening, as well as completing career readiness programming.

Explore CU in D.C.