Engineers Abroad
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
Want to Go Abroad?
CU offers numerous study abroad options all around the globe. Some programs are as short as two weeks in duration, and others can take you abroad for a full academic year. You can take courses in English or in a foreign language of your choice, and you can even study abroad more than once and in multiple locations!
If you want to study abroad, start planning early, and save as many of your elective and H/SS requirements as possible, as these are the easiest courses to transfer back to CU.
Explore Your Major
Semester study abroad programming is not available for aerospace engineering students on a four-year graduation plan. However, you can declare the five-year Global + Co-op track, which allows you to earn a BS in aerospace engineering sciences with a minor in computer science, engineering management, or engineering entrepreneurship. You will benefit from robust training in CS or engineering management, significant experience abroad, and in-depth career exposure before you graduate. Plus, you won't pay tuition during your Co-op semester and can expect to be paid for your work.
Global Co-op: Computer Science Track:
Study abroad options for this program are the same as those for computer science majors (expand the CS section below). While abroad, you'll focus on upper-division coursework toward your CS minor and outstanding H&SS coursework.
- During your first three years, you will follow the same aerospace undergraduate curriculum as your peers while also completing prerequisite and foundation courses for the CS minor.
- Early in the spring semester of your third year, you will declare the Global + Co-op track and apply to study abroad the following fall semester. You must have a 3.0 GPA to declare this track to ensure the competitiveness of your co-op application!
- During the fall semester of your fourth year, you will participate in a computer science-focused semester study abroad program.
- In the spring semester of your fourth year, you will return to the U.S. to participate in a full-time, industry-based co-op. CU cannot guarantee you a co-op placement but will provide resources to guide your application.
- You will return to CU for full-time study in your fifth year to complete any outstanding requirements for your aerospace engineering degree and computer science minor.
Global Co-op: Engineering Management/Entrepreneurship Track:
Study abroad options for this program are the same as those for engineering management majors (expand the EMEN section below); entrepreneurship students should work with their advisors on course planning. While abroad, focus on upper-division coursework toward your EMEN minor and outstanding H&SS coursework.
Complete your co-op before the fifth year, which must be taken on the CU Boulder campus.
Where Can I Go?
There are 13 recommended universities in 8 different countries.
Europe
- Arcadia Scotland: University of Edinburgh
- Lancaster University, England
- University College Dublin, Ireland
- University of Sussex, England
- Uppsala University, Sweden
Asia
Africa
Oceania
- UNSW Syndney, Australia (CIEE or exchange)
- University of Wollongong, Australia
- University of Melbourne (TEAN or exchange)
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange)
- Monash University, Australia
Where Can I Go?
Europe
- Arcadia Scotland: University of Glasgow
- University College Dublin, Ireland
- Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain (CIEE or exchange)
- DIS Stockholm, Sweden
Asia
- Korea University, South Korea
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- National University of Singapore
Oceania
- UNSW Sydney, Australia (CIEE or exchange)
- University of Melbourne (TEAN or exchange)
- University of Wollongong, Australia
When Can I Go?
CVEN: The best time to study abroad as a civil engineer is spring semester of your junior year. The fall semester of your junior year can also work with careful planning--please consult with your academic advisor.
EVEN: The best time to study abroad as an environmental engineer is spring semester of your sophomore year. Either semester of junior year can also work with careful planning.
AREN: The best time to study abroad as an architectural engineer is fall semester of your junior year, but it will require careful planning. Please consult with your academic advisor.
Where Can I Go?
There are 22 recommended universities in 12 different countries.
Europe
- Arcadia Scotland: University of Edinburgh
- Comillas Pontifical University, Spain
- Comillas University, Spain
- Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain (CIEE or exchange)
- Georgia Tech-Europe
- ISA Spain: Polytechnic University of Valencia
- Munich University of Applied Science, Germany
- University College Dublin, Ireland
Asia
- CIEE South Korea: Seoul Yonsei University
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
Oceania
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange)
- TEAN New Zealand: Auckland AUT
- Monash University, Australia
- UNSW Sydney, Australia (CIEE or exchange)
- University of Wollongong, Australia
- TEAN Australia: Brisbane QUT
- University of Melbourne (TEAN or exchange)
- TEAN Australia: University of Sydney
Africa
South America
When Can I Go?
CHEN: The best time to study abroad is fall semester of your sophomore year (Monash University and ISA Spain) or fall semester of your junior year (University of Canterbury and University College Dublin). Spring semster of junior year is also possible if planned carefully (University of Canterbury and University College Dublin). UNSW Sydney is a summer option between sophomore and junior years.
CBEN: The only time to study abroad is fall semester of your sophomore year (Monash University and ISA Spain) or fall semester of your junior year (University of Canterbury and University College Dublin). UNSW Sydney is a summer option between sophomore and junior years.
Where Can I Go?
There are 5 recommended universities in 4 different countries.
Europe
- University College Dublin, Ireland (jr fall)
- ISA Spain: Polytechnic University of Valencia (soph fall)
Oceania
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange) (jr fall)
- Monash University, Australia (soph fall)
- UNSW Sydney Summer for Engineers (Sydney, Australia) (summer) (summer after soph year)
When Can I Go?
Computer science majors have relative flexibility. Since CS courses are in high demand around the world, it's highly recommended students complete data structures, algorithms, and software design before studying abroad. These prerequisite courses provide access to numerous upper-division CS elective courses.
Where Can I Go?
There are 22 recommended universities in 14 different countries.
Europe
- Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain (CIEE or exchange)
- Lancaster University, England
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany
- Munich University of Applied Science, Germany
- University College Dublin, Ireland
- University of Sussex, England
- Uppsala University, Sweden
- Georgia Tech - Europe, France
- University of Manchester, England
- DIS Copenhagen, Denmark
- Queen Mary University of London (ISA or exchange)
Asia
- CIEE Singapore Management University
- CIEE South Korea: Seoul Yonsei University
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan
Oceania
- Monash University, Australia
- University of Melbourne (TEAN or exchange)
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange)
- UNSW Sydney, Australia (CIEE or exchange)
- University of Wollongong, Australia
- University of Otago, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange)
Africa
Where can I go?
There are 17 recommended universities in 12 different countries.
Europe
- University of Sussex, England
- Arcadia Scotland: University of Edinburgh, England
- CIEE Czech Republic
- CIEE Germany: Berlin Open Campus
- Lancaster University, England
- Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain (CIEE or exchange)
- Uppsala University, Sweden
- DIS Denmark: Copenhagen
- DIS Sweden: Stockholm
- ISA Ireland: National University of Ireland Galway
- Queen Mary University of London (ISA or exchange)
Asia
Oceania
- University of Wollongong
- TEAN Australia: Brisbane QUT
- TEAN New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington
Africa
Where Can I Go?
There are 15 recommended universities in 12 different countries.
Europe
- Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain (CIEE or exchange)
- Comillas Pontifical University, Spain
- Lancaster University, England
- Munich University of Applied Science, Germany
- University of Sussex, England
- Georgia Tech - Europe, France
- Queen Mary University of London (ISA or exchange)
- University College Dublin, Ireland
Asia
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
Oceania
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange)
- University of Wollongong, Australia
Africa
South America
Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) majors can study abroad all over the world! Since each IDE major follows a different curricular path, IDE students should explore program options based on their IDE emphasis. For example, an IDE major with an emphasis in mechanical engineering should focus on the programs listed for mechanical engineering majors. Using the pre-approved course database, IDE students can find IDE core courses (GEEN) taught abroad as well as courses associated with their emphasis (e.g. ECEN, EVEN, MCEN, etc.). Finally, a number of IDE concentrations also offer coursework abroad, maximizing study abroad opportunities for students.
When should I go?
Depending on your particular degree plan, either semester of your sophomore or junior year should be feasible for a study abroad semester.
Where can I go?
There are 15 recommended universities in 12 different countries.
Europe
- University of Sussex, England
- Georgia Tech - Lorraine, France
- University College Dublin, Ireland
- Comillas Pontifical University, Spain
- University of Manchester, England
Asia
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Korea University, South Korea (TEAN or exchange)
Oceania
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange)
- UNSW Sydney, Australia (CIEE or exchange)
- University of Melbourne (TEAN or exchange)
- Monash University, Australia
Africa
South America
When Should I Go?
The best time to study abroad as a mechanical engineer is fall semester junior year. Spring semesters of your sophomore or junior year are also good times to study abroad, if planned appropriately.
Where Can I Go?
There are 25 recommended universities in 14 different countries.
Europe
- University College Dublin, Ireland
- Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain (CIEE or exchange)
- Arcadia Scotland: University of Edinburgh
- Lancaster University, England
- Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany
- Munich University of Applied Sciences, Germany
- University of Sussex, England
- Comillas Pontifical University, Spain
- Georgia Tech-Lorraine, France
- University of Manchester, England
Asia
- Korea University, South Korea (TEAN or exchange)
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
- CIEE South Korea: Seoul Yonsei University
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan
Africa
South America
Oceania
- UNSW Sydney, Australia (CIEE or exchange)
- University of Wollongong, Australia
- University of Melbourne (TEAN or exchange)
- Monash University, Australia
- TEAN Australia: Brisbane QUT
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand (TEAN or exchange)
Multi-country
The Basics
There are pre-approved courses from each engineering curriculum that count directly towards your degree, as well as dozens of Technical Electives and H&SS courses that help you can stay on track for graduation. You can always apply to get a new course approved and credit can also be awarded for an international research position or internship.
The cost of an international experience depends on program type, location, and duration, but there are affordable options all over the world. You can apply most of your CU financial aid & scholarships on a program abroad, and there are also a number of scholarships available especially for study abroad. Explore and compare different program costs here, or read through the study abroad FAQs.
Next Steps
- Meet with your degree advisor to plan the academics of your study abroad.
- Visit Education Abroad's Get Started page to complete Abroad 101 and learn more about program options, pre-approved courses, financial aid and more!
- Connect with an Education Abroad advisor to discuss any questions and begin the application process.
A group of students posing for a photo while visiting West Lake in Hangzhou, China.
Deadlines
- Spring: (Sept. 1 - Oct. 1)
- Fall or Summer: (Feb. 1 - March 1)
Dates Vary by Program
Kiki Garthwaite (TAM) & Elise Brizes (Chemical) at Palau Padar in Komodo NP, Indonesia.
Jared Campbell (Mechanical) descends the steps at Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest, Hungary.