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Study abroad is an integral part of a Cornell education. Those aspiring to lead in this century need, more than ever before, knowledge and experience of the diverse world beyond the boundaries of their home country. To help students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for informed citizenship in today’s world, Cornell Abroad offers a wide range of international study opportunities that reflect the fundamental educational goals and objectives of the university. Study abroad is a continuous experience with study on campus, enabling students to make regular progress toward the degree.
Qualified students study abroad through programs administered by Cornell and other institutions, and by enrolling directly in foreign universities. Among the many study abroad programs available, students select programs with thoughtful planning and apply with the approval of their colleges and faculty advisors. To earn credit for overseas study during the fall and/or spring semester(s), students must apply through Cornell Abroad, whose staff members assist in the planning and application process.
Locations Abroad
Cornell students majoring in a broad array of fields in all seven undergraduate colleges study in more than 40 countries each year. The following list includes programs chosen frequently by students with college approval; programs preceded by an asterisk (*) are managed by or affiliated with Cornell.
Africa
Botswana CIEE
Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda: SIT Study Abroad
Equatorial Guinea: Drexel University Bioko Diversity Program
Ghana: University of Ghana (through CIEE); NYU
Kenya: Wildlife Management (School for Field Studies); University of Nairobi; Minnesota Studies in International Development
South Africa: Universities of Cape Town and KwaZulu–Natal, Organization for Tropical Studies, International Human Rights Exchange (Bard)
Asia
China: Chinese University of Hong Kong; *Cornell FALCON at Peking University; Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University, Beijing; Peking, Minzu, Nanjing, and East China Normal Universities (CIEE); International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University; IES, CET, and the Alliance for Global Education in Beijing or Shanghai; Hong Kong University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Syracuse or Columbia University program at Tsinghua University, *CAPS at Peking University
India: School for International Training; St. Stephen’s College Delhi (through Brown or Rutgers University); CIEE at University of Hyderabad; IES Delhi; Alliance for Global Education in Pune or Manipal
Indonesia: SIT Study Abroad, Bali
Japan: *Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies; International Christian University and other university programs; IES Tokyo; CIEE Tokyo at Sophia University; Kyushu University
Korea: Yonsei University; Ewha University; Seoul National University
Mongolia: SIT Study Abroad
Nepal: *Cornell-Nepal Study Program (Samyukta Adhyayan Karikam Nepal) at Tribhuvan University
Thailand: Khon Kaen University (CIEE); Education Abroad Network in Chiang Mai
Vietnam: University of Hanoi (CIEE), CET
Australia and New Zealand
Australia: Australian National University, Canberra; University of Sydney; University of Melbourne; University of New South Wales, Sydney; University of Queensland, Brisbane; University of Western Australia, Perth; School for Field Studies Tropical Rainforest Studies; Sydney Internship (Arcadia, Boston University)
New Zealand: Otago, Auckland, Massey, Canterbury, and Lincoln Universities; EcoQuest
Europe
Czech Republic: UPCES (CERGE-EI) at Charles University, CET program in Jewish Studies, CIEE Prague
Denmark: *Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS)
France: *EDUCO (Cornell, Duke, and Emory in Paris) at Université de Paris VII, Paris IV, Paris I, Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (“Sciences Po”); Critical Studies Program at the University of Paris (CIEE); Paris Internship (Boston University); IES Business and International Affairs, Paris; Ecole Centrale
Germany: *Berlin Consortium for German Studies at the Free University of Berlin; Wayne State University in Munich and Freiburg; Heidelberg University; IES European Union program; IES Berlin Metropolitan Studies; IES Freiburg Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Greece: College Year in Athens; Arcadia
Hungary: Central European University; CIEE Budapest; Budapest Semester in Math
Ireland: Trinity College Dublin and the National University Colleges of Dublin, Galway, and Cork
Italy: *Bologna Consortial Studies Program; *Cornell College of Architecture, Art, and Planning in Rome; Arcadia University in Florence at the Accademia Italiana; Boston University in Padova; IES Milan and Rome; Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome; Syracuse University in Florence; language and culture programs in various locations
Netherlands: University of Amsterdam; Leiden University
Russia: St. Petersburg University (CIEE); Moscow International University and other universities (American Council of Teachers of Russian); Smolny College; Math in Moscow
Spain: *Cornell-Michigan-Penn program at the University of Seville; *Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona; language and culture programs in various locations
Sweden: The Swedish Program at the University of Stockholm; Uppsala University
United Kingdom: *Direct enrollment at the University of Birmingham; University of Bristol; Cambridge University; City University; University of East Anglia; University of Edinburgh; University of Glasgow; University of Manchester; University of Oxford; University of St. Andrews; University of Sussex; University of Warwick; University of York; University of London: King’s College, University College (including the School of Slavonic and East European Studies), Queen Mary, Goldsmiths College, Imperial College of Science and Technology, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of the Arts (including London College of Fashion), as well as other universities and art schools of choice.
Externally sponsored programs in the UK include the British American Drama Academy; the Arcadia and Boston University internships; and the Hansard Parliamentary Internship Programme.
Students studying in the UK enjoy a variety of services, and cultural activities, provided by the Cornell-Brown-Penn UK Centre in London.
Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean
Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, or Peru: various university-based study abroad programs, through the Institute for Study Abroad of Butler University CIEE, or IES Abroad
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru: School for International Training (SIT)
Costa Rica: Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) Semester Abroad in tropical biology; School for Field Studies; CIEE; Living Routes; ICADS
Ecuador: Minnesota Studies in International Development
Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, or Peru: International Partnership for Service Learning (IPSL)
Honduras: Escuela Agrícola Panamericana (Zamorano)
Mexico: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM); Universidad de las Americas-Puebla (UDLA); Universidad Iberoamericana; ISFA-Butler program at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida
Peru: Proworld
Middle East and North Africa
Egypt: American University in Cairo; Middlebury College in Alexandria; IFSA-Butler in Cairo or Alexandria
Israel: Ben-Gurion University; University of Haifa; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Tel Aviv University; Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Jordan: University of Jordan (CIEE), SIT, *Cornell’s Intensive Arabic Program
Lebanon: American University of Beirut
Morocco: SIT Study Abroad, CIEE, Boston University, IES
Oman: SIT Study Abroad
Syria: CET Aleppo
Other Locations
Cornell students are by no means limited to the locations listed above or to the programs identified for particular countries. In recent years, they have also studied in Austria, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Finland, Mongolia, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Venezuela, and elsewhere.
Who Studies Abroad
Students from all seven undergraduate colleges and from all major fields study abroad; they are expected to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. Over 500 undergraduates studied abroad last year. Because the colleges usually require that students complete at least 60 hours of undergraduate credit on the Ithaca campus, students who transfer to Cornell as juniors may be unable to count study abroad credit toward their Cornell degree.
When Students Study Abroad and for How Long
Students may study abroad during their sophomore, junior, or senior year. Junior year is the traditional choice, but second-semester sophomore year or first-semester senior year abroad is increasingly popular. To ensure preparation, it is important to begin planning for study abroad as early as freshman year. Although semester-long programs are usually available, academic-year programs are highly recommended.
Application Process
Information about study abroad programs—Cornell programs, as well as those administered by other institutions—is available at Cornell Abroad, 300 Caldwell Hall, where students are encouraged to consult the library of study abroad materials, talk with staff members, read student evaluations, and attend information meetings. The Cornell Abroad website is an excellent resource for links to universities and programs worldwide, as well as for applications and comprehensive information on all aspects of study abroad. Students meet with the study abroad advisors in their colleges to discuss how they will meet college degree requirements.
Each applicant completes a written statement of academic purpose outlining goals for study abroad and the program of study that will be followed. College Approval Forms are signed by both the faculty advisor and the college study abroad advisor. Arts and Sciences, Human Ecology, and Industrial and Labor Relations students submit applications to their college for forwarding to Cornell Abroad; Agriculture and Life Sciences, Architecture, Art, and Planning, Engineering, and Hotel Administration students submit applications directly to Cornell Abroad. Cornell Abroad reviews all applications and forwards them to programs and universities. All students who wish to receive academic credit for study abroad must apply through Cornell Abroad and their undergraduate college.
The application deadline for study abroad in the fall 2012 semester and the 2012–2013 academic year is February 15, 2012, for all programs except Oxford and Cambridge, for which the deadline to study at those universities for the academic year in 2012–2013 is November 1, 2011. The application deadline for the spring 2013 semester is September 15, 2012. Many universities and programs admit on a rolling basis before and after these dates. Students planning to study abroad in the spring semester should initiate the application process during the preceding spring. Early application may improve students’ chances of admission. In all cases, it is a good idea to check with Cornell Abroad.
Registration, Credit Transfer, and Grades
Students who apply through Cornell Abroad to programs approved by their colleges, as outlined above, remain registered at Cornell during study abroad. They are eligible for financial aid and receive full academic credit for pre-approved courses of study completed with satisfactory grades. Students enroll for a normal full load of courses abroad, according to the standards of the institution or program overseas, and usually receive 30 credits per year, or 12 to 20 credits per semester. The colleges review course work taken abroad and make the final decisions concerning credit transfer and distribution. When study abroad credit has been transferred, the Cornell transcript will indicate the names of the courses taken, the grades received, and the total credits earned for each semester. Foreign grades are not translated into the Cornell/American grading system, nor are they averaged into the Cornell grade point average.
Foreign Language Requirements
Study abroad programs in non–English-speaking countries that offer direct enrollment in universities generally require the equivalent of at least two years of college-level language study. Students should make firm plans for any requisite language courses early in their freshman year. English-language study abroad programs are increasingly available in non-English–speaking countries—for example, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, People’s Republic of China, Spain and Sweden. Cornell requires students who participate in programs in a non–English-speaking country with English-language course work to take at least one language course as part of their program of study and strongly encourages them to take more. Students should consult with their college study abroad advisors about relevant language preparation, and students in the College of Arts and Sciences should note that they are required to have studied the host country language, if taught at Cornell, before study abroad.
Housing Arrangements
Study abroad programs generally provide housing in the homes of local residents, in halls of residence for university students, or in rental apartments. Cornell Abroad will advise students of the arrangements that are available and most appropriate to their individual needs. As you plan for a semester of study abroad, be sure to consider your housing situation in Ithaca for the semester during which you will not be abroad.
Costs
Students studying abroad in Cornell-managed programs pay a fixed Cornell Abroad Tuition per semester, which covers tuition, housing during term (with some exceptions), orientation, program-sponsored trips and events, and administrative and financial aid costs, including emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. It may include other items (e.g., meals, commuter passes) depending on the program. Students pay other costs (e.g., airfare and personal expenses) directly. Different fee levels for Cornell programs reflect the relative costs of operation.
Pending approval by the Board of Trustees, in 2011–2012 the Cornell Abroad Tuition for students participating in the Berlin Consortium for German Studies, the Cornell Nepal Study Program, EDUCO (Emory, Duke, Tulane, and Cornell in Paris), or the Michigan–Cornell–Penn Program in Seville is $23,000.
For the Denmark Institute for Study Abroad (DIS), the Cornell Abroad tuition is $23,495 per semester, and for the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (KCJS), the tuition is $26,945 per semester. For the Bologna Consortial Studies Program (BCSP), the tuition is $16,470 per semester for academic-year students and $19,430 for spring-only participants. For the Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona (CASB) the tuition is $23,000 for fall and $24,000 for spring.
Students studying in all other programs in 2011–2012 pay the tuition and other costs charged by their programs and a Cornell International Program Tuition (CIPT) of $3,995 per semester. The CIPT covers the direct and indirect costs of study abroad to the university, and provides for a contribution to the university’s general fund to offset part of the cost of financial aid for study abroad students. Students studying in the United Kingdom and Israel on direct enrollment programs at British and Israeli universities pay a Cornell International Program Tuition of $4,410. This higher amount covers the cost of on-site support services provided by Cornell Abroad.
Financial Aid
Students who are accepted for study abroad during the academic year or semester, having applied through Cornell Abroad, are eligible for two semesters of financial aid, consistent with general university aid policy; this applies to all programs, whether run directly by Cornell or not. Students who have transferred into Cornell with 60 or more credit hours are not likely to receive aid for study abroad assuming they would thereby need more than eight semesters to earn the undergraduate degree. Some programs abroad offer need-based and merit-based scholarships; there are also external sources of aid for which Cornell Abroad students are eligible.
Security Abroad and Related Issues
The decision to study in a particular region of the world must be made by each student and his or her family in light of their own interpretation of current events. The director, associate director, and staff of Cornell Abroad stay in regular contact with representatives abroad and receive information regarding safety and security conditions worldwide through the U.S. Department of State Office of Citizens Emergency Services and other agencies. As long as the State Department does not restrict travel by U.S. citizens, Cornell Abroad does not normally recommend limitations on student plans for study abroad. Study in any country under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning must be approved in advance by the university’s International Travel and Response Team. Nothing is as important as student security and well-being.
Responsibility for a decision to withdraw from a program or return home early rests with the student and his or her family. There can be no guarantee of credit for students who withdraw from programs sponsored by colleges and universities other than Cornell; they are advised to inquire about the policies of those institutions regarding the completion of academic work and the potential financial implications of premature departure. In the event of a disrupted semester, refunds of tuition and fees, and the number of credits to be awarded, will be reviewed by Cornell and affiliated institutions on a case-by-case basis. Most institutions sponsoring study abroad programs strive to facilitate student completion of academic programs even under unusual circumstances and have tuition refund policies based on prorated formulas.
Sources of Information and Advice Concerning Study Abroad
Cornell Abroad (300 Caldwell Hall): Richard Gaulton, Ph.D., director; Kristen Grace, Ph.D., associate director; Libby Okihiro, student services coordinator; Kathy Lynch, financial services coordinator. The Cornell Abroad library contains an extensive collection of university catalogs and study abroad program brochures, files of course syllabi and evaluations, books, CDs, and some information on travel, summer study, and work abroad. Comprehensive information is provided on the Cornell Abroad website, which incorporates links to universities, programs, and resources worldwide as well as a database of cost estimates. In the early weeks of every semester, students and faculty and staff members discuss programs in a series of information meetings announced in the Cornell Daily Sun and on the Cornell Abroad website. The director and associate director are available at Cornell Abroad for individual advising.
College Study Abroad Advisors
Agriculture and Life Sciences: Christine Potter, 140 Roberts Hall; Architecture, Art, and Planning: Deborah Durnam, B-1 West Sibley Hall; Arts and Sciences: Dean Pat Wasyliw, 55 Goldwin Smith Hall; Engineering: Engineering Advising, 167 Olin Hall; Hotel Administration: Dina Kristof, 180 Statler Hall; Human Ecology: Paul Fisher, 172 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall; Industrial and Labor Relations: Kevin Harris, 101 Ives Hall.