- What is study abroad?
Studying abroad allows you to take courses towards your Columbia degree while studying in another country and at another school. The main ways to study abroad at Columbia are through an exchange, an approved provider, or on a Faculty-Led Program. Set up an appointment with us to find out about all the options and which one will work best for you.
- Why should I study abroad?
Only approximately 10% of US students study abroad. Studying abroad can greatly impact your career prospects. Employers are looking for the soft skills that are developed during your time abroad. It is also an important opportunity to gain a unique perspective on your area of study and interests through the lens of another culture. Not to mention that, you will get to see some amazing places and hopefully meet lifelong friends!
- What is an Exchange?
Columbia has direct relationships with many schools around the world. You can apply to study at them for a semester or a year. When you go you will pay Columbia tuition, which means that you will pay the same tuition that you do for a semester here and you can use all your same financial aid (including Columbia Scholarships). When you are studying you will take a full course load, which means the equivalent of 12-16 US credit hours.
- What are Approved Provider Programs?
If you are looking to study in a part of the world which is not covered by our Exchange programs or looking to study a subject which they also do not cover then take a look at the options from one of Columbia’s 3 partnered providers. Each provider is a private company which manages its own host of study abroad programs. Collectively these providers have 100s of programs covering 6 continents. You will find programs that run from a few weeks long during the summer or J-Term to semester programs and ones covering a whole academic year. Through Columbia’s application process we will ensure that any classes you take will smoothly transfer back here and count the way that you are expecting them to. The major difference between provider programs and exchanges is that you will pay all tuition and fees directly to a provider and not to Columbia. You may use some financial aid still to pay for these programs (Columbia scholarships are not able to go to provider programs).
- How can I study abroad at Columbia?
The best place to start is to set up a meeting with our office to learn about your options. Also it is recommended that you visit the biannual Study Abroad Fair. At the fair you will be able to talk with students who’ve studied abroad before, meet with faculty and find out about their programs, and visit with representatives from our approved providers. It is a great time to explore what is on offer and to get excited.
- Where should I go if I’m concerned about costs?
We have a variety of differnt programs at different price points. For students who are relying extensively on Columbia specific scholarships then going on an Exchange is best. This will allow you to use your scholarships towards your program expenses. If you are open to different locations, choosing a program in a country with a lower cost of living will really bring your overall expenses down. Places like Thailand, Costa Rica, and Singapore cost significantly less than going to the UK or Australia. There are also many study abroad specific scholarships that are available for students.
- Can I study abroad and graduate on-time?
Yes, you can. It is a priority of the office that we do all that we can to help you achieve these two goals. Two ways to help ensure that you can both study abroad and graduate on-time are to start planning early and also to be flexible in the kind of program and experience you are seeking.
- I’m an international student, can I study abroad?
Yes, you can, and many do!
- I’m a graduate student, can I study abroad?
This will depend a lot on your department and the kind of program that you have in mind. Currently there are no set Grad level semester programs that allow you to study abroad. If you are interested in exploring please contact our office.
- I'm on medication, how can I access my medicine while abroad?
Depending on your specific situation, you may be able to take your medication with you, fill a prescription while overseas, or find another solution. However, depending on what medications you use and what country you are going to, this can sometimes be tricky. We will work with you to figure out the best possible options.
A good resource for related questions is Mobility International USA.
- Do I need special health insurance while overseas?
Yes! If you go on our partner provider programs, they’ll take care of enrolling you in the necessary insurance. If you go on an exchange or faculty-led program, we’ll enroll you in insurance and bill your student account.
- I’m new to Columbia, when should I start thinking about study abroad?
Right away! The earlier you start to plan the more choices you will have and it will give you more time to apply for scholarships and to start saving.
- Will I get credit for classes I take on study abroad?
Yes, you can! Study abroad is considered "in-residence." All successfully completed courses will automatically come back as college-wide elective credits. You can also seek out pre-approvals for course substitutions towards your major, minor, and core credit requirements.
- Will study abroad classes count towards my GPA?
Yes. The grades will show up on your academic record at Columbia and will be calculated into your GPA.
- I don’t see my study abroad credits in my Columbia Academic Record, what do I do?
Once you have completed your assignments and your work has been evaluated at the partner institution they will issue you a transcript. Once we receive it, we will submit it to the Registrar to be entered into your academic record. Please ensure that your host institution sends your transcript to the Global Education Office.
Some of our partner schools do take longer to evaluate grades and generate a transcript, so there is also a chance that we will all be waiting on the partner school. However, you do not need to wait until you have your grades in to start signing up for classes for the next semester. - What happens if I fail a class while on study abroad?
All courses will show up on your academic record and will count towards your GPA.
- I failed a class on study abroad and I still want to try and get that credit, what do I do?
Since you are taking this class at another institution you will need to comply with their rules for how to go about this. If it is possible, you will have to initiate a lot of the communicating yourself. However our office will certainly be there to guide you. If this is something you are looking into, your first steps should be to contact our office and also contact your professor at the host school as well as the international office there. Be aware though that there is often a time limit as to how long after you are able to seek credit after the fact.
- How do I get my transcript?
On all exchanges and partnered provider programs your transcript will be issued by the school or program that you are attending oversees. Your main contact at the other school should be able to inform you as to when exactly and in what form you will receive your transcript. Generally it takes between 10-14 weeks to receive transcripts. All transcripts should be sent to Global Education. We will then forward you a copy of the transcript for your records. Please do hold on to it, as we do not keep long term records in our office.
- How can I be sure that the classes I want to take will be available abroad?
Ultimately there are no complete guarantees. Just like at Columbia, there’s always a chance that a class will not be offered, will be canceled, or will be unavailable for other reasons.
- What do I do if I want to drop or add a class while I am on study abroad?
This is a two step process. Since you will be studying and registered at another school you will first need to abide by their rules and suggestions for changing your schedule. The second step is to ensure that any new classes you are adding to your schedule will still be pre-approved and count towards your requirements at Columbia College Chicago. The substitution on the Columbia end can be done by contacting your academic department.
- What can I expect studying abroad to cost?
The cost of the whole time abroad will vary a lot depending on the kind of program that you are selecting, as well as cost of living in your host country. Cost will also vary depending on how you spend your time and resources while you're abroad. Are you living like a tourist eating out at restaurants all the time, or are you shopping for groceries and cooking in your dorm? Are you planning to fly around visiting other countries every weekend or are you planning to immerse yourself in your new community and spend time getting to know it? These factors are important to consider prior to going abroad.
- I have a housing contact here in the Columbia dorms, but I want to go abroad for one of the semesters of the contract, what do I do?
If you are living on campus here and need to get out of your year-long housing contract you will need to connect with housing to let them know.
- Are housing costs while I’m abroad included in the tuition?
It depends. On an exchange program, you will pay your tuition to Columbia but you will have to pay for housing and other expenses yourself at the other school. On an approved provider program, housing is typically included in the program fee.
- Can I expect the living situation at the partner school to be just like it is here at Columbia?
Not necessarily. Each school we partner with has a different approach to housing their own students and this different approach also applies to Columbia students studying there. Some of the partners own dorms just like Columbia does and so you will apply through their housing office in a similar manner as you might when seeking housing at Columbia. Others do not own any dorm buildings and so will direct you to a private dorm company. These often have a loose (if any) affiliation to the school (this is a similar situation to say the Buckingham Student apartments here in Chicago). Some of our partners may also point you to 3rd parties, suggest that you set up a house swap with one of their students, or suggest that you take over someone’s lease. In short, each partner does things very differently.
- I have my passport, can I just go to any country I want?
Having your passport is a good start, but each country has its own requirements on who can enter it and what documents are needed. In some cases your passport will be enough, but in other cases you’ll need to go to that country’s consulate to apply for a visa months in advance. Ultimately it is your responsibility to make sure that you meet the entry requirements for any country you are traveling to or studying in.
- Where can I learn more about my destination?
A good place to start is the US State Department website: travel.state.gov. It’s recommended that you review your country’s overview before you leave the US. Also talk to our office and we can give you more specific recommendations for where to find specific info. - What if I'm a faculty member and I want to propose a new Columbia study abroad program?
We would love to support faculty in planning and leading a faculty-led program. Please reach out to us to set up a meeting. You can also find additional information on the
Education Abroad Intranet Page.
