Office of Study Abroad

Study abroad in the summer is a great option for students who cannot fit a semester of study abroad into their schedules during the academic year. It can also be a good way to try out studying abroad for a shorter amount of time or to extend a semester study abroad program. There are also many unique opportunities, such as internships, only available in the summer. First-years should also take advantage of summer study abroad as it builds their experiences and can assist in securing future summer internships. Summer study abroad also presents a great time to fulfill core requirements or study a world language.

You can study abroad for Brandeis transfer credit the summer after your first, second or third year. While there is no minimum GPA requirement from Brandeis University, many programs will have minimum GPA requirements. There is no language prerequisite for summer study abroad, but some programs may have specific language requirements.

Summer courses taken abroad on approved programs may count for numeric credit or purpose requirements and may count towards the 32 courses required to graduate. A combined maximum of 16 credits may come from external credit sources. If you have met this limit, you may use summer study abroad courses for "purpose" (i.e., placement, prerequisite, general university, core and major/minor requirement) credit instead. Students studying in their "home country" are able to earn purpose requirements during the summer. Speak with a Study Abroad advisor for more information.

If you are looking to complete an internship for credit through an approved study abroad program, please speak to a Study Abroad staff member. Study abroad internship programs include academic courses and provide assistance with internship placement, housing, orientation and more. However, programs do charge a fee for these services. If you would like to create your own internship or apply for Brandeis internship funding (such as a Louis D. Brandeis or WOW! Fellowship), please visit the Hiatt Career Center's internship web page for more information.

You will need to fill out two applications: a Brandeis study abroad application and the external program application. The Brandeis Summer Study Abroad Application is due in February, so it is a good idea to have completed the program's application before this date. Many summer application deadlines are approximately three to six months before the programs begin. Students may find that investigating program options in the fall and completing applications over winter break is an ideal timeline.

Choosing a program can sometimes seem like a daunting task as there are many options to pick from. No two programs will meet the same set of needs, so our Study Abroad office aims to provide you with guidance and appropriate suggestions about the many study abroad options that Brandeis approves.

Meeting with a member of the Study Abroad staff can help you begin the process of focusing your academic and personal goals while simultaneously helping you narrow your selection to a few programs. Brandeis has an approved program list for off-campus study during the academic year. If you are seeking a program or country currently not on the list, please schedule an appointment with a member of the Study Abroad staff about your goals and options.

To receive Brandeis credit for summer study abroad, students must study on an approved summer study abroad program. Approved courses have been reviewed for alignment with Brandeis academic standards and overall program quality, and many have had satisfied Brandeis participants in the past. With about 50 programs to choose from, it's likely you'll find a great program to meet your needs and interests.

However, sometimes students are interested in getting a new program approved. If this is the case, please schedule an appointment to meet with Study Abroad staff well in advance of the summer study abroad deadline. For a new program to be approved, it must be vetted by the Office of Study Abroad and presented to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. This means all new program petitions must be submitted by early December.

Study abroad program costs vary widely, so check with each program to determine tuition costs as well as expenses for room, board, flights, books, visas and transportation. Brandeis students will also be assessed an off-campus study fee of $400. This fee covers the administrative costs related to off-campus study program approval and transfer of credit.

Most financial aid does not carry over to summer study abroad, but you should always check with Student Financial Services about your specific situation. Additionally, many programs will offer grants and scholarships for students studying abroad. Check with your individual program to see if it offers merit and/or need-based scholarships.

Some students choose to take out supplementary loans to finance study abroad. For more information, please make an appointment to speak with your financial aid counselor in the Office of Student Financial Services (Usdan 120, 781-736-3700).