Office of Study Abroad

If you choose to study at an overseas university you will enroll in regular classes and study alongside students from the host country. This also permits you to choose from a wide variety of courses in many disciplines. Visiting students are expected to perform at the same level as their native classmates, and will be graded as such. In most overseas universities, the majority of each course grade will depend heavily on the outcome of a final exam or paper and less on assignments throughout the semester. In addition, classes will follow the local academic calendar and semesters may start earlier or later than universities in the U.S. This option is well-suited for students who like to be independent and want to be part of a campus culture abroad.

Some academic institutions have centers overseas where they host programs specifically designed for international students. If you choose to study on one of these programs, you will be taking courses with other students from U.S. institutions. These programs offer classes in English or the local language that are taught by local and/or visiting faculty. Courses are generally structured more similarly to U.S. university courses. These programs are also more likely to follow the U.S. semester calendar.

Studying abroad on a Field-Based Program offers you the opportunity to approach academic learning in a new way. These programs take advantage of their locations in the field to engage students in experiential, interdisciplinary learning. Most programs have very specific themes such as ecology or social justice. These programs tend to be small, usually accommodating 30 or fewer students from U.S. institutions who take all of their courses together. Courses are taught by a combination of professors, local experts and working professionals. Most class time is spent out in the field, learning about the local culture and history, observing, collecting data and interacting directly with the subject matter you are studying.

Internships offer a unique way to immerse yourself in the local society and gain a deeper understanding of a particular field. Several programs around the world sponsor academic internships that allow students to gain real word experience with a private firm, an artistic association, a government body or a non-governmental organization (NGO). Please note that not all internships offered by programs on the approved list meet Brandeis' requirements for credit. Internships, independent study courses and fieldwork experience must have approval from the Office of Study Abroad to be accepted for credit.