Study Abroad

Yes! During the 2025/2026 academic year, summer ’26 & Maymester ‘26, 147 Engineering students studied abroad on VU-approved programs.  Engineering students studied abroad on 25 VU-approved programs in 12 different countries (excluding multi-site programs).  VUSE is committed to helping you experience the world while keeping you on track towards your degree!

Learning in another culture provides unique opportunities and challenges to grow and broaden intellectually, personally, and professionally. College is an ideal time to experience different cultures, gain language skills, and explore your own interests and abilities.

You can study engineering abroad at more than 25 universities in 12 countries/regions. Check out this page to see where you can study abroad and in particular which programs are the best fit for your major.

Most VUSE students study abroad during a semester of their junior year, though you may go abroad any time after the freshman year. When and where you study abroad will depend on your specific degree plan, and advanced planning is encouraged. There are many summer and Maymester options too. Note that senior design requires all bachelor of engineering students (BME, ChE, CE, CompE, ECE, EE, Environmental, and ME) and Bachelor of Science (ES) to be on campus the entire senior year.

VUSE students are not allowed to study abroad in the final year. Computer Science students can request special exemption to this rule. Email vuse-studentsuccess@vanderbilt.edu.

The earlier the better! Since applications are typically due very early in the semester preceding the planned study abroad semester and since you may need to make adjustments to the courses you take now to facilitate study abroad, it is best to start planning at least a year in advance. For example, you can learn about study abroad options during your first year, dive deeper on degree planning and apply to study abroad during your sophomore year if you plan to go abroad during junior year.

Courses have to be evaluated for credit towards your degree. Examine the Study Abroad Course Search database in YES to see what classes at your intended host institution have already been evaluated and how they will count toward your degree. If you are interested in a class that has not already been evaluated, submit a course evaluation request to get the class evaluated. It is really important that you supply as much detail as possible including the level of the class, its prerequisites, a syllabus, and the amount of time spent in class. Note that the course evaluation process can take up to 30 days, so please submit course evaluations as early as possible. The more complete your course evaluation request, typically the faster the response time is.

https://cc.app.vanderbilt.edu/cc/study-abroad-search

https://vanderbilt.kualibuild.com/app/68dc559d87861d02890f97e3/run

Here are the steps you need to follow to appeal for a non-equivalent study abroad credit to count towards the Liberal Arts Core:

1. Obtain the syllabus for the course and take a screenshot of the evaluation from the Study Abroad Course Search on YES.
2. Ask for the advice from the Department. You will need to contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) in that department to ask them if they would support a variance for the course to count as an Engineering Liberal Arts Core (LAC).
3. If the DUS supports this non-equivalent course counting towards our LAC requirements, our office then sends this support to the DUS in your primary major department. The DUS usually approves if they see the Liberal Arts Core department would support it.
4. Finally, we would submit a Degree Audit correction to allow this course to count in the LAC.

https://cc.app.vanderbilt.edu/cc/study-abroad-search

https://cc.app.vanderbilt.edu/cc/study-abroad-search

No, enrollment in specific courses abroad is not guaranteed. Similar to registering for courses at Vanderbilt, availability for certain courses may be limited, and we encourage all students planning to study abroad to work with their Academic Advisor to plan for alternative course options should they not be admitted into their first-choice selections. Generally speaking, students should identify at least one back-up course for each course they hope to take abroad.

All Vanderbilt-approved programs administered through Vanderbilt Study Abroad receive Study Abroad/Away Credit. Study Abroad/Away Credit does not count toward your cumulative Vanderbilt GPA. However, grades earned during study abroad, including failing grade, will be converted (where necessary) from the original grading system and reported on your Vanderbilt transcript. Study Abroad/Away Credit courses earn credit when you score the equivalent of a D or better, and they may fulfill major, minor, and/or graduation requirements. Students are not eligible to earn Dean’s List honors for the semester in which they study abroad. You are responsible for making sure that all the courses you plan to take abroad have been evaluated for VU credit. Study Abroad/Away Credit counts toward Vanderbilt’s residency requirement, and is separate from transfer credit. Courses earning Study Abroad/Away Credit will not count toward transfer credit limits. For more information - https://www.vanderbilt.edu/study-abroad/academics/

While there is a wide variety of teaching styles around the world, in general outside the U.S. you can expect that you will have a greater level of responsibility for your learning. You are likely to have fewer formative assessment activities throughout the term contributing to your grades and a corresponding greater emphasis on summative assessments like final exams. While this gives you more flexibility throughout the semester, it does mean that you will need to be self-disciplined and studious in order to succeed in your classes.

For most study abroad programs, especially those with an Engineering focus, there is no language prerequisite. Students, for the most part, will take Engineering coursework in English. There are study abroad programs focused on language immersion, which may carry language prerequisite.

All participating students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.7. However, many programs require at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students who study abroad must also have academic, financial, and disciplinary clearance. To participate, students must not be on any sort of probation from the time of application THROUGH the end date of the study abroad program.

Students who have had a lapse of judgment that led to probation any time between the time of application and the end of the proposed study abroad term are not ready to serve as ambassadors of Vanderbilt abroad. Also, host institutions and program providers do not want the risk of taking a student who is or who has recently been on probation. Once you are off probation, you are welcome to submit an application to study abroad.

You will make your own air/ground transportation plans, and these costs are not included in the study abroad program fee. Some program providers will assist with ground transportation from the airport to the campus.

Housing arrangements for students enrolled in Vanderbilt-approved study abroad programs vary according to the local provider. Vanderbilt requires students to reside in program-provided housing where available, for issues of program design, safety and security. Most Vanderbilt-approved programs offer such arrangements, and many offer several options from which to choose. There are very limited circumstances under which students may be approved for independent housing. For more information, please review the Housing Policy on Vanderbilt Study Abroad’s website.

We encourage all students to choose the housing options that allow them to interact most intensively with their host societies.

https://www.vanderbilt.edu/study-abroad/policies/

Most Vanderbilt-approved study abroad programs are offered through third-party program providers (e.g., CIEE, DIS, IFSA, etc.). Program providers provide onsite support, including 24/7 emergency response, to students throughout their study abroad experience. All exchange programs have international staff available to provide similar support though they might not have someone on call 24/7. Study abroad students will also have access to resources offered through Vanderbilt, including Vanderbilt’s 24/7 emergency response called VIRT.

https://www.vanderbilt.edu/vgo/travel-safety/

Exchange programs are based on specific agreements between a host institution and VUSE and do not involve a program provider such as CIEE, IFSA, etc. On an exchange program, students will enroll directly at one of VUSE’s exchange partner institutions, and receive support from the host institution staff. Students will work directly with the host institution to arrange housing.

Visit Study Abroad “Costs” page for more information and to access a cost calculator that will give you estimates specific to your program(s) of interest. You should take only courses that will transfer back as part of your individual graduation requirements, so no credit is lost. Visit the Global Education Office for more information or speak with your financial aid officer to best understand how to apply your financial aid to study abroad.

Regular financial aid applies to Vanderbilt-approved study abroad programs during the academic year. It does not apply to programs in the summer or to any programs offered outside of Vanderbilt Study Abroad. Students may apply for Immersion Funding to support their study abroad during the academic year or summer.

https://www.vanderbilt.edu/immersion/funding/

Students must follow deadlines published on Vanderbilt Study Abroad’s website for their study abroad application. Students may be asked to complete an application directly with the program provider in addition to their Vanderbilt application. Application requirements vary by program, but will mostly include personal information, short essays, and acknowledgement of study abroad policies. Some programs may require references or faculty letters of recommendation.

https://www.vanderbilt.edu/study-abroad/deadlines/