Conducting Independent Study and Research Projects Abroad

A few of Northwestern's affiliated study abroad programs provide students with the opportunity to do independent study or research projects (ISPs) as part of their experience abroad. These projects provide exciting opportunities to conduct original research, often using a combination of fieldwork methods, such as interviews and archival research.

Students can use an ISP abroad as a foundation for further research in the form of a senior honors thesis or post-graduate research, exploiting their ISP research in applications for prestigious post-graduate grants, such as Fulbright, Rhodes, and Marshall scholarships.

Jump to information about:

Study Abroad Programs that Offer Independent Study Options

  • Affiliated study abroad programs that provide students with the opportunity to do an ISP as part of their regular program offerings include:
    School for International Training programs (ISP required of all students on all SIT programs)
  • IFSA-Butler-Santiago, Buenos Aires
  • Antioch-Buddhist Studies in India (ISP required)
  • ETH-Zurich

It may also be possible for students to arrange to do an independent study or research project on other programs. Please consult in advance with the Study Abroad Office.

Choosing an ISP Topic

  1. Start thinking about your ISP topic before you leave campus.
    Most of the programs listed above require you to provide them with project proposals either as part of the application process or before leaving the U.S.

    But even if they don't, it's important to start thinking about what you would like to study before you leave campus because Northwestern offers a plethora of helpful resources:

    • Departmental/School Advisers: If you wish to receive major, minor or distribution credit for your ISP, be sure to discuss your plans with advisers in the relevant department/school.
    • Faculty members: If you know you are interested in focusing on a particular subject, identify faculty members who study that subject and meet with them to discuss your ideas and get their input.
    • Northwestern’s library: Do some initial research into possible topics. You might not have easy access to a library of its caliber while abroad.
    • Chicago locals with international contacts: Network with people in the Chicagoland area who have connections in the place you hope to study -- this could prove invaluable!
    Determine whether your ISP needs approval from the Northwestern Institutional Review Board, which reviews research plans involving "human subjects." Look into this well in advance of leaving because submitting a research proposal to the IRB can be a lengthy process. For help, contact an adviser in your major department (or in the department most relevant to your ISP topic) or contact the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects at 847-467-1723.

    If you would like some help getting started, the Study Abroad Office would be happy to discuss possible project topics with you and point you towards useful campus and community resources, including faculty members. For more helpful tips, you may also wish to read the web page, Turning Study Abroad into a Senior Honors Thesis.
  2. Make sure you choose a topic appropriate to the Northwestern Undergraduate Curriculum!
    When choosing an ISP topic, remember that Northwestern will not grant credit for courses--including ISPs--that cover subject matter not taught in its undergraduate curriculum (e.g., wine tasting, cooking, fashion design, etc.).

    As long as Northwestern teaches the general subject, there should not be a problem. For example, Northwestern would grant credit for an ISP on South African women writers or Chilean politics because these would fall under the subjects of literature and political science, which are taught here.

    The subjects to be most cautious about are business, law, and medicine, since undergraduates cannot major in any of these subjects. You may be able to do an ISP focusing on one of these subjects, because we offer minors in business institutions and legal studies, and many students are on the pre-med track.  If you are interested in these topics, be sure to discuss your ideas with your School Representative:

    • Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (your college adviser): 847-491-8914
    • McCormick School of Engineering (Joe Holtgreive): 847-491-3332
    • Medill School of Engineering (Keri Disch): 847-491-4484
    • School of Music (Linda Garton): 847-491-7571
    • School of Education and Social Policy (your specific adviser: Mark Hoffman, Megan Redfearn, Susan Olson or Meg Kreuser): 847-491-3790
    • Communication (Sally Ewing): 847-491-7214

    For more information on the types of business topics that may be granted credit, go to: Take Business Courses Abroad.

    For more information on the types of law topics that would probably be granted credit,  contact the Legal Studies Program at 847-467-2207.

School-Specific Requirements

  1. Students seeking WCAS credit for an ISP abroad
    If you know in advance that you are going to do an independent study while abroad (for example, through a SIT program), identify a faculty sponsor prior to leaving campus and consult with them before and during the project (by e-mail while abroad).

    Upon returning to campus, the research paper or essay should be presented to the faculty sponsor as part of the petition process for study abroad credit.  The faculty sponsor will fill out section III of the WCAS "Petition for Credit for Courses Taken Abroad" Form. Speak with your college adviser about the details of this process.
  2. Medill Students
    Medill requires students who are planning to do an ISP abroad to complete the Medill Petition for Obtaining Credit for an Independent Study-Research Project Abroad, where you will outline your proposal. A Medill School Representative must approve this petition. Medill students are generally not permitted to earn any kind of Northwestern credit for journalism courses completed at other schools. Thus, depending on the topic you hope to study, the petition may need to be approved by Medill's Academic Standards Committee.

Requirements for all Returning Students

All students must submit one copy of their completed ISP paper to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office, along with a cover sheet.

The office will forward your transcript to the Office of the Registrar only after a copy of your paper has been received. The reason you are required to submit your paper is because the Study Abroad Office review all ISPs to ensure that the ISP options offered by our affiliated study abroad programs are meeting Northwestern's academic standards.

If you are seeking major, minor, elective or other departmental credit for your ISP, you must follow the appropriate School's credit transfer instructions, which will include submitting a copy of your paper and a copy of your study abroad transcript (which you can pick up from the Study Abroad Office) to the faculty adviser in the appropriate department.  The faculty adviser will evaluate your paper according to School policy, just like regular study abroad coursework is evaluated for specific credit.