Our current affiliated list includes approximately 105 programs in countries all over the world, in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and North, Central, and South America. Some programs are university-based, meaning that students live in one place and commute to school to take university courses. Other programs are field-based, meaning that they focus more on fieldwork and independent research projects. Some programs specialize in a particular area of study--for example, music, classics, environmental science, or social justice--while others are general programs, with a full range of university offerings.

Why Study Abroad?
Click here to read some of the most important reasons Northwestern views study abroad as a crucial part of a well-rounded undergraduate education.

Northwestern Study Abroad Office Services
The Study Abroad Program at Northwestern continues to expand and improve with each passing quarter. The office now consists of a staff of seven, including a Director, Associate Director, Assistant Director, Assistant Director of Financial Services, two Study Abroad Advisers and a Department Assistant. Some of the primary work that we do to help students in the study abroad process includes the following:

• Evaluate potential programs for affiliation and monitor currently affiliated programs.


• Develop and implement a variety of educational events including information sessions, the Study Abroad Fair, and pre-departure and returnee events. These programs are intended to provide students the practical and educational knowledge that will help them:

1. Choose the study abroad program that best meets their needs,
2. Make the most of their time abroad, and
3. Continue to learn from and utilize their study abroad experiences once they return.

• Work closely with faculty and administrators throughout the campus to clarify and streamline study abroad materials and policies.
  
  
• Produce informational materials on study abroad for students, faculty, and administrators.
  
  
• Advise students on an unlimited individual basis.
  
  
• Talk with parents/guardians about study abroad and related issues.
  
  
• Register students for generic study abroad courses while they are abroad and assist them with registration for the quarter they will return to campus.
  
  
• Maintain contact as needed with all students abroad.
  
  
• Facilitate the transfer of credit once students return to campus.

Navigating this Web Site
In this "Parents" section of our Web site, we have included links to information that seems most relevant to parents/guardians. We hope you find it helpful.

The links on the left take you to the core sections of our Web site. Browsing through them should give you a good understanding of how study abroad works at Northwestern, academically, financially, and logistically.

The links on the right are to downloadable forms, which are as follows:

The Parent-Student Agreement
This agreement is part of the Northwestern study abroad application, and your daughter/son will need you to sign it. Make sure to fill in the countries where s/he is hoping to study, or else we will need you to sign the form again!

Study Abroad Handbook
Students receive a copy of this handbook during their first mandatory one-on-one meeting with a Study Abroad Adviser. The comprehensive handbook contains important information about academic and financial issues in study abroad, the application process and various study abroad policies.

Contact Us at Any Time!
If you have any questions or concerns--or if you have a suggestion for how we might improve this Web site--please contact our office at any time. We are happy to talk with you about any issue, no matter how small.

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