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Northwestern Study Abroad Requirements: Northwestern has a number of requirements that students must adhere to while they are abroad, including requirements that are particular to individual programs. To view these requirements, click here.

The following programs teach engineering courses in English:

Program/University
(Sponsoring Organization)

Courses, Requirements, and other Information

Institut Curie, Paris—part of Public Health in Europe: Policies and Institutions
Paris, France

 ***NORTHWESTERN PROGRAM***

  • Individualized research program in fields such as biomedical engineering and materials science. Taken in conjunction with the NU program, "Health Policy in France and the European Union,” which includes courses on public health and the European Union, French language training, and field excursions.
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester
Global Healthcare Technologies
Cape Town, South Africa


***NORTHWESTERN PROGRAM***

  • Designed to introduce NU students to the healthcare needs of developing countries and to the design and management of the technology infrastructure that will improve health outcomes and support the needs of resource poor environments.
  • Four classes are offered consisting of a combination of seminars, projects, and site visits. Students will receive 4 credits for the program
  • NU Terms: Spring Quarter

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (NU Exchange Program)
Hong Kong , China

***NORTHWESTERN PROGRAM***

  • Internationally renowned research university with programs in Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering
  • No language prerequisite: All courses taught in English
  • Strong research ties to top institutions in mainland China
  • Terms available: Fall Quarter, Winter-Spring Quarter or Full year

Science and Engineering Research
Beijing, China

**NORTHWESTERN SUMMER PROGRAM**

  • Research placements in labs at leading Chinese university for science and engineering
  • Language instruction included - no language prerequisite
  • 12 engineering departments plus research institutes
  • School of Science includes math, chemistry, biology & physics
  • NU Terms: Summer Quarter

Nanotechnology in Munich:  “Finding Nano”
Munich, Germany

***NORTHWESTERN SUMMER PROGRAM***             

  • Designed to introduce students to the possibilities of nanotechnology and nanoengineered materials. 
  • Students enroll in two nanotechnology courses; the program also requires a course on German language and a seminar on German history and culture.
  • Students on this program are eligible to earn 3 Northwestern credits
  • NU Terms: Summer Quarter
Queen Mary, University of London (Arcadia University)
London, England
  • Mechanical, biomedical, manufacturing, industrial, electrical, computer engineering, aeronautical, computer science, material sciences, applied math
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year

University College London, University of London (Arcadia University)
London, England

  • Direct university enrollment
  • Upper level courses available in biochemical, mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil and environmental.
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year

Oxford University (Arcadia University)
Oxford, England

  • Tutorial style courses (small classes with 2-3 students and a tutor)
  • Topics can vary considerably according to student interest and college/tutor availability and expertise
  • NU Term: Full year only

Swansea University (Arcadia University)
Swansea, Wales

  • Aerospace, chemical, civil, electrical, materials, mechanical, product design
  • Among top 3 engineering schools in UK
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year

King’s College (Arcadia University)
London, England

  • Direct university enrollment
  • Limited courses in mechanical engineering
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
University of Edinburgh (Arcadia University)
Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, environmental, software, informatics, structural
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
Trinity College Dublin (Arcadia University)
Dublin, Ireland
  • Civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, manufacturing, computer science, materials; Full-year courses only
  • NU Terms: Full Year
University of Melbourne (Arcadia University)
Melbourne, Australia
  • Chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, computer engineering, computer science, materials
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
University of Sydney (Arcadia University)
Sydney, Australia
  • Aeronautical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, computer engineering, computer science
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
University of New South Wales (Arcadia University)
Sydney, Australia
  • Aeronautical, chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, petroleum, biomedical, industrial, manufacturing, computer engineering, computer science, materials
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
University of Queensland (Arcadia University)
Brisbane, Australia
  • Chemical, civil, computer, electrical, materials, mechanical, mining, computer science
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year

The following programs teach engineering courses in a foreign language.
Program/University
(Sponsoring Organization)
Courses, Requirements, Other Information
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) (Northwestern Exchange)
Zurich, Switzerland
**NORTHWESTERN PROGRAM**
  • A combination of courses and research
  • Classes are generally taught in German, although texts and exams will be in English.
  • Language prerequisite: 2 years or equivalent of college German
  • NU Terms: Fall-Winter Quarter, Spring Semester, Full Year
Ecole Polytechnique (Northwestern Exchange)
Paris, France
**NORTHWESTERN PROGRAM**
  • Combined courses and research
  • Classes are taught in French (2+ years of college level French required)
  • NU Terms: Fall Quarter, Fall Semester, Spring Quarter, Spring Semester, Full Year
Chilean Universities Program (COPA)
Santiago, Chile
  • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile offers a variety of engineering courses taught in Spanish and claims it is the highest ranked engineering school in South America
  • Language prerequisite: 2.5 years or equivalent of college Spanish (7 quarters, including Spanish 199)
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
Argentine Universities Program (COPA)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Universidad del Salvador offers courses in industrial engineering, taught in Spanish
  • Language prerequisite: 2.5 years or equivalent of college Spanish (7 quarters, including Spanish 199)
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
IES-Berlin
Berlin, Germany
  • Chemical, electrical, civil & architectural, industrial, physical, and mechanical engineering courses offered at the Technische Universitat Berlin
  • Most courses are taught in German, but some are taught in English
  • Language prerequisite: FS, FY – 2 years or equivalent of college German; WSQ – 2.5 years or equivalent of college German
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
IES-Nantes
Nantes, France
  • Courses taught in French offered at the Université de Nantes' two engineering schools--the Insitut de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur aux Techniques de l’Electronique (IRESTE) and the Institut des Sciences de l’Ingénieur en Thermique – Energétique et Matériaux (ISITEM)--and at the Ecole Central de Nantes
  • Civil, chemical, electrical, and environmental engineering as well as computer science, design, manufacturing, and production
  • Language prerequisite: FS, FY – 2 years or equivalent of college French; WSQ – 2.5 years or equivalent of college French
  • NU Terms: Fall Semester, Winter-Spring Quarters, Full Year
*Please note that the affiliated study abroad programs listed above either specialize in engineering or have extensive engineering course offerings. There are many other affiliated programs that offer courses in this field.
* Most of these programs listed here also offer a wide array of upper-level science courses.


Earning Credit Abroad Toward your Requirements:
  • Research the course descriptions of the classes you plan to take abroad so your advisor can ensure the classes correspond to requirements at Northwestern.
  • Complete and return Study Plan, Time and Scheduling Sheet, and Curriculum Petition form to Dean Holtgreive. All technical course work (math, science, and engineering courses) must be evaluated and approved by a faculty member in the appropriate correspondent department.
  • If you plan to study abroad during your senior year, complete and return a degree application, along with any other necessary paperwork required for your degree (i.e. Themes form, Area of Specialization/Technical Elective/Option form) to the Academic Services Office, Tech L269.
  • Retain all class descriptions, syllabi, papers, readings, and other course material from your classes overseas; these might be needed to determine the kind of transfer credit you will receive.
  • Credit is not given for repetition of work which has already received Northwestern credit or for internships or independent study not specifically approved and supervised by McCormick School faculty.
  • If you are interested in pursuing honors work in your major, you should be sure to discuss this with you department before you go abroad. The same is true if you might want to apply for various national scholarships such as Rhodes or Marshall when you return, whose deadlines are early in fall quarter.
  • Figure out which courses you want to take at NU when you return from study abroad. This is necessary because not all courses are offered every quarter.
  • Consider earning an International Engineering Experience (IEE) Certificate from McCormick!
    Requirements include: a minimum of 1 year's language proficiency + 6 months of technical study, work, or research at a foreign location. For more information, contact the Undergraduate Engineering Office at 491-7379.
Contacts at Northwestern for Studying Engineering Abroad

Name Phone # E-mail Location
Assistant Dean Joe Holtgreive 491-3332 jjh@northwestern.edu Tech L268



Please visit our Resource Library for more information on our affiliated programs and study abroad policies and procedures. Peer advisors and staff members are eager to work with you to find a study abroad programs that meets your needs!

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