Summer Study Abroad on Non-Northwestern Programs

Are you interested in receiving academic credit from a non-Northwestern summer program?

Steps to Apply for a Non-Northwestern Summer Program

STEP 1: Take the mandatory Study Abroad 101 Quiz on Blackboard.
You can take the quiz as many times as needed to score a 90% or above.

To register for the quiz, send an e-mail to studyabroad@northwestern.edu with "Study Abroad 101" in the subject line. Include your name and NetID in the e-mail. You can begin taking the quiz after you have received an e-mail from the Study Abroad Office notifying you that you have been registered. Be patient! This can take up to one week.

Note: Students planning to apply to a Northwestern summer program only do NOT need to complete the 101 Quiz and should instead consult the individual summer program pages for application instructions.

STEP 2: Review our list of recommended non-NU summer programs below. If you are interested in a program that is NOT listed below, email the Study Abroad Office (studyabroad@northwestern.edu) with your name and the summer program in which you are interested.
A Study Abroad Adviser will contact you to let you know if the program's credits as transferable to Northwestern or if an advising appointment is necessary to discuss other options. We suggest that you contact the Study Abroad Office by mid February at the latest since it can take several months to evaluate certain programs, especially if they are administered directly by foreign institutions.

STEP 3: After successfully earning a 90% or above on the 101 quiz, stop by the Study Abroad Office (630 Dartmouth Place, 2nd floor) to pick up the NU Application for Permission to Study Abroad on a Non-Northwestern Summer Program.
This application is not available online and must be picked up in person.

STEP 4: Schedule an appointment with a Study Abroad Adviser only if:

  • You are also planning to apply to study abroad during an additional term(s) in the future (e.g. fall, winter, spring or full year)
  • You are having trouble choosing a summer program

STEP 5: Complete your Application for Permission to Study Abroad by March 3, 2010.
This requires getting all necessary signatures and completing all essays by the deadline. Before you submit your application, be sure to review the Application Process Checklist to make sure that you have completed all sections. Late applications will not be accepted.

STEP 6: Attend the mandatory Pre-departure Orientation in May and turn in any required forms.

If you are NOT interested in receiving credit from a non-Northwestern summer program, then you do need not apply with Northwestern. You can simply apply to the program directly.
Please note: All students who wish to earn credit for study abroad must apply to Northwestern for permission to study abroad by the appropriate Northwestern application deadline prior to the commencement of the program. Retroactive applications for study abroad credit of any kind WILL NOT be accepted. This is to ensure that students find appropriate programs offering coursework that may transfer back to Northwestern University and are able to take full advantage of the support services offered on campus prior to departure.

This web page covers:

Choosing a non-NU summer program

Tips for finding a program:

  1. When searching for a non-Northwestern summer program, pay close attention to the program's start date. Many summer programs begin in late May or early June, and Northwestern students may not be eligible to participate due to Spring Quarter exams.
  2. Visit the web sites of universities and study abroad institutions that run the academic year programs on our affiliated list. Many also run summer programs.
  3. Learn from past Northwestern students. Stop by the Study Abroad Office Resource Library (open Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm) to read student evaluations of the programs listed below. If you would like to contact students who have studied on the programs, ask the Study Abroad Office.
  4. If you are interested in participating in a language intensive program, talk with faculty in the language departments at Northwestern. They will help you identify high quality programs specializing in language instruction.

Non-NU Summer Programs
Students have previously participated in these programs, but that does not guarantee that future students will be awarded Northwestern credit, nor does it mean that Northwestern is affiliated with these programs. The Study Abroad Office, a student's Academic Advisor, and the Office of the Registrar consider each application on a case-by-case basis.

Latin and Central America and the Caribbean:

Europe:

Asia:

Africa:

North America:

Oceania:

Academic Issues

Students studying abroad on non-NU summer programs are subject to the same academic rules as those studying abroad during the academic year. See the Academic Issues web pages for information about choosing courses, credit transfer, grades, and transcripts.

If you are interested in participating in a language intensive program, we encourage you to talk with faculty in the language departments at Northwestern. They will help you identify high quality programs that specialize in language instruction. For information on Northwestern's language departments, see the Council on Language Instruction Web site.

Financial Issues

Financial Aid
Students applying to non-Northwestern summer study abroad programs are not eligible to receive financial aid from Northwestern.

Billing Arrangements
Students attending non-Northwestern summer study abroad programs are responsible for paying their programs directly for all charges except the Northwestern Study Abroad Administrative Fee (SAAF), which is $750 for the summer of 2009. The host institution or program will bill for tuition, room, board, and/or any other fees. Please contact your program for payment deadlines.

If a program mistakenly bills Northwestern instead of the student's family, we will forward the bill and contact the program about the error. Northwestern University will bill the family for the Study Abroad Administrative Fee.

Paying Deposits
Students should check with their program office for information on deposits. Any deposits required will be paid to the program, not to the Study Abroad Office, and will be credited towards your balance due on either your program invoice or your Northwestern University invoice.

Arranging and Paying for Flights
You are responsible for making your own flight reservations and payments according to your program's specific dates and rules. Some programs include international group airfare in their program costs. Consult your program office or program literature for more detailed advice. The Northwestern Study Abroad Office frequently works with STA Travel, which has a branch in Evanston.

For more information
Contact Sue Kwan, Assistant Director of Financial Services, at (847) 491-7400 or s-kwan@northwestern.edu.