Study Abroad on Non-Northwestern Summer Programs

If you're looking into non-Northwestern summer programs, don't forget to review:

Considerations for Non-NU summer programs:

  • Program dates and length: When searching for a non-NU summer program, pay close attention to the program's start date. Many summer programs begin in late May or early June, and Northwestern students are not eligible to participate due to Spring Quarter exams. Also, the Study Abroad Office strongly recommends that students participate in programs that are 4-6 weeks in length, or 6-8 weeks for language programs.
  • Courses: Students must take courses that are: 1) transferable to NU, 2) taken for official letter grades and earn the equivalent of a C or above, 3) have at least 30 contact hours.
  • Credits: Students must enroll in a minimum of 2 semester credits total and may enroll in 10 semester credits maximum. (2 semester credits = 1 NU quarter credit, 10 semester credits = 4 NU quarter credits). Courses worth 1 semester credit will not transfer to NU.
  • Language programs: 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.
  • Study abroad transcript: If the program you're interested in is not on our recommended non-NU summer program list below, the Study Abroad Office may need to verify with the Office of the Registrar that the transcript can be accepted by NU.

Tips for finding a program:

  1. Use the following search engines to find programs:
    Studyabroad.com
    IIE Passport (Institute of International Education Study Abroad Directory)
    CIC Alliance for Expanded Study in Overseas Programs (Programs offered by Big 10 Schools)

  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. What kinds of details should I think about when searching for a non-NU summer program? Use this worksheet to guide you through the search process.

Recommended Non-NU Summer Programs:

Northwestern is not affiliated with these programs, but students have participated in them during past years and have been eligible to transfer credit. If you would like to review student evaluations of the following programs, stop by the Study Abroad Office (open 9am-5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday and 9am-6pm on Wednesday).

If you're interested in a program that is not listed below, you may need to meet with a Study Abroad Adviser to determine if the credits are transferable to NU or if you'll need to explore other options. Don't forget to review the Steps to Apply for a Non-NU Summer Program for more details.


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.

Financial Issues 

Financial Aid
Students applying to non-NU summer study abroad programs are not eligible to receive financial aid from Northwestern. Some scholarships may be available through your program provider. Contact the program directly for information, applications, and deadlines.

Billing Arrangements
Students attending non-NU summer study abroad programs are responsible for paying their programs directly for all charges except the Northwestern Study Abroad Administrative Fee (SAAF). The host institution or program will bill you directly 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, we will forward the bill and contact the program about the error. Northwestern University will bill the student for the Study Abroad Administrative Fee.

Paying Deposits
Check with your program office for information on deposits. Any required deposits must be paid to the program, not to the Study Abroad Office.

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.

For more information
Contact Mike Frechette, Senior Assistant Director of Study Abroad Financial Services at (847) 491-7400.