Applying to Study Abroad

You are eligible to study abroad starting with the summer following successful completion of your first year. This requirement applies to transfer as well as first year students.

You are not eligible to study abroad through GLO if:

• You take a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) during the quarter(s) immediately prior to your term abroad
• You take a voluntary leave of absence during the quarter(s) immediately prior to and/or during your term abroad
• You are suspended from the university for academic or disciplinary violations
• You have graduated

If you are on disciplinary probation during the term(s) in which you are scheduled to study abroad, you are not eligible to study abroad for academic credit at Northwestern, even if your Northwestern application has been previously approved.

Many partner and exchange programs have requirements above and beyond the Northwestern requirements. GLO approval does not guarantee admission to your program.

Offering two application rounds helps GLO balance student interest and program space, allowing students to find the best possible study abroad match.

We expect most students to apply in the first round. If you don't secure a space, you can apply for another open program in the second round.

It may not. Space varies across study abroad programs for many reasons, including the following: 

• GLO prevents overcrowding to preserve a high-quality educational experience for Northwestern students and to promote meaningful immersion in their host communities.
• Exchange programs (two-way partnerships with other universities) maintain an equitable exchange by opening a predetermined number of spaces to Northwestern’s outgoing students.
• Some programs that admit students from several U.S. universities set a cap on each institution's admissions.

You are required to outline the courses you intend to take on your program and indicate how you plan to use your credit from abroad. Note: listing courses as part of your Northwestern study abroad application does not constitute course pre-approval. To determine how courses may transfer toward your academic requirements, you will need to consult with your academic adviser(s).

You will be required to show proof that you have a valid passport or that your passport application is in process at the time of application.

To request an adviser review for study abroad:

• Enter your School Adviser's Email

• Schedule a Meeting with your School Adviser
  • This should be scheduled well in advance of the application deadline. If you are a McCormick student, you should meet with your adviser at least six weeks before the program deadline to allow sufficient time to complete the full McCormick review process. Waiting too long may make it difficult to complete all required steps before the deadline. No extensions will be granted for missing adviser reviews.
• Meet with your School Adviser
  • This meeting will assess:
    • How your academic interests and degree plan at Northwestern align with the opportunities offered by your proposed study abroad program
    • How likely you are to engage with and benefit from the program's academic, cultural, linguistic, research, internship, experiential learning, and co-curricular opportunities
    • Your preparedness for a successful study abroad experience
  • Please come prepared to discuss:
    • Why and how this program supports your academic, personal, and professional goals
    • Courses you are interested in taking and how they fit into your academic plan
    • Experiences that have prepared you to be successful in a study abroad environment

Rubric for evaluation and assessment

Note: While school advisers are able to discuss school policies for fulfilling foundational discipline, theme, and other school-level requirements, they are not able to help you choose a study abroad program or determine how your credit will transfer back to Northwestern.

Find your school adviser

• 2027 - 2028 Student Agreement (Summer 2027 and Fall, Winter, and/or Spring 2027-2028)

• If this is your first year at Northwestern, this means that your transcript must include your fall quarter grades.
• If you are a transfer student, you should also upload a transcript from your previous institution.

Personal statements are an important way for you to demonstrate the research you have conducted to determine that your proposed program, its location, culture, and academic offerings are a strong fit for your personal, academic, and professional goals. 

Only certain programs require an interview. Learn more about interview requirements and refer to your application and program brochure to see if this applies to you. 

Certain programs have additional requirements above and beyond those listed above.

You are only allowed to submit one application per term; however, you are encouraged to indicate an alternate program in your application. Having an alternate does not impact our review of your preferred program. 

You should select your alternate program carefully. Make sure it's a program you want to participate in if you secure a space in that program instead of your preferred program. Some high-interest programs are not eligible to be alternates. If you do not apply for an alternate, we will assume you intend to stay at Northwestern if you do not secure a space in your preferred program.

No. You must meet the GLO deadline for Northwestern approval. Internal deadlines are set before most program deadlines to allow time for application review.

No, in most cases you must apply to and be accepted by your program separately. Each program has its own admissions process and admits its own students.

Admission to a program is never guaranteed, but Northwestern students tend to be admitted to programs when they are approved by GLO and meet or exceed the program’s eligibility requirements. If you are not admitted by your program, please reach out to your GLO adviser.