Types of Partnerships
Northwestern University and institutions around the world engage in the following types of partnerships.
Student exchanges
In a student exchange, Northwestern students study abroad for a quarter, a semester or a full year at one of Northwestern's international partners. Students enroll directly into the partner university and take classes with local and other international students. These exchanges are reciprocal, and partner universities usually send the same amount of exchange students to study at Northwestern.
Example: Bocconi University Exchange
Faculty-led and joint study abroad programs
Northwestern and partner faculty develop and deliver study abroad programs at one of our partner institutions, typically organized around a topic or theme.
Example: Public Health in China Program
International dual-degree programs
Students complete requirements for two degrees from two institutions, with efficiencies in course taking. Each institution awards its own degree.
Example: Northwestern’s Dual Master’s of Science programs in Mechanical Engineering and in Materials Science Engineering with Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Faculty exchanges
Faculty teach and/or conduct research for a term or full academic year at one of our partner institutions. Faculty exchanges are reciprocal and bring international scholars from our partner institutions to Northwestern.
Example: French Interdisciplinary Group (FIG) Faculty Exchanges
Comprehensive partnerships
Some relationships evolve over time and become comprehensive partnerships.
Example: Northwestern University’s partnership with Sciences Po in Paris, France, includes a student exchange program, three specially designed thematic study abroad programs, faculty exchanges, and a dual PhD humanities program, and a joint degree PhD/Master law program.