Olin College

Programs

Summary

When considering studying away, there are many different options, allowing you to fit the experience into your unique path at Olin. Whether you have always dreamed of studying engineering in Germany or art history in Rome; whether you want to learn about the growing economies and new languages in Asia or Latin America; or if you have a desire to study someplace off the beaten path, you can chart your own course with the study away program.

There are three ways to go about studying away. Please take some time to consider the options and explore. Then, visit Carol Kelley in the study away office to talk about your plans and start the application process.

• Direct Exchanges
• Pre-Approved Programs
• Student-Designed Programs

Directed Exchanges

Olin has agreements with institutions in various parts of the world. You apply to Olin to study away and, if approved, you can spend a semester at one of these institutions. Tuition is covered, but students are responsible for travel costs, room and board, insurance, passport and visa fees, and all other incidental expenses. It is important to note that while students are not responsible for paying tuition, direct exchange is not necessarily the least expensive study away option, as many foreign universities' tuition fees are negligible and other costs (travel, room) may be lower in other institutions or locations.

• GlobalE3
• Group T International University College Leuven – (Leuven, Belgium). More information available here.
• Hochschule Regensburg University of Applied Sciences – (Regensburg, Germany)
• KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) - (Daejeon, South Korea)
• EIGSI - La Rochelle School of Industrial Systems Engineering - France
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile - Santiago, Chile. More information available here.
• The University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, College of Engineering — (Illinois)
• Universidad Adolfo Ibánez - Chile
• National University of Singapore, School of Engineering — (Singapore)

*Note that some of these links take you to the institution’s page in a foreign language. Look for the link for “English” or either an American or British flag denoting the English language portion of the website.

Pre-Approved Programs

Under this study away model, you attend a program sponsored by another institution or enroll directly in an institution (with which we do not have a direct exchange) that has been pre-approved by the Away Committee. You assume all costs, including tuition, travel, room and board, insurance, passport and visa fees, application fees, and any other incidental expenses. The costs for these programs vary tremendously. Some are as expensive (if not more) than what you would pay at an American institution, while at others it can be very inexpensive, since in many foreign countries tuition fees are negligible if they exist at all.

Specific Program Guidelines for Pre-Approved Programs

• The Away Committee will generally approve your application to a pre-approved program if you demonstrate that you have the necessary preparation for this program and that it will fit with the degree requirements of your Olin course of study.
• Once the Away Committee has approved your proposal, you are responsible for applying directly to the desired pre-approved program.
• The Away Committee cannot guarantee acceptance to any particular program.
• You may want to consider applying to more than one program if you are unsure of the likelihood of acceptance. You are responsible for all costs associated with applying to and participating in this program.

Evaluating Criteria

Your application will generally be approved if you can demonstrate satisfactorily that:

1. The proposed course of study meets the curricular needs of your overall Olin education and will allow you to graduate on time.
2. Your academic record at Olin demonstrates that you are likely to succeed at this program and that you have the prerequisite courses and skills needed for the proposed course of study.

Pre-approved institutions or programs

These institutions host a number of study abroad programs that Olin students can participate in. They have programs in many different locations, affording you a wide range of options. These programs will likely be more expensive than enrolling at an institution on your own, but often provide more guidance and structure. 

• Arcadia University—Center for Education Abroad
• Butler University—Institute for Study Abroad
• IES—Institute for the International Education of Students
• School for International Training (SIT)
• AIT - Budapest
• Budapest Semesters in Mathematic
• SEA Semester
• Georgia Tech Lorraine
• University of Technology, Sydney
• CIEE —Council on International Educational Exchange

Student-Designed Programs

Under this study away model, a student attends a program sponsored by another institution that is not currently on Olin's pre-approved list, enrolls directly in another institution that does not have a direct exchange agreement with Olin, or crafts an alternative study plan with his or her adviser. Students are required to submit a detailed proposal to the Away Committee, which will evaluate the proposal based on the criteria listed on the application. Students assume all costs including tuition, travel, room and board, insurance, passport and visa fees, application fees, and any other incidental expenses.

Specific Guidelines for Student-Designed Programs

• To avoid wasted effort, students interested in developing a student-designed away proposal should meet with Carol Kelley and their adviser EARLY in the process to make sure that their proposed plan has sufficient potential to pursue.
• Student-designed programs require greater need for educational/academic justification and rationale than either direct exchange or pre-approved programs and will likely require more student input and effort to design and plan; the rewards, however, can be enormous and well worth the time invested in planning.
• The student will be responsible for all aspects of designing, planning and funding the proposed student-designed program.

Criteria for Full-Time Study Away

Your application will more likely be approved if you can demonstrate satisfactorily that:

• the academic institution to which you are applying has courses that meet Olin's rigorous academic standards and are at a level equal to those of Olin's pre-approved study away programs;
• the proposed course of study meets the curricular needs of your overall Olin education and will allow you to graduate on time; and that
• your academic record at Olin demonstrates that you are likely to succeed at this program and that you have the prerequisite courses and skills needed for the proposed course of study.

Criteria for Non-Traditional Away

Your proposal will be evaluated on the following criteria.

• Proposal: how clearly you explain your plans and how realistic they appear to be; how well organized and coordinated your plans are; how well you demonstrate how this experience will complement your undergraduate education at Olin; how well-conceived are your plans for supervision and evaluation of your activities.
• Your academic record.
• Other factors: this includes, but is not limited to, proficiency in the local language (as needed) and depth of knowledge of the proposed project plans.