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Overview

Education abroad encompasses a variety of experiences – study, internship, volunteer, research, and service learning programs and are available for all students – freshman through doctoral candidates. Programs can be as short as one week or as long as a full year. Students may choose to be part of a group or to pursue an individual program.

We strongly believe an education abroad experience will broaden students’ intellectual and personal horizons, help them navigate in different environments, practice or perfect a language, and build a resume to help broaden career options.

Below is have an overview video that should inspire you!

Take the Aggie Spirit Anywhere

Steps to Go Abroad

Let's make it happen! Explore these resources aimed at helping you get ready for and pursue a study, intern, volunteer, or research program abroad. We have created a dedicated page with the steps you'll need to take to make your dream a reality.

Step 1: Get Advised

Talk with an academic advisor about going abroad and your academic progress.

Let your academic advisor(s) know you are interested in an international experience, even if you are not sure what term you want to go. While your academic advisor will not be able to tell you what program to go on, they know your degree plan and what courses you have available. We recommend discussing:

What courses are currently available on your degree plan.
If there are any classes you CANNOT take abroad or any other restrictions you should know.
The possibility of “saving” classes, like electives, to take later in your academic career on a program.
How an internship would fit into your degree plan.

Having this information will help you as you start researching programs.

Step 2: Explore Options

Start to research your abroad options and then narrow down to a top 3 or 5.

Sign up to receive our E – Newsletter! Receive targeted program information and resources based on the type of experience(s) you are interested in.

Watch the Understanding Program Types video to learn more about the different experiences you can participate in.

Watch the Navigating the Portal video to learn how to search for available opportunities.

Step 3: Fund Your Trip

Apply for scholarships, update your FASFA, and consider other personal funding options.

Step 4: Apply

Meet with an Education Abroad Advisor to help finalize plans and start the application.

Step 5: Prepare

Pay any fees, attend orientations, and complete other pre-departure tasks.

Step 6: Participate

Engage with the program and explore the host country, taking in the history and culture.

Step 7: Return

Use our resources to help re-acclimate back home and leverage your experience.

Understanding Program Types

What are your options when it comes to participating in an Education Abroad experience?

Well, they are pretty limitless! Across the various program types, you can choose from programs that allow you to study for TAMU, transfer, or no credit, intern, volunteer, or research with program lengths ranging from 1-2 weeks, 1-2 months, a semester, or even a full academic year.

Take a minute to review our Program Comparison Chart which highlights key differences between our credit-bearing program types.

But Education Abroad offers a lot more program type options. You can check them all out below. Be sure to visit each page to learn more information about the program and their application processes.

Current Program Types Available at Texas A&M University

Affiliate Providers

Partner organizations that offer global opportunities at a variety of institutions across the world. Aggies can study, intern, or volunteer with other U.S. students.

Learn More About Affiliate Provider Programs

Exchange

Programs that involve the reciprocal exchange of students between Texas A&M and partner institutions abroad.

Learn More About Exchange Programs

National Student Exchange (NSE)

Provides study away to students at member colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Learn More About National Student Exchange

Independent Travel

You may consider looking at outside programs if you are not finding the right opportunity for you through one of our other options or need to conduct research for a degree requirement.

Learn More About Independent Travel

Virtual

Many providers offer virtual experiences. These opportunities allow you to pursue study, intern, volunteer, and research programs in an international setting from your home.

Learn More About Virtual Programs

Student Group

Non-credit bearing experiences organized by Texas A&M student organizations that travel abroad for one to two weeks primarily for volunteer opportunities.

Learn More About Student Group Travel

Faculty-led

Programs with Texas A&M credit courses that are led and taught by Texas A&M faculty. Students travel abroad with a group of fellow Aggies.

Learn More About Faculty-led Programs

Field Trip

Programs led by an A&M faculty or staff member as a short international component of their on-campus course. Some non-credit bearing trips may serve as a capstone or research project.

Learn More About Field Trips

Unit Led Trip

International programs coordinated by a non-academic unit for cultural enrichment, internship, research, or volunteer/service learning. Trips may be for credit or non-credit bearing.

Learn More About Unit-led Trips

General Application Tips

Search for programs in the portal.
EA Portal Login, in the top right banner of the Education Abroad website, will take students to any saved programs or started applications.
Only one active application can be open per term.
- Summer 1, 2, and 10 weeks are considered separate terms.
- To start a different application in the same term, withdraw the original application first.
Eligibility requirements vary from program to program and are typically specified on the program brochure. If more than one application is needed for a program, the student will need to meet eligibility requirements with all parties.
Primary contacts are listed on the program brochure.
Include the full program name, not just the country, when emailing a contact about a program.
Please be as truthful and forthcoming as possible in the Emergency Contacts, Medical Information & Consent Questionnaire application item so we may assist in providing additional resources if needed.