Study Abroad - CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies

Study Abroad

The Directory of CUNY Study Abroad and International Exchange Programs is designed to inform the CUNY community about the broad range of overseas programs the University offers. Most programs are open to all CUNY students, although students may have to meet certain requirements for acceptance into some programs (specified in the listings). The information in the Directory is intended to help students and faculty identify programs of interest in a preliminary way. Costs and deadlines provided in the Directory are subject to change.

Choosing a Location
Do you speak a foreign language? If so, how well? Are you proficient enough to take courses in that language? Would you feel comfortable in a place where very few people speak English? Are you interested in learning a foreign language? It is important to answer these questions honestly. You will not have a good experience if you put yourself in a situation where you cannot thrive. Be a creative thinker. If you speak French, you aren’t limited to studying in France; consider places like Haiti, French Guyana, Quebec, Canada, or Senegal. If you don’t speak a foreign language well you might consider places like Scotland, Ireland, India, Australia, and South Africa where English is an official language or places like Cairo, Egypt, The Netherlands, Italy or China where you can take classes in English while being exposed to other languages outside of school. Safety should always be among the factors considered in choosing a location; the US Department of State website has travel warnings and advisories which are updated frequently.

Choosing a Program
What type of classes do you want to take? Do you need a particular type of credit? What do you wish to gain from this experience? How long do you want to go for? Is housing a factor? You can always study abroad for the sake of the experience and without regard to whether or not you need credits; many programs allow you to audit classes. If you need a particular type of credit (area of concentration, core requirements, liberal arts and science) you should consult with your advisor before applying for a program to make sure are making the right choices. Many programs offer a wide-array of liberal arts courses so it is easy to take language, literature, history and culture courses. If you need to fill a requirement like science you should keep in mind that you won’t find that in too many programs. If you plan to take courses towards your area of concentration bare in mind that you will need to have them approved by your faculty mentor, add them to your area of concentration form, and have them approved by the CUNY Baccalaureate Program. Many CUNY schools offer programs during the winter break (inter-session) and in the summer; if you cannot get away from your job or family for a whole semester you may be able to do it for 3-4 weeks. Some programs offer dormitory housing, some offer off-campus housing, and some place you with a family. You should be realistic about your housing situation and which kind of living arrangement will work best for you.

Finding Funding
CUNY has a program specifically designed to help students fund study abroad called STOCS. Grants ranging from $500 to $1500 are offered to undergraduate CUNY students who participate in short-term (summer and winter inter-session) CUNY study abroad programs. Recipients are selected by an awards committee on the basis of ability and need (students with a family income of more than $65,000 are not eligible). The Fulbright Program is extremely prestigious and competitive but may be an option for highly motivated students who are pursuing study or research abroad in their area of concentration and who can plan in advance. Inquire about funding at the financial aid office at your home college and research grants and scholarships specific to the country you are going to and the subject you are studying. If you are a fellowship student your program might have allowances for study abroad costs.

Registering and Transferring Credit
If you are studying abroad with a CUNY program where you register for actual CUNY classes at one of the colleges then you can register using e-permit. If you are doing a program through CUNY or outside of CUNY where you take classes at a foreign institution and you get credit on a foreign transcript then you will need to have that credit evaluated by either your home college, using a non-CUNY permit form, or through WES (World Educational Services). Make sure you talk to your advisor before you apply.