Introduction
In each program, all courses count toward graduation requirements. All terms abroad satisfy the General Education "Other Cultures" requirement or the Linguistic and Cultural Competency requirement of the Core Competency Curriculum. Some courses may also count toward other curricular or departmental requirements as well.
In the foreign country, students live with families (Barbados, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and Spain) or in dormitories or apartments (China, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Greece, and National Health Systems).
The programs in Brazil, China, France (Rennes), Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and Vietnam emphasize knowledge of the country's language and literature, art, politics, and general culture. In Central Europe, England, Ireland, and Greece courses focus on history, literature, art, politics, and other subjects appropriate to the country. The Australia program focuses on science, the environment, and culture. The National Health Systems program examines health care systems in England, the Netherlands, and Hungary, including their relationship to each country's political and social philosophy. The Marine Term, in Bermuda and along the Eastern Seaboard, focuses on the sea from various points of view - economic, sociological, biological, philosophical, and aesthetic. The programs in Sweden, the Czech Republic, and France (Rouen) emphasize technical subjects, culture, and possibly language. Tasmania focuses on anthropological field studies, while Barbados helps prepare students to be high school teachers. Students take four courses for the programs in Australia, Brazil, Central Europe, France (Rennes), Greece, Ireland, Japan, and Vietnam, and three in the others. In most of the programs, one of the courses is taught by the resident Union professor, the others by local professors chosen for their particular expertise. Normally a Union faculty member does not accompany the students to Greece, Prague, or Japan.
Students apply for international programs two terms in advance. All international programs are competitive, some highly so. Attendance at a program's information meeting is essential. Selection criteria include the student's essay, GPA, faculty recommendations, course of study, certification by the Dean of Students, and the selection committee's assessment of the student's capability of adapting to the program's social and academic environment. Should there be additional selection criteria, they will be announced at the information meeting. The faculty selection committee seeks a group of students with varied academic and intellectual backgrounds and interests. The College urges students to seek advice from their academic advisors and from the international programs office to select programs appropriate to their academic and intellectual interests. While the College is very proud of the unusually high percentage of its students who study abroad, we must note that participation in all programs is limited, and is a privilege rather than a right.
A term abroad costs approximately $600.00 more than a term on campus (except the Czech Republic, Sweden, and France (Rouen), which have no excursions fee). All financial aid a student receives on campus applies to the program, with the exception of work-study. The term abroad fee covers tuition, room, board, and all group excursions. Arrangements for and the cost of travel to and from the program site are the responsibility of the individual student. Although short field trips are a part of every program, a Union term abroad is a residence study program rather than a travel program.
To be eligible for participation in a term abroad, students are required to have a 2.5 overall cumulative grade point average at the time of application, and not be on academic warning for the term prior to travel. The overall GPA for Japan and Ireland must be 3.0 at the time of application and at the end of winter term. In addition, the Dean of Students must certify that a student is well prepared to participate in international study.
Click on the links for more information on the programs.
| Full Year | |
| Application deadline: mid-January - (3rd week - Friday) | |
| William C. Stone Fellowship | Year-long fellowship for a non-Union program. For more information, see Prof. Thomas, HU211. |
| Fall Term | |
| Application deadline: mid-January - (3rd week - Friday) | |
| Australia | Joint Program with Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
| Brazil (Sao Paulo) | Prerequisite: Portuguese 100. (biannually odd years) Joint Program with Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
| Central Europe | (Germany, Hungary, and Romania) Joint Program with Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
| Czech Republic (Prague) | Czech Technical University in Prague. Engineering majors have priority; Computer Science, Math, and Physics majors will be considered if not enough engineers apply. No Union faculty in residence. |
| China (Shanghai) | Preferred, but not necessary: Chinese 100 |
| England (York) | |
| France (Rennes) | Prerequisite: French 201 |
| France (Rouen) | ESIGELEC University, Rouen. Engineering majors. Prerequisite: four years of high school French, or equivalent. No Union faculty in residence. |
| Fiji | Prerequisite: Anthropology 110 or 111 (biannually even years) |
| Germany (Aachen/Julich) | Aachen University of Applied Science (Fachhochschule). Engineering majors. Prerequisite: German 102 or equivalent. This is actually a fall/winter, winter/spring, or spring term program. See the information sheet for details. No Union faculty in residence. |
| Greece (Athens) | Prerequisite: Classics 121. No Union faculty in residence. |
| Ireland | Joint Program with Hobart & William Smith Colleges GPA 3.0 |
| Mexico (La Salle) | Mexico City, Cuernavaca, and Bajio campuses. Engineering Majors. Prerequisite: Spanish 201 or equivalent. |
| Japan (Osaka) | Preferred, but not necessary: Japanese 100. No Union faculty in residence. GPA 3.0 |
| Vietnam | Joint Program with Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
| Winter Term | |
| Application deadline: mid-April - (3rd week - Friday) | |
| Barbados | For students interested in a career in high school teaching. |
| Mexico (Cuernavaca) | Prerequisite: Spanish 203 (biannually odd years) |
| Spain (Seville) | Prerequisite: Spanish 203 (biannually even years) |
| Tasmania | Prerequisite: Anthropology 110 or 111 (biannually even years) |
| Spring Term | |
| Application deadline: mid-September - (3rd week - Friday) | |
| Germany (Freiburg/Berlin) | Prerequisite: German 101 or 201 |
| Italy (Florence) | Prerequisite: Italian 100 |
| Marine Studies | Prerequisite: Any biology or sociology course (biannually odd years) |
| Sicily | For science and engineering students. Prerequisite: Italian 100 |
| Spring/Summer Term | |
| Application deadline: mid-September - (3rd week - Friday) | |
| National Health Systems | (England, Netherlands, and Canada) |
Timelines for Terms Abroad Prerequisites
Guidelines for Applying to Union Terms Abroad (Downloadable Version, MS Word)
Application for a Term Abroad (Downloadable Version, MS Word)
Suggestions for Writing a Term Abroad Essay (Downloadable Version, MS Word)
Application for a
Term Abroad - Joint Programs with HWS (Downloadable Version, MS Word)
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