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 among our credit-bearing program types.
As you research opportunities, create an Excel sheet to keep track of key data points (program name, deadline, dates, location, academics, cost, etc.) to compare opportunities against one another. See the below example template to help you create your own Excel sheet. Students may need to log in using their A&M Net ID to access the document.Example_EA Program Research Tracker
Below is more information about the program types and application process.
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Affiliate Provider (Authorized Program)
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.
Exchange
Programs that involve the reciprocal exchange of students between Texas A&M and partner institutions. These can be international exchanges or exchanges with institutions here in the U.S.
Faculty-Led
Programs with Texas A&M credit courses that contain an international component. Some are led and taught by Texas A&M faculty with a group of fellow Aggies.
Group Trips
International programs coordinated by either a Texas A&M department or student organization for cultural enrichment, study, internship, research, or volunteer/service learning. Trips may be for credit or non-credit bearing.
Students participating in experiences not coordinated by an affiliate provider or Texas A&M office, department or student organization are required to register in one of the below registrations if one of the following applies:
- Enrolled in course(s) (Texas A&M credit or transfer credit from another institution),
- Participating in non-credit bearing experiences (e.g., opportunities to research, intern, teach abroad, volunteer, participate in a competition, or attend a conference/workshop/training),
- Receiving any support from a Texas A&M entity (e.g., departmental support for a conference or research), or
- Satisfying a degree or graduation requirement (e.g., thesis or dissertation research).
Registration Process
Complete one of the following Education Abroad Independent Experience applications based on the credit type enrolled in on the program. Students will also apply directly to the provider coordinating the experience or international university for direct enrollment to secure participation.
Independent Experience: TAMU Credit
Students are responsible for discussing logistics with their Academic Advisor on what course to enroll in and what is expected to submit for a grade.
Independent Experience: Transfer Credit
Application includes a Pre-Approval process to determine if the intended courses taken abroad will or will not transfer back to Texas A&M and fit a student's degree plan.
Independent Experience: No Credit
Students are often participating in research, volunteering, interning, or attending a conference abroad. The student is not enrolled in any course(s).
Student Travel Rule
Texas A&M University students are required to register their international travel with Education Abroad for risk management purposes and compliance, per the University Student Travel Rule 13.04.99.M1.
For any transfer credit program, transfer credit refers to the act of being enrolled in another institution or provider course whether the credit counts towards the student’s degree plan or not. No credit means the student is not enrolled in any course on their experience.
The application/registration requirement is typically fulfilled prior to travel. However, it remains valid if initiated while abroad or retroactively. The student is expected to complete the process in a timely manner and will be assessed the service fee determined for the program type and related services. Education Abroad reserves the right to create and/or commit an application, if the student is currently abroad or has returned from their experience and is not completing the process. Please note that payment delay may result in university penalties for non-payment (including potential holds).
If the appropriate application/registration option for the term the student is going abroad has closed, the student is still responsible for reaching out to Education Abroad as some program types have flexibility with their deadline. Education Abroad can attach an application to a student’s profile for a student to work on, even if the deadline has passed.