Studying Abroad

Study abroad is not just for Juniors! Rather, the timing (and choice of program) varies by what you hope to achieve by studying abroad.

There are many resources on campus and online for researching studying abroad programs and preparing for your voyage. Several are listed below, however this page does not provide a comprehensive list of opportunities or resources.

In planning for study abroad, please discuss with your LSA & Economics advisors (along with the advisors for your other majors/minors, if any) which requirements should be taken here in Ann Arbor (and when), as well as which requirements might be satisfied by courses taken abroad.

Please review the information below, as well as our Frequently Asked Questions & Helpful Links at the bottom of the page for more information about studying abroad.

First Steps: Planning Your Trip

First and foremost, plan early. Speak with your advisors from LSA and your various programs to consider when you should go and which courses you should take in advance and which credits you should hold off on to try to take abroad.

Next, attend a First Step informational meeting with staff from the Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS). Meeting times and locations can be found here. First Step provides an overview of the wide range of available opportunities for Michigan undergraduates to engage in intercultural experiences and why it is important to study or work in an environment different than the one you are used to.

Carefully research possible programs well in advance of when you want to go abroad. Decide if you will study abroad via a U-M program or through another institution’s program. M-Compass and CGIS are both great resources for searching for programs and information about studying abroad in general.

Once you have narrowed down your preferences (or chosen a program), you should meet again with your LSA and Program Advisors to do course planning and potentially preevaluate courses for when you return. You can set up an advising appointment with an Economics Faculty Advisor here!

Before You Go

Remember: There may be requirements (such as for passports & visas, or certain immunizations) you will need to have met before going abroad. CGIS and The International Center will be most familiar with these requirements and should be able to help you prepare for your trip! It may also be worth researching the culture you are about to visit and consider various social identities abroad.

Don't forget to register your trip with the University.

Now is also a good time to look into financial aid and scholarship options to consider how you will fund your trip. CGIS may be a good resource when searching for scholarship opportunities.

Upon Your Return

After you return, you should make an appointment to meet again with your advisors to confirm that your courses will transfer in as planned. Please see our Transfer Credits page for more information about the process of transferring credits. Note: transcripts from abroad take time to process, sometimes weeks or even months after you return depending on the program.

It is also important to give yourself time to adjust. Reverse Culture Shock is a real thing and it can be difficult to re-acclimate to life at home. Be patient and seek out information and resources that may help you reintegrate into your life in A2.

CGIS and the International Center both offers some helpful information about how to prepare for your return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any programs specifically for Econ students?

We unfortunately do not have a comprehensive list of study abroad programs specifically for Economics undergraduates. Students are encouraged to search for programs through CGIS, the International Center, and outside programs to find opportunities that best meet their goals for their time abroad.

That said, the London School of Economics is one well-known program which offers both a full-year and summer study abroad program for Juniors and Seniors. It may even be possible to receive some funding from the Economics Department if you are an Economics major. Please contact econundergradoffice@umich.edu for more information.

There are also opportunities through the Michigan Ross Global Student Experiences programs.

It is important to speak with your various advisors throughout the study abroad process. Please research potential programs (and potential courses, if possible) before scheduling an appointment with an Economics Faculty Advisor in particular so they may best help you with course planning and pre-evaluating courses for transfer.

How do I transfer in courses from my studies abroad?

I've submitted my transcripts from abroad, but the credits aren't showing up yet. What do I do?

What courses are easiest to transfer from abroad?

Please note: this website does not make any guarantees about whether a given course will transfer in as equivalent to a U-M Econ course. The information below is intentionally generic and is not intended to replace a meeting with an Economics Faculty Advisor.

In general, it can be difficult to transfer in 400-level Economics elective courses for use in the Economics Major due to the variations in prerequisites required across schools, programs, and countries. This is because our department requires 400-level elective courses abroad to have Econ 401 or Econ 402 as prerequisites, and the relevant prerequisite must be taken at U-M before taking the elective coarse abroad.

On the other hand, 300-level Economics elective courses are typically easier to transfer in for use in the Economics Major. Up to 6 credits of 300-level Economics electives are productive in the Economics Major, so students may want to plan their studies so as to save room in their program for some of these credits to be fulfilled by those transferred in from their studies abroad.

Another thing to keep in mind is that curricula in English-speaking countries are more similar to U-M's Econ curriculum than, say, curricula in Romance Language countries. This means there is a stronger chance of successfully transferring in credits from English-speaking countries (UK, Australia, etc.) than elsewhere. However this is a generalization, please do not let it dissuade you from pursuing study abroad opportunities in non-English-speaking countries. Your study abroad experience will be most useful if you can take classes that are not available here.

Please see an Economics Faculty Advisor to plan your courses and programs abroad. You can also review the process for transferring credits on our Transfer Credits page.

When should I begin planning for studying abroad?

Students should begin planning for studying abroad as soon as they know they are interested in going abroad.

Please research programs and meet with your LSA and Economics advisors early on so you can plan for both your courses taken here in A2 before going abroad, and the classes you may take while abroad. Please see "First Steps: Planning Your Trip" above or reach out to CGIS for more information.