A passport can be as foundational to your LSA experience as your classes are.
Picture yourself learning a new language right in the heart of where it’s spoken, or helping a community develop clean water solutions, or traveling abroad with a professor to see first-hand how lessons from the classroom can make a difference.
The world needs global citizens: men and women who have a deep understanding of different cultures, are fluent in other languages, and possess the skills of negotiation and conflict resolution. With that in mind, LSA offers a wide range of globally focused programming and has become one of the top 10 centers for global study in the United States.
Advice for Finding a Program
You may already know exactly what you want to get out of your study-abroad experience, or you may know only that you want the experience but haven't any specific goals. Considering the following questions will help you search for the program that is best for you:
- Where in the world do you want to go?
- What do you want the language of instruction to be?
- How long and what time of year do you want to be, or can you be, away from campus?
- Do you want to be with other U-M and/or American students, or do you want to venture off more on your own?
- Do you want a strictly academic program, or one that incorporates service opportunities or internships?
- Since credit from a non-Michigan program is transfer credit, are you still eligible for transfer credit? Will the courses transfer to U-M?
- Do you want to use credit toward your concentration, distribution, or pre-health requirements?
- Do you want to live in a dormitory, an apartment, or with a host family?
- What will the total cost be (application and program fees, tuition, travel, etc.), and how will it compare to a term or year at U-M? If applicable, will you be able to use financial aid?
Study Abroad Programs
M-Compass
M-Compass is a University of Michigan site where students can search and apply for study abroad programs. Students applying for LSA-sponsored financial aid for their global experience can also apply for funding through this site.
The Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS)
The vast majority of global study–related programming in LSA and across U-M is handled through CGIS. Options range from short programs abroad to yearlong experiences, either on your own or with a faculty-led class. Advising and Q&A sessions are regularly available. Students are recommended but not required to attend a CGIS First Step session before submitting an application for a program through CGIS.
Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU)
GIEU provides project-based service-learning programs for first-year students, sophomores, and juniors. You can earn two credits taking a semester-long pre-departure course on intercultural learning, conducting fieldwork abroad for three to four weeks during the summer.
iiepassport.org
A sizeable directory of study abroad programs offered through numerous institutions.
The Global Scholars Program (GSP)
GSP is a campus community for students from all over the United States and around the world. Global Scholars live together in North Quad, make friends through regular community events, take one class together each semester, participate in small group dialogues on critical global issues, and complete an online team internship with one of GSP's global NGO partners. Our motto is "One World. One Community.", and we're ready to welcome you to GSP!
The Global Michigan Portal
You can find international opportunities on and off campus through the Global Michigan Portal.
You can find official international travel requirements on the LSA travel policy page.
