Study Abroad

Studying Abroad: Reasons and Feasibility

Have you considered studying abroad? Did you decide it wasn’t feasible or affordable? In most cases it is feasible with some planning. And, studying abroad costs less than you may think!

Benefits of Studying Abroad

• Language. Even more important than practicing a foreign language, students who study abroad become experts at speaking in English with people who speak English as a second language, a valuable skill in the global field of engineering.
• Challenges. Studying abroad presents a variety of challenges—challenges unlike the ones you’ll find on the Illinois campus. New challenges exercise creativity and hone problem solving skills, which are central to engineering
• Culture. The appreciation students gain for foreign cultures while studying abroad enables them to work better in teams of engineers from all over the world. Learning to adjust to new cultures also prepares students for international travel throughout their careers.

Correcting Common Misconceptions

• Cost. It costs far less to study abroad for a semester than to study on campus for a semester.  Considering tuition, fess, transportation, food, and housing, students save over $6,000 per semester.
• Transfer Credit. The ECE Department values international experience. To encourage students to study abroad, the ECE Advising Office consistently approves transfer credit for technical courses before your program begins. While it is best to take core ECE classes on campus, it is easy to take technical electives, math courses, and general education courses abroad. You can graduate in eight semesters.

Plan Ahead

• Make an eight semester plan that allows you to take core requirements on campus without getting behind. See the example below.
• Visit the International Programs in Engineering (IPENG) Web site at engineering.illinois.edu/international.
• Go to the IPENG office in 210 Engineering Hall and ask for some information about opportunities in countries that interest you. There are programs for an academic year, a semester, summer, and winter break.

Example of an Eight Semester Plan Designed Around Studying Abroad

There are many ways to arrange classes. Below is an example with no AP credit. If you have AP credit, you can easily study abroad your fourth semester. 

Semester	Class 1	Class 2	Class 3	Class 4	Class 5	Class 6
1st	CHEM 102	CHEM 103	MATH 221	ECE 110	ENG 100	General Education
2nd	PHYS 211	ECE 190	MATH 231	ECE 190	RHET 105	General Education
3rd	PHYS 212	ECE 290	MATH 241	Technical Elective	General Education
4th	PHYS 213	PHYS 214	MATH 286	ECE 210	Technical Elective	General Education
5th	ECE 329	ECE 340	ECE LAB	Tech Elective	General Education	General Education
Abroad	ECE 313	Technical Elective	Technical Elective	General Education	General Education
7th	ECE 385	ECE LAB	Technical Elective	Technical Elective	General Education	General Education
8th	ECE 445 or 411	Technical Elective	Technical Elective	Technical Elective

Semester Abroad Cost Comparison for Freshmen Entering Fall 2008

Semester Abroad through IPENG			In-State Semester on Campus ***
Program Fee	$1,200		Range I Tuition	$4,621
Range IV Tuition	771		Eng. Tuition	2,076
Range IV Eng. Tuition	346		All Fees	808
UIUC General Fee	248
Processing Fee	350
Health Insurance	115
Airfare	*400
Housing	2,000		UIUC Room & Board	5,482
Food	1,200
Sub Total	$6,630
Stipend	**($500)
Total	$6,130		Total	$12,987

*Estimate. IPENG usually assists with airfare through the International Engineering Fellowship. All undergraduate engineering students who agree to complete a project and talk about their experiences upon returning receive the International Engineering Fellowship. Go to the IPENG office for details.

**IPENG pays a stipend of $500 per semester to students who study abroad for a semester or academic year.

*** Range IV Tuition is the same for residents and non-residents. Non-residents pay the same amount as residents to study abroad, yielding even bigger savings.