Engineering students have the opportunity to study abroad and earn engineering credits toward their degrees. There are options to study various engineering topics in locations all over the world. Review program information below to find the right program for you.
To receive updates about these programs, including information session and application details, please fill out the College of Engineering Study Abroad Interest Form.
Please note that while this is an up-to-date program listing, some applications may still be under construction or awaiting final approval. If a link doesn't take you to a live application, check again after a couple of weeks or inquire with spauling@uw.edu.
An engineering student that meets the requirements may attend a summer or early fall program any summer of their academic career.
In faculty-led programs a UW instructor teaches a UW course abroad. Visiting programs require that students enroll at a university or other institution abroad.
Although summer programs may be longer, early fall programs may be easier to fit between other summer opportunities and the beginning of autumn quarter.
Australia
Term: Summer A-Term 2024
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Credit: ME 498
Deadline: January 31
Denmark
Term: Summer A-Term 2024
Location: Lyngby, Denmark
Credit: CHEM E 430, CHEM E 437
Deadline: January 31
France
Term: Summer A-Term 2024
Location: Poitiers and Toulouse, France
Credit: AA 498
Deadline: January 15
Germany
Term: Summer A-Term, Summer B-Term, or Summer Quarter 2024
Location: Berlin, Germany
Credit: Varies based on course selection
Deadline: January 31
Note: this program is also available during AUT/WIN/SPR.
Hong Kong (Exchange)
Term: Summer Quarter 2024
Location: Hong Kong
Credit: Varies based on course selection (10-15 credits)
Deadline: January 31
Note: this program is also available during AUT/WIN/SPR.
Italy
Term: Early fall 2024
Location: Rome, Italy
Credit: CEE 409/509
Deadline: February 15, 2024
Japan (Sendai)
Term: Summer A-Term 2024
Location: Sendai, Japan
Credit: ENGR 296
Deadline: January 31
Japan (Tokyo)
Term: Program on hold for 2024 - 2025 information coming soon
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Credit: Credit value varies depending on whether the program is running under the research or classroom-based model in a given year (2023 was the classroom-based model).
Deadline: January 3
Japan (Nagoya)
Term: Summer A-Term 2024
Location: Nagoya, Japan
Credit: ME 498/598, JAPAN 145
Deadline: January 15
Jordan
Term: Summer A-Term 2024
Location: Irbid, Jordan
Credit: CEE 497 / CEWA 598 / ESRM 490
Deadline: January 31
Nepal
Term: Early fall 2024
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Credit: BIOEN 407
Deadline: February 15
Switzerland
Term: Program on hold for 2024. 2025 information coming soon
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Credit: EE 215, ENGR 498
Deadline: February 15
United Arab Emirates
Term: Early fall 2024
Location: Dubai, UAB
Credit: E E 399
Deadline: February 15
With good planning, it’s very possible to study abroad for a quarter or two as an engineering student. Different majors have different recommended timelines for study abroad, so it’s always a good idea to reach out to an academic adviser as early as possible to begin planning your curriculum around an abroad experience.
Some programs, such as Engineering Italy, are pre-approved toward specific UW course requirements. Exchange programs, on the other hand, have many more course options but require you to look for curriculum matches in their online listings.
Germany (Exchange)
Term: Fall+winter quarters 2023/4 (“winter semester”), spring+summer quarters 2024 (“Summer semester”)
Location: Berlin, Germany
Credit: Varies based on course selection
Deadline: January 31, (fall+winter), May 15 (spring+summer)
Note: this program is also available during summer.
Hong Kong (Exchange)
Term: Autumn quarter 2023 (“autumn semester”), winter+spring quarters 2024 (“spring semester”) 2024
Location: Hong Kong
Credit: Varies based on course selection
Deadline: January 31 (autumn), May 15 (winter+spring)
Note: this program is also available during Summer.
Japan (Exchange)
Term: Fall+winter quarters 2023/4 (“second semester”), spring+summer quarters 2024 (“first semester”)
Location: Nagoya, Japan
Credit: Varies based on course selection
Deadline: December 15 (fall+winter), May 15 (spring+summer)
Japan (Exchange)
Term: Fall+winter quarters 2023/4 (“second semester”), spring+summer quarters 2024 (“first semester”)
Location: Sendai, Japan
Credit: Varies based on course selection
Deadline: December 15 (fall+winter), May 15 (spring+summer)
Italy
Term: Fall quarter 2024
Location: Rome, Italy
Credit: AA 210 / MATH 207 / A&H credit
Deadline: February 15, 2024
In addition to UW engineering programs, engineering students can also consider other UW exchange programs. Refer to this list for general UW exchange programs that allow exchange students to take engineering courses.
While the course categories listed here are a starting point, always check with your academic adviser about which courses abroad will fulfill your requirements. Many universities only offer a few courses in a given discipline, and you should work closely with your department to confirm whether a specific course will be approved.
If a program of interest to you doesn’t have an open application, please reach out to the study abroad office, as certain exchanges are only open based on student interest.
| Country | Program | Engineering Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | University of Melbourne Exchange | BioE, ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, ME |
| University of Queensland Exchange | AA, BioE, ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, HCDE, ISE, ME | |
| University of Sydney Exchange | AA, BioE, ChemE, CEE, ECE, ME | |
| CIEE Arts and Sciences Program in Sydney (pay CIEE rate instead of UW tuition rate) | AA, ChemE, CivE, ECE, EnvE, ISE, ME, MSE | |
| China | Tsinghua University Exchange | ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, MSE, ME |
| Denmark | Aarhus University Exchange | CEE, CSE, HCDE, ME |
| Germany | University of Saarlandes Departmental Exchange | CSE |
| Hong Kong | Chinese University of Hong Kong Exchange | AA, CEE, CSE, ECE, HCDE, MSE, ME |
| Ireland | University College Dublin Exchange | BioE, ChemE, CEE, ECE, ME |
| Japan | Tokyo Institute of Technology Exchange | AA, ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, ISE, MSE, ME |
| New Zealand | University of Auckland Exchange | BioE, ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, ISE, MSE, ME |
| University of Canterbury Exchange | BioE, ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, HCDE, MSE, ME | |
| Norway | Norwegian University of Science & Technology Exchange | ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, HCDE, MSE, ME |
| Singapore | National University of Singapore Exchange | BioE, ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, HCDE, ISE, MSE, ME |
| South Korea | Yonsei University Exchange | CEE, CSE, ISE, MSE, ME |
| Spain | CIEE Engineering and Society in Madrid (pay CIEE rate instead of UW tuition rate) | AA, BioE, CSE, ECE, ISE, ME |
| Sweden | KTH Royal Institute of Technology Departmental Exchange | CSE |
| Switzerland | ETH Zurich Departmental Exchange | CSE |
| EPFL Departmental Exchange | CSE | |
| Turkey | Bogazici University Exchange | ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, ISE, ME |
| United Kingdom | University College London Exchange | BioE, ChemE, CEE, CSE, CivE, EnvE, ECE, ME |
| University of Bristol Exchange | AA, CEE, CSE, ECE, ME | |
| University of Edinburgh Exchange | ChemE, CEE, CSE, ECE, ME | |
| CIEE Arts and Sciences Program in London (pay CIEE rate instead of UW tuition rate) | BioE, ChemE, CivE, ECE, EnvE, ME | |
| Multiple countries | CIEE Programs | All |
| IES Programs | All | |
| SIT Programs | All |
Keep in mind that the University of Washington offers many other study abroad programs throughout the academic year. An engineering student could use a non-engineering study abroad experience to complete General Education requirements, study a language of interest, or take classes for a minor. While this is easiest in the Summer or Early Fall, an engineering student who is ahead in their coursework may find that a full quarter of humanities or social science is a great way to broaden their horizons. As always, you should speak with an academic adviser about any study abroad plans.
Some non-engineering programs of potential interest:
- CIEE Open Campus Block Program - various locations (autumn, winter, or spring. Flexible program dates and locations; rolling deadlines.)
- DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia in Copenhagen, Denmark or Stockholm, Sweden (Any quarter including summer. Includes courses in programming, sustainability, public health, urban design, and many more.)
- Rome in Residence (autumn, winter, or spring. Many Ssc/A&H options such as architecture, anthropology, writing, and Italian language.)
