External January & Summer Programs

If your primary goal is to catch up or get ahead in fulfilling degree requirements, then you should try to get academic credit for your short-term study away; however, you may have other reasons for seeking a short-term study away experience.

If you want to receive academic credit towards your Macalester degree for non­-Macalester January and summer programs, verify with the Registrar’s Office that the college will accept credit from your chosen program.

• Credit for non­-Macalester January and summer programs are added to your Macalester transcript as transfer credit and grades are not factored into the Macalester cumulative grade point average.
• A maximum of two credits may be earned each January.
• You may be able to apply credits towards your Macalester education as general credit, fulfilling distribution requirements, and/or fulfilling major/minor/concentration requirements.

Many types of experiences or programs do not offer credit (e.g., volunteer programs, some research opportunities, some language programs or scholarships, etc.). One of these might be the best fit to meet your goals. Often, not-for-credit programs are less expensive than their for-credit counterparts. This is because they do not need to pay for accreditation. Even so, be sure to review the below section on program quality to be sure you are receiving good value for your money.

Utilize this resource: Tips to Ensure Academic Credit

Just as the program opportunities vary, so can the quality of a program. Macalester does not directly control how external study away programs operate; the responsibility for determining the “proper fit” of the program and a successful learning experience rests with the student. You might want to consider the following questions:

• Is the program accredited? (for-credit programs)
• Specifically, does the program meet one of the following criteria: (1) is offered by a U.S. or international accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education; or (2) issues transcripts through a U.S. or international accredited, degree-granting institution, or has a special credit-granting relationship with Macalester (e.g. ACM, CIEE, DIS, IES, etc.).
• What are the credentials of the faculty and instructors?
• Do they hold advanced degrees? How much location-specific experience do they have? What is their experience teaching the course content?
• Is the program culturally aware and appropriate?
• Does the program incorporate local staff, knowledge, and resources? What resources do they provide to support you in learning about the place you will be studying?

For study away programs on the Macalester approved list and for Mac-Led Short-Term study away programs, there are committees on campus that evaluate and monitor issues related to risk management and student safety. If you are considering an external study away program, it’s important that you research these topics for the program you are interested in. You might want to ask:

• What is the U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory Level for your desired study away country or area?
• Does the program offer a clear plan for risk management and emergency response?
• Does the program provide or recommend travel insurance? It is recommended that anyone traveling internationally should maintain existing comprehensive coverage and seek supplemental travel insurance, if it is not already included. Recommended coverage options to seek, include:
  • Emergency medical evacuation
  • Political and natural disaster evacuation
  • Repatriation of remains

Some study away programs include or require insurance policies as part of their enrollment fees. For those that don’t have medical coverage through your own or program provided insurance policies, it is extremely important to make sure you have medical insurance that will provide for essential medical coverage at your study away site.  You may find this article on How to Find the Best Travel Insurance to be helpful. There are a number of search engines available to help you compare coverage and costs between different policies. Be aware that in most cases you will need to pay for your medical care at the time of service and be reimbursed after you return home and file a claim for reimbursement.

Even if you end up purchasing additional insurance for medical coverage outside of the U.S., you should maintain your primary US health insurance coverage throughout your study away semester.  This is especially important should the unexpected occur and you have to return to the US for medical care. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure proper insurance coverage and the above are intended as recommendations. 

It’s critical to think about the types of support you get and need at Macalester, and consider if and how those supports are offered on the programs you are considering. Some questions to ask might be:

• Does the program offer adequate student support for administrative processes, housing, co-curricular support, etc.?
• Administrative support can depend on the size and scope of a program, but in general, you should seek a clarity in who handles your billing, housing support, emergency response, curriculum, and any travel. These supports are often divided between the organizing agency and the on-site staff and partners.
• Who will be on-site during the program?
• Who will be the primary on-site contact? Does the program partner with other local providers or organizations? Is this information accessible?
• Is an orientation provided? It is a best practice that any program provide an orientation to the local culture, customs, and safety protocols.
• What does your program provide prior to departure and once on-site?
• Can the program support physical, learning or dietary accommodations? On a US college campus, there are legal obligations and ethical standards to provide
  accommodations. An international program/organization’s obligations, standards, capacity can vary greatly. If you are seeking any accommodations, be sure to ask prior to making commitments.

The cost of short-term study away opportunities can vary greatly. Macalester financial aid is not available for summer study away. Costs to participate in a January or summer program are handled on an individual basis; you are ultimately responsible for these costs. Even so, here are some tips to aid you in the process:

• Be sure to review program financial policies, including deposit and withdrawal policies.
• Contact Macalester Financial Aid if you are interested in financing your study away with additional student loans (summer or January); eligibility varies.
• Check these Macalester funding sources:
  • Ask your department. Some departments have funding set aside for student research and travel.
  • Student Travel Committee: This committee has funding available for student travel through a central application system. The committee considers each individual funding request based on its individual merits and connection to the mission of the College.
• Search our Scholarship Directory for applicable funding. 

Macalester Funded Summer Opportunities:

• Davis Projects for Peace
• Live it Fund
• Action Fund (Twin Cities)

Outside Funded Summer Opportunities

• Critical Language Scholarship
• Fulbright Summer Institute in the UK
• DAAD University Summer Course Grant
• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
• Boren Scholarship STEM

While not comprehensive, this list of programs includes those offered by trusted partners and fellow colleges and universities. Interested students may contact the Center for Study Away for additional questions and guidance.Terms Offered:
January, May, summer

Locations:
Africa – South Africa

Asia – South Korea

Europe – Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, United States

Oceania – Australia

Language Learning:
Czech, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship (including virtual)

More Information:

AIFS Abroad

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – South Korea, Taiwan

Europe – Various locations in Eastern Europe

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Russian, Mandarin, Korean, Balkan languages, Eurasian languages

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

American Councils

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – Morocco, Tunisia

Asia – N/A

Europe – Ireland

Middle East – Jordan, United Arab Emirates

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Arabic, Tunisian Sign Language

Research/Internship:
Community-based learning courses available

More Information:

AMIDEAST

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – N/A

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Mexico

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Spanish

Research/Internship:
Research, Internship, Practicum

More Information:

Augsburg CGEE

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – Hungary

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Hungarian

Research/Internship:
Research

More Information:

BSM

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Argentina, Costa Rica

Oceania – Australia

Language Learning:
French, Irish, Italian, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship, Job Shadowing

More Information:

CEA/CAPA

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – France

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

CEPA Strasbourg

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – China, Japan, Taiwan

Europe – Italy

Middle East – Jordan

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Japanese

Research/Internship:
Internship, Research

More Information:

CET Academic Programs

Terms Offered:
January, summer

Locations:
Africa – Botswana, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa

Asia – China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan

Europe – Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – Jordan

North/Central/South America – Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico

Oceania – Australia, New Zealand

Language Learning:
Arabic, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Russian, Setswana, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship (including virtual)

More Information:

CIEE

Terms Offered:
January, May, summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – Japan, South Korea, Thailand

Europe – Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Costa Rica

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship

More Information:

CIS Abroad

Terms Offered:
January, summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – Greece

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Greek

Research/Internship:
Fieldwork, lab work, or workshops may be course components.

More Information:

College Year in Athens

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – France

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
French

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

CUPA

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – Denmark, Sweden

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
Research, Labs, Practicums

More Information:

DIS

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – Japan, Singapore, South Korea

Europe – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Costa Rica

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Chinese, French, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Spanish

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

EF

Terms Offered:
January, May, summer

Locations:
Africa – Morocco

Asia – N/A

Europe – Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
French, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship (including virtual), Field Studies, Service Learning

More Information:

IAU

Terms Offered:
January, summer

Locations:
Africa – South Africa

Asia – Japan

Europe – Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Argentina, Chile, Ecuador

Oceania – Australia

Language Learning:
French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship (including virtual)

More Information:

IES

Terms Offered:
January, summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – China

Europe – Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States

Oceania – Australia

Language Learning:
Chinese, Czech, Irish, Italian, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship, Lab Work available through select courses

More Information:

IFSA

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – N/A

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – United States

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Abenaki, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

Middlebury Language Schools

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – N/A

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – United States

Oceania – Tahiti

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
Research

More Information:

SEA

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – Kenya

Asia – Bhutan, Cambodia, Tanzania

Europe – N/A

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands

Oceania – Australia

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
Field Studies

More Information:

SFS

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:
Africa – Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania

Asia – India, Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam

Europe – Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland

Middle East – Jordan

North/Central/South America – Panama

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Arabic, Chinese, French, Malagasy, Vietnamese

Research/Internship:
Internship, Field Studies, Project-Based Courses

More Information:

SIT

Terms Offered:
January, summer

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – Armenia, Kyrgyzstan

Europe – Azerbaijan, Georgia, Latvia, Poland

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Kyrgyz, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian
Arabic, Kazakh, Tajik, Uzbek per instructor availability

Research/Internship:
Internship (including virtual)

More Information:

SRAS

Terms Offered:
summer (Florence)
summer (Naples)

Locations:
Africa – N/A

Asia – N/A

Europe – Italy

Middle East – N/A

North/Central/South America – N/A

Oceania – N/A

Language Learning:
Italian

Research/Internship:
Internship

More Information:

SRISA (Florence)

SRISA (Naples)

Terms Offered:
summer

Locations:

Africa – Ghana

Asia – Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand

Europe – Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom

North/Central/South America – Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, United States

Oceania – Australia

Language Learning:
French, German, Japanese, Spanish

Research/Internship:
Internship & Professional Development

More Information:

ISEP Study Abroad

Terms Offered:
trimester 2/block periods 3 & 4 (summer)

Location:
Cairns or Townsville, Australia

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
Fieldwork or research components may be available in individual courses.

More Information:

James Cook University

Terms Offered:
summer

Location:
Maynooth, Ireland

Language Learning:
N/A; Irish language may be a component of individual courses.

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

Maynooth University

Terms Offered:
summer

Location:
London, England, United Kingdom

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

Queen Mary, University of London

Terms Offered:
summer

Location:
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Language Learning:
Irish (through the Irish Studies programme)

Research/Internship:
N/A

More Information:

Queen’s University Belfast

Terms Offered:
summer

Location:
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
Independent research projects

More Information:

University of Glasgow

Terms Offered:
summer

Location:
St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
Fieldwork courses

More Information:

University of St. Andrews

Terms Offered:
summer (their winter)

Location:
Sydney, Australia

Language Learning:
N/A

Research/Internship:
Internship

More Information:

University of Sydney