Types of Programs
RIT Education Abroad offers five different types of programs. Each program has unique pros/cons. You and your study abroad advisor can determine the best program that will meet your needs. To help you make a decision, it is best to compare programs and providers and consider things like the application process, fees, program costs, level of customer support, etc.
RIT Global Campus Programs allow you to directly enroll in one of RIT’s international campuses located in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, Croatia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Pristina, Kosovo; Beijing and Weihei, China. They follow a similar academic calendar as RIT and you directly enroll for a semester abroad. Croatia and Kosovo also offer summer programs. Semester dates align with the RIT Rochester academic calendar, and course offerings will vary depending on the campus and term.
RIT Faculty-Led Programs are designed and developed by RIT faculty members, who lead a group of students on a short-term program abroad. Programs vary in length (between one to five weeks) and may take place over winter break, spring break, or summer. The location, duration and course offerings of the program depend on the interest and expertise of the faculty member.
RIT Exchanges are culturally immersive programs that allow you to directly enroll in a local university and are usually course-discipline specific. Exchanges are programs in which RIT sends a handful of students to a partner university overseas, and the partner university sends a handful of students to attend RIT. Exchange programs typically offer a more culturally immersive experience for a smaller number of students based on the exchange agreement with RIT's partner. These programs also tend to be more discipline-focused and may have language requirements.
RIT Affiliate Programs are facilitated by partner universities and organizations to enhance the variety of locations and course offerings available to students. RIT has set up partnerships with other nationally ranked universities and organizations, allowing our students to travel on their programs. Our affiliates include Arcadia University, The School for Field Studies, DIS Abroad, CIS Abroad, IES Abroad, CIEE, and a handful of others. The credits earned on these programs will count as RIT credits upon successful completion of the program.
RIT Education Abroad is very selective when choosing partners with which to affiliate. This ensures the education that our students receive while on study abroad meets the same rigorous academic standards that they would get if they remained on campus taking classes.
International Research Opportunities allow you to conduct research abroad at one of RIT's approved overseas partners with the guidance of an RIT faculty member.
Selecting a Program
There are several factors to consider when selecting a study abroad program. The most common criteria that students use when choosing a program include:
Level of Cultural Immersion
The level of immersion can be viewed on a continuum, with low, medium, and high levels. Examples of cultural immersion:
- Low Cultural Immersion: Live with American students; take classes in English; shorter experience; many excursions planned for you
- Medium Cultural Immersion: Live with local students; take most classes in English, but also take a local language class; get involved with student or local clubs/activities
- High Cultural Immersion: Live with a host family; take classes in the local language; full semester experience; volunteer or do an internship
Curriculum
You can choose to take courses in your major, minor, immersion, or toward your general education credits abroad. You will work with your academic advisor to identify which courses remain in your degree program and what courses you need to take abroad to stay on track for graduation.
Cost
Estimated costs of a program can be found on a program provider's website (affiliate programs), via the faculty director (faculty-led programs), or from a study abroad advisor (global campus and exchange programs). The exact costs will be outlined on a student budget worksheet provided by the Education Abroad office for the program the student is considering. Students can take a copy of the budget worksheet to a meeting with RIT financial aid to determine how their aid may apply toward program costs.
Housing
Options for housing often include living in dormitories, student apartments, or with a host family. Living with a host family often provides a higher level of cultural immersion as a student has the opportunity to see the daily life of a local family, where living in dormitories is often closer to the host school.
Length of Time
Options include a semester, summer, winter break, or academic year abroad. Some faculty-led programs are shorter in length (one to five weeks). The longer the student is abroad, the higher the level of cultural immersion typically is.
Location
We recommend that students consider the skills they plan to improve upon while abroad when considering their study abroad location. For example, if you want to improve your design skills, you may want to choose a location known for its design industry; if you want to improve your Spanish language, you may want to choose a location that speaks Spanish as its primary language.