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Program Types and Deadlines

Types of Study Abroad Programs

Want to study abroad, but unsure of the differences in cost and courses across the different program types? Read more about that here:

See the deadlines and more details about these program types here, then once you determine the length and style of program for which you’re looking, start your search.

Short-Term/Faculty-Led Study Abroad

Winter break, spring break, spring (May Abroad), May term, summer I and summer II programs are study abroad options that are part of a three-credit-hour Case Western Reserve course (commonly called “short-term” or “faculty led”).

  • Register for one Case Western Reserve course that goes abroad, usually with the faculty leader
  • Pay tuition and a program fee to Case Western Reserve. Program fees and what they cover vary by program.
  • You can find all of these under the “Featured Programs” tab on the Program Search engine

Long-Term Study Abroad (Semester/Year Abroad)

In fall, spring, academic year and calendar year options, students spend a full semester(s) at any one of Case Western Reserve’s 75+ study abroad partner institutions (commonly called “long term study abroad”).

  • Register for a full course load overseas and transfer courses back to Case Western Reserve
  • Participants pay tuition to Case Western Reserve but pay room, board, and any fees to the overseas institution

    Summer Study Abroad at a CWRU Partner Institution

    Summer study abroad is directly enrolling in summer courses at any of Case Western Reserve’s partner institutions.

    • Register for at least one course at an overseas institution and transfer it back to Case Western Reserve
    • Students pay tuition, room and board, and fees to the overseas institution

    Research, Internship, Service Learning & Clinical Exposure Abroad

    Looking to conduct research or gain valuable work experience overseas? There are many opportunities available.

    • Available at many semester/year study abroad institutions and searchable as a field of study under “Courses Offered.” Find a program.
    • Stand-alone opportunities are facilitated by the Office of Education Abroad and the relevant Case Western Reserve department (e.g. the Career Center, SOURCE, CCEL, Co-op Office)
    • International travel registration is required for all international experiences and ensures students have Case Western Reserve’s free international medical and emergency insurance while abroad.

    Independent Academic Travel

    Students who find other opportunities abroad via a Case Western Reserve source (a faculty research connection, an externship advertised via a Case Western Reserve channel or community member, a clinical rotation or elective abroad, etc.) must--by Case Western Reserve policy--register this non-credit travel in the Independent Academic Travel system of the Center for International Affairs. Registration will give students access to Case Western Reserve's free international travel and emergency health insurance.

    Students who believe they should register their travel must email Alec Jokubaitis to check this need and for the link to register at least one month in advance of their departure. 

    Petition Programs

    Students may consider petitioning for a study abroad program not on the CWRU-approved list if they have:

    1. An academically compelling reason for why none of the currently approved programs through CWRU meet their needs and the support of a faculty member to substantiate their academically compelling reason, or
    2. Received a scholarship that fully funds their study at a non-CWRU-approved study abroad program.

    Students must meet with the advisor for unconventional/petition programs and meet very early deadlines.  

    Terms and Deadlines 

    Want to study abroad, but unsure where to go, with whom to travel or how long to spend? Case Western Reserve University offers a variety of options to meet students’ varying needs:

    See the deadlines and more details about these program types here. Then, once you determine the length and style of program for which you’re looking, start your search!

    Short-Term/Faculty-Led Study Abroad

    Program deadlines and fast facts:

    • Winter Break: Last Day of Add/Drop Fall Semester
      • Students register for a fall semester course in SIS that goes abroad as a class
      • Programs leave after the holidays and spend approximately 15 days abroad
    • Spring Break/Spring (May Abroad): Last Day of Add/Drop Spring Semester
      • Students register for a spring semester course in SIS that goes abroad as a class
      • Spring break programs spend approximately 6 days abroad, Spring (May Abroad) programs spend approximately 15 days abroad
    • May Term and Summer I or II (CWRU): March 15
      • Students register for a summer course in SIS for which the entirety of the course is spent abroad
      • May Term and Summer I and II (CWRU) courses spend approximately 21 days abroad

    Students can find more details on these programs by exploring their brochure pages in the study abroad database. All historic and current faculty-led programs can be found by clicking on "Featured Programs".

    Long-Term Study Abroad (Semester/Year Abroad)

    Program deadlines and fast facts:

    • Deadlines:
      • Fall or Academic Year: March 1 
      • Spring or Calendar Year: September 15
      • Note that deadlines may be earlier for some programs
      • Also note that in special circumstances, students may petition to be eligible to apply past the deadline. The very last date for late petition submission is one month after the program's deadline.
    • For each semester of study abroad, students will register for a placeholder course in SIS that allows them to maintain their student and financial aid status with CWRU
    • Students register for classes abroad with an approved study abroad program. The program also facilitates their overseas housing registration and assists with visa paperwork in varying ways
    • Students spend the semester or year abroad and transfer their study abroad courses back to CWRU via the Course Approval Form (their official transcript from overseas is required for transfer)

    Students can find more details on these programs by exploring their brochure pages in the study abroad database. All approved semester/year programs can be found by selecting the relevant semester or year from the "Term" drop down box. Other drop down boxes include "Majors Offered" and "Regions" among others.

    Summer Study Abroad (at a CWRU Partner Institution)

    Program deadlines and fast facts:

    • Deadlines:
      • Summer: March 15
      • Note that deadlines are earlier for many programs
      • Also note that in special circumstances, students may petition to be eligible to apply past the deadline. The very last date for late petition submission is one month after the program's deadline.
    • Students register for EDAB 3 for the summer term in SIS which allows access to their financial aid and the ability to transfer their credits back, but does not charge CWRU tuition
    • Students register and pay for classes abroad with an approved study abroad program. The program facilitates their overseas housing and assists with visa paperwork in varying ways
    • Students spend the summer abroad and transfer their study abroad courses back to CWRU via the Course Approval Form (their official transcript from overseas is required for transfer)

    Research, Internships, Service Learning, and Clinical Exposure Abroad

    Program deadlines and fast facts:

    • Deadlines
      • If research or internships are for credit and/or a part of a semester or year study abroad, their deadlines follow that program type (see above)
      • If research or internships are sourced otherwise, international travel registration must be completed one month before the student's departure date
    • Students should meet with a study abroad advisor well in advance in order to review the options available and source others if need be.  

    Students can find more details on these programs by exploring their brochure pages in the study abroad database. All approved semester/year and summer programs can be found by selecting "internship", "research", "service-learning" or "pre-med" from the "Majors Offered" drop down box and/or the "Program Purpose" drop down box. Students can also narrow the results by choosing "summer" or a semester from the "Term" drop down box or an option under the "Region" drop down box. 

    Students interested in sourcing their own opportunities can email studyabroad@case.edu to be directed to the appropriate professional advisor.

    Independent Academic Travel

    Students who find other opportunities abroad via a Case Western Reserve source (a faculty research connection, an externship advertised via a Case Western Reserve channel or community member, a clinical rotation or elective abroad, etc.) must--by Case Western Reserve policy--register this non-credit travel in the Independent Academic Travel system of the Center for International Affairs. 

    Students who believe they should register their travel must email studyabroad@case.edu to check this need and for the link to register at least one month in advance of their departure. 

    Petition Programs

    Program deadlines and fast facts:

    • Deadlines
      • Fall or Academic Year: February 1
      • Spring or Calendar Year: July 1
      • Summer: March 10
    • Petitions are usually reviewed the month of their due date and the results given at the end of that month. 
    • Petitions require:
      • An academically compelling reason why the non-approved program meets the student's needs and none of the others on the approved list do
      • The support of a faculty member in the form of a letter corroborating the academically compelling reason
      • Information on the non-approved program's health and safety features, student services, academic resources, the contact information of a named representative from that school and more.
    • Petitions require a meeting with the study abroad advisor for unconventional programs before a petition can be started

    *Petitions are considered by the review committee on a case-by-case basis and are rarely approved