Study Abroad

The Office of Study Abroad offers exciting overseas opportunities for academic enrichment and for gaining new perspectives abroad. The programs are pre-screened to meet Rice undergraduate needs, and to provide a broad spectrum of credit-bearing opportunities that both complement the Rice curriculum and ensure that study abroad students stay on track for timely graduation.

These high-quality educational programs, offered in collaboration with prestigious international universities and select program providers, are semester, year-long, or 6-8 week summer opportunities. Rice-approved programs are distinguished by their academic focus, providing course options in all undergraduate majors, as well as academic and cultural immersion through various opportunities such as integration into the local student body, involvement in community activities, intensive language instruction, field studies, professional internships, and independent research projects. While study abroad students are strongly encouraged to engage in language immersion if possible, the majority of the programs also offer instruction in English, regardless of geographic region.

Students must make their study abroad arrangements through the Office of Study Abroad in order to ensure proper enrollment, credit transfer, financial aid portability, scholarship eligibility, and risk management coverage.  The office assists students during the entire study abroad process spanning from choosing the right program to returning from overseas. This includes information sessions and one-on-one advising before and during the application process, pre-departure guidance, support while overseas, and reentry guidance.

Students should familiarize themselves with the university policies relevant to study abroad including transfer credit policy, and specifically the Office of the Registrar's policy for International Transfer Credit, before studying abroad. Please note that some departments have additional program-specific transfer credit guidelines or restrictions.