Short-term programs offer undergraduates high-impact, focused study abroad experiences led by Cornell faculty and staff. The Office of Global Learning manages a select portfolio of winter, spring break, and summer short-term programs.
Faculty and academic units can work with us to develop short-term programs that may include one or more Cornell courses or learning materials before and after the trip. Short-term programs may be interdisciplinary and cross-college, and many incorporate hands-on learning with local partners. The international experience can be as short as one week or span a summer.
Short-Term Program Types
Programs can take a variety of forms. We recommend consulting Cornell's Courses of Study (international programs and studies) to browse current international experiences courses. Consider the following course models.
Sandwich Course
This is a pair of related fall and spring courses "sandwiched" around a winter break trip, with spring credit awarded for the international experience. The sequence is designed and led by one or more Cornell faculty members who travel abroad with a group of Cornell students. This model offers students a guided short-term international experience that reflects Cornell’s academic standards, with time for in-depth classroom learning and contexts.
Credits and Details
Credits Earned: Spring Credits: 3–5 Travel Timing: Winter break Length of Travel: Approximately two weeks
The sandwich course sequence is made up of a fall course (full semester or second seven-week period), winter break field trip, and spring course (full semester or first seven-week period). Students must complete all three of the course components for credit and grade.
There is no additional tuition charge, because tuition is paid for the semester.
The course may fit into the faculty's teaching load, or the college may agree to pay an overload. Alternately, the faculty may absorb the overload without course compensation.
Student costs, including program fee and airfare, are covered by participants and/or supported by other funding sources.
Faculty travel costs are paid by Global Cornell or other funding sources, or else built into the cost for students.
Spring Course with Spring Break Travel
The course is designed and led by one or more Cornell faculty members who travel abroad with a group of Cornell students. This model offers students a guided short-term international experience. It is ideal for students who want an experience that reflects Cornell’s academic standards.
Credits and Details
Credits Earned: Spring Credits: 3–5 Travel Timing: Spring break Length of Travel: Approximately one week
A spring break–only trip will not qualify for academic credit on its own, but it can be included as an embedded part of an on-campus course. These courses usually have some instruction delivered before and after departure. There are two options: 1) All students are required to complete both on-campus and abroad components, or 2) the abroad component is optional and for additional credit. In either case:
There is no additional tuition charge, because tuition is paid for the semester.
The course may fit into the faculty's teaching load, or the college may agree to pay an overload. Alternately, the faculty may absorb the overload without course compensation.
Student costs, including program fee and airfare, are covered by participants and/or supported by other funding sources.
Faculty travel costs are paid by Global Cornell or other funding sources, or else built into the cost for students.
Stand-Alone Summer or Winter Course
A small number of courses are taught entirely in international locations during winter session or over the summer. Stand-alone courses are designed and led by one or more Cornell faculty members or international partners. This model offers students a longer international experience that doesn't conflict with other academic plans—but financial aid does not apply.
Credits and Details
Credits: Depend on the mode of instruction, hours, and course length Travel Timing: Summer or winter
Length of Travel: Can vary from one to eight weeks
Be aware that financial aid awards only cover semester and yearlong study abroad. Institutional grant aid is not available for the summer or winter sessions. As a result, we ask anyone planning a stand-alone course to guarantee funding from other sources to provide all students equitable access.
Students pay all tuition, travel, and program fees.
Faculty travel costs are paid by Global Cornell or built into the cost for students.
