Study abroad is for all Cornell students!
Study abroad can work for you—no matter your major or college. On this page, you'll find essential information for making sure your time abroad fits into your eight-semester academic plan and meets your college's policies for credit transfer.
Meet with Your Advisors
Each college has a designated advisor who approves plans to study abroad. Your college advisor for study abroad helps you determine how study abroad fits with your major and college graduation requirements.
For advising on specific programs or signatures on program-based approval forms, see the Education Abroad advisor for your program or region. Visit our Get Advice page to get in touch with an Education Abroad or college advisor.
College Policies for Semester or Full-Year Study Abroad
All undergraduates studying abroad must meet these requirements:
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
- Be able to study abroad and graduate on time.
- Meet the program's requirements for admission.
- Study the language of the country while abroad.
Colleges may also have additional requirements for study abroad (GPA, prior study at Cornell, rules about studying abroad in your final semester, and so on). Learn more about your college’s policies and procedures:
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: 2.75 GPA. CALS offers study abroad info sessions.
- College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: 3.0 GPA.
- College of Arts and Sciences: 3.0 GPA. Note language requirement.
- Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy: See Off-Campus Opportunities.
- College of Engineering: Must meet your program’s required GPA. See Study Abroad Planning Guides.
- College of Human Ecology: 3.0 GPA at time of application and program start.
- Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration: 3.0 GPA.
- SC Johnson: Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management: 2.75 GPA.
- School of Industrial and Labor Relations: 3.0 GPA.
- Graduate students: PhD students work with their committee chairs. Master's students work with their programs to learn about international study options, policies, and credit transfer.
Semester Abroad in Seoul, South Korea
CALS communication major Adele Williams '24 shares a day in her life at Yonsei University. Explore study abroad programs to find the perfect fit for you!
College Policies for Short-Term Study Abroad
The Office of Global Learning offers short-term study abroad programs during the winter and summer sessions. These faculty-led programs are Cornell courses with Cornell grades.
For non-Cornell programs during the summer or winter, follow your college's procedures for domestic transfer of credit. There are no special college prerequisites or requirements. Before deciding to participate in a program, review these important policies:
- Your transcript must come from an accredited U.S. or foreign university.
- Cornell language programs will not accept credit for language classes taken abroad at the elementary or intermediate levels, but you can take a placement test to see if you can place into a higher level. Colleges other than A&S may award elective or distributional credit for language classes taken abroad.
Regular Cornell financial aid is not available for the summer, although limited scholarships are available through Cornell and outside sources.