The Office of Global Learning (OGL) partners with universities worldwide and coordinates with Cornell’s undergraduate colleges and schools to offer incoming exchange student opportunities across academic disciplines and programs.
To apply for exchange, you must be currently enrolled at an institution covered by a reciprocal exchange agreement with Cornell. If your university does not have an exchange agreement with Cornell, explore coming to campus through the Visiting International Student Program or joining us for one of our short-term programs in another country.
Cornell's Exchange Partners
Ashoka University
Bocconi University
BOKU University
Chulalongkorn University
City University of Hong Kong
Copenhagen Business School
Delft University of Technology
Harper Adams University
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
IE University
ISARA: Agro School for Life
Junia ISA: Grande École d’Ingénieurs
King’s College London
Lincoln University
National Taiwan University
National University of Singapore
Purpan: École d’Ingénieurs
Queen Mary University of London
Sciences Po Paris
Technical University of Denmark
Technion: Israel Institute of Technology
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Universidad de Cantabria
Universidad Pontificia Comillas: ICAI
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
University College Dublin
University College London
University of Copenhagen
University of Edinburgh
University of Sydney
Wageningen University
Yonsei University
Get Started
Your journey as an exchange student starts with your home institution selecting and nominating you to study at Cornell. Eligible students then complete an online application. Our office reviews exchange applications and issues acceptances, including required immigration status materials and arrival information.
If you come to Cornell on exchange, we will advise you before, during, and after your program. We look forward to welcoming you to campus!
You must be nominated by your home institution in order to apply for exchange. You're eligible to apply if you also meet these criteria:
You're an undergraduate with at least two full-time semesters of university study complete.
Your record shows solid academic preparation in general and in your proposed areas of study.
You have the equivalent of a United States grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
You can demonstrate your proficiency in English with a TOEFL iBT score of 100, Duolingo score of 130, or IELTS score of 7.5. Alternately, you are a native English speaker or attend an institution where instruction is in English.
Nomination Procedure
Cornell's exchange partners will receive an email with nomination instructions and a link to the online nomination form. To nominate a student, partners must provide the following information via the online form:
Partner contact information (university name, institutional contact)
Proposed exchange term
Student contact information (name, preferred email address*)
Current year of study
Major/area of study at home institution
Proposed major/area of study at Cornell
We are no longer accepting nominations by email. Once nominated through the form, students will automatically receive the application link by email.
*Partners: Please confirm students' preferred email address to make sure they receive the application link. We've experienced some problems with outlook.com email addresses. Notify the incoming exchange advisor if a nominated student does not receive the application message.
Cornell Academics
Cornell has eight undergraduate colleges and schools, nearly 80 majors, and more than 4,000 courses!
You will be placed in one of the colleges based on the Cornell major proposed in your nomination. You're eligible to apply to any undergraduate college or school covered by your home institution's exchange agreement.
Before you apply, it's important to understand your academic options as an exchange student. Explore these links to learn more about the colleges and schools participating in undergraduate exchange.
In addition to participating in university-wide exchanges, ILR directly administers college-level exchange programs. Please contact ILR if your home institution’s partnership is with the college.
SC Johnson College of Business
Only students in business degree programs at their home institutions can apply to join the undergraduate schools in the SC Johnson College of Business (Nolan Hotel School and Dyson School).
Course Enrollment Restrictions
Cornell cannot guarantee enrollment in any college or course. Enrollment permission is subject to college or school restrictions, demonstrated academic qualifications in the form of prerequisites, class size limitations, and the consent of instructors.
Courses that are only open to degree-seeking majors, including core or senior capstone courses and first-year writing seminars, are not available to exchange students.
Exchange students may not enroll in computer and information science courses and studio-based programs in architecture, art, and design unless specifically approved under the agreement between your home institution and Cornell.
Can I study on undergraduate exchange as a graduate student?
Yes, you are welcome to apply for exchange with your home institution's approval. If admitted, your status at Cornell will be undergraduate. Graduate degree programs and professional colleges and schools (College of Veterinary Medicine, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell Law School, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine) are not included in Cornell's undergraduate exchange agreements.
Exchange students may enroll in graduate-level (5000-6000) classes if they have met the prerequisites.
After your home institution nominates you, OGL will send you an email with instructions for accessing and completing the online application. Email us if you have additional questions about your application.
Gather Your Documents
You'll need to submit the following documents as part of your online application:
Statement of purpose
List of Cornell courses that interest you
Transcripts of all undergraduate work (and graduate work, if any)
Proof of English Language Proficiency
Prepare to Attend
We hope we'll have the opportunity to welcome you to campus! Here are some key factors to consider as you apply. If you're admitted as an exchange student, we will provide further information.
Finances
Exchange students do not pay Cornell tuition, but are responsible for charges billed through Cornell's Office of the Bursar system:
If you secure on-campus housing or opt into a meal plan, you will also see these charges on your bursar bill. Explore Cost to Attend to learn about estimated additional costs, including room and board, books, and personal expenses. Costs vary greatly according to personal habits and choices.
Housing
Exchange students are responsible for securing their own accommodations on or near campus. Get started by exploring Housing and Residential Life at Cornell and reviewing your options for on-campus housing. On-campus housing is limited and not guaranteed. Living off-campus is another option.
Finding housing for the fall only can be very challenging, as single-semester leases are typically not available. (Students visiting in the fall often seek “sublets” using Cornell and community off-campus living resources.) Spring semester housing may be available on-campus and is generally easy to find off-campus. Full academic year housing is generally available off-campus.
Be aware of the financial risk of committing to housing before receiving admission notification from Cornell.
Student Visa
Unless you are a U.S. citizen, you must have a student visa to enter the United States for your Cornell studies.
After you're accepted as an exchange student, OGL will provide information on applying for a student visa. The undergraduate admissions office will prepare your I-20. You will be asked to provide the following information to the I-20 portal:
Scanned copy of your passport
Declaration of finances (required form with bank letter or statement attached)
