Study Abroad & Off Campus

An extraordinary opportunity available to University of Minnesota-Twin Cities students is the chance to study abroad or off campus. You can live in a foreign country, take classes at another university, become involved with internships or volunteer organizations, or even gain research experience abroad. Any of these experiences can enrich your life.

"[This program] fulfilled the rest of my Spanish Studies minor credit requirements, had an internship opportunity, and had a medical studies focus which fit well because I am pre-med. I really liked being able to see how a Spanish hospital works, as well as being fully immersed in the language and culture. [It was difficult] having to speak Spanish even when I was tired from a long day [since] there was no break when I went back to my host family. But I think this was also one of the most rewarding parts of being abroad. My language skills blossomed and I bonded with them." –Megan Maiers, Cross Cultural Health in Spain, Fall 2023

"[I went because of] the course offerings. DIS is the only study abroad organization to offer forensic psychology classes, which is my primary area of interest. [I took classes like] Forensic Psychology and Lab, Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Terrorism & Anti-Terrorism, and Developing Brain: From Infancy to Adolescence. [The hardest thing about being abroad was] homesickness; I was away from some loved ones for the first time, but this feeling fades away after time. I liked the amount of time we got off to see other countries and cities, [like] Munich, Strasbourg, Colmar, Edinburgh, Gothenburg, and Oslo!" –Taylor Hasselman, DIS Study Abroad in Sweden, Fall 2022 

Learning Abroad

Begin the Study Abroad Process
by completing a First Step Session through the Learning Abroad Center (in-person and online options).

The Learning Abroad Center has fantastic resources to guide you through the entire process of choosing a program, acquiring financial aid, and enrolling in courses abroad. From short-term global seminars to year-long programs, there is a program to match your interests and goals.

Psychology & Research in Madrid, Spain

Psychology & Research in Madrid, offered by the Learning Abroad Center in conjunction with the Department of Psychology and Fundación Ortega-Marañon, provides opportunities to study psychology coursework in Madrid, Spain during fall, spring, and summer semesters. Through this program, students can gain an international perspective on psychology, specifically in the brain sciences area, and work on psychological research while abroad. 

  • During the summer term, students will earn 6 PSY credits in just 6 weeks! Students will have the option to take Biological Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Psychology in the Workplace, or a research lab in Madrid, earning credit for PSY 5993: Directed Research in Psychology. 
  • During the fall or spring semester, students can choose from: Abnormal Psychology, Health Psychology, Biological Psychology, Sensation and Perception, Psychology in the Workplace, and Research Laboratory in Psychology or Internship in Psychology, along with other Spanish culture courses for a total of 13-18 credits.

For more information, visit the Learning Abroad Center website. 

"I chose this program because I have Spanish speaking proficiency, I am a psychology major, and I was interested in doing research internationally. I took a Psychology Research course (my research placement was at the Cajal Institute and it was amazing). Working at a neurogenesis lab in Spain at one of the best research institutes was something that I will never forget." –Kai Mari Penoske, Psychology and Research in Madrid, Fall 2022

National Student Exchange (NSE)

National Student Exchange (NSE) allows students to go on exchange to another school in the United States or Canada. Choose from more than 200 schools and hundreds of subjects to study from across North America. You can still earn credit toward your U of M degree and the credits you earn may be used toward your psychology major or minor. 

"I think NSE is a really underrated program because there’s so many options available to students in a place as vast and diverse as North America. There are so many different places you could choose and not crossing an ocean to find your place does not make the experience less valuable. I studied in Montreal because I was able to receive resident tuition rates as a U of M student. I spent less in Canada for my whole cost of attendance, start to finish, than what I do for just in-state tuition at the U. This prospect made it really attractive to me compared to the LAC programs. I immersed myself in French language and culture for my second major, just in a bit of a different way." –AJ Vollrath, Université de Montréal, Fall 2023

International UROP Scholarship

The International Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (I-UROP) Scholarship provides critical funding to students enrolled in select credit-bearing learning abroad programs involving a research project. The learning abroad program must be a fall or spring semester or the academic year. A minimum of 100 hours must be dedicated to onsite research.