Office of International Programs

Available Fields of Study
Primarily Engineering & Computer Science, but other STEM fields may be available. Please refer to Available Majors at GE3 Schools to see what majors are offered at each school.

Language
Most partner schools offer a wide selection of courses in English.  Students who have language skills of the host country will have a larger selection of courses to choose from.  It is important to make sure that the classes you wish to take are offered in English or another language in which you are proficient.

Program Dates
Program dates vary depending on the institution/host country.  Not all program dates will align with the Rensselaer calendar; please review the program-specific information that is available on the Global E3 website.  

Course Selection
Students should refer to the website of each host institution for course offerings.  A limited number of preapproved courses may be found in the Transfer Credit Guide in SIS; search by country and institution name.  Course approval in SIS does not guarantee that a course will be offered during your semester abroad - you must select your courses based on their availability as indicated in the course catalogue of the host institution.

Courseload
Students are required to register for a minimum of the equivalent of 12 Rensselaer credits. The number of courses/credits taken abroad will depend on the academic system of the host institution, but in all cases, students must be enrolled with a full-time status.

Grading and Academic Evaluation
The grading system will depend upon the host institution to which you are applying. In many countries, it is not uncommon for very little assessment to take place during the semester with a final grade based solely on the results of a final exam.  Rensselaer students will only receive credit for courses in which  a final grade of the equivalent of C- or better is assigned. All classes must be taken for a grade and not on a pass/fail basis
 
Accommodation and Meals
Some institutions offer university housing to exchange students, while others provide guidance for securing private housing in the local community.  Details can be found in the information posted for each institution on the Global E3 site.

Estimated Expenses and Cost of Living
Students pay regular Rensselaer tuition while on the Global E3 exchange, in addition to airfare, accommodation and other living expenses.  Students are eligible for all regular Rensselaer aid.  While the cost of living will vary by country, students should generally expect to spend between $1000 and $1500 per month for housing, meals, local travel and basic living expenses.  

Application Process
Students must complete both the OIP and Global E3 applications.  The OIP application can be completed by clicking on the Apply Now button in the OIP application portal, above. The Global E3 application and detailed instructions are available via the Global E3 website  by clicking here.  In the  Global E3 portal, students may indicate their first choice program as well as a backup option(s) in the event that there are space limitations.  A program capacity chart indicating space limitations at each site can be viewed here. 

Please complete both applications simultaneously by the Rensselaer deadlines as indicated above. Although the Global E3 application will not open until mid-January, students should not wait to receive a decision regarding their RPI application before submitting their Global E3 application.

Please note:  if you are interested in DTU, NTU, or the University of Leeds, please apply through the direct OIP exchange.