Exchange Programs
Programs
Year-long Exchanges
The International Center administers two Sister Cities-supported exchange scholarships for year-long programs in Montpellier, France and Mainz, Germany. A third exchange scholarship program is available for year-long study in Osaka, Japan through Kansai Gaidai University.
Semester Exchanges
U of L sponsors semester exchange programs at The Hague, Netherlands and also in Mexico or Canada through the North American Conflict Resolution Program
Summer Exchanges
The University of Louisville - Sister Cities partnership hosts a summer, month-long work exchange in France where students study French while working and living in the city of Montpellier.
How the year-long and semester-long programs work
The year-long and semester-long U of L exchange programs are special competitive scholarship programs. These include semester programs in Mexico and Canada through the North American Conflict Resolution Program, The Hague, and the year-long programs in France, Germany, and Japan. These are reciprocal arrangements. Students are exchanged on a one-to-one basis between partner institutions.
Students must submit special applications for these programs. Students work with the Study Abroad advisors and academic advisors to identify the appropriate courses for which they will register at universities abroad. As these are exchange programs, students pay their tuition for the program at the International Center. Other budgeted costs are worked out in consultation with the Study Abroad advisor and the financial aid advisors.
Tuition and Costs
For the year-long Montpellier, Mainz, and the Osaka Exchanges, the scholarship covers the tuition of the outgoing U of L students and the incoming international students. The scholarship also covers student housing. The students receive a small stipend while abroad which can be used to help cover costs of food and books.
For the semester exchanges such as The Hague or the North American Conflict Resolution Program, U of L students pay their regular, full-time status (12-credit hour) tuition to U of L for the semester they will be abroad. Tuition is waived at the partner institution abroad. This payment is made by check to the International Center (payable to “U of L”). Other costs include international transportation, passport (if applicable), insurance, room and board, books, personal expenses, and other institutional fees as appropriate .
Generally, students may apply any financial aid, scholarships, or grants they would normally receive to the costs of their international exchange program. Specific amounts must be determined in consultation with a Study Abroad advisor and Financial Aid counselor.
Course registration
Students register abroad following provisional approval for proposed courses in consultation with their academic advisors at U of L. A confirmation of that registration is sent back to the International Center for the student’s file. The student arranges for the transcript to be sent to the International Center in care of Dr. Joy Carew. At the completion of the program abroad, the transcript and other documentation will be forwarded to the Registrar to update the student’s files.
International Exchange Student Handbook
Students interested in coming to UofL through a direct exchange program should review the International Exchange Student Handbook.
How the Montpellier Work Exchange program works
Students are not attending classes, but are living and working in a French-speaking environment in Montpellier. As such, they can get credit for one or two U of L French courses. Upon acceptance into the program, students meet with Dr. John Greene of the Department of Classical and Modern Languages to determine the courses for which they are eligible and the course requirements. The students then register for those courses for the summer term and provide documentation of that registration to the International Center. The program budget, application details, and other information can be found below. Tuition remission is available upon application to the IC.