Undergrad Study Abroad Options

The GBC’s goal is to help UW Foster School of Business students meet the world! Study abroad is a tremendous learning opportunity for Foster students to enhance their business education and gain the international perspective required to do business in today’s global economy. This page presents study abroad programs offering business credit for UW undergraduates. Some of these programs, or some of the courses on the programs, will only be open to current Foster undergraduate major students but many are open to all UW undergrad students. Be in touch with a GBC Study Abroad Adviser if you want to chat one-on-one about anything related to business-focused study abroad programs.

To help you understand how one experience is different from another, here are the program types:

• Foster Faculty-Led Programs: Go abroad with Foster Faculty and Staff on a highly supportive study abroad experience with a cohort of your UW peers. These programs either focus on earning upper division business core credit abroad or elective credit through company visits.
• Partner Programs: These are third party companies that organize study abroad programs for USA students where all the courses count as UW credit.
• Foster Exchange & Direct Enroll Programs: Enroll in a business school abroad and earn UW credit at one of Foster’s 23 university partners. This is a highly independent and immersive experience where you join students from around the world to become a visiting student at another university.

Research your study abroad options by:

1. Reviewing the Foster Undergraduate Study Abroad Options
2. Attending a Foster Study Abroad info session
3. Talking with a Global Business Center Foster Study Abroad Adviser
4. Talk with your Academic Adviser to understand how study abroad fits into your UW degree plan.
5. Explore how you will fund study abroad. Check out the UW Study Abroad Office ‘Money’ webpage which goes over financial aid and scholarships. If you are a Foster major, make sure to apply for a Global Business Center Study Abroad Scholarship.
6. Apply by the application deadline!

Each Foster Study Abroad Program will include the following fees in the program price which students are responsible for once they sign the payment contract: Foster Study Abroad Fee and UW Study Abroad Fee

The Foster Study Abroad Fee is an Administrative Fee that funds all Foster Study Abroad activities, including the organization and operations of the programs; the recruitment, selection, and support of program participants; and the offering of study abroad advising. This fee is charged to all students participating on a Foster Study Abroad Program regardless of major. This is a non-refundable fee charged to students even if they withdraw from their study abroad program.

The Foster Study Abroad Fee is $375 through Spring Quarter 2026 and the fee will increase starting with programs happening in Summer 2026 to $390.

If you cannot participate in a Foster study abroad program for which you have submitted a contract, you may submit a Foster Emergency Withdrawal Petition. If granted, the Emergency Withdrawal may allow for partial relief from your Foster Study Abroad Fee (separate from program fee and UW Study Abroad Fee). Please note that you will also need to submit an emergency withdrawal petition to UW Study Abroad to be considered for partial relief from the other financial obligations for the program (i.e. program fee and UW Study Abroad fee).

The committee reviews Foster emergency withdrawal petitions on the first Thursday of every month.

Check out the UW Study Abroad Office website to learn about all the other study abroad programs at UW. UW has partner programs which offer some business credit: IES Abroad and CIEE. There are also some UW-wide exchanges that may offer business credit. You can check out the Foster Study Abroad Course Equivalency List to see what credit past students have earned on programs.

Beyond business credit, there are many other UW study abroad programs that can help you fulfill General Education Requirements like A&H, SSc or DIV credit, or CISB language or area studies credit.

How do I apply to study abroad?
When programs are accepting applications, they are available through the UW Study Abroad Office website. The Foster Undergraduate Study Abroad Options website lists programs well in advance of application opening dates so students can plan ahead in terms of course selection and timing.

Students are encouraged to review program details early, including eligibility, academic offerings, and program dates, and to meet with a Foster Academic Adviser and a GBC Foster Study Abroad Adviser as part of their planning process.

What happens if I click “Apply Now” on a program brochure page?
Clicking “Apply Now” begins an application but does not commit you to the program. The application can be saved and revisited at any time, allowing you to complete it in stages.

Most programs do not require an application fee. The primary exception is CIEE programs, which may include an application fee. Starting an application is a helpful way to understand program requirements and timelines.

What are the components of an application?
All programs require a personal statement. This essay should address why you are interested in studying abroad and how the program connects to your academic, personal, or career goals. Strong statements typically explain both the broader value of studying abroad and why a specific program is a good fit.

Some programs also require additional materials, such as a transcript or a recommendation from a faculty member, teaching assistant, or adviser. Recommendations are submitted through a short online form.

Many programs include an interview component that takes place after the application deadline. Program-specific requirements are listed on each program brochure page.

How many programs can I apply to?
Students may apply to up to three programs per term. This limitation is most relevant for terms like Early Fall Start, when many programs occur simultaneously.

It is possible to apply to programs in multiple terms. For example, a student may apply to three programs for Fall Quarter and three different programs for Winter Quarter. Because most programs do not require an application fee, applying to more than one program is encouraged if you are considering multiple options.

How does a semester abroad align with the UW quarter system for Exchange and Direct Enroll programs?
Semester-based programs do not align exactly with the UW quarter system, but they are structured to convert into UW credit.
For a fall semester abroad, students typically earn 18–24 UW credits (approximately four to six courses), pay one and a half times their UW quarterly tuition, and miss UW Autumn Quarter.

For a spring semester abroad, students also earn 18–24 UW credits, pay one and a half times their UW tuition, and miss both Winter and Spring Quarters at UW.

There are two Direct Enroll programs—University College Dublin in Ireland and Universidad de San Andrés in Argentina—where students pay a program fee instead of UW tuition. These programs can be a more cost-effective option for out-of-state students while still awarding 18–24 UW credits for the semester.

How much does it cost to study abroad?
Program cost structures vary by program type.

Many programs operate on a program fee model, meaning all students pay the same cost regardless of residency status.
Exchange programs are priced differently. Students participating in an exchange pay one and a half times their UW quarterly tuition for a semester abroad.

Students should review all program budgets carefully and consult UW Study Abroad resources to understand the full cost, including housing, travel, and personal expenses.

Can I use my financial aid while studying abroad?
Financial aid can be used for study abroad programs. Students must meet minimum UW credit enrollment requirements for each quarter they are abroad in order to maintain eligibility.

For example, if a student participates in a program that spans both Winter and Spring Quarters, they must earn at least 24 UW credits total (12 credits per quarter).

For summer study abroad programs, students should talk with the UW Financial Aid Office early to understand how their aid offer will vary in summer quarter versus fall, winter, or spring quarters.

Are there scholarships specifically for study abroad?
Foster majors are eligible to apply for Global Business Center study abroad scholarships.

In addition, students should indicate interest in scholarships within their UW Study Abroad program application, which will consider them for UW Study Abroad Office scholarships.

Students are also encouraged to explore external funding opportunities. The UW Study Abroad Office website maintains a list of additional scholarship resources (bottom half of webpage).

How competitive are Foster study abroad programs?
Program selectivity varies by program and by year, depending on the number of applicants and available capacity. Because demand can change, students are encouraged to apply rather than assume competitiveness will limit their chances.

Can someone review my personal statement?
The Global Business Center does not review personal statements for study abroad applications.
Students are encouraged to seek feedback from campus writing support services, including the Odegaard Writing and Research Center (OWRC) and the CLUE Writing Center.

I am not a Foster major. What programs can I apply to?
Most UW study abroad programs are open to all UW undergraduate students, regardless of major. Eligibility requirements vary by program and are listed on each program’s brochure page.
Students who are not currently in the Foster School, or who do not plan to pursue a Foster major, should review eligibility criteria carefully and are welcome to contact the Foster Study Abroad team with questions.

What should I do to make sure study abroad fits into my degree plan and does not delay my graduation?
Study abroad can work for any Foster student, but it requires early and intentional planning. You are strongly encouraged to meet with both a Foster Academic Adviser and a GBC Foster Study Abroad Adviser before selecting a program or courses. These conversations will help you understand how coursework taken abroad can apply to your degree requirements and where limitations may apply.

Students can earn a variety of credit types through UW study abroad programs, including upper division business core credit (within specific limits), business elective credit, general business credit, and non-business credit. Because different types of programs offer different kinds of coursework, it is helpful to begin exploring options early. Attending an information session or meeting with an adviser early in your academic career will provide the most flexibility when it comes to planning.

All Foster-specific study abroad programs are open to Foster majors, while Foster minors can only earn required minor credit on the Foster Exploration Seminars during Early Fall Start.

Are there limitations on study abroad credits for Foster majors?
Yes. Foster majors must complete all 9 Foster Upper Division Business Core Courses, and at least six of those courses, including MGMT 430, must be completed at UW-Seattle, as stated in the Foster curriculum requirements.

While this language refers to “UW-Seattle,” in practice for Foster undergraduate majors this requirement is tied to who is teaching the course, not just how the credit is recorded.

Students may take no more than 3 of the 9 required Foster Upper Division Business Core Courses from non-Foster professors. This encompasses UW study abroad programs, as well as any credit transferred into UW via the Office of Admissions.
There is one important exception. In the Foster Business Core Abroad Program, Foster professors travel with students and teach their UW courses abroad. Because these courses are taught by Foster faculty, they are considered equivalent to taking the course at UW-Seattle for the purpose of fulfilling the Foster upper division core requirement.

All other study abroad programs—including partner, exchange and direct enrollment programs such as ALBA Barcelona, IES Abroad, and CIEE—are taught by non-Foster faculty. Even though these courses will convert to UW credit upon program completion and may be evaluated as equivalent to Foster upper division core courses, they still count toward the maximum of 3 Foster upper division core courses allowed from non-Foster professors.

This becomes an important limitation for Foster majors to consider if they plan to pursue 2 or more study abroad programs, or they will be transferring upper division core courses from another institution via the UW Office of Admissions.

What does “UW credit,” “UW-Seattle,” and “residence credit” mean, and how does study abroad fit in?
According to the UW Academic Advising, residence credit refers to UW credit earned through the campus granting the degree. Study abroad courses completed through the UW Study Abroad Office are recorded as UW credit and therefore count as residence credit. This is why we say convert credit and not transfer credit when it comes to study abroad. For this reason, UW study abroad programs are allowed during students’ final year and can count toward the requirement that 45 of the last 60 credits be taken in residence.

However, for Foster majors, there is an additional layer that is not fully captured by the general residence credit definition. While study abroad courses convert to UW credit and count as residence credit, they are not all treated as equivalent to UW-Seattle coursework for the purpose of completing the Foster Upper Division Business Core courses.

For Foster students, the distinction that matters for Foster upper division core coursework is whether a class is taught by a Foster professor. Courses taught by Foster faculty—whether in Seattle or through a Foster Faculty-led program abroad—count toward the requirement to complete at least 6 upper division core courses at UW-Seattle. Courses taught by non-Foster faculty do not, even if they are recorded as UW credit and fulfill residence requirements as they are on UW study abroad programs.

For this reason, it is essential that students meet with their Foster Academic Adviser before committing to study abroad.

Final guidance
Study abroad can be a valuable and feasible part of a Foster degree, including during the final year. However, the interaction between UW-wide policies and Foster-specific requirements is not always intuitive.

To avoid delays in graduation, it is essential to work with a Foster Academic Adviser and a GBC Foster Study Abroad Adviser, confirm how courses will be applied, and understand how many Foster upper division core courses have already been or are planned to be taken from non-Foster faculty.