Facebook Skip to main content

Foster Exploration Seminars

Discover the World with Foster Faculty-led Programs

Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey with Foster Exploration Seminars! These unique study abroad programs take place during UW Early Fall Start, offering you the chance to explore new cultures, gain hands-on experience, and earn academic credits before the Fall Quarter begins. You can also check out other study abroad programs through Foster on the Foster Undergraduate Study Abroad Options webpage.

2025 Program Offerings

Business Denmark: Decoding the Danish model for Sustainability
Business Ireland: The Celtic Phoenix Takes Flight
Business Australia: Business, Government, and Society

What is an Exploration Seminar?

UW Exploration Seminars are short-term (3 weeks) study abroad programs led by UW Faculty and Staff during Early Fall Start, the gap between the end of the UW’s Summer Quarter (and most internships) and the beginning of the Fall Quarter. These study abroad programs focus on hands-on learning outside the classroom, providing a unique opportunity to add a meaningful practical dimension to your UW undergraduate degree.

Each year, UW offers over 30 Exploration Seminars organized and led by Professors from departments across campus, including Foster, English, CHID, Engineering, LSJ, and the iSchool to name a few. These programs are open to UW undergraduate students, often with no prerequisites, giving you the chance to explore a huge range of countries and topics.

Why Choose Foster Exploration Seminars?

Foster Exploration Seminars stand out by immersing students in daily company and cultural visits related to the seminar theme. Led by Foster Faculty and Staff, these programs minimize traditional lectures in favor of real-world learning experiences. Students visit companies, organizations, government agencies, and NGOs to understand what it means to do business in another country.

Courses and Credits

  • Credits: Each seminar is worth 5 UW credits of IBUS 490 (general business elective credit).
  • Flexibility: Credits count towards Fall Quarter but are completed before it begins, offering flexibility in your Fall Quarter course load. You can take as few as 10 credits on campus or up to 18, and the 5 EFS credits will add on top.
  • Requirements: No specific coursework is required, even though IBUS 490 lists IBUS 300 as a prerequisite. You can take up to 12 credits of IBUS 490 during your time at UW.

    • Program Cost

  • Cost: Typically between $5,000 and $6,000, covering the 5 credits, administrative fees, housing for the duration of the program, some meals, and program-related transportation and activities. Additional costs to budget for beyond the program fees are airfare, most food, and personal expenses for your free time activities.
  • Admin Fees: Each program includes a Foster Study Abroad Fee ($375) and a UW Study Abroad Fee ($510).

    • Program Application

    Applications for the Foster Exploration Seminars are hosted on the UW Study Abroad Office website. Program applications open in December and are due February 15 each year.