Learning Abroad in Product Design

• Learning Abroad Process
• Academic Planning and Information
• Career Relevance
• Financing Learning Abroad

 

Department Recommendations

Prospective Product Design Students

• Product design courses abroad may not meet Product design course requirements at the University of Minnesota. Your academic adviser will work with the product design faculty to help you try to obtain approval once you are admitted to the program.

Best Times to Go Abroad

• Spring of year 3 is the easiest time to go abroad for a semester, but be sure to plan this out with your adviser early to make sure this is the case for you. Summer programs also work well, because you don’t miss any on-campus courses.

Fulfill Requirements

Be sure to meet with your academic adviser to fill out an Academic Planning Study Abroad (APSA) form.

Core Major Courses

• Your academic adviser will be able to approve the courses prior to departure. Work with your academic adviser to fill out the Academic Planning for Study Abroad (APSA) form.

Internships

• Credit-based internships abroad are available. Check with your academic adviser for more information about requirements.

Liberal Education

• You can fulfill liberal education requirements while abroad. Decide early which requirements you want to satisfy through courses taken abroad so you don't fulfill them on campus. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's U Credit Abroad Search to find courses that have already been evaluated or submit courses online to be evaluated for liberal education requirements.
• Some University of Minnesota courses are approved to meet two requirements. For example, one course may count toward your liberal education requirements AND meet a requirement in your major. Study abroad courses may not meet multiple requirements.

Upon Return from Study Abroad

• Meet with your academic adviser to discuss the study abroad return process and to go over re-entry resources to help you make your learning abroad experience a meaningful component of your academic and career pathway.

Programs

• Offered fall semester, spring semester, academic year, and calendar year
• Courses in the Industrial Design and/or Creative Industries departments could count as PDES electives

University of Technology, Sydney (available through Arcadia Australia and IFSA Australia)

• Offered each fall and spring semester, academic year, and calendar year
• Students may choose from courses throughout the university, including those in industrial design and visual communication

South Korea

University Study in South Korea: Korea University

• Offered fall semester, spring semester, academic year, and summer
• Many courses are offered in English, including courses in Mechanical Engineering and the School of Art & Design
• Courses of interest include Integrated Design, and a Product Design Studio

• Offered each fall or spring semester, academic year, or summer.
• Copenhagen-based DIS, one of Europe’s largest and academically strongest study abroad programs, offers a wide variety of courses with an exceptionally broad, multidisciplinary curriculum.
• The following courses are approved for PDES electives: Furniture Design Studio, Danish Design, Furniture Design Workshop, New Nordic Design
• Instruction is in English; no prior Danish is required.

Italy

Study & Intern in Rome

• Program Term: Summer
• Students participating on the Design Standard Track enroll in a  3-credit interdisciplinary Italian Design Studio and one other 3-credit Area Studies Course.  This track is 6 weeks long.
• Students participating on the Design Internship Track will take the 3-credit Italian Design Studio, plus the 3-credit Internships in Rome course. This track is 8 weeks long.
• An optional 1-credit Survival Italian course is available for all students 

United Kingdom, England

Study & Intern in London

• Offered each fall semester, spring semester, and summer.
• Design internships are available
• Classes will not meet PDES requirements but could be taken for LibEds or other electives

Northumbria University

• Fall semester, spring semester, academic year
• Product Design courses are available in the BA Design for Industry programme in Northumbria, however, they are only available to study abroad students during fall semester
• Other design and Liberal Education courses are available during spring semester

• College of Design faculty periodically offers short-term programs for their students. Please check with the College of Design.
• Past titles have included: Fashion Study Tour in London and Paris, South Korea Exchange Program, and the Canada Study Tour.

Global Seminars

• 3-week, 3-credit programs at the 3000-level led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff over Winter Break or May Session.
• Fulfill Liberal Education requirements, or earn major/minor credit.
• Explore an exciting location and topic! Check out this year's offerings!

Freshman Seminars

• Freshman Seminars Abroad combine on-campus instruction during spring semester with a study abroad component during spring break.
• Seminars are 3 credits at the 19xx level and most fulfill a liberal education requirement.
• Seminars are designed specifically for first year students as an introduction to study abroad.

Non-Credit Opportunities

• Non-credit opportunities can be a great option for students who do not need academic credit but want to gain skills and experience abroad related to their field of study.

Student Experiences

Visit the Learning Abroad Center's Student Experiences web page for details on other students' experiences studying abroad.