Academic Planning Recommendations
- Select a program that allows you to continue your language development through coursework and cultural activities.
- Plan your language course sequence carefully so that you can continue with your language program upon your return.
- Ideally, you should have completed at least two years of language coursework at the University of Minnesota prior to studying abroad in order to maximize the further development of your language skills overseas.
Liberal Education Requirements
Search the U Credit Abroad Search. You may also submit any liberal education course not yet evaluated for approval online.
Major and Minor Requirements
- The Director of Undergraduate Studies IN GNSD will screen overseas coursework and help you fit appropriate courses into your major or minor requirements.
- Look for junior- and senior-level courses.
- Look for courses that provide further instruction in your language of study
- Look for courses that investigate the literature or culture of the country in which you are studying.
College of Liberal Arts Language Requirement
Courses taken abroad for the CLA Language Requirement (for BA degrees) must be at least 4 credits. CLA college advisers can approve courses that are clearly identified in a syllabus or online course description as first-, second-, third-, or fourth-semester language courses. If a course level is not explicitly stated, you must work with your CLA adviser to have the course evaluated by the appropriate language department. Advisers cannot approve these courses.
Who will advise me and help me with course approvals?
Learning Abroad Center advisers can help you find program and course information to help you prepare for your study abroad academic planning discussion with your academic adviser. Once you have narrowed down your program options communicate with your department adviser to use the Academic Planning for Study Abroad (APSA) form to structure your academic planning.
Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies in GNSD for further information about study abroad in Austria, Finland, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands (including Dutch-speaking Belgium), Norway, Russia, Sweden, and German-speaking Switzerland.
College/Department Scholarships for UofM Students
- CLA students can apply for CLA Study Abroad Scholarships in addition to other Learning Abroad Center scholarships.
- GNSD has specific departmental scholarships for study in many of the countries represented by the department.
- For students studying Dutch, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Russian, or Swedish, FLAS (Foreign Language & Area Studies) Fellowships for intensive summer language study may be used for study abroad. See the FLAS FAQ for details concerning what kinds of programs meet the requirements.
Programs
Europe
Austria
Exchange in Austria: University of Graz
- This very affordable exchange lets you take classes at Karl Franzens University in Graz, Austria at a reduced cost
- The Karl Franzens is a 500-year-old comprehensive university with a large student population. Graz is the second-largest city in Austria, and provides beautiful scenery situated along the River Mur with sweeping city parks and promenades
- Students enroll in courses across the university and have the option to take German language classes
Denmark
- Explore the vibrant city of Copenhagen, take courses at the DIS study center in the downtown historic district
- Take Danish language courses and a full range of coursework in English taught by majority Danish and European faculty
- Option to live in a local homestay to further improve language skills and cultural integration
Finland
University of Jyväskylä (offered through ISEP Finland)
- Known as the land of a thousand lakes, the midnight sun and the Northern Lights, Finland is famous for its natural beauty
- As a world leader in technology, Finland has one of the highest standards of living in the world and a strongly developed democracy and economy
- JYU has an extensive Finnish language program, with courses ranging from beginner to advanced. For more advanced language learners, JYU has course offerings related to academic Finnish language, writing, media studies, among others.
- Other language offerings beyond Finnish include Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.
Germany
- This exchange is with Freie University-Berlin
- Berlin is the largest city in Germany with a vibrant cultural life and a rich history
- Students take German language and German-taught courses in a broad range of disciplines including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences
- Freie University offers special funding for UofM exchange students including a settling-in allowance, local transportation pass, and payment of student union fee
- Freiburg is a medieval city on the edge of the Black Forest in southwest Germany. It is a university town that preserves its youthful atmosphere year round with festivals, music concerts, and street theatre
- Students enroll in courses at the University of Freiburg with an opportunity to take German language classes as well
- This program, designed for advanced students of German, offers special program courses in areas such as German language and literature, business, economics, and history. In addition, students can take regular university classes at Humboldt University. Instruction is in German.
- This program also offers an extensive range of internships in many fields
Language and Culture in Germany (available through UofM—Duluth)
- This May-term program allows students to take German language classes in Berlin and Potsdam
- Potsdam is located immediately outside Berlin and is home to picturesque city squares and Frederick the Great’s palatial retreat
- Students receive transfer credit for this UofM - Duluth exchange
Philipps-Universität Marburg (available through ISEP Germany)
- The city of Marburg, on the river Lahn in Western Germany, is surrounded by forests and is situated about 45 miles north of Frankfurt-am-Main, where you can take a plane or train to virtually anywhere in the world. It is one of the few early medieval cities of almost unchanged character
- Marburg is a comprehensive university with approximately 86,000 residents. With 26,500 students and 4,600 staff
- Philipps Marburg has two tracks for students to choose from:
- The first is a German Language & Culture program that is designed for students to refine their German language skills while deepening their understanding of Germany’s people and contemporary culture. Both the language and culture courses are complemented by several excursions to other German cities over the course of the semester.
- The second track has students take required German and Culture classes while also selecting 2-3 Direct Enroll classes at Philipps Marburg in English or German across a wide range of disciplines.
Iceland
University of Iceland (available through Exchange in Iceland)
- Study at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik on this scholarship exchange
- The University of Iceland is the largest institution in the country, offering 60 degree programs to over 8,000 students.
The Netherlands
Exchange in Netherlands: University of Amsterdam
- Study in Amsterdam, the thriving capital of the Netherlands, and a city of canals, parks, world-class museums, and cobblestone streets
- Take classes at the University of Amsterdam, a comprehensive and internationally oriented research university
- Take courses alongside Dutch students and choose from a wide variety of coursework taught in English. Students can also take Dutch language courses at various levels
- This program combines courses offered by IES with classes at the University of Amsterdam
- Students with previous Dutch language proficiency can continue their language program at the Dutch Institute and enroll in a course at the University of Amsterdam taught in Dutch
Norway
Exchange in Norway: University of Oslo
- Study at the University of Oslo, Norway’s largest and oldest university
- Choose from a wide variety of courses in the sciences, social sciences, health care management, humanities, and the environment
University Study in Norway: University of Bergen
- Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is known as the gateway to the world-famous fjords of Norway.
- The University of Bergen offers a variety of classes in both English and Norwegian. Examples include Language and Literature Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Geosciences.
Sweden
Exchanges in Sweden (available through UofM—Duluth)
- Study at one of six top Swedish universities alongside Swedish students
- The following universities are available: Blekinge Technical U, Karlskrona & Ronneby Jönköping U, Jönköping Luleå Technical U, Luleå Umeå U, Umeå U of Örebro, Örebro Växjö U, Växjö
- Students receive transfer credit for this UofM Duluth exchange
- Experience old world charm in a bustling and modern city that stretches across 14 islands; take course at the DIS study center
- Take Swedish (any level) and a full range of coursework in English taught by majority Swedish and European faculty
- Option to live in a local homestay to further improve language skills and cultural integration
Additional Options to Consider
- 3-week, 3-credit programs at the 3000-level led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff over winter break or May session.
- Explore an exciting location and topic, Fulfill Liberal Education requirements, or earn major/minor credit.
- Combine on-campus instruction during the spring semester with a study abroad component during spring break, on a 3 credits, 1xxx level Seminar.
- Freshman Seminars Abroad are designed specifically for first-year students as an introduction to study abroad, an opportunity to explore an exciting location and topic, and likely fulfill a liberal education requirement.
- Check out additional LAC Instructor-led Seminars that might run over winter break, spring break, May, and summer sessions. They vary in length, dates, and content so students can find one that best fits their academic and professional goals.
- Begin your language study or work toward completing requirements for a language minor.
- Complete a semester of language on a short-term program or explore options to complete two or more semesters of language on semester-long program.