Study Abroad

Important information about spring 2021 study abroad opportunities

We have made the very difficult and heartbreaking decision to cancel our four planned programs that would have had faculty and students traveling in either March or May to Europe, Costa Rica and Japan.

The health and safety of our university community remains a top priority. Given the information available at this time, rescheduling these programs is the most appropriate action to take.

Fitchburg State is committed to providing opportunities for our students to study abroad. Our summer 2021 international programs are still scheduled to occur, though we will be monitoring guidelines and restrictions as those preparations continue.

Study Abroad Options

 

There are 3 ways in which you can study abroad: short-term faculty-led programs, exchange/direct enroll programs, and outside provider-led programs.

1. Faculty-Led Short-Term Programs

If you would like to apply to any of these programs, an application can be found within each individual program webpage. The faculty-led programs include Fitchburg State courses taught by Fitchburg State faculty and require no transfer of credits.

Upcoming 2021 Faculty-Led Programs: More information coming soon!

• Summer 2021 with Professor Meledath Govindan and Rala Diakite, Chemistry, Food and Culture Program in Italy
• Summer 2021 with Professor Picone, Tropical Ecology in Costa Rica
• Summer 2021 with Professors Tyner and Farron-Davis, English Immersion in Spain
• Summer 2021 with Professor Kelly Morgan, Theatre Program in Scotland

Click here for a full list of Faculty-Led Programs from 2021-2023

 

A Look Back at 2019 Faculty-Led Programs:

	Spring Break 2019 Faculty-Led Nursing Program to San Jose, Costa Rica
	Spring Break 2019 Faculty-Led Heart of Europe Program
	"Maymester" 2019 Faculty-Led Tropical Ecology Course to Costa Rica
	Summer 2019 Faculty-Led Program to Verona, Italy
	Summer 2019 Faculty-Led Program to Japan

2. Exchange Programs

Fitchburg State has exchange partnerships with universities in the following countries; Italy, Germany, Japan and China. These programs allow you to pay Fitchburg State tuition & fees as you normally would. Students participating on a exchange program must request an official transcript. Official transcripts can be requested on your web 4. Additional fees would come in the form of transportation costs, housing and a student visa. For more information, visit our current list of exchange programs with foreign universities.

Imani Hunter, a Computer Science major, studied abroad through our exchange program at Reitaku University in Japan during the Fall of 2018.

Direct enroll agreement programs

These programs allow you to enroll directly into the foreign university, paying tuition & fees to that university instead of Fitchburg State (you do not have to pay FSU tuition & fees while you are abroad). You will, however, be responsible for transportation, housing and a student visa. For more information, visit our current list of direct enroll agreement programs.

Giana Visconte, a sophomore Criminal Justice major, studied abroad at our Direct Enroll program at Regents University in London during the Spring of 2019.

3. Provider Programs

Provider-led programs include courses taught at foreign universities and require additional paperwork (the Preliminary Registration Approval Form, or "PRAF,") for credits to transfer. Official transcripts can be requested on your web 4. For more information on our provider programs, visit our International Education Organization (IEO) Led Programs page.

Christelle Maitre studied abroad at the Universitat de Autònoma Barcelona, through an IEO provider led program with CISabroad in 2018.

When You Return:

When you return from your time abroad come back to the Office of International Education! We want to hear how your experience was and connect you with resources to leverage your study abroad experience or help you get back abroad.

Study abroad students are welcome to attend the New England Study Abroad Returnee Conference.​ This conference, which takes place in the fall, is a great opportunity to network with other students and professionals in the field of study abroad! Students are able to share their stories from abroad, build their resumes, practice incorporating their study abroad experience in mock trials interviews and more!

The 2019 Lessons from Abroad Conference at Clark University in Worcester.

Looking to apply for a study abroad scholarship?

Learn about the most popular scholarship opportunities that Fitchburg State University students have applied for.