Virginia Tech® home

Study Abroad

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

study abroad

We encourage you to study abroad for an extraordinary experience away from campus. Programs are available across the world for you to travel for a week, a winter, a summer, a semester, or even for a year - all while working toward graduation. Earn academic credit while you're away through faculty-led programs, enrollment in a bi-lateral exchange program, or direct enrollment in programs across the world. See your advisor to learn more about upcoming study abroad programs and check out what is available through the Global Education Office.

Communication Study Abroad opportunities

This program is offered annually by faculty in the School of Communication. Students and faculty travel and study in Switzerland at the Steger Center.

The program includes the following components:

  • A one-credit course during spring semester to help you plan travel and courses
  • Spend two weeks studying at the Steger Center with the option of traveling before, during, and after
  • Complete online courses during the summer

Academic Credit

  • If you are on academic suspension, you may not take courses for transfer.
  • Credit hours transfer; grades do not
  • A limited number of credit hours may be transferred; see your course catalogue for more transfer credit policies
  • Major upper-level courses are more difficult to transfer than lower-level elective courses because there are not exact equivalents; you should plan to take most major courses at Virginia Tech (of the last 45 hours before graduation, only 18 can be transferred).

If you decide to take courses elsewhere and want to transfer them to Virginia Tech, you should follow these steps:

  • Complete the study abroad form, meet with your advisor, and obtain the required signatures.
  • Investigate the courses that you want to take; gather information about academic level, hours, and content. You can usually find this information on the institution’s website.
  • Submit the completed form to Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Building, 200 Stanger Street, for Dean's Office approval. Please submit this form prior to studying abroad to ensure that the courses you take will have a Virginia Tech equivalency.
  • Request that your official transcript be sent to the Global Education Office (or ISEP if applicable). Transcripts MUST arrive in a sealed envelope:
    Global Education Office (room 131)
    526 Prices Fork Road
    Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

Announcement 

The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences awards scholarships each semester for students participating in education abroad. Scholarships vary in value from $250-$1,000.