Determining which program will best meet your goals requires careful consideration of a number of areas, including program type, academics, language requirements, finances, and cultural factors.
Three Main Programs Types
1) Direct Enroll*
Students will apply directly to the foreign university of choice and make arrangements for courses and housing through the university's international office. Students wishing to participate in a direct enroll program must be independent and able to function with limited local university support. Students will pay the host university tuition and all fees directly to the host university.
Foreign universities will typically offer housing in dorms or in student apartments; some universities offer housing in a designated international dorm. Although they usually do not offer the same level of support and services that students are accustomed to receiving at Rice, they usually have an international student office that provides some services. As such, these programs are best suited for students who are independent, have clear goals, and are interested in full immersion into host culture.
2) Exchanges*
Exchanges are bilateral agreements established between Rice and foreign universities that allow Rice students to study at an overseas partner university while students from the partner university study at Rice. Students participating in an exchange program must be nominated by the Rice Office of Study Abroad. Interested students will meet with an advisor to plan for the nomination and application process in coordination with the foreign university. Participants pay Rice tuition to Rice while they are attending the foreign university, while room and board are paid directly to the host university by the student. Services offered to exchange students vary by institution, but will often include housing assistance, orientation, and social events throughout the term.
*Host University Experience:
Programs through Direct Enroll and Exchanges offer experience at a host university, while Provider Programs may not always offer this experience. Programs at a host university allow students to enroll in regular classes alongside local students and participate in all aspects of university life. There is often a wide variety of courses in many disciplines to choose from, though grades depend heavily on a final exam or paper (contrasted from having a number of assignments through the semester). Students are expected to perform at the same level as their host university classmates and will be graded on the same scale as them. The academic term may begin or end later than U.S universities—calendars should be carefully reviewed to ensure that they fit with the Rice calendar.
For universities in non-English speaking countries, a minimum language proficiency may be required.
3) Provider Programs
Provider programs are other U.S. universities or third-party private organizations that facilitate study abroad. These programs offer a variety of subject areas, locations, levels of immersion, language of instruction, and excursion options. Program providers offer post-arrival orientation and assistance with course registration and housing. Participants will receive application guidance, an orientation program, academic advising, enrollment assistance, housing, cultural activities, and ongoing support during the program. A resident director and other staff in each location provide on-site support and organize cultural activities to encourage students to engage in the local culture. Students on affiliate programs pay the program tuition and fees directly to the provider.
Rice-approved provider programs may offer direct enroll experiences into universities as noted above, study center-based experiences, or a combination of the two. In a study center-based program, students take courses specifically designed for U.S./international students, which are generally structured similarly to U.S. university courses and taught in English. Besides traditional programs with classroom instruction, some provider programs offer field-based study, internships, research, and other experiential learning opportunities.
Additional Program Features
- Internships
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Internships offer a unique way to immerse yourself in the local society and gain a deeper understanding of a particular field. Several Rice-approved programs sponsor academic internships for credit in coordination with academic study that allow students to gain professional experience with a company, a government body, or a non-government organization. Academic credit can only be granted with the endorsement of a particular academic department; therefore, departments will have control over whether a particular internship qualifies for credit in that department. Some students participate in not-for-credit internships in addition to their academic study abroad experience. Often you must have advanced skills in the host-country language to qualify for acceptance to the internship program (although some internships are conducted in English).
- Field-Based Programs
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Field-based programs are often located in areas of the world where more traditional study is not easy to arrange, offering a unique academic experience abroad. These programs take advantage of their locations in the field to engage students in field research and experiential learning. A large portion of class time is spent in the field, learning about the local culture and history, observing, collecting data, and interacting directly with the subject matter being studied while learning practical quantitative and qualitative research methods in both the human and physical sciences.
Most programs focus on very specific themes such as ecology, public health, or social justice. These programs tend to feature small groups of students who take all of their courses together. Courses may be taught by a combination of professors, local experts, and working professionals. Assessment is often based on the quality of observation and analysis demonstrated in your work.
These programs typically follow a U.S. academic calendar. Housing options vary depending on location but typically involve a homestay or accommodations in field stations or camping.
- Intensive Language Study
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Programs with this feature offer students a full load of language courses throughout the experience. This is an excellent option for greatly increasing your language proficiency. You will be taking language courses with students at your language level, working toward proficiency or fluency in a focused environment very conducive to language acquisition. Often students take a “language pledge”, only speaking the host language throughout the entire experience abroad. Typical housing for intensive language programs include a residence hall, often with a local roommate for language immersion, or a homestay.
Not Associated with the Office of Study Abroad
Faculty-Led Programs
Short-term faculty-led programs offer students the opportunity to travel and study abroad under the leadership of a Rice faculty member. Faculty-led programs tend to accommodate only a small group of students and spend one to six weeks abroad.
These programs are typically administered by individual departments at Rice.