Exchange - An Affordable way to Study Abroad!
Want to learn more about if an exchange program is right for you? Sign up for a planning workshop (ADD LINK) or contact WWU's Exchange Advisor - Dan Lindeman.
Why study abroad on exchange?
- Cost. Exchange is one of the most affordable pathway to study abroad! You pay in-state tuition, even if you are an out-of-state or international student.
- Immersion. When you participate in exchange you swap places with another student. That means you will need to navigate a new university on your own, and have the opportunity to take classes alongside local students.
- Grow your independence. Develop your skills like independence and self-sufficiency that are highly valued by future employers!
Pay In-State Tuition to Study Abroad on Exchange
"Last year I had the incredible privilege to study abroad in Lyon, France as part of Western's Pay In-State Exchange program. While there, I earned credits in archeology, linguistics and history, improved my French dramatically, and visited more than a dozen countries! I was also able to save roughly $10,000 due to the affordability of travel, housing, and food compared to what I'm used to paying in Bellingham - I was saving more than $400 per month in housing alone!"
Gabe Roth, Class of 2024
WWU has bilateral partnership agreements with specific host institutions. You pay a fee based on in-state tuition to Western and all other costs abroad. Below are a list of our global partners where you can opt to study abroad on WWU Exchange and an overview of fields of study that may be a good fit. Our list is not exhaustive, so if you're interested in a university please look at its course offerings to see if it's right for you!
Australia
Edith Cowan University
Perth, Australia
ECU is an AACSB accredited university known for its practical, hands-on approach to education, emphasizing real-world experience in various fields like Business & Law, Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, as well as Health Sciences. It is also home to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), which is internationally recognized for students interested in music, acting and dance. Perth is known for it’s sunny climate, natural environment and coastline, and being more affordable than other Australian cities.
University of Newcastle
Newcastle, Australia
University of Newcastle is ranked as one of the top public universities in Australia and top 200 universities in the world. It is also AACSB accredited. UON is part of a global research initiative on sustainability and a global leader in the field. Other popular programs include: Business and Management, Information Technology, STEM, Arts and Humanities, and Social Sciences. Newcastle is a two hour train ride from Sydney, while offering vibrant student life, beautiful coastlines, and a more affordable cost of living.
University of Tasmania
Hobart, Australia
UTAS has a strong focus on hands-on learning to help you gain practical skills and experience to get ready for the workforce, and is ranked the number one university in the world on climate action. Study Marine Science, Environmental Studies, Health, Creative Arts & Design, Business, Humanities, Social Sciences or STEM. Hobart offers easy access to national parks, mountains and pristine coastline, which will allow you to enjoy hiking, cycling and water sports while in Tasmania.
Austria
Karl-Franzens Universität Graz
Graz, Austria
Gratz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring historic architecture. There are a wide range of fields with coursework offered in English, although not necessarily a large number of English-taught courses in any given field. A unique cooperation with the Technical University of Graz and Kunstuniversität Graz allows students to co-enroll at TUG and/or KUG at no extra cost.
Finland
Aalto University School of Business
Mikkeli, Finland
Aalto School of Business is consistently ranked as one of the top business schools in Europe and is Triple Crown Accredited. Less than 1% of business schools worldwide hold AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditation, which sets the school apart. Courses are taught in English, and Mikkeli is a charming city in a beautiful location and a 2 hour train ride from Helsinki.
France
EM Normandie School of Business
Caen, Le Harve, Paris, Oxford, Dublin, and Dubai
EM Normandie is a small, world-class business school where students can take English-taught courses in Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, International Business, International Trade, Management Science, and Statistics.
Kedge Business School
Bordeaux or Marseille France
The Kedge Business School is internationally recognized among the top business schools in Europe focusing on Innovation and Social Responsibility, and holds a Triple Crown Accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA), placing it among the top 1% of business schools globally. You can take courses in English or French, in areas such as international business, supply chain management, marketing, and sustainability development.
Université Lumière Lyon 2
Lyon, France
ULL2 is a comprehensive public institution in France. Courses are taught primarily in French, but there are some courses offered in English, particularly in social sciences and humanities. Lyon is France's third-largest city and is known for it's lively cultural scene, historic architecture and rich culinary traditions.
Germany
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Göttingen, Germany
Over 40 Nobel Laureates have come from Göttingen giving the university a long and rich academic history. Courses are primarily taught in German with a few electives in English. Our agreement is with the Faculty of Social Sciences where you can study subjects like Political Science, Sociology, and Social Anthropology. You can take courses from other faculties, but you need to take 50% of your courses at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Japan
Akita International University
Akita, Japan
AIU is a small university located in rural Akita prefecture. Aside from language classes, all courses are taught in English, which means you can take classes with local students even if you don't speak much Japanese. You can take upper-division courses in Japanese Studies, International Business, or Global Studies.
International Christian University
Tokyo, Japan
Founded on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ICU aims to cultivate “responsible global citizens” who will contribute to world peace and to help people from diverse backgrounds live together harmoniously. In addition to language classes, students can take a wide range of courses from a wide range of fields. Fields include American Studies, Anthropology, Art & Culture, Biology, Business, Education, Economics, Global Studies, Gender, History, Information Science, Japan Studies, Law, Linguistics, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. ICU is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in Japan. Single semester options are not available at ICU.
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
Nagoya, Japan
NUFS offers the Global Japan Program, which is comprised Japan Language courses and Global Japan Studies courses. You may choose Japanese language classes and English-taught regarding Japanese business, culture, history or society. Scholarships are available for international students.
Seikei University
Tokyo, Japan
The Seikei Institute for International Studies (SIIS) provides several Japanese language and Japanese culture subjects for foreign students. Students are divided into small classes by proficiency level, and learn reading, grammar, conversation, etc., in a balanced way. Scholarships are available for international students.
Tsuda University
Tokyo, Japan
Tsuda is one of the best known women's colleges in Japan. With relatively few international students, Tsuda provides a great opportunity to become immersed in everyday life with Japanese students. Tsuda offers Japanese Language courses and content courses in English. Tsuda covers the cost of housing, which makes this exchange very affordable.
Yokohama National University
Yokohama, Japan
If you go to YNU you will be enrolled in the JOY program (Junior Year Overseas at Yokohama National University). Courses are offered in varieties of disciplines covering Humanities, Social Sciences, and Engineering in English. Other courses in Japanese may be available.
Ireland
University of Galway
Galway, Ireland
Ranked as one of the top !% of universities in the world, Galway is an excellent option. Choose classes from a wide range of departments, including: Digital Media & Communication, Environmental l& Marine Studies, Human Rights & Global Studies, and Social Sciences including Archeology. Located near popular destinations like the Cliffs of Moher and 2.5 hours by train from Dublin.
University of Limerick
Limerick, Ireland
UL is one of the most affordable pathways to study abroad in Ireland, and ranks 1st in Ireland for International Student Satisfaction. You can choose from a wide range of subjects, including Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and STEM. Limerick has a reputation for being a welcoming city and is well connected to neighboring cities like Galway, Cork, Dublin and Europe.
Netherlands
As one of the largest and most dynamic cities in the Netherlands, Rotterdam offers a unique blend of rich history, modern architecture, and innovation. Its located less than 1 hour from Amsterdam, and location in central Europe provides easy access to other European destinations. Erasmus University Rotterdam's approach to education will give you the opportunity to build the skills you need to solve problems, and most courses are taught in English.
Erasmus University Rotterdam (ESHCC)
Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) is one of the schools that comprise Erasmus University Rotterdam. ESHCC hosts the Departments of History, Arts & Culture, and Media & Communication.
Erasmus University Rotterdam (ESSB)
Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (ESSB) is one of the schools that comprise Erasmus University Rotterdam. ESSB hosts the Departments of Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, and Pedagogical Sciences.
Norway
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Bergen, Norway
Outdoors are central to life in Norway - live surrounded by mountains, fjords and the ocean! This program is particularly good for outdoor enthusiasts, Recreation majors at WWU, and those interested in tourism, business and sustainability. HVL is well known for its focus on applied learning that combines practical, hands-on projects and collaboration with industry partners.
South Korea
Seoul Women’s University
Seoul, South Korea
Do you want an immersive experience in Seoul and opportunity to work with other international students? On SWU's campus, you will be one of few students from the US or Europe, giving you a unique experience on campus. You can participate in the Korean Language Program at Seoul Women’s University or take additional coursework in Korean. Some coursework is available in English.
Yonsei University
Seoul, South Korea
Yonsei is one of the top three universities in South Korea and hosts thousands of international students each year. In addition to Korean language, Yonsei University has developed a wide range of university courses taught in English, including Business, Communications, Computer Science, Engineering, Technology, International Studies, Math, Humanities, Health, and Social Sciences.
Spain
University of the Basque Country
Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and San Sebastian, Spain
UPV/EHU prides itself on bilingual education in Spanish, Basque and English, and each department offers a significant number of English Friendly Courses (EFC), in which the syllabus summary, lecturer tutoring, examinations and/or papers are available in English. These courses would be an excellent fit for students at an intermediate level of Spanish. The Basque country is known for it's stunning landscapes and rich cultural tradition with a unique identity in Spain.
Sweden
Luleå University of Technology
Luleå, Sweden
Luleå features one of the lowest costs of living in Sweden, making it one of the most affordable ways to experience Sweden's high quality of life. There is a wide selection of programs and courses taught in English in such fields as Recreation, Health, Urban Planning & Sustainability, Engineering, Business, and Social Sciences. Notably, LTU is known for Sustainable Energy, Engineering and Computer Science.
Umeå University
Umeå, Sweden
Located in central Sweden, Umeå boasts 253km of bike and pedestrian trails. Popular course are taught in English and include Humanities, Social Sciences, Communications, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Art & Design, and Environmental & Sustainability Studies. Umeå University's international students are the happiest in Europe! The university is AACSB accredited making it a good fit for business majors.
Taiwan
National Chengchi University
Taipei, Taiwan
NCCU is one of Taiwan’s top universities, and excels Business, Economics, Finance, International Business, International Relations, and Marketing. It is AACSB accredited, so you know the courses meet high standards of quality. Coursework is offered in English and Chinese. If you are studying Business, you opt to take business courses, language courses or a combination of both. Taipei is a safe and beautiful city with an affordable cost of living, green space, and great public transportation.
United Kingdom
University of Hull
Hull, England
Hull is situated halfway between London and Edinburgh, and is one of the most affordable places you can live in the UK! The campus has created a 5-minute city with everything you need a short walk away. You can take courses in 50 disciplines including Arts, Humanities, Business, Education, Health, Sciences & Social Sciences. Hull is a good site if you are majoring in business as it is both AACSB and AMBA accredited.
University of Liverpool
Liverpool, England
Liverpool is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage, known for its music venues, arts, museums and lively social scene. You can take courses from a wide range of subjects including, Art, Humanities, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Environmental & Sustainability Studies. Compared to other major UK cities, Liverpool has a relatively lower cost of living and is a short train ride from London.
University of Plymouth
Plymouth, England
Plymouth is located in the south of England neighboring Cornwall, and is 48% cheaper to live in than London. The University of Plymouth is a comprehensive university with strengths in Business, Psychology, and Maritime Studies. It's been globally recognized for its plan to become a carbon neutral campus, which embodies its commitment to experiential learning.
WWU EdAbroad has partnered with ISEP, a non-profit organization, since 1983 to break down financial and academic barriers and make study abroad accessible and affordable for everyone.
- ISEP offers an impressive and affordable array of programs among a global community of nearly 350 universities and colleges in more than 50 countries.
- Students can participate in semester-long or full-year programs for any field of study, as well as service learning and internship programs.
- With ISEP Exchange programs, you can go abroad anywhere in the ISEP network while paying WWU in-state tuition, housing, and meals through your WWU student account. This then enables a student from another ISEP member university to take your place. You can even apply scholarships, grants or financial aid you normally receive.
- ISEP also offers scholarships for their programs, with many focused on underserved student populations as well as opportunities for students studying a language or in specific locations around the world.
You can study away at over 180 partner universities in the USA, Canada and US Territories!! When you participate in NSE you pay in-state tuition and fees, even if you are an out-of-state or international student at WWU.
Is National Student Exchange Right for You?
- No passport? NSE is a great way to study in another part of the USA or US Territories and have a study abroad experience and build your resume.
- Are you a STEM student and worried about fulfilling graduation requirements while you’re away? NSE partners have lab facilities and similar curriculum making it easier to stay on track to graduate.
- Are you interested in attending graduate school? You can check out a potential school or region as an undergraduate student, while you pay in-state tuition and fees. This is a great way to get to know faculty, learn about regional resources and see if the school might be the right fit for you!