McCombs School of Business
Undergraduate Programs

McCombs International Programs FAQs

The following information applies only the BBA International Programs exchange; please contact CIBER for information about the CIBER Summer Programs.

Research

Courses/Academics

Finances

Process

RESEARCH

What can I gain from studying abroad?  What are the personal and professional benefits?

There are so many benefits to studying abroad – almost too many to list:

  • Meet students (and make friends) from around the world
  • Improved understanding of language and cultural differences between people and nations
  • Develop self-confidence and problem-solving skills by adapting to new situations and challenges, and greater awareness of your own personality and culture
  • Develop foreign language skills
  • Increase your own marketability when you graduate – you will have gained experiences and knowledge that set you apart from other students
  • Have fun!

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I only speak English.  Where can I go?

The majority of the BBA Exchange Programs offer coursework in English, so besides English-speaking countries like England, Scotland, Australia or New Zealand, you could also study in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, or Thailand.

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I am proficient in a foreign language – what are my options?

In addition to any of the English-speaking programs, we have other Exchange opportunities for students with background in a foreign language, where classes are conducted in that language (levels of proficiency vary from program to program):

Chinese: China, Hong Kong

French: Belgium, France

German: Austria, Switzerland

Spanish: Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Spain

Portuguese: Brazil

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I'm not sure where I want to go - where can I find more information?

There are several ways to research the various programs and opportunities:

  • Online: explore our web pages, and the web pages of our partner schools
  • Information Sessions: the Study Abroad Coordinators hold regular information sessions to answer student questions
  • Study Abroad Coordinators: there are two Study Abroad Coordinators in the Undergraduate Programs Office (CBA 2.400).  Once you have attended a general Information Session, you can schedule an appointment with an coordinator by going to the office, or calling 471-0690
  • Brochures/Surveys: near the Study Abroad Coordinators’ offices (CBA 2.400), we keep materials from all our partner schools, and completed surveys and evaluations from students who have studied abroad in the past.  These surveys can be extremely helpful for getting a sense of what day-to-day life is like for students abroad.
  • Students!: we also keep lists of students who have studied abroad in the past, and students from our partner schools who are studying at UT.  Most students are excited to discuss their experiences with you!

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Are the McCombs International Programs open to any major?

Yes, the Exchange programs are open to all business majors. 

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When is the best time for me to study abroad?

There is not necessarily one recommended time for all students – this varies depending on your degree plan and other goals.  In general students find it easiest to plan a semester abroad between the second half of their second year, and the first half of their final year. 

It is not possible to study abroad in your final semester while taking any courses you may need to finish your degree.  If you wish to study abroad at the end of your academic career, you may graduate in absentia the following semester, or you should first complete all your degree requirements, and then plan to take extra electives during your semester abroad. 

Studying abroad the semester before you plan to graduate requires careful advance planning, as you may not know how all of your classes from abroad will count toward your degree by the time you register for your final semester’s classes.  To ensure the smoothest process, it’s helpful to have at least a semester remaining at UT after your semester abroad.

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Which school would provide my best fit?

This depends completely on you and your personal, academic and professional goals.  This is probably the most individual and personal decision you will make during your UT career!  Various factors in deciding what school is best for you may include course selections, language goals, location or climate, personal interests, family history, etc.  You should review all the possibilities, because the best option for you might not be obvious at first.  Please talk to a Study Abroad coordinator about your choices.

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If I can't find a McCombs International Program I want to go on, are there other options?

Yes, there are literally hundreds of other study abroad programs offered through the UT Study Abroad Office.  You can use their website to search through a database of available programs to find the best match for your goals.

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COURSES/ACADEMICS

Can I study abroad and still graduate on time?

Yes – the McCombs International Programs are designed to integrate with your studies here, so you will take courses abroad that count for degree requirements you need.  It helps to plan ahead as much as possible, of course, but students have been able to study abroad in two different semesters and still graduate as planned.

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What courses are offered abroad? 

In the BBA Exchange Programs, this varies widely from program to program, and also from semester to semester.  Just like at UT, our partner schools may change their course offerings every semester, sometimes at the last minute.

You should review the course offerings by visiting the websites of our partner schools.  It’s best to look for about 10 courses that look like interesting or useful possibilities, then check if UT students have already taken any of those courses.  We keep a database of classes other business students have taken abroad, and what UT equivalent credit they received for each class.  This database is available online.

If you have any elective requirements in your degree (Finance Electives, Marketing Electives, Management Electives, etc.) you should try to save those types of courses for when you study abroad, as they are more broad and a number of different courses can be used to complete them. 

Specific required business courses (FIN 357, MKT 337, MAN 336, etc.) will have equivalents at many of our partner schools, though this can be more difficult to ensure. 

Courses such as LEB 323 (Business Law) or Texas Government are unlikely to be found abroad.

Business students are required to take at least two business classes while abroad, but many partner schools also offer courses in other areas.  You can look at partner school’s web page to get some idea of what other courses may be offered there.  Some partner schools (primarily in Europe) are more business-focused and non-business classes will not be as readily available.

It is important to remember the 50% rule: half of your major coursework must be completed at UT.  The required integrative course for each major (ACC 362, FIN 370, IB 378, MAN 374, MIS 375 or MKT 370), and writing component courses must also be taken at UT.

For your own sake, please try to keep your options for courses abroad as flexible as possible, as we cannot guarantee that certain courses will be offered at a particular school in a particular semester!

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When do I register for classes abroad?

Registration abroad occurs in two stages; first you enroll in generic study abroad classes during the normal registration time at UT.  You will usually register for the specific classes when you arrive at your host school, just before the semester begins.  Flexibility and preparation become crucial in these circumstances – know the type of courses you want to take, so you will know which courses at the partner school may be the right match.

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How will study abroad courses count towards my degree?

This is one of the more complex parts of Studying Abroad, so please read this section carefully.

For questions concerning how courses taken on a BBA Exchange program abroad match courses at UT, you will first work with the Study Abroad coordinators and materials.  We encourage students to consult the database of UT course equivalents, AND partner schools’ course offerings to fully explore course options.

If you hope to earn credit for a business course that has not yet been matched with an equivalent at the partner school, you should consult the available course materials for that school to see if something similar is available.  Particularly with newer partners and partners with wide offerings, it’s possible that an equivalent course exists, but simply hasn’t been evaluated yet.

To satisfy a broad category, like a Marketing Elective, the course should be an advanced marketing course you have not already taken. 

To be equivalent to a specific UT course (for example FIN 357), the course at the host school must cover the same topics.  Comparing descriptions with UT’s Undergraduate Catalog or descriptions from our department offices often helps, as does consulting with a study abroad coordinator.

The Study Abroad coordinators forward the course materials to the appropriate faculty to make the official decisions on equivalents.  Study Abroad coordinators do not make the evaluations, but facilitate the process.

For courses not in English, students must provide a translation of the course materials.

After your arrival at the host school, you will send back a list of your courses to your Study Abroad coordinator.  The list should include how you plan to count each course.  This should be sent as soon as possible so your coordinator can review the information, and alert you to problems while there is still time to make changes.  Students who miss verifying their courses in this way risk not getting the credit they seek.

You must also send back a detailed syllabus or course description for each course you take.  Students are responsible for sending or bringing back adequate materials to have a course evaluated.  The information should include the course objectives, texts used, means of assessment, and topics covered.  Even if a course has already been evaluated, you need to provide a syllabus to insure that the course content has not changed.  You will also send back accompanying course description forms for each course to indicate for which department and course you seek credit.

For courses that are to be evaluated for a designation for the first time, particularly if you seek specific credit, (for example FIN 357 or CMS 306M) we urge students to keep (and bring back!) additional materials.  Students should keep notes, a copy of anything they turn in or present for evaluation, and a list of texts and topics covered if the information is not in the syllabus.  (If the material a student provides is insufficient to determine a UT equivalent, the student is responsible for contacting the instructor or host coordinator to request more information.)

Your Study Abroad coordinator will be your main contact to see if a course has been evaluated, and what equivalent credit you will receive.  Your coordinator will also let you know if more information is required for the evaluation to be processed.

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When will I know what credits I will receive from studying abroad?

Once the evaluation process detailed above is complete.  This could happen soon after you arrive at your school, if you can send the necessary information back to UT right away.  Some evaluations may not be completed until after you return to UT with all the necessary materials. 

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Will the grades from studying abroad count in my UT gpa? 

Grades from a BBA Exchange program will count in your UT gpa, since the courses are considered in-residence. 

How are the grades determined?

Grades and grading systems from our partner schools are all different from UT, so after we receive the transcript from your host school, an appropriate UT grade is determined by faculty members here.

For each course taken abroad, students should distribute an instructor evaluation form and, if possible, collect it before leaving their host university.  These evaluations provide valuable supplemental information in converting that school’s grades into the UT format.  If an instructor must mail an evaluation, students should provide a stamped, addressed envelope.

Due to differences in calendars, marking and grade reporting procedures, the time it takes to receive a final grade report varies from partner to partner.  For the University of Bath, for example, we typically receive transcripts for our fall students in April.  (We have had seniors go to Bath in fall and graduate in May through concerted efforts and good record keeping on all sides.)  Until a transcript of some sort is available, it is not possible to complete a student’s record, and courses will continue to show on the transcript as generic SAB 300 hours.  The Registrar requires that course titles, numbers and grades all be posted to the transcript at the same time.

Pass/Fail Option

Students who study abroad on a BBA Exchange may elect, upon completion of their semester abroad, to place up to four courses on their records with a CR (credit) rather than with a UT letter grade.  The following restrictions apply:

1. Students must earn the equivalent of a "C" or better to choose the CR option. D's or F's are recorded as letter grades.

2. Courses taken on a BBA exchange with the CR option may be counted towards any degree requirements, major or minor.  BHP students may take the CR option except on courses that will be used to fulfill the Honors "core" courses, designated with a H (MKT 337H, FIN 357H, etc.).

3. A student may use a maximum of four (4) courses concluded with the CR designation, including those taken on a BBA Exchange, to satisfy degree requirements.  Thus a student who has already taken two UT courses pass/fail may only elect up to two BBA Exchange courses to be recorded with a CR.

4. Once a course is placed on the UT record the grade designation may not be changed.

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Are classes abroad more difficult than at UT?

Students earn grades abroad that are usually very close to their normal performance at the McCombs School of Business.  Our partners are chosen because they are among the best business schools in their respective countries, so you can expect a similar quality of education and level of difficulty as that at UT.

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FINANCES

Does studying abroad cost a lot?

With the BBA Exchange Programs, you will be registered through UT Austin, so will pay the same tuition and fees you would pay for a regular semester here (12 hours), plus a $10-per-credit-hour study abroad fee.  So your basic academic costs should be quite similar to a semester in Austin.

Depending on the program and city, the cost of housing may be comparable to Austin, but in some cases it is much less expensive, which can help offset other expenses. 

Most additional costs will come in travel expenses – getting to and from the location, and any travel you do during the semester, so this also varies considerably. 

For more information about a particular destination, consult the student surveys online and near the Study Abroad Coordinators’ offices (CBA 2.400).  These include information on each student’s budget, and what they actually spent on housing, food, travel, etc.

In general, you should expect to spend more during a semester abroad than you would in Austin, but much of this will be under your control. 

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Can I use my regular financial aid when I study abroad?

Yes.  Again, with Exchange programs you will be registered through UT Austin, so any financial aid or scholarships you normally receive will also apply to your semester abroad.  Check with the Office of Student Financial Services if you have any questions about your financial aid.

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Are there any scholarships for studying abroad?

Yes.  Any UT student studying abroad is eligible to apply for at least one special scholarship, the IEF Scholarship (funded by the International Education Fee – a $3 fee paid by all UT students every semester).  Students studying in Asia or Latin America should also look into the CIBER Strategic Partners Scholarships.

Other scholarships may also be available, depending on your destination.  The UT Center for Global Educational Opportunities has a list of scholarships and other funding options on this web page: http://www.utexas.edu/student/abroad/funding/

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PROCESS

How do I apply?

Applications for the BBA Exchange programs are due by March 1. For example, March 1, 2007 is the priority application deadline studying abroad summer 2007, fall 2007, and spring 2008.

Before applying, you should first attend an Information Session to have general questions answered.  You may then schedule an appointment with a Study Abroad Coordinator. 

There are two Study Abroad Coordinators in the Undergraduate Programs Office (CBA 2.400).  Once you have attended an Information Session, you can schedule an appointment with an coordinator by going to the office, or calling 471-0690.  You must meet with an coordinator before you will have access to the online Study Abroad application.

Part of the Study Abroad application is online, but you will also need to complete and turn in additional materials:

  • Essay
  • Two Recommendation Letters
  • Resume
  • Head-Shot Photos
  • Degree Plan with courses completed marked off

If you will be studying in a language other than English, you will also need to have your skills in that language evaluated by a faculty member.

For details on these application materials, read our Application Tips.  Completing the Essay and organizing the Recommendation Letters can be time-consuming, so plan to get started well before the application deadline!

Students have reported that planning to go abroad can take almost as much time as a class at UT, so be ready to dedicate time to these activities the semester before you go.

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How hard it is to be accepted to go abroad?  What are the selection criteria?

The more flexible you are in destination choices, the greater your opportunities are.  The selection committee looks for well-rounded students who will be good ambassadors of UT and the U.S., and all of the application materials are taken into consideration.  The chances of getting accepted to a particular location vary based on the applicant pool for that semester.  For some semesters there may be strong competition for certain locations, depending on the number and quality of applicants.  A good student has a very high chance of being accepted, but perhaps not to a first choice. You must have at least a 2.0 GPA.

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What will I need to do if I am accepted to study abroad?

Once you have been accepted into a BBA Exchange program, you will need to submit several forms and other paperwork for UT Austin and for your host school.  You will need to attend a Pre-Departure Workshop to begin this process after you have been accepted, and attend travel counseling if studying or traveling anywhere outside of western Europe.  You will also be responsible for obtaining a student visa for your host country.

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