There are many opportunities for foreign study in which MUP students may earn academic credit while studying abroad. These opportunities include foreign exchanges and programs, international coursework and field studies, and independent travel and research. International study locations include the Scandinavian countries, People’s Republic of China, Mexico, India, South Korea, and more. Typically, MUP students embark on exchange programs in their second year of study.
University of Groningen – Netherlands
The Department of Urban Design and Planning has a continual exchange program with the University of Groningen in The Netherlands. The University of Groningen is the second oldest in The Netherlands, and the historic city of Groningen is located in the northeastern corner of that country. Students take a course in Dutch planning and often a field study course, in English. There are usually several field trips. The exchange takes place in autumn quarter of the student’s second year of study. Begun in 1989, many students from the UW have participated in this program. Professor Jan Whittington is the faculty liaison for the exchange program and usually holds an information session for interested students in November of each year.
Valle Scholarship
The VALLE Scholarship and Nordic Countries Exchange Program offers an exceptional opportunity to fund students’ studies in a Nordic Country. Unparalleled in the United States, the Valle Scholarship and Scandinavian Exchange Program has a dual mission to promote and fund the exchange of graduate students between the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington and programs in the Nordic countries, and to support outstanding graduate students in the College of Built Environments and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Valle fellowships include monthly stipends, UW study abroad tuition, health insurance, and round-trip air travel to Scandinavia. There is an application process. To learn more, please review the program website at https://depts.washington.edu/uwvalle/welcome
Scan Design Fellowship Program
The Scan Design study abroad fellowship program at the University of Washington offers up to $9000 per semester to support exchange studies in Denmark. The College of Built Environments has exchange programs with the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Copenhagen), Aarhus School of Architecture (Aarhus, Denmark), and KTH (Sweden). For further information, please visit http://scandesign.be.uw.edu/
University of Washington Study Abroad Options
Graduate students are eligible to participate in any of the study abroad opportunities available through the University of Washington. However, some options in particular are better suited for graduate students. To learn more, please see the UW Study Abroad website: http://www.washington.edu/studyabroad/
Each year there are typically a number of international coursework opportunities offered through the Department of Urban Design and Planning. Field studies usually include travel for one-two weeks in an international location with the remaining coursework conducted in Seattle for the duration of the quarter. Study abroad opportunities differ in that they are usually conducted abroad the entire quarter, with students pursuing multiple courses/coursework while abroad. Studio classes are sometimes conducted as either as a field study or as a study abroad quarter, and offer students a unique, hands-on experience working on a specialized planning problem in another country.
International coursework and study abroad options offered through the Department of Urban Design and Planning vary from year to year. Examples of recent coursework and field studies include:
Mega-City Planning: Seoul, Korea
Students earn elective credits while studying abroad for approximately two weeks of field study, with additional coursework completed in Seattle during the remainder of the quarter; instructed by Professor Christine Bae. Typically offered in Spring quarter.
Mexico Field Studies
Students earn elective credits while studying abroad for approximately two weeks of field study, with additional coursework completed in Seattle during the remainder of the quarter; instructed by Professor Branden Born. Occasionally offered in Summer quarter.
Bonderman Travel Fellowship
The Bonderman Travel Fellowship offers University of Washington graduate, professional, and select undergraduate students an opportunity to engage in independent exploration and travel abroad for eight months. For further information, please see: http://bonderman.uw.edu/
Fulbright U.S. Student/Scholar Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. Please click here to view the program website.