Study Abroad

At UNH, study abroad is a valued and encouraged educational experience—one that enriches your academic, professional and personal development and prepares you, as part of the new generation of leaders, for the challenges of global citizenship and engagement.

Students at UNH have more than 500 study abroad and exchange programs from which to choose, offered during January-term, summer, fall and spring semesters or the full academic year. You may fulfill major, minor or Discovery/General Education requirements and maintain your financial aid package.

Through studying away you will have the opportunity to:

Study, conduct research or intern in a state, territory or country you’ve dreamed of visiting
Immerse yourself in a fascinating new experiences and cultures
Gain the maturity, knowledge and skills that will give you a competitive career edge

For more information, or to begin planning your study away experience, contact the Academic Counseling office at 603-641-4170.

Research UNH Study Abroad Programs

International Study Abroad Programs

Using the following programs, you will be able to travel throughout the world—enriching your educational experience, building your resume and preparing for the challenges of global citizenship and engagement! Click here to search for the location and time frame that works for you!

National Student Exchange Programs

As a student at a member campus, you have the opportunity to study, live and explore at one of 180 colleges and universities throughout the United States, US territories and Canada. UNH participates as a “Plan B Only” member.Explore these member campuses.

Types of Study Abroad Programs

Using the following programs, you will be able to travel throughout the country or the world!

UNH Managed Programs

Directed and administered by UNH faculty either on-site or from Durham/Manchester
Suitable if you would like to study abroad with other UNH students
Courses aligned with UNH curricula, making it easy to fulfill UNH Major, Minor and General Education/Discovery requirements
Some programs are restricted to certain majors and/or have additional eligibility requirements
Offered for academic year, fall, spring, summer, January-Term or Spring Break
UNH tuition, plus program fees

UNH Exchange Programs:

Direct enrollment in UNH specially selected partner institutions abroad; also known as a reciprocal student exchange
Suitable if you are more independent and would like a full-immersion experience
All courses, programs and services are administered and delivered by the foreign university
Some programs are restricted to certain majors and/or have additional eligibility requirements
Offered for academic year, fall or spring
UNH tuition, plus program fees

UNH Approved Programs

Developed, managed and administered by professional third-party providers or universities abroad
Suitable if you would like to study abroad with other Americans and/or international students
Include additional student services, such as accommodations, orientation, excursions, and on-site coordination
Have met UNH criteria as determined by the UNH University Committee on Study Abroad
Some programs have additional eligibility requirements
Offered for academic year, fall, spring or summer
Provider's program fees, plus some UNH fees

National Student Exchange:

Domestic study away opportunity!
UNH students are eligible to go on exchange to any member institutions including Canadian Partners. 180+ members in US, Canada, and US territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands & Guam).
Cost is UNH tuition and mandatory fees, plus host institution’s school housing/meals and sometimes orientation fees.
All courses, programs and services are administered and delivered by the host university
Offered for academic year, fall or spring
Explore a new location, climate (sunshine, surf, ski!), a new careerand/or a potential graduate school!
To see a map of participating universities in the United States click hereand Canada click here.
Short Term Programs:
Short-term programs, including January Term and summer programs, operate a little differently than semester-long programs.
Allow for greater flexibility in selection and enrollment because they take place during official UNH breaks.
Fees are comparatively lower, but financial aid is limited since academic expenses during semester breaks are not typically factored into financial aid packages.
Available programs include UNH Managed and UNH Approved programs .

Eligibility Requirements

International Study Away

Students must meet the following academic criteria of the UNH Study Away Eligibility policy at the time of application:

Admitted to a Bachelor or Associate Degree*
Has a declared major
Has at least a 2.5 cumulative UNH GPA at time of application AND time of abroad experience
Has completed at least 32 credit hours, at least 12 of which have been earned at the University of New Hampshire baccalaureate level
In good academic, judicial, and financial standing

*Associate Degree students will have an additional form to complete in order to gain eligibility

National Student Exchange

Students must meet the following academic criteria of the UNH Study Away Eligibility policy at the time of application and the time of the exchange the student is:

Must be a full-time Bachelor's candidate with a declared major, enrolled at UNH or UNHM the semester immediately prior to the intended exchange semester
Has at least a 2.5 cumulative UNH GPA at time of application AND time of exchange
Has completed at least 32 credit hours, at least 16 of which have been earned at the University of New Hampshire baccalaureate level
Must be in good academic, judicial, and financial standing

Deadlines

Study Abroad

Students need to contact the Academic Counseling office to establish eligibility, apply to their program of choice and notify the Academic Counseling office by the following deadlines:

March 1- Notification Deadline for summer/fall programs
October 1 - Notification Deadline for spring programs

Students need to have a Registration Meeting and return all forms to Academic Counseling by:

November 15 – Spring semester study abroad
March 15 – Summer & Fall semester study abroad

National Student Exchange

Students need to contact the Academic Counseling office , establish eligibility and submit their application for the following academic year by:

Last week of February – For the following academic year

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I begin the process of studying away?
Contact the Academic Counseling Office at 641-4170 to set up an appointment as early into your academic career as possible.

To make sure you are planning appropriately, please click here for the Study Abroad Checklist and click here for the National Student Exchange Checklist.

Am I eligible to study away?
Minimum eligibility requirements are established for study away programs. Please see the section titled “Eligibility Requirements” for specific information.

Will the courses I take while studying away apply to my degree?
By studying away you will have the opportunity to take general elective courses, major courses and/or general education requirements. Depending on the program you chose, courses will either be UNH courses or courses through another accredited institution. For UNH courses, both the grade and credits will apply directly to your degree. If you are taking courses through another institution, credits will transfer back to your degree as long as you earn a C or better. All of your chosen coursework will go through a prior approval process so you will know exactly if or where the courses will fit into your degree.

How much does studying away cost?
The cost of programs varies based on the location, length and what is included. Because UNH Manchester students typically find that a semester abroad will cost a bit more than their tuition, you may want to explore UNH Managed, UNH Exchange or National Student Exchange programs for which UNH tuition is charged. Additional expenses typically include travel and room and board.

How do I pay for studying away?
First, plan ahead! Planning allows you time to save money, apply for scholarships and do your research on finding an affordable program. Second, your financial aid! UNH currently allows federal, state, and institutional aid (except Work/Study) to transfer for all UNH Managed, UNH Exchange, UNH Approved and National Student Exchange programs.

Thirdly, scholarships! UNH Manchester offers a scholarship just for a UNH Manchester student who studies abroad!

The Center for International Education also provides information about various scholarships available specifically for Study Away.

And if you are eligible for a Pell Grant as part of your financial aid award, you may be eligible for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

What if I do not want to travel internationally?
No problem! The National Student Exchange is a consortium of over 180 colleges and universities throughout the United States, US territories, and Canada. Through this academic program, students continue to make progress toward their UNH degree while studying at another fully accredited institution.

Can I travel for a short period of time?
Study Away opportunities are available for an academic year, semester, summer, and short term winter programs.

What if I cannot find a UNH Managed, UNH Exchange or UNH Approved program that fits my academic requirements?
First, review them again because the other two options below involve significantly more individual work and responsibility. If you still cannot find an appropriate option you can petition to the Center for International Education (CIE) to have a non-approved program granted a One-time Approval. There is a specific procedure and information you will need to provide during this process. Please contact The Academic Counseling Office to find out more. You can also officially Withdraw or take a Leave of Absence from UNH for the semester or year abroad.

How can my parents get additional information about studying abroad?
The Center for International Education has developed a Parent’s Guide to Study Abroad.