Many formal programs in the college send students across the planet, but you should never feel constrained. Other possibilities around campus are waiting for you—or generate your own ideas for traveling and learning. Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange is a starting point for resources and ideas to broaden your view. Plan early, talk to an advisor, explore programs, and see what can happen.
Academic Benefits
Professional Benefits
Personal Benefits
Architecture majors: note that the Barcelona–El Vallès international immersion is coordinated independently, so the general information here about studying abroad may not be relevant. Research the program before you apply.
Theatre
You must obtain prior approval for all courses taken abroad from the appropriate Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor, and it is your responsibility to follow the instructions and fulfill all requirements. Familiarize yourself with the course approval process.
FAA 299 is used as placeholder course registration, which you agree to as part of your study abroad application online. The Office of the Registrar will register you in FAA 299 for study abroad as a full-time student, but to receive financial aid students need to complete and transfer at least 12 hours of credit abroad back to Illinois for fall and spring semesters and at least 6 hours of credit for summer term. Check institutional credit equivalencies here. MAP Grant recipients need to log in to Illinois Self-Service to change the placeholder hours from 12 credit hours to 15 credit hours to ensure that they are registered for a minimum of 15 hours of FAA 299 placeholder credit for fall and spring semesters.
You may enroll in online Illinois courses during a fall or spring term abroad, provided your enrolled Illinois credit does not total more than 18 hours. Online Illinois courses do not need to be included on the course approval form.
LAS 291/292 is a Study Abroad Orientation course which students are required to take when studying abroad for the fall, spring, or summer term. Exceptions to this requirement are faculty-led, short-term programs and the Architecture in Barcelona El-Valles International Immersion program.
When planning for your study abroad experience, consider both the billable (Illinois and program fees) and nonbillable (estimated living expenses) costs associated with your program. Be sure to review information from the Office of Student Financial Aid on how these costs may be covered through your aid package.
Exchange programs tend to be the most affordable semester-long options. FAA students can use the program search to identify these. If you are looking at a program page in My Study Abroad, click the Costs tab to see details on what you will be charged.
Online Illinois courses taken while abroad in the fall or spring semester do not constitute additional charges for students enrolled in full-time Illinois FAA 299 placeholder credit.
All students should submit the brief application for the I4I and IIP scholarships at the same time as the application to study abroad.
The Gilman Scholarship is open to any U.S. citizen who either has a Pell Grant or can provide proof that they will receive one during the term of their study abroad program or internship. This award is for up to $5,000.
Many other scholarships are available, including those for students with physical or sensory disabilities or those traveling to specific countries.
Would you like to connect with students who have returned from abroad?
I chose Copenhagen because I have always been interested in Danish design and architecture, and the city and course were recommended to me by multiple people. I was also excited to spend the summer there because of the long sunny days that come from being that far north.
I was enrolled in the interior architecture course, and it was an amazing experience. Being in a city known for its interior structures and design and being able to experience things we were learning about firsthand was life changing. I got to walk through buildings and see designs that I have been studying and admiring for years. My instructors were also well known in the design world, so working under people who are well respected and incredibly knowledgeable brought a newfound motivation to my life.
Being in Copenhagen in the summer meant that we were constantly outside. We swam in the ocean everyday between studios and could ride around. While Copenhagen is large, it feels small when you can bike place to place so easily. There are always public and free concerts and events, and people are constantly eating in parks and spending time together around the city.
One of my biggest goals and motivations prior to going abroad was to introduce diversity within landscape architecture. This was important to me because not only are the demographics for African Americans very low within my field in general, even more on this campus, but at the University of Sheffield as well. Being the only African American within my program didn't intimidate me, thus I felt much more empowered because I knew I was making a difference somehow. I feel differently now in the sense that I left Sheffield knowing that I may have impacted or encouraged another student of color to join the program and not to be scared to put themselves out there. I would say the same goes for anyone who is fearful about going to another country. Don't let certain things scare you. It may come as a surprise that you were scared for nothing. You will have fun and it will change your life.
Contact Nicole Turner (nicturn@illinois.edu) if you have a story about your time studying abroad that you'd like to share.
College of Fine + Applied Arts
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
