Program Types

CU Denver offers over 30 faculty-led Global Study programs during Winter, Maymester, and Summer terms. These programs range from two to four weeks in duration, and from three to six credits. These programs are CU Denver courses, taught by CU Denver faculty, and all take place in another country. The credits earned fall under a predetermined CU Denver course number, so there is no need to worry about transfer of credit. Program availability varies from year to year.

CU Denver offers three Semester Programs: Bridging Global Divides in Berlin, Semester in Beijing, and ArtsHub Asia. Our Bridging Global Divides in Berlin program includes two Political Science courses, a German language course, and an internship component. Students who participate in Semester in Beijing choose their classes from a list of pre-approved courses including Communication, Economics, English, Political Science, Math, Philosophy, etc. ArtsHub Asia participants will work with their College of Arts & Media Academic Advisors to identify pre-approved courses in Visual Arts, Film & Television, and Music Entertainment Studies to complete abroad.

Students may also study abroad on non-CU Denver programs offered by study abroad companies, commonly known as “third-party providers.” Third-party providers boast programs all over the world, for every major, and varying lengths of time (two weeks to an academic year). Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a study abroad advisor in the Office of Global Education (OGE) to discuss recommended programs as well as the process for participating on a third party program. To ensure the transfer of study abroad credits back to CU Denver, OGE will facilitate the course approval process alongside students’ academic advisors, prior to students’ departure.

Affiliate Providers

CU Denver is proud to be formally affiliated with the following study abroad providers. These providers were chosen as affiliates based on their outstanding reputation for high-quality international academic offerings and commitment to health, safety, and affordability. These providers prove the most popular choices among CU Denver students. As a student at an affiliate university (CU Denver), you may have access to special scholarships from the providers. Click on the logos below to learn more about each organization.

Over the past 45 years, Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA) has become one of the top art and design schools in Italy. SRISA’s highly personalized instruction and experiential learning conforms to the expectations and requirements of an American university curriculum. Courses are taught in English and programs are enhanced with extra-curricular activities, art exhibits, field trips, cultural seminars, beyond-the-classroom learning, guest lecturers, museum visits, student art shows, fashion shows, and more.	CIEE is a nonprofit study abroad organization that transforms lives and helps people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. Celebrating our 75th anniversary in 2022, we are proud to be one of the oldest and largest study abroad organizations offering over 150 study/intern/teach abroad programs in more than 30 different locations worldwide. As a nonprofit, we also offer millions in scholarships and grants each year to help increase access to study abroad. In short, CIEE changes lives, and our alumni change the world. The World is our classroom. Join us!	Our team of extraordinary people around the world truly care about the success and well-being of our participants. We offer meaningful journeys abroad that meet high academic standards, are culturally engaging, tailored to individual students’ interests and, of course, full of adventure! With more than 25 years of welcoming students to Asia Pacific and a dedicated on-the-ground staff, we’re experts at what we do and have strong partnerships with leading universities throughout the world. We completely manage our students’ experiences from beginning to end while still fully encouraging our students to explore and grow, both independently and as a group. Come join us abroad!
USAC is an award-winning international education provider. Since 1982, USAC has provided affordable, valuable study abroad programs in over 50 programs throughout the world. With in-person and virtual offerings to choose from, USAC helps students to gain global perspective while setting yourself apart from your peers and setting yourself up for future success.	Studying abroad is more than just an academic experience — it’s a life experience. With nine study centers and over 40 partner programs located throughout Europe, South America, Australia, and Africa, CEA’s programs focus on a student-centered curriculum, global competence, cultural immersion, and academic excellence.	Since 1964, over 1.5 million students have traveled abroad with AIFS on one of our study abroad or internship programs in Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Our program fees are guaranteed in U.S. dollars and are all-inclusive, making it simple for you to experience all that the world has to offer. Most AIFS campuses offer courses in English or in foreign languages from beginner to advanced levels, so you don’t even have to know a foreign language to study abroad.
Barcelona SAE is a boutique study abroad and internship program that provides personalized attention and focuses on this beautiful Mediterranean city that we call home. Ask any of our alumni and you’ll learn about their unforgettable academic, cultural, and professional experience – one that was beneficial not only during their time in Barcelona but has given them a personal and professional advantage for the rest of their lives.	We know more about studying abroad in Asia Pacific than anyone else. It’s all we have done since 1995 and our team has lived, studied, worked, and travelled extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. All our semester and summer programs along with our company practices are intentionally designed to be environmentally, socially, and culturally responsible, honoring and, protecting the planet and its people for generations to come.	At CIS Abroad, our lives were transformed by international experiences. So we provide innovative education programs that broaden academic perspectives, promote global awareness, and encourage personal development while laying the foundation for participants to become engaged world citizens. We send thousands of students abroad each year on meaningful study and intern abroad experiences to dozens of locations in Europe, Asia/Pacific, Africa, and Central & South America. CIS programs are affordable, easy to apply to, offer 24/7 onsite support, and work for almost any major.
With the world as its classroom and more than 55 years of experience, Semester at Sea integrates multiple-country study, interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on field experience for meaningful engagement in the global community. Over a 100-day voyage on a shipboard campus, students are offered a wide variety of coursework from 20-25 fields of study that are integrated with relevant field classes in up to a dozen countries, allowing for an experiential, comparative education that is truly global.	Arcos Learning Abroad (Arcos) offers Spanish-language focused programs in Spain, Argentina, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Students can choose from Spanish language courses, electives, and internships during semester, summer, and winter break terms. Arcos is known for its personable, student-focused style of programming.	Academic Programs International (API) is an experiential learning and study abroad provider dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable, enriching international and virtual learning experiences that deepen the student’s cultural understanding and accelerate their career opportunities. API’s extensive pre-departure preparation, coupled with strong support services on-site, facilitates academic, cultural, and linguistic learning. Within the supportive and inclusive environment of API programs, participants are encouraged to explore their host communities and become increasingly independent and confident in their own abilities. No matter who you are or where you come from, API will support you during your journey abroad.

Over the past 45 years, Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA) has become one of the top art and design schools in Italy. SRISA’s highly personalized instruction and experiential learning conforms to the expectations and requirements of an American university curriculum. Courses are taught in English and programs are enhanced with extra-curricular activities, art exhibits, field trips, cultural seminars, beyond-the-classroom learning, guest lecturers, museum visits, student art shows, fashion shows, and more.	CIEE is a nonprofit study abroad organization that transforms lives and helps people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. Celebrating our 75th anniversary in 2022, we are proud to be one of the oldest and largest study abroad organizations offering over 150 study/intern/teach abroad programs in more than 30 different locations worldwide. As a nonprofit, we also offer millions in scholarships and grants each year to help increase access to study abroad. In short, CIEE changes lives, and our alumni change the world. The World is our classroom. Join us!
Our team of extraordinary people around the world truly care about the success and well-being of our participants. We offer meaningful journeys abroad that meet high academic standards, are culturally engaging, tailored to individual students’ interests and, of course, full of adventure! With more than 25 years of welcoming students to Asia Pacific and a dedicated on-the-ground staff, we’re experts at what we do and have strong partnerships with leading universities throughout the world. We completely manage our students’ experiences from beginning to end while still fully encouraging our students to explore and grow, both independently and as a group. Come join us abroad!	Since 1964, over 1.5 million students have traveled abroad with AIFS on one of our study abroad or internship programs in Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Our program fees are guaranteed in U.S. dollars and are all-inclusive, making it simple for you to experience all that the world has to offer. Most AIFS campuses offer courses in English or in foreign languages from beginner to advanced levels, so you don’t even have to know a foreign language to study abroad.
Studying abroad is more than just an academic experience — it’s a life experience. With nine study centers and over 40 partner programs located throughout Europe, South America, Australia, and Africa, CEA’s programs focus on a student-centered curriculum, global competence, cultural immersion, and academic excellence.	USAC is an award-winning international education provider. Since 1982, USAC has provided affordable, valuable study abroad programs in over 50 programs throughout the world. With in-person and virtual offerings to choose from, USAC helps students to gain global perspective while setting yourself apart from your peers and setting yourself up for future success.
Barcelona SAE is a boutique study abroad and internship program that provides personalized attention and focuses on this beautiful Mediterranean city that we call home. Ask any of our alumni and you’ll learn about their unforgettable academic, cultural, and professional experience – one that was beneficial not only during their time in Barcelona but has given them a personal and professional advantage for the rest of their lives.	We know more about studying abroad in Asia Pacific than anyone else. It’s all we have done since 1995 and our team has lived, studied, worked, and travelled extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. All our semester and summer programs along with our company practices are intentionally designed to be environmentally, socially, and culturally responsible, honoring and, protecting the planet and its people for generations to come.
At CIS Abroad, our lives were transformed by international experiences. So we provide innovative education programs that broaden academic perspectives, promote global awareness, and encourage personal development while laying the foundation for participants to become engaged world citizens. We send thousands of students abroad each year on meaningful study and intern abroad experiences to dozens of locations in Europe, Asia/Pacific, Africa, and Central & South America. CIS programs are affordable, easy to apply to, offer 24/7 onsite support, and work for almost any major.	With the world as its classroom and more than 55 years of experience, Semester at Sea integrates multiple-country study, interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on field experience for meaningful engagement in the global community. Over a 100-day voyage on a shipboard campus, students are offered a wide variety of coursework from 20-25 fields of study that are integrated with relevant field classes in up to a dozen countries, allowing for an experiential, comparative education that is truly global.
Arcos Learning Abroad (Arcos) offers Spanish-language focused programs in Spain, Argentina, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Students can choose from Spanish language courses, electives, and internships during semester, summer, and winter break terms. Arcos is known for its personable, student-focused style of programming.	Academic Programs International (API) is an experiential learning and study abroad provider dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable, enriching international and virtual learning experiences that deepen the student’s cultural understanding and accelerate their career opportunities. API’s extensive pre-departure preparation, coupled with strong support services on-site, facilitates academic, cultural, and linguistic learning. Within the supportive and inclusive environment of API programs, participants are encouraged to explore their host communities and become increasingly independent and confident in their own abilities. No matter who you are or where you come from, API will support you during your journey abroad.

Approved Providers

In addition to the Affiliate Providers listed above, CU Denver has vetted nine other third-party providers and added them to our portfolio of study abroad choices for students. Click on the links below to browse each provider’s program offerings.

SIT Study Abroad SIT Study Abroad offers semester and summer, experiential, field-based programs for undergraduate students in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as multi-country programs. SIT encourages students to step beyond the boundaries of a traditional classroom to analyze and understand the critical issues shaping local communities around the globe. SIT programs foster academic rigor, intensive cultural immersion, substantial community engagement, and an emphasis on field-based research and internships. You’ll find SIT on every continent, among the ecosystems of Southern Patagonia and Antarctica; on the shores of Siberia’s Lake Baikal; in Senegal’s vibrant hip-hop scene and Malaysia’s dynamic Islamic banking and business centers; at the heart of autonomy movements in Spain and Scotland; researching the biodiversity of Madagascar; in the migrant centers of the Middle East, and at many more amazing locations in between.	Amideast Amideast Education Abroad is the only study abroad provider which specializes in the MENA region. Our programs develop mutual understanding, improve participants’ Arabic or French language skills, and provide innumerable opportunities to interact with the peoples and cultures of the region, especially local families, organizations, and students. Whether you know no Arabic or a lot of Arabic, you can study abroad with us for a summer or semester in Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia, or the UAE.	Institute for American Universities IAU offers semester, summer and January-term study abroad programs in the historic Provençal city of Aix-en-Provence, France which is located along the Mediterranean Sea. IAU allows students to experience the culture of the south of France in many aspects – from its famed cuisine to a historical arts scene to unparalleled beauty, Aix has a distinct feel, unique from anywhere else in the world. Students who study in Aix will become immersed in traditional French culture in a quaint setting, while still experiencing the charm and elegance of a large metropolis.
Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA-Butler) With more than 100 IFSA programs to choose from in 19 countries and 53 cities, IFSA delivers so many options that you will find it hard to choose just one study abroad location. Our semester and year-long program fees include a guided orientation with our local resident staff and various co-curricular activities and excursions throughout the semester. The IFSA study abroad experience is about creating serious momentum for the professional you’re becoming. You’ll enhance your education with opportunities to participate in internships, research, service-learning, and/or volunteering.	DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia DIS offers more than 350 courses across 30 disciplines, between two breathtaking Scandinavian capital cities: Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark. Tackle contemporary issues in classes alongside peers from over 200 North American universities, participate in cutting-edge research, lab, and studio work, and explore Europe through course-integrated study tours across the continent. Programs range between 3-week sessions in the summer and 4-month terms in the fall and spring, in either or both locations.	IES Abroad With 140+ study abroad programs in 34 locations around the world, we offer a little bit of everything when it comes to study abroad. All of your pre-departure planning, advising, on-site support, courses, field trips, housing, and more are included on an IES Abroad program. As a not-for-profit study abroad and internship provider, you are our bottom line. Your success is our success.

SIT Study Abroad SIT Study Abroad offers semester and summer, experiential, field-based programs for undergraduate students in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as multi-country programs. SIT encourages students to step beyond the boundaries of a traditional classroom to analyze and understand the critical issues shaping local communities around the globe. SIT programs foster academic rigor, intensive cultural immersion, substantial community engagement, and an emphasis on field-based research and internships. You’ll find SIT on every continent, among the ecosystems of Southern Patagonia and Antarctica; on the shores of Siberia’s Lake Baikal; in Senegal’s vibrant hip-hop scene and Malaysia’s dynamic Islamic banking and business centers; at the heart of autonomy movements in Spain and Scotland; researching the biodiversity of Madagascar; in the migrant centers of the Middle East, and at many more amazing locations in between.	DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia DIS offers more than 350 courses across 30 disciplines, between two breathtaking Scandinavian capital cities: Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark. Tackle contemporary issues in classes alongside peers from over 200 North American universities, participate in cutting-edge research, lab, and studio work, and explore Europe through course-integrated study tours across the continent. Programs range between 3-week sessions in the summer and 4-month terms in the fall and spring, in either or both locations.
Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA-Butler) With more than 100 IFSA programs to choose from in 19 countries and 53 cities, IFSA delivers so many options that you will find it hard to choose just one study abroad location. Our semester and year-long program fees include a guided orientation with our local resident staff and various co-curricular activities and excursions throughout the semester. The IFSA study abroad experience is about creating serious momentum for the professional you’re becoming. You’ll enhance your education with opportunities to participate in internships, research, service-learning, and/or volunteering.	Institute for American Universities IAU offers semester, summer and January-term study abroad programs in the historic Provençal city of Aix-en-Provence, France which is located along the Mediterranean Sea. IAU allows students to experience the culture of the south of France in many aspects – from its famed cuisine to a historical arts scene to unparalleled beauty, Aix has a distinct feel, unique from anywhere else in the world. Students who study in Aix will become immersed in traditional French culture in a quaint setting, while still experiencing the charm and elegance of a large metropolis.
Amideast Amideast Education Abroad is the only study abroad provider which specializes in the MENA region. Our programs develop mutual understanding, improve participants’ Arabic or French language skills, and provide innumerable opportunities to interact with the peoples and cultures of the region, especially local families, organizations, and students. Whether you know no Arabic or a lot of Arabic, you can study abroad with us for a summer or semester in Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia, or the UAE.	IES Abroad With 140+ study abroad programs in 34 locations around the world, we offer a little bit of everything when it comes to study abroad. All of your pre-departure planning, advising, on-site support, courses, field trips, housing, and more are included on an IES Abroad program. As a not-for-profit study abroad and internship provider, you are our bottom line. Your success is our success.

 

Non-Approved CU Denver Study Abroad Programs

OGE has invested significant resources to offer a wide range of study abroad offerings that reflect the diversity of our students' interests and meet their academic needs. If a student feels strongly about participating on a non-CU Denver study abroad program that is not on the university's list of affiliate or approved programs, they must complete a “Petition for Non-Approved CU Denver Study Abroad Programs.” This option is available only to students who meet the CU Denver study abroad eligibility requirements and have a specific, clearly articulated academic need that cannot be met by any existing CU Denver study abroad offerings. Petitions must be supported by the student's major/minor or college/school advisor. For more information, including deadlines and a copy of the petition questions, click here.

Some students pursue international academic opportunities that do not fall into the above-mentioned categories of study abroad. These additional opportunities might include research abroad, international language schools, and clinical rotations for graduate students in the medical fields. All students going abroad for academic purposes must register with the Office of Global Education. In doing so, we can provide important health and safety resources such as international health insurance, safety workshops, and more.​