SOU Direct International Exchanges
In an exchange, the student remains enrolled at Southern Oregon University while studying at a partner institution abroad. The student pays tuition and fees at SOU, but all housing, meals, and other costs will be paid in the host country. Most scholarships and financial aid will apply per usual. Generally, these programs are the most cost-effective way to study abroad. All students must be nominated by the Education Abroad Advisor in the Office of International Programs (OIP) prior to sending application materials to the host university abroad. Required application materials differ by university.
Exchange during Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters is billed at 15 credits per term tuition and fees using your usual tuition rate. Summer exchanges are billed according to the expected credits earned.
Where Can I Go on an Exchange?
Canada
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Brandon University
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Cape Breton University
Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Brock University
St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada
Lakehead University
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Bishop’s University
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
University of Montreal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
University of Sherbrooke
Sherbooke, Quebec, Canada
University of Quebec in Montreal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Fall semester, Winter/Spring, or Full Year. Open to all majors. These universities are open to exchange students from Southern Oregon University through the National Student Exchange program. From the Canadian Prairies to the rocky islands of the Eastern shore, SOU students are able to explore the subtle cultural differences of our Northern neighbor. Whether you want to continue on your way to French proficiency in Quebec, or have a wide array of English language class options to suit your major, these Canadian universities have something to suit all fields of study. To explore each campus in greater detail, visit the National Student Exchange’s Canada page. Each university’s NSE page will have section detailing estimated student costs on campus for housing and meal plans (if available).
There are no Fact and Budget sheets for these programs, because housing and associated costs will vary greatly by location (see: Room/Meal tab on each university’s NSE profile for their specific details). Like our Direct Exchanges, students exchanging to Canada through NSE pay SOU their current tuition and fee rate, international insurance, and a $350 study away fee per term. So, an academic year spent at a Canadian partner school will mean three terms worth of tuition & fees, billed at 15 credits per term.
England
University of Winchester
Winchester, England, United Kingdom
Fall Semester Only. Open to ALL majors, but may be an especially strong fit for: Theatre Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Emerging Media and Digital Art, Business, Sociology and Anthropology, International Studies, Education, Psychology, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Health & Exercise Science. This is one of SOU’s longest-running reciprocal exchange programs. In the last couple of years, SOU has been able to send 5-6 students each Fall. Selection is based on academic achievement, faculty recommendations, and class standing. For more information, please visit Winchester’s incoming exchange student page. Expanding the +Module Information dropdown on Winchester’s site will allow you to view the most recent module (class) catalogue for Semester 1 (Fall). While courses can change, many courses are offered year after year.
Winchester Fact Sheet and Estimated Student Budget PDF
University of Nottingham
Nottingham, England, United Kingdom
Full year only. Open to all majors. Nottingham has a wide variety of courses available. Students choose a “Host School” or academic department within Nottingham, and should expect to take at least half their classes from their Host School. Some limitations may apply. The Schools of Business, Medicine, Nursing, and Law are not open to receive SOU exchange students. Exchange students must have a 2.8+ GPA. For more information, please visit Nottingham’s incoming exchange student page. Students can view pre-approved modules (classes) for incoming exchange students on this page. They have a helpful “How to select your modules…” guide to understand more about course levels and expectations. Fields of study and departments are arranged differently than SOU, so check multiple places for the kinds of courses you are looking for: example both “Biosciences” and “Life Sciences” departments have modules of interest to Biology students, Criminology students should look under “Sociology and Social Policy,” students interested in Media should look in the school of “Cultures, Languages, and Area Studies.”
Finland
LAB University of Applied Sciences
Lappeenranta, Finland
Fall or Winter/Spring, or Full Year. Open to Business students for study of international business or tourism & hospitality management. Year-long Dual-Degree option available for Tourism & Hospitality (must be a Junior or above at time of travel), requiring additional internship hours and completion of a thesis. To make the most of studies in Finland, and to be eligible for the Dual-Degree option, Business students should aim to complete the Lower Division Business Core and Non-Business Core requirements of the BA major prior to exchange. Read more about available courses in Lappeenranta, housing, and student life on LAB’s incoming exchange student page. For Winter/Spring semester, students must submit an SOU application by September 15 (earlier than many other programs).
France
University of Lille
Lille, France
Fall/Winter or Winter/Spring or Year-long. Open to business students only for upper-division study of management. Year-long exchange recommended due to host university’s academic calendar. Courses are taught in English. Study of French as a Foreign Language may or may not be available. To make the most of studies in France, SOU students should aim to complete the Lower Division Business Core and Non-Business Core requirements of the BA major prior to exchange. For more information, please visit Lille’s incoming exchange student page.
Germany
Hochschule für Technik und Wirschaft des Saarlandes, University of Applied Sciences. (HTW Saar)
Saarbrücken, Germany
Fall/Winter or Spring or Year-long. Open to both undergraduate and graduate business students only. Courses are taught in English. Courses available year-round applicable to Accounting and Management students. Tourism-related coursework is taught primarily in Fall/Winter, while Marketing-related courses are taught primarily in Spring. For more information about HTW Saar, coursework, and housing, please visit HTW’s incoming exchange student page. Note- the Spring term is called the “Summer Semester” at HTW, because the study period spans from mid/late March into August. Spring and Full-year students should be prepared to remain in Germany for much of the summer, with a smaller break before returning to SOU for Fall. The semester aligning with SOU’s Fall/Winter terms is called “Winter Semester” at HTW.
Full year undergraduate students are eligible for a Dual Degree. To make the most of studies in Germany, and to be eligible for the Dual Degree, SOU students should aim to complete the Lower Division Business Core and Non-Business Core requirements of the BA major prior to exchange.
MBA students can also pursue a Dual Masters Degree with study in Germany for one semester. Please see Professor Rene Ordonez for more details on graduate-level participation in exchange. MBA students participating in exchange do so in Spring (“Summer Semester” at HTW).
Summer Option: HTW Saar offers a summer business immersion course (approx. 3 weeks in length in early summer). Undergraduate and Graduate students are welcome to apply. Business majors preferred, students seeking a Business minor or Certificate may join on a space-available basis. SOU undergraduates receive 4 credits of BA 399. MBA students should work directly with Professor Rene Ordonez to arrange graduate-level credit.
HTW Saar Exchange Fact and Budget Sheet PDF
Hochschule Harz, University of Applied Sciences
Wernigerode, Germany
Fall/Winter or Winter/Spring or Full Year; full year recommended. Open to business students only for the study of Hospitality & Tourism, Management, or Marketing. Courses are taught in English. For more information about HS Harz, Wernigerode, coursework, and student life, please visit Harz’s incoming exchange student page. Note- the Winter/Spring term is called the “Summer Semester” at Harz, because the study period spans from early March to late July. Winter/Spring and Full-year students should be prepared to remain in Germany for the first half of summer. The semester aligning with SOU’s Fall/Winter terms is called “Winter Semester” at Harz.
Full year students are eligible for a dual degree. To make the most of studies in Germany, and to be eligible for the Dual Degree, SOU students should aim to complete the Lower Division Business Core and Non-Business Core requirements of the BA major prior to exchange.
Japan
International College of Liberal Arts, Yamanashi Gakuin University (iCLA)
Kofu, Japan
Fall or Spring or Full Year. Open to those who will be a Sophomore or higher at the time of exchange, with a 2.5 GPA minimum. Open to all majors, but may be an especially strong fit for: International Studies, Economics, Business, Political Science, English, History, Psychology, Music, Sociology and Anthropology, with some limited offerings in Theatre, Data Science, Art. Courses taught in English. Japanese language study available from the beginner level. For information, including course listings and program dates, please visit iCLA’s incoming exchange student page. Spring spans a time frame from late March to early August, so Spring students should expect to spend a significant portion of their summer abroad, with a shorter summer break before returning to SOU in fall.
For spring semester, students must submit an SOU application by September 15 (earlier than many other programs).
iCLA Exchange Fact and Budget Sheet PDF
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS)
Nagoya, Japan
Fall or Spring or Full Year. Open to all majors. Courses available in English include the study of Japanese society, culture, and media. Japanese language study available from beginner level. NUFS offers a scholarship in the form of a stipend to cover the cost of housing to all SOU exchange students. Culture classes are taught in English. For more information about Nagoya, NUFS, and Japanese studies course offerings, please visit NUFS’ incoming exchange student page. Note: Spring spans a time frame from early April to mid-July, so Spring students should expect to spend the earlier part of their summer abroad, with a shorter summer break before returning to SOU in fall.
NUFS Exchange Fact and Budget Sheet PDF
Okayama University
Okayama, Japan
Fall/Winter or Spring or Full Year. Open to all majors. Some English-taught electives in Environmental Studies, Business, Science, and Social Sciences with many courses that encourage fieldwork. The bulk of credits will be taken in study of Japanese language and culture, with language available from the beginner level. For more information, please visit Okayama’s incoming exchange student page and the Exchange Program Okayama (EPOK) Flyer. Note: Spring spans a time frame from April to mid-August, so Spring students should expect to spend a significant portion of their summer abroad, with a shorter summer break before returning to SOU in fall.
Okayama Exchange Fact and Budget Sheet PDF
Shinshu University
Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
Fall/Winter or Spring or Full Year. Open to all majors for intensive Japanese language study. A full-year is recommended to get the most out of language study. For more information, please visit Shinshu’s incoming exchange student page. One of our most affordable exchanges due to cost of living! Exchange students reside in Matsumoto International House, a vibrant community at an exceptionally affordable rate. Spring spans a time frame from late March to early August, so Spring students should expect to spend a significant portion of their summer abroad, with a shorter summer break before returning to SOU in fall.
For spring semester, students must submit an SOU application by September 15 (earlier than many other programs).
Shinshu Exchange Fact and Budget Sheet PDF
Tokyo International University (TIU)
Tokyo, Japan
Fall or Spring. Open to all majors, but may be an especially strong fit for Business, Economics, Political Science, and International Studies. Courses available in English. TIU students immerse themselves in Japanese culture through a homestay, so it is beneficial to have some familiarity with Japanese language. Japanese language courses available at TIU from beginner level. Students must have completed at least two terms at SOU prior to application, with a minimum GPA of 2.5. For more information, please visit TIU’s incoming exchange student page. TIU has scarce exchange spots, so please also consider other universities from this list or from our partner providers as alternatives. Opportunities to attend as a fee-paying student may be available, if there is a shortage of exchange spots (see TIU webpage for associated fees).
Spring spans a time frame from late March to late July, so Spring students should expect to spend a significant portion of their summer abroad, with a shorter summer break before returning to SOU in fall.
Mexico
University of Guanajuato
Guanajuato, Mexico
Fall or Winter/Spring or Full Year. Must be approximately 50% through your SOU course of study to apply (90 credits), with a 3.0 GPA or above. Open to all majors for intensive Spanish language and culture study. For those with Spanish proficiency, Guanajuato has a variety of coursework across the sciences, business, education, humanities, social sciences, and the arts (visual and performance). A growing number of English-taught courses are available in Business and Economics. If planning to take courses in Spanish alongside Mexican students, proof of B1/B2 Spanish proficiency level will be requested, as well as a proposed course list (browse UG’s website to see available majors and associated coursework). For more information on Guanajuato, please visit Guanajuato’s incoming exchange student page.
Guanajuato exchange students are encouraged to apply in the spring for a local scholarship from the Amigo Club of Ashland.
For winter/spring semester, students must submit an SOU application by September 15 (earlier than many other programs).
Guanajuato Exchange Fact and Budget Sheet PDF
Summer Options:
Intensive Spanish language courses. Month-long (July) immersion to focus on language development and cultural study.
Guanajuato International Summer Research Program: This 8-week program from mid-June to early-August creates international teams of students matched with a Guanajuato professor for guided research projects in either English, French, or Spanish. Many fields of study represented, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Humanities.
South Korea
Chonnam National University
Gwangju or Yeosu, South Korea
Fall or Winter/Spring or Full Year. Open to all majors for study in regular university classes (taught in English) in biology, business, economics, English literature, political science, and Korean studies. Korean language courses available from beginner level. Korean culture and society classes highly recommended by past participants. In addition to the main campus in Gwangju, Chonnam National University has a smaller campus in the coastal city of Yeosu. For exchange students, Yeosu offers an intensive language and culture semester, allowing students to dive into Korean language learning and bring back up to 18 credits of language, and 9 credits of Korean culture.
For more information about CNU, housing, academic calendar, and more please visit their incoming exchange student page. (Allow extra time for CNU webpages to load). English-language course lists available as part of their comprehensive “Fact Sheet” brochure. This is one of our most affordable exchanges due to cost of living and the very low dormitory fees!
Chonnam Exchange Fact and Budget Sheet PDF
Summer Option: Choose from a variety of classes taught in English, and explore Korea through group excursions and cultural activities. Students can take 1 or 2 courses during the four-week period (late June until late July) in the CNU International Summer Session. Most students choose to take one course, to allow themselves enough time to explore the city of Gwangju. With an affordable housing and program fee, summer at Chonnam National University becomes a great option for many students who may not be able to participate during the academic year.
Chonnam National University International Summer School PDF
Dankook University
Jukjeon and Cheonan, South Korea
Summer Option: A 7-week program open to all majors. The first three weeks are spent teaching conversational English to Dankook University students, as a way to help Dankook students improve their language proficiency, and to make connections with local students. This English teaching internship can be used towards Education practicum credit for the English Language Learner category. The next four weeks are spent taking coursework (classes available in the social sciences and Korean studies). Students can choose one or two courses, but most students choose one to allow themselves time to explore their host city. Dankook reimburses the cost of the flight for students after successfully completing the English-teaching portion of the program, adding to the affordability of this summer program! Open to all majors. Please visit the Dankook International Summer School page for more detailed information. Upcoming Summer courses are listed in late December/early January. An optional 3-week extension, the Korean Immersion Program, may be available for interested students, for the cost of additional credits.
Sweden
Kristianstad University
Kristianstad, Sweden
Fall, Fall/Winter or Winter/Spring or Full Year. Open to all majors, but best fit may be for Education, Communication, Business, Computer Science, and Environmental Science/Sustainability. The list of English-taught classes is limited, so it is recommended that you have flexibility with major electives and general education strands left to fulfill. While their traditional semester is Fall/Winter, a Fall term can be accomplished with careful course selection as many of their courses are taught in the first 5 or 10 weeks of the semester, allowing for a December end-date. If planning for a December return, flexibility in course selection is imperative. Full-year study may be ideal, due to their academic calendar. For more information about Kristianstad, housing, and to see past course lists, please visit Kristianstad’s incoming exchange student page.
Please note, if applying for Winter/Spring, you will need to submit an application to the SOU Office of International Programs by September 15 (earlier than most other programs).
Uruguay
Universidad Católica del Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay
Fall or Winter/Spring or Year-long. Open to all majors for study in Spanish-taught coursework alongside local students. Must have a B1 level of Spanish to apply. In addition to coursework from UCU’s broad list of majors, exchange students may also take: Spanish language (B1 or B2), Uruguayan Literature, Uruguayan Culture, History of Uruguay, Latin American and Uruguayan Thinking, or a Community Service-Learning course. UCU operates on a Southern Hemisphere calendar: Semester 1 is March – July (optional pre-semester Spanish intensive in February) and Semester 2 is August – December. If interested in a full-year, March-December would be recommended. For more information about majors and offerings: UCU’s international student brochure
Application
The first step in applying is setting up a meeting with a peer advisor by emailing studyaway@sou.edu. An advisor will follow up on your meeting with an online application to complete, once you have chosen your destination. See the How to Apply page for more detailed information on the application process.