College years are an ideal time to explore the customs and cultures of other nations. The best way to do this is to travel or study abroad--either for a summer, a semester, or an academic year. In recent years, Virginia Tech has conducted summer study abroad courses for academic credit in Chile, China, France, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Some professional programs, such as Architecture and Business, covered a number of countries simultaneously.

Additional opportunities--for both summer and academic year programs--abound. Our students can participate in any of the academically approved study abroad courses offered by many other U.S. colleges and universities. The Institute of International Education currently lists over 2,000 academic-year programs and almost 1,500 summer study-abroad programs.

Many Virginia Tech students are take advantage of study abroad programs under the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). Currently, ISEP has an overseas network of some 100 universities located in 30 different countries. To participate, students continue to pay tuition, as well as room and board, at Virginia Tech. In return, room, board, and tuition are provided for them at the overseas university.

In 1992, Virginia Tech purchased a 200-year old villa in the Swiss resort town of Riva San Vitale on Lake Lugano as a European campus. Tech faculty members teach courses at Riva that are especially suitable for a European setting. The cost for students is comparable to tuition, room and board charges on the Blacksburg campus. To apply contact the Foreign Languages and Literatures office.

Last updated: November 2, 2006