Study Abroad Programs For STEM Majors

Yes. IES Abroad's STEM Abroad programs are specifically designed so that students from any STEM background can check off core course requirements in an international setting and stay on track to graduate on time. Course equivalencies are mapped out before you arrive, not negotiated after. The IES Abroad STEM Consortium, a network of STEM faculty and academic administrators from highly regarded U.S. and international universities, helped build the programs around the graduation requirements of STEM students.

IES Abroad's STEM Abroad initiative offers purpose-built programming in Barcelona, Cape Town, Dublin, Madrid, and Milan, designed for students from any STEM background. Each location was selected for its partner universities, research environments, and coursework that transfers towards STEM degree requirements. Students from Duke University, Northwestern University, Villanova University, and Penn State University have studied abroad through IES Abroad's STEM programs and returned on track to graduate.

Through IES Abroad's STEM Abroad programs, course equivalencies are established in advance, so you and your academic advisor know exactly how your coursework counts before you commit to a program. IES Abroad works directly with academic advisors at home institutions to map program courses to existing degree requirements, including technical courses, lab requirements, and major-specific coursework. You take real courses at IES Abroad partner universities in your host city, and those credits are designed to transfer back to your home institution.

Yes. IES Abroad's STEM programs offer access to some research opportunities that differ by location. Some partner institutions may offer lab courses, but their availability per term may vary. Along with rigorous coursework via our partner institutions, the Cape Town -Engineering, Math & Science program includes the option to apply for an affiliate research program through Stellenbosch University that takes place after students’ term abroad. Dublin City University in Dublin operates multiple research and enterprise hubs where international students can interact with leading company executives, global employers, and entrepreneurs. Barcelona and Madrid offer coursework at partner institutions with strong technical and applied research programs and depending on student profiles, the chance to engage in research institutes. Milan offers coursework at partner institutions, as well as part-time and full-time STEM internship placements. Opportunities depend on your specific field of study, so you can start by utilizing IES Abroad's program finder to help you match your research interests to the right city and program. Need more guidance? Reach out to an IES Abroad representative that works with your school.

Start with IES Abroad's program finder. You can filter by major, term, and destination to see which STEM Abroad programs align with your coursework. From there, IES Abroad's advising team can walk you through how specific courses at each location map to your degree requirements. If you're working with your academic advisor at your home institution, IES Abroad can connect them directly with our team to confirm course equivalencies before you apply.

Yes, absolutely! We do recommend that you look into the course options within your program of interest before applying, just to make sure it's a good fit.

If your field sits outside core engineering, we offers a wide range of programs across our STEM Abroad cities—including business, digital arts, animation, and sustainability-focused coursework. The best way to find out what fits your specific requirements is to use the program finder or talk directly with an IES Abroad representative . We can look at your coursework and tell you honestly what works and what doesn't.