• Spend 4 weeks in one of Earth’s most sustainable and livable cities.
• Explore Vienna’s impact on global policy and modern urban planning.
• Engage with Vienna’s artistic, cultural, architectural and social innovation legacy.
• Visit major international organizations headquartered in Vienna.
• Examine how key political eras shaped the city’s identity.

Vienna has long stood as one of Europe’s great laboratories of modern thought – a city where breakthroughs in biology, the physical sciences, psychoanalysis, sociology, the arts and especially urban planning and policy reshaped global intellectual life. During this 4-week summer course, students will take an interdisciplinary approach to studying Vienna’s rich legacy of innovation, with a special emphasis on Vienna’s contributions to urban planning and design.  

Through a variety of site visits, guest lectures, cultural activities and hands-on learning experiences, this program will explore the interplay between scientific discovery, artistic experimentation, political transformation and the built environment.  

Vienna is a bustling capital city of just over 2 million people, regarded as one of the safest and most beautiful cities in Europe. It is a cultural, economic, and political hub with excellent infrastructure, ample green space, and a vibrant social scene. The city is known for its high quality of life, an easy-to-navigate public transportation system, a musical heritage, and the home of famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.

Today, Vienna is not only a global model of sustainability and urban livability, but also a major center for international diplomacy and governance. Home to the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the city plays a central role in addressing global challenges.

Students can use weekends to stay in Vienna or travel to nearby European cities such as Bratislava, Budapest, Prague and Salzburg.

All students will enroll in the following two courses for a total of 6 credit hours:

• POLS 489: Vienna: Global Sustainability in Action (3 credits): This course provides an immersive exploration of how and why Vienna became one of the world’s most important centers for sustainability and global diplomatic cooperation.Through course instruction, cultural engagement and visits to institutions such as the United Nations, students gain a real world understanding of diplomacy, international relations, sustainability and global issues. 
• UBPL 402/802: Special Topics in Urban Planning (3 credits): This course introduces students to the many issues that influence decisions about the use of land, with a particular focus on the intersection between the built and natural environments in the city of Vienna. 

Course instruction is provided by the KU program directors. In addition, the program partners with Thinkubator, a Vienna-based transition broker working towards a climate-neutral circular economy by 2050, to deliver guest lectures and immersive educational experiences. 

Students will live in shared accommodations. Additional details coming soon!

2027 Program Itinerary

• June 3 – Depart U.S.
• June 4 – Arrive in Vienna
• June 25 – Program Ends

Additional itinerary details coming soon.

All students have unique things to consider when studying abroad. A Traveler Profile is a set of personal factors, characteristics or life experiences that could impact daily life abroad. Your individual Traveler Profile may include things such as your age, foreign language proficiency, gender, medical history, medication use, mental health, mobility, piercings and tattoos, travel experience, and more. 

SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Before selecting a program, consider how your Traveler Profile may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process. 

Check our Traveler Profile pages linked below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program. 

• Adult Learners and Non-Traditional Students
• First Generation Students
• Physical and Mental Health Histories
• Religious, Spiritual, and Non-Religious Students
• Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Students of Color Abroad
• Students with Children
• Students with Financial Need
• Veterans, Active Duty, and ROTC
• Visible and Invisible Disabilities 

Open to undergraduate or graduate students from accredited U.S. colleges or universities. No prior related coursework required. The GPA minimum is 2.5 (undergraduate students) or 3.0 (graduate students). 

Program Budget

Scholarships

• Students with financial need (a FAFSA on file for the current academic year) can apply for a scholarship through KU Study Abroad here.
• Students with a major in the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) are eligible for the CLAS Study Abroad Scholarship.
• Students in the KU Honors Program may apply for an Honors Opportunity Award.
• Pell Grant recipients are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship, a nationally competitive scholarship for Pell Grant recipients. Contact KU Study Abroad for more information.
• Visit the KU Study Abroad Costs & Funding page for additional information. 

Program Directors: Ward Lyles and Kurt Preston

Ward Lyles is a Professor with dual appointments in the departments of Urban Planning and Indigenous Studies at KU. His research and teaching interests center on the intersection of people, the built environment and the natural environment. 

Kurt Preston has served as Professor of Practice and Director of the National Defense Research Initiatives at the University of Kansas, bringing deep experience from 35 years of federal service in both military and civilian leadership roles around the world. He has held leadership positions across academia and government, including serving as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Nebraska, among other senior roles.

Study Abroad Program Coordinator: Jenna Hunter-Skidmore  
Have a quick question? Email me at: jmhunter@ku.edu  
Looking for more detailed information? Book an appointment. 
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