Mechanical Engineering
General Planning Tips For Mechanical Engineering
- With careful and early planning, you can study abroad for a semester and still graduate on time.
- The minimum eligibility requirements to study abroad are the completion of one semester on campus and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Some programs may have additional eligibility requirements.
- Study abroad is a great way to satisfy your KU Core requirements. Therefore, it is a good idea to reserve some of your KU Core classes to take abroad.
- Scholarships are available for study abroad both through KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement and national organizations. Connect with your School of Engineering advisor to learn more about scholarship opportunities for engineering students pursuing international study.
- Courses to take at KU: You should plan to take your upper division engineering courses at KU. Meet with your academic advisor to learn more about which courses you can take abroad so that you can effectively plan for a study abroad experience
When To Go
Freshman
- Schedule a meeting with an engineering advisor during your first semester at KU to discuss your graduation plan and identify specific courses as well as specific timing opportunities for your study abroad experience.
- After you've met with your academic advisor, continue your program research by visiting the KU Study Abroad Info Center in Lippincott Hall. Study abroad peer advisors can help you to identify suitable study abroad options based upon the information you received from your advisor.
- Studying abroad usually requires two letters of recommendation, so it's good to start identifying individuals who can speak to your academic qualifications as well as your ability to be successful during an international experience.
- There are a few summer programs that offer engineering courses abroad. The best time to pursue these summer programs is the summer before your sophomore year. These programs typically offer courses such as Statics, Thermodynamics, and/or upper level math. Otherwise, summer is a great time to take some of your KU Core courses abroad.
Sophomore
- One of the ideal times for Mechanical Engineering students to study abroad is the spring semester of their sophomore year, although the fall semester will work as well. Application deadlines for spring programs are typically on October 1st.
- Because many ME courses at KU are offered during the fall and spring semesters, there is some degree of flexibility with your sequencing during this time.
- You can take a combination of mathematics, basic sciences, KU Core, basic engineering sciences, and/or mechanical engineering courses abroad. We recommend you take no more than two to three engineering courses abroad.
- Sophomore level engineering courses that are commonly offered abroad include: Statics, Science of Materials, and Thermodynamics.
- If you are not planning on an internship during the summer, you could look for a summer program to complete some of your KU Core requirements abroad.
Junior
- The fall or spring semester of your junior year may also be another option for mechanical engineering students to go abroad. Similar to sophomore year options, look for KU Core, basic engineering sciences, and mechanical engineering courses abroad.
- Junior level engineering courses that are commonly offered abroad include: Dynamics, Thermal Systems, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, and Electric Circuits.
Senior
- It is not recommended that Mechanical Engineering students study abroad senior year.
Courses and Credit
- KU Engineering faculty have already reviewed and pre-approved a number of study abroad courses for KU credit. To see available pre-approved courses, visit the Course Equivalency Database.
- If you want to take a class/classes that have not been pre-approved, complete the credit approval process.
Recommended Semester Programs
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year
Sample courses: Science of Materials, Thermodynamics, Statics
University of Wollongong – Australia
Recommended Timing: Spring or Fall semester – sophomore or junior year
Sample courses: Mechanics of Materials, Numerical Analysis, Heat Transfer, System Dynamics and Control Systems.
University of Newcastle – Australia
Recommended Timing: Spring or Fall semester – sophomore year OR fall semester – junior year
Sample courses: Science of Materials, Thermal Systems, The Finite Element Method.
Universidad Pontificia Comillas – Spain
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year
Sample courses: Electrical Circuits, Upper level math
IES Shanghai- Engineering – China
Recommended Timing: Fall or Spring semester-sophomore year
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year
Sample courses: Electrical Circuits, Upper level math, Physics
Recommended Short-Term Programs
Universidad Pontificia Comillas – Spain
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year
Sample courses: Research courses, upper-level math
TU Graz Summer Research Program- Graz, Austria.
Recommended Timing: Summer after Freshmen year till Graduation
Sample Course: Multiple research products for credit.
CIMBA Italy Program
Recommended Timing: Summer after Freshmen year
Sample courses: Thermodynamics, statics, multiple business courses.
Hanyang University Summer School-Korea
Recommended Timing: Summer after Freshmen year till Graduation
Sample Course: Multiple EECs courses, Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics.
CEA Engineering in Rome-Student Initiated Programs in Italy and Greece
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: Math courses, Engineering Electives
CEA Engineering in Paris-Student Initiated Programs in France and Belgium
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: Statics, Engineering Electives.
CEA Engineering in Prague-Student Initiated Programs in Central Europe
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: Statics, Engineering Electives.
CEA Engineering in Buenos Aires-Student Initiated Programs in Spain, Portugal and Latin America
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: Dynamics, Circuits, Differential equations and Linear Algebra.
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman or sophomore year
Sample courses: varies by location