Auburn Bulletin 2024-2025

International Opportunities

International Academic Opportunities

Access to international opportunities is provided throughout many colleges, schools, departments and other student support units. However, there are several units on campus that provide specialized services for study abroad and international students attending Auburn University.

International Internships, Academic/Curricular Practical Training

Academic internship experience both within the US and abroad are highly encouraged for all disciplines and all AU students. Students interested in participating in such experiences should check with their academic units for specific requirements. For international students practical training is available: UNIV 4920 Curricula Practical Training depending on US immigration status as Curricular Practical Training (F) or Academic Training (J). Students may also do academic internships abroad under Auburn Abroad. For further details on Auburn Abroad or CPT/AT students should check with the Office of International Programs.

Office of International Programs

The Office of International Programs (OIP) is a unit of the AU Division of Academic Affairs. Its mission is to provide leadership and relevant administrative support to academic units, faculty, students, and staff for the effective promotion and efficient adoption of Auburn University’s internationalization goals. The International Students and Scholar Service component of the OIP assists foreign national students, visiting scholars, and university employees in achieving their academic objectives. The Auburn Abroad unit of the OIP promotes and facilitates student and faculty participation in an international education experience through programs outside of the United States. For additional information, contact: Office of International Program, 228 Foy Hall; 334-844-5001; intledu@auburn.edu; or www.auburn.edu/international.

OIP International Student and Scholar Services

The ISSS unit of the OIP provides assistance and guidance to foreign national students, visiting scholars, and University employees regarding US immigration requirements and Auburn policies for studying and/or working at Auburn University. Documentation of eligibility for study in the United States, work authorizations, and other government documents required by international students, scholars, and employees are issued and monitored by the ISSS. ISSS holds orientation programs at the beginning of each term for new international students. Currently, the university has more than 2500 international students, visiting scholars, and employees from over 100 nations. For additional information please visit the ISSS website, https://www.auburn.edu/academic/international/isss/. 

OIP Auburn Abroad Experience

The Office of International Programs (OIP) Auburn Abroad unit seeks to develop, expand and facilitate credit bearing study, internship and exchange opportunities outside of the United States. Each year more than 1200 Auburn University students participate in the Auburn Abroad experience on over 93 programs. More than 90 percent of these students go on faculty led programs and Exchange Programs with the rest going on other university or provider programs. With some planning, credit earned through the Auburn Abroad experience can be integrated with Auburn University degrees and applied to core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students on Auburn University faculty-led programs, the CORE curriculum program in Barcelona, Spain and Exchange Programs will earn AU credit and will receive grades on their transcript. Students going on other university programs will earn transient/transfer credit for their courses abroad. If a student chooses to go on other university programs, they will need to be enrolled in an Auburn Abroad placeholder course to be able to use their financial aid.

Auburn Abroad experiences vary considerably in length and are available for all semesters including summer. Each college and school within Auburn University has programs abroad tailored to their students’ needs. The Auburn Abroad staff conducts a Fall Study Abroad and Passport Fair, and over 100 other information sessions each year to inform students about international opportunities. Both undergraduate and graduate students can participate in the Auburn Abroad Experience. Requirements for acceptance into the Auburn Abroad Experience include the following: (1) a minimum institutional cumulative GPA of 2.25 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduate students, (2) the student must attain the age of 19 prior to the start date of program, (3) the student’s record must show no pending Auburn University judicial actions and the student must be in good academic standing in their college or school. Faculty directors for programs abroad may also have additional requirements. Although some programs require prior knowledge of a foreign language, there are many that do not.

Students considering any type of credit bearing experience abroad should start their Auburn Abroad Experience by attending either (1) a weekly, thirty-minute Study Abroad 101 session conducted by the Auburn Abroad Staff or (2) by attending a faculty led program orientation session. Sessions are conducted on Thursdays at 3pm and repeated on Fridays at 11am in the Auburn Abroad conference room, 242 Foy Hall. These sessions include an introduction to the on-line Auburn Abroad application process, hints on searching for faculty led and other types of programs abroad, the credit approval process, transcript information, information on a variety of funding resources, and paperwork needed for scholarship, PACT V.A. and other benefit programs. Students interested in faculty led programs must contact the faculty director(s) for the dates of their orientation sessions. After students attend a study abroad orientation session, they are ready to start their on-line study abroad application, found at www.auburn.edu/studyabroad on the Program Search link. They need to complete this on-line application, submit a completed Course Approval Form, and respond to any Auburn Abroad Unit emails requesting additional information. The Course Approval Form requires special attention and students must obtain all required signatures including department chair and dean. The on-line application and requested materials must be completed and submitted by the deadline dates listed on www.auburn.edu/studyabroad to be considered. Current deadline dates are: Summer Programs: March 30; Fall Programs - April 30 and Spring Programs: October 15. 

The OIP staff monitors students’ on-line applications and will enroll individual students in one of the following Auburn Abroad Full Time Placeholder courses: (UNIV 2940/UNIV 2945 , UNIV 4940 /UNIV 4945 , UNIV 5940 /UNIV 5945  or UNIV 7940/UNIV 7945 ). These placeholder courses will be listed on the students’ transcripts while they are abroad. Once students complete their course work abroad and the Auburn Abroad staff receives and processes their transcript through the registrar, then the actual, approved courses listed on their Course Approval Form will be listed on the students’ transcripts as Auburn University Credit. These processes and dates are subject to change and it is the individual student’s responsibility to attend orientation sessions and check the website to insure that they are in compliance. In addition to receiving credit for an abroad experience, students enrolled in Auburn Abroad are provided opportunities to attend pre-departure sessions and will be enrolled in the Auburn University International Travel Assistance plan. Students will receive an enrollment card and material to read concerning the assistance plan, health and safety issues. The Auburn Abroad staff, along with the Office of Campus Safety and Security routinely monitor global situations and will provide assistance to students in distress abroad. Returning students are encouraged to become Global Tiger Peer Advisors when they return, share their “Global Tiger Tale” on the Auburn Abroad website and submit photos from their experience abroad for the annual student photo contest. For additional information please visit the OIP Auburn Abroad Experience Website at www.auburn.edu/studyabroad and/or send an email to: auab@auburn.edu.