Rice International Experience
Resource Guide
Going Global
Leveraging strategic partnerships across the university and around the world, Rice University promotes learner mobility and fosters global learning and intercultural exchange, with a focus on global impact. Please explore this website to learn more about the different programs and resources available for undergraduate students to engage in an opportunity abroad while studying at Rice.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Get Started
Take your education beyond Rice Campus - not just outside Houston, but overseas!
Funding Resources
Explore funding opportunities to support your global experience
Find a Program
Explore international opportunities available to Rice undergraduates
Travel Resources
Learn about travel logistics and resources
Upcoming Info Sessions
**Keep an eye on this space for Fall semester information session dates and details.**
RICE IN COUNTRY 2026 INFO SESSION
Wednesday October 15, 5:00-6:30pm, O'Connor Building 5th Floor
RSVP via OwlNest: https://owlnest.rice.edu/event/11423591
Rice Program Type Comparison
Program Type/ Name | Description | Duration | Cost | Credits | Rice Department Administering the Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exchange | Enroll directly in an official partner university abroad | Semester, Academic year | Rice tuition paid to Rice, all other expenses paid to exchange partner. Rice financial aid applies. | Full time enrollment (equivalent of 12 Rice credits / semester) is required. Typical credit load is 12-15/16 credits. | |
Direct Enrollment | Enroll directly in a foreign university as a visiting student | Summer, Semester, Academic Year | Tuition and related fees paid directly to the host university; cost varies. For semester programs, Rice financial aid applies. | Full time enrollment (equivalent of 12 Rice credits / semester) is required. Typical credit load is 12-15/16 credits. | |
Provider Programs | Study abroad through a third-party provider either at their center or at a foreign university. Take coursework in your major, study a language intensively, participate in field study, conduct independent research, and more | Summer, Semester, Academic Year | All-inclusive fee paid directly to the program; cost varies. For semester programs, Rice financial aid applies. | Summer typically 6 credits, Semester typically 15-16 credits. (Credits vary by program) | |
Rice in Country (Intensive Language Study) | Study a foreign language with a Rice professor while living in a country where the language is spoken | Summer (6-8 weeks) | Cost equivalent to summer tuition. Limited Rice financial aid applies. | 6 Rice credits | |
Rice Global Paris Center | Take Rice classes taught by Rice professors at the Rice Global Paris Center (courses offered across various disciplines) | Fall: full semester. Summer: 3-week intensives. | Rice tuition paid to Rice. Semester: Rice financial aid applies. Summer: limited Rice financial aid applies. | Fall: 12-15 Rice credits. Summer: 3 Rice credits. | |
iSEED (International Summer Experience in Engineering Design) | Take a Rice Engineering class abroad taught by a Rice professor | Summer (4 to 5 weeks) | Limited Rice financial aid applies. | 6-9 Rice credits depending on location | |
Faculty-Led Courses Abroad | Rice professors teach students abroad as part of their course curriculum | Concurrent with Rice terms or breaks | Cost varies by program. Could include tuition and/or other fees. | 1-15 Rice credits; exact credits vary by program | Various Departments |
Fellowships | Engage globally while maintaining Rice student status | Short-term, Semester, Academic Year | Cost varies by program. | 0 credit option or for-credit option | |
Global Health Technologies (GLHT) Internship | Intern in South America or Africa at local organizations, health clinics, or universities (low-resource settings) | Summer (8 weeks) | All international travel costs and living stipends covered. | Not-for-credit |
Student Testimonials
from Rice undergrads who participated in a global experience!
Rice Global Paris Summer Program
"I enjoyed that students were not only given opportunities to explore in the classroom, but they were encouraged to explore beyond class time as well. I enjoyed exploring Paris and being able to incorporate those experiences in my assignment! It is most definitely an experience in which I grew, and one I will never forget."
Rice in Country (Germany)
"I lived with a family in south of Berlin. It was a woman and her children. I was a daughter in the home right at the beginning. At the beginning, I was afraid because I could not speak that much German. But at the end of the program, I knew a lot more words and I could talk to Germans. And they would not say: ah you are American. Instead it was: ah, you are German."
Office of Study Abroad
"Easily one of the most meaningful takeaways from my semester was getting to learn firsthand about the diverse ethnic cultures that make up Vietnam. While the Kinh people form the majority of Vietnam's population, the country is home to dozens of other ethnic groups, each with their own rich traditions and perspectives that deserve to be heard. Our program gave us opportunities to learn directly from members of various local communities. "
OEDK iSEED Study Abroad: Mexico
"It's really interesting to see how they worked together to find solutions to their water issues by creating these massive feats of engineering...and honestly a lot more exciting, engaging and it brings a whole different aspect. Not only are you learning the material about how to get water and how to purify it. You're also learning again how people interact with the water how it shapes the culture and how the culture shapes your engineering solution and how the society benefits from it. Being in Mexico in person really helped me see the real effects of what was happening with the issues we were studying"