An international experience is a memorable opportunity in students’ life. It allows them to get to know new territories, cultures, and experiences, and leaves an indelible mark on their formation as a person and professional. Therefore, internationalization is one of the pillars in Sergio Arboleda University. The Office of International Relations informs you about the programs available for you.
1. INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC WEEK AT CEISA
It is a short course or seminar of one or two weeks carried out by experts at the Sergio Arboleda Center of International Excellence (CEISA, by its acronym in Spanish), in Madrid, Spain. Through this experience, you can fulfill your degree requirement or homologate some academic credits. Your school is in charge of coordinating the academic content and the business and cultural visits, according to the course.
2. ONE SEMESTER NATIONAL ACADEMIC EXCHANGE
It offers the possibility of taking courses in a Colombian university with an agreement with our university. You must be at least in your fourth semester to start the process and travel in your fifth semester; have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6 and have the approval of your school to carry out the process.
3. ONE SEMESTER INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC EXCHANGE
This program allows you to study for one or two semesters at a university abroad with an agreement with our university. You must be at least in your fourth semester to begin your procedures and travel in your fifth semester; have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6 for Latin America, Europe, the United States and Australia, and 4.0 for an academic exchange in Mexico.
4. DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
Universidad Sergio Arboleda has dual degree agreements for the programs of PRIME Business School, Economics, Engineering and Social Communication and Journalism. These agreements allow you to opt for undergraduate degrees in foreign universities, which recognize the credits taken at our university. Generally, students have a one-year mobility during the last two semesters of their degree. Upon completion of the courses in the foreign country, they receive two undergraduate degrees, one awarded by Sergio Arboleda University and the other by the university abroad.
This internationalization program requires more time and preparation (costs, time, international language certification exams), and should be previously consulted at the IRO, to know the open calls and academic requirements of the foreign university to grant the degree.
5. UNDERGRADUATE + MASTER’S PROGRAM IN SPAIN
If you are a student of PRIME Business School, Social Communication and Journalism or International Advertising, this program allows you to take a master’s degree at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia -UPV, before you have completed your undergraduate studies in our university. At a minimum, you must have finished your seventh semester to travel to Valencia for a year to study for the master’s degree and do an internship. Upon returning to Colombia, you will receive your undergraduate degree from Sergio Arboleda University and then UPV will issue you its graduate degrees.
6. INTERNSHIPS ABROAD
This program allows you to do an internship or work experience abroad for six months or a year, working in companies, NGOs, and other entities, according to your profile and foreign language skills. These internships are generally paid and require a work visa.
Your school must validate your admission to this internship to confirm that it corresponds to the requirements for your degree, for example, the functions to be performed, the duration and the entity. This validation is done in the same way as an internship in Colombia.
7. LANGUAGE COURSES ABROAD
If your goal is to improve your second language skills, learn a new language or certify your level to fulfill your degree requirement and improve your professional profile, you can take language courses abroad. These courses are usually offered for English language studies and can be customized according to the time you wish to study and the budget available.
The Language Center of our university and the International Relations Office work in collaboration to support you in this international experience.
8. INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERINGIf your goals revolve around participating in social projects and helping people around the world, you can volunteer in various social projects in foreign countries and join international organizations. Volunteers are not paid, but they offer you accommodation, food, and other benefits during your stay.
This program is carried out during vacation periods, since it requires 6 to 8 weeks of time and there are many options, depending on the topics of interest, beneficiary communities and the destination.
ORI’S GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
– Keep in mind that dates, schedules, requirements, and procedures vary for experiences with partner universities. Therefore, it is essential to start the process at least one semester before the international mobility so you will have time to advance processes, such as: application for admission and study visa, organization of travel and accommodation logistics, purchase of airline tickets, among others.
– Always check the list of documents and requirements to apply to the programs, so you will have everything ready, before starting an online application and paying fees.
– Evaluate with your School which internationalization program is best for you, according to your degree requirements, language level, budget, and personal and professional interests.
– If you are going to do a dual degree program, inquire with the support of the IRO about the validation processes in Colombia.
– Review general information about the destination university: city, academic programs, cost of living, weather, public transportation, and paperwork that you must complete once you arrive there as an international student.
In the International Relations Office, we are always here for you.
Contact us at info.ori@usa.edu.co
