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Take Your ECE Education Global
Undergraduate Rice ECE students can design a four-year course plan that includes study abroad typically in the fall or spring of junior year. In consultation with an ECE advisor, selected courses can transfer and fulfill a core or specialization area requirement. Students gain an important world view perspective through study abroad. See engineering.rice.edu/abroad and the Office of Study Abroad, abroad.rice.edu.
Rice ECE students in recent years have studied around the world at major universities in Europe and Asia. In addition to full semester experiences, our students have taken summer courses at the Rice Global Paris Summer Program, the Rice OEDK iSEED program, and also the intensive Rice in Japan language program.
Explore Study Abroad Opportunities
Rice offers a variety of study abroad programs that allow students to earn academic credit while experiencing life and learning in another country. ECE students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to begin planning early to identify programs and courses that align with their degree requirements.
Students should work with Rice Study Abroad and their ECE academic advisers to understand program options, course equivalencies and how credits may apply toward their degree.
During the academic year, a sample of universities that Rice ECE students have recently studied at include:
- Georgia Tech Campus in Metz, France
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain
- Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- University College Dublin in Ireland
- National University of Singapore
- Tsinghua University in China
ECE Abroad Spotlight: Jade Robertson
France | Third Year | Georgia Tech Europe
For Rice ECE student Jade Robertson, studying abroad offered an opportunity to continue her engineering education while experiencing a new country, learning about another culture and discovering a new academic interest.
Jade chose Georgia Tech Europe in France because she wanted to travel somewhere unfamiliar, experience a new language and continue taking courses relevant to her ECE degree.
My main requirements were that I wanted to study abroad somewhere I had never been, learn a language I don’t know, and still be able to take ECE classes.
Engineering in a New Environment
Studying at Georgia Tech Europe gave Jade the opportunity to experience a different approach to ECE education. Small class sizes allowed for close interaction with professors, while her coursework introduced her to new areas of engineering.
One experience in particular — a robotics research course — helped shape what she hopes to explore when she returns to Rice.
I’m taking a Robotics Research course where we are replicating and furthering a state-of-the-art robotics research paper using Georgia Tech’s resources and materials. I have learned a ton in this class, and I’ve discovered an interest in robotics that I plan to continue exploring when I return to Rice.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
For Jade, studying abroad has also meant experiencing Europe beyond her host campus. While based in France, she has traveled to destinations including Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Monaco, Cannes, Nice and Paris.
Balancing academics with travel has even changed the way she approaches her coursework.
I travel on the weekends, so I’m almost forced to do all my schoolwork within the Monday-Friday school week, and it’s really helped me stay on top of things.
Building Independence
As the only Rice student in her program, Jade had to navigate a new country, meet new people and establish a new routine independently.
Studying abroad really forces you to become more independent and outgoing. I’ve gained a lot more understanding of myself through this process and learned things about myself that I don’t think I would have otherwise.
She has also embraced opportunities to travel independently, giving her a chance to experience new places and become more comfortable navigating unfamiliar environments on her own.
Jade’s Advice to ECE Students
Do it! It’s definitely scary at first to go somewhere unfamiliar, but it’s so worth it. Rice makes the application process very straightforward and there’s no harm in applying.
For Jade, the combination of engineering coursework and cultural immersion has made the experience particularly valuable.
Taking ECE courses abroad has been really valuable for me, but the cultural experiences are where it really shines. College is probably one of the best times to live abroad because there aren’t many responsibilities to worry about. Rice will always be there to welcome you back home.
Ready to Study Abroad?
Start exploring your options early and talk with Rice Study Abroad and ECE academic advising about how an international experience could fit into your academic plan.