Exchange Start-up Pack

Exchanges offer the benefits of (1) careful assessment of curricular and academic compatibility for sending and receiving students, (2) promotion of ongoing and long-term academic connections between faculty and students, (3) maintenance of tuition at the home/sending institution, and (4) in some cases, diversity of international students within the undergraduate student population.      

Over the years, Carnegie Mellon has entered into University Exchanges (open to students from all or multiple colleges) and Departmental Exchanges (limited to students from a specific department, such as art, for example.)    Departmental exchanges are the most successful due to (1) direct faculty support and commitment and (2) careful analysis of specific curricular fit by major. 

Promotion of exchange balance is vitally important in ensuring a successful exchange.  Achieving a balanced number of students sent and students received is a perpetual challenge at Carnegie Mellon and most US universities; in short, more students are eager to attend a US college for a term or two than US students are eager to venture abroad.  Therefore, OIE encourages carefully considered exchanges, preferably driven by student desire and/or study abroad trends (ask a study abroad advisor about successful exchanges and popular destinations abroad) that incorporate appealing features such as work, internship or research opportunities, free room (and board), and language and culture programs. 

Departments and individual faculty who are interested in pursuing a “traditional” exchange agreement will reply upon the following documents as guidance:

• Instructions for Establishing New Student Exchange Agreements (.pdf)
  
• New Exchange Program Checklist Required (.pdf)
  
• Memorandum of Understanding (.doc)

Traditional exchanges involve a balance of students coming and going and do not involve the exchange of tuition payments.  These types of exchanges are supported by OIE and are signed by Indira Nair, Vice Provost for Education. Agreements with overseas institutions that involve tuition payment and/or do not anticipate students flowing to and from Carnegie Mellon in balance will be developed in consultation with the General Counsel’s office.