Study Abroad

Studying abroad can be a valuable experience in your education. The Department of Computer Science encourages all students to consider studying abroad for at least one semester. Our students have studied in countries all over the world including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Current UMD CS Students Interested in Studying Abroad

We first recommend meeting with advisors from the Education Abroad office and attending a Study Abroad 101 workshop session. There you will learn about finances, traveling abroad, housing options, and the study abroad programs available to you.

Once you have met with an Education Abroad advisor or have attended a Study Abroad 101 workshop session, you should contact your assigned CS academic advisor to schedule an appointment. During this appointment, your CS academic advisor will go over your academic records with you to determine which courses you may want to take at the institution of your choice. Your advisor will also help you determine the best semester to go abroad and sign any forms that you have.

You can find a list of courses that have been evaluated as UMD CS degree requirements on the Study Abroad Course Database

If you’re interested in taking a course that is not listed, or if your desired institution is not on the list, please submit an

Education Abroad Transfer Credit Evaluation Request through the Education Abroad office.

Incoming Exchange Students

If you intend to take Computer Science (CMSC) courses at the University of Maryland as a part of an exchange program, please contact the Undergraduate Advising Office at ugrad [at] cs [dot] umd [dot] edu if you require assistance. Please keep in mind the following information:

  • You must meet the prerequisites for the CMSC courses that you are requesting. Please ensure that you provide your academic record and the syllabi for any courses you may have taken in the past at your home institution. Please note that we ask for up to fifteen business days to process your initial course requests.
  • We allow students to register for two CMSC courses per semester, with the possibility of registering for a third CMSC course. Please note, we cannot guarantee seats will be available in any specific course. You may need to be flexible with your course requests based upon seat availability.
  • 4 CMSC courses in a single semester is strictly prohibited, regardless of necessity for your home institution.

If you meet the eligibility above, please complete the Fall 2024 Exchange Student Permission Form.

Frequently Asked Questions

"When is the best time to study abroad?"

The ideal time to study abroad is typically the spring semester of your junior year. However, if you plan to take CMSC courses abroad, we recommend doing so after successful completion of 330 and 351.

"Why are some courses on this list denoted as 'Upper-Level Electives' rather than showing equivalency to a specific 400-level CMSC course?"

For a course to be deemed equivalent to a UMD 400-level course, it must cover the same content/material, assessment, and rigor of the course here. Often, courses taken abroad will satisfy the “CMSC Electives” requirement, rather than correlate to a specific course for these reasons.

"Is the list below a final review of all courses I’m eligible to take?"

No, the list below only reflects the courses that have been available thus far. If you’re interested in taking a course or studying at an institution that is not reflected on the list, or if you feel a course on the list should be re-evaluated, please send a current copy of the course syllabus to your assigned academic advisor. Please note that we ask for up to five business days to process this request.

"What if the abroad institution I’m hoping to attend does not offer Computer Science courses?"

It is not required that you take CMSC courses each semester, although your four-year plan may be extended if you do not. While abroad, you can work on other degree requirements, such as General Education courses, classes that satisfy your Upper Level Concentration, elective coursework, and/or coursework for another major or minor. Be sure to talk to your advisor about your degree requirements and four-year plan before making your decision.

"How many Computer Science courses can I take abroad?"

We recommend that your schedule of classes taken abroad be similar to what you would take at UMD (2-3 CMSC courses along with General Education courses, Upper Level Concentration courses, elective coursework, and/or courses for another major or minor).