Yes it can! Research can take the place of the domestic internship if the amount of time put into the research is comparable to that put in for an internship. For example, the First-Time Research program at Purdue could count as the domestic internship, but check with your advisor to see what other ones would count!

Most scholarships are transferrable provided students maintain full-time status while overseas (12 credit hours). For detailed information, please consult the Division of Financial Aid. Additionally, please consult the Office of Experiential Education for more scholarships.

Co-sponsored programs are provided by “third party program providers”, which offer a package price on housing, meals, and tuition. It may be cheaper for out-of-state students to opt for co-sponsored programs. However, the transfer of credits and grades may not be direct. GEARE students should always consider DIRECT EXCHANGE programs first.

In many cases, students perform well in their domestic internships, and employers invite them to participate in a second internship overseas. Past students recommend starting very early to find the international internship if there is any uncertainty. OPP bundles your resumes periodically and sends them to suitable employers and GEARE corporate sponsors. Therefore, it is important for you to maintain the most up-to-date version of your resume on the OPP database so that we can send employers the best and most accurate information about you

In your 5th semester, you enroll in a 1-credit hour GEARE seminar taught by Joe Tort. This class will prepare you for your time abroad, including ensuring that you get all documents ready, including visa and housing. About 6-9 months before the study abroad

Absolutely, though it will take some careful planning! Co-Op students have to meet with their GEARE coordinator to organize their plan of study.

Typically, it is relatively easy. In many cases, employers offer information on housing. Some students find apartments through local craigslist, www.airbnb.com, etc. Past students recommend living with non-American students while overseas. Additionally, the study abroad office will provide resources if residing at the university's dorm is not possible.

It depends on the country. Different countries have different academic calendar. (E.g., German Summer semester is April – Late July). You can negotiate with your employers regarding start/end dates for a 10-12 week internship.

Typically, students apply for a student visa, but some employers may wish for you to have a work permit for liability reasons. You can refer your employers to OPP for more information.

Information about the global design team project can be found on the Global Design Team Project page on our website. Typically, GEARE students in mechanical engineering enroll in a special GEARE division of the ME 463 capstone design course.

Consult with your respective GEARE coordinators on this issue, as different schools have different rules.