| Exchange | Direct Enroll | Provider | Customized Short-Term | |
| Description | Exchange programs involve the reciprocal exchange of students between Illinois and our partner institutions abroad. | Direct Enroll programs refer to students from Illinois who enroll directly as non-degree seeking international students at our partner institutions abroad. | Providers are organizations (colleges or universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, or consortiums) that offer education abroad programs and services to students from a variety of institutions. | Customized short-term programs are Illinois courses that are led and taught by either Illinois faculty or professional staff. Traditionally, these programs are brief in duration and take place during academic breaks. |
| Duration | Semester/Summer | Semester/Summer | Semester/Summer | Winter Break/Spring Break/Summer |
| Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ | $$$ |
| Taught By | Local Professors | Local Professors | Local Professors/Hired Instructors | Illinois Faculty/Staff Member |
| Level of On-Site Support | Moderate | Moderate | Maximum | Maximum |
| Housing With | Local/International Students | Local/International Students | US Study Abroad Students | Illinois Students |
| Housing Types | Dorm, Homestay, Apartment | Dorm, Homestay, Apartment | Dorm, Homestay, Apartment | Dorm, Hotel |
| Classes With | Local Students | Local/US Study Abroad Students | Local/US Study Abroad Students | Illinois Students |
| Ideal for students who… | -Have high financial need or are on a budget -Want to be fully immersed in their host culture -Are interested in meeting students from all over the world | -Are independent and willing to seek out support services on their own -Want to be fully immersed in their host culture -Are interested in meeting students from all over the world. | -Can choose a program that has a higher cost -Value personalized and robust support services and programming. -Want to build close relationships with students in their cohort. | -Want to take a specific course taught by an Illinois faculty/staff member -Can’t fit a semester of study abroad into their academic plan -Want to build close relationships with Illini in their cohort. |
*Not all programs within each type will have every option listed above, and it’s possible that some programs may be different than the categorization above. To read about the specifics of each program, visit studyabroad.illinois.edu and do a program search in My Study Abroad.