Undergraduate Study Abroad
The Trienens Institute is committed to empowering future global leaders. To accomplish this goal, the Trienens Institute is pleased to offer a range of study abroad opportunities in collaboration with interdisciplinary partners from across Northwestern.
Global Engineering Trek (GET):
Energy Materials (ON HIATUS FOR 2025)
Location: Germany
Trek Date: On hiatus for 2025
Audience: Freshmen and Sophomores
Energy is a highly interdisciplinary field, and all majors, particularly in engineering and science, will contribute to creating a more prosperous tomorrow. With this in mind, the Trienens Institute has partnered with the McCormick School of Engineering Global Initiatives Office and created an immersion program for freshmen based in Hamburg and Münster, Germany.
On this trek, students will travel to world-leading companies and research institutes in the Hamburg and Münster regions. In addition to touring energy startups and global corporations, participants will gain exposure to global internship and job opportunities including those related to biotech, photovoltaics, materials, big data/smart cities, energy, and manufacturing and supply chain.
The GET Germany 2023 program was officially recognized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Program Details
- Program travel dates: On hiatus for 2025
- Application deadline for students: On hiatus for 2025
- Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: On hiatus for 2025
- Who should apply? This trek is open to Northwestern students who are freshmen or sophomores at the time of application. The program is designed for ALL undergraduate majors who have an interest in energy technologies.
- Academic credit: This student travel experience carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: The program is highly subsidized*, reducing cost to participants without financial aid. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program. Students with the highest levels of need-based financial aid from Northwestern are also eligible for additional financial aid directly from the Trek program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
*Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Germany are highly subsidized through generous support of McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI) and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University. This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
Global Engineering Trek (GET):
Innovation and Hi-Tech
Location: Taiwan
Trek Date: June 14 - June 24, 2025
Audience: Sophomores and Juniors
Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential ingredients to modern progress in high tech fields like computers and electronics. With this in mind, the Office of the Vice President for International Relations is partnering with the McCormick School of Engineering Global Initiatives Office to create an innovation technology immersion program for sophomores and juniors based in Taipei, Taiwan.
On this trek, students will travel to world-leading companies and research institutes in Taiwan. In addition to touring innovation incubators, global corporations, and meeting peer students at National Taiwan University, participants will gain exposure to global internship and job opportunities including those related to computer science, manufacturing, app development, electronic devices, and supply chain management.
This Taiwan - GET Innovation and Hi-Tech program is open to sophomores and juniors only from ALL undergraduate majors with an interest in innovation and technology.
Program Details
- Program travel dates: June 14–24, 2025
- Application deadline for students: *Deadline extended* February 24, 2025 (11:59 PM, CST). Submit application.
- Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: *Deadline extended* February 28, 2025 (11:59 PM, CST)
- Who should apply? The June 2025 trek to Taiwan is open to Northwestern students who are sophomores or juniors at the time of application. The program is designed for undergraduate students in any major who have an interest in innovation and hi-tech industries.
- Academic credit: This student travel experience carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: The program is highly subsidized*, reducing cost to participants without financial aid. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program. Students with the highest levels of need-based financial aid from Northwestern are also eligible for additional financial aid directly from the Trek program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
*Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Taiwan are highly subsidized through the generous support of the government of Taiwan, the Friends of Taiwan Foundation, Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University , and McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI). This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
Global Engineering Trek (GET):
Mining and Minerals
Location: North America (Minnesota and Alaska)
Trek Date: June 14 - June 22, 2025
Audience: Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Gain exposure to minerals mining at the center of energy storage technologies, the social effects and tradeoffs of mining, and research to develop improved mining and recycling technologies that can reduce them. This Trek program will travel to communities and mining sites in Alaska and Minnesota, examining both historical impacts and ongoing debates relating to critical minerals extraction. Additional details forthcoming.
Program Details
- Program travel dates: Tentative travel dates are June 14–22, 2025. Exact dates to be confirmed in Spring quarter.
- Application deadline for students: *Deadline extended* February 24, 2025 (11:59 PM, CST). Submit application.
- Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: *Deadline extended* February 28, 2025 (11:59 PM, CST)
- Who should apply? The June 2025 trek to North America is open to Northwestern students who are freshmen or sophomores at the time of application. The program is designed for ALL undergraduate majors who have an interest in critical minerals for energy, minerals supply chains, and hi-tech materials.
- Academic credit: This student travel experience carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: The program is highly subsidized*, reducing cost to participants without financial aid. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program. Students with the highest levels of need-based financial aid from Northwestern are also eligible for additional financial aid directly from the Trek program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
Global Engineering Trek (GET):
Water (ON HIATUS FOR 2025)
Location: Israel
Trek Date: On hiatus for 2025
Audience: Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Water management is a highly interdisciplinary field, and all majors, particularly in engineering, science, and social policy, will contribute to addressing critical water needs in the 21st century. The GET Water program will enable Northwestern freshmen and sophomores to see Israel’s critical water infrastructure, experience its culture of innovation, and tour diverse historical and archaeological sites. GET Water will feature an immersion program in three regions in Israel: the populous and vibrant Tel Aviv / Dan region, the temperate and historical region around Haifa and the Northeast, and the Negev Desert in the south.
On this trek, students will travel to Israel to explore international water use issues, ancient infrastructure, and modern emerging solutions through discussions with diverse water experts, explorations of technological innovation, and visits to major water utilities, infrastructure facilities, and research centers. In addition to visiting companies and research universities, participants will gain exposure to global internship, research, and job opportunities including those related to startups, water desalination, water reuse, and hyper-efficient precision agriculture systems.
Program Details
- Program dates: On hiatus for 2025
- Who should apply? The Israel Global Engineering trek is open to Northwestern students who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at the time of application. The program is designed for ALL undergraduate majors who have an interest in water technology.
- Academic credit: This student travel experience carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: The program is highly subsidized*, reducing cost to participants without financial aid to approximately $1,300. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program. Students with the highest levels of need-based financial aid from Northwestern are also eligible for additional financial aid directly from the Trek program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
- Trek Contact: Krystle Felcaro, Crown Center (krystle.felcaro@northwestern.edu)
* Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Israel are highly subsidized through the generous support of the Crown Family Fund (McCormick School of Engineering), Northwestern Israel Innovation Project, and Northwestern Center for Water Research. The program is also supported by the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University, and McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI). This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. The program is monitored regularly by OGSS, and the 2026 program will be updated as needed following OGSS guidance. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
Global Engineering Trek (GET):
Mining and Minerals
Location: Chile
Date: On hiatus for 2025
Audience: Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Gain exposure to minerals mining at the center of energy storage technologies, the social effects and tradeoffs of mining, and research to develop improved mining and recycling technologies that can reduce them. Get a glimpse into the experience on the Global Engineering Trek to Chile from 2023 participants.
Program Details
- Program dates: On hiatus for 2025
- Who should apply? The Chile Global Engineering Trek is open to Northwestern students who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at the time of application. The program is designed for ALL undergraduate majors who have an interest in critical minerals for energy, minerals supply chains, and hi-tech materials.
- Academic credit: This short-term experience abroad carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: The program is highly subsidized*, reducing cost to participants without financial aid. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program. Students with the highest levels of need-based financial aid from Northwestern are also eligible for additional financial aid directly from the Trek program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
- Trek Contact: Trienens Institute (trienens-ed@northwestern.edu)
*Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Chile are highly subsidized through generous support of NSF Grant 2330041 SuReMin, the Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience (CESR), Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University , and McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI). This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
Learn More
To learn more about study abroad programs contact the Global Learning Office.
Global Learning Office
847-467-6400
global@northwestern.edu