Undertaking a short program or study tour is a great way to gain credits towards your degree, experience new cultures and gain a competitive edge before you graduate.

Short program options

Study overseas for a few weeks and gain credit towards your degree.

Short programs give you the opportunity to travel and learn at universities and colleges all over the world.

You can undertake short programs at partner and non-partner institutions. Many programs run in the semester breaks, so you may even be able to fast-track your degree by completing units sooner.

Fees & costs

Most short programs have a tuition fee that you pay to the host university/program provider. If the host university waives the tuition fee, you may be required to pay the VU tuition fee for the unit(s) you complete. Some programs include accommodation as part of the program fee. Check the program’s website for the full list of inclusions and costs.

Winter Block programs

The Paris Summer Program offers courses on the themes of luxury and management in one of the world’s most vibrant city. Designed for undergraduate business students, classes will be complemented by some visits to the Yves Saint Laurent museum, the Louvre or on a boat trip on the Seine.

Teaching will be carried out by the regular ESSCA research staff and adjunct professors with the possibility of guest speakers and outings

Cultural events will also be offered during the programme.

Academic Options:

  • Paring 1 (3 weeks) - Luxury Brand Management
  • Paring 2 (4 weeks) -Cross- Cultural management and Leadership.

View the ESSCA summer program PDF.

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: Paring 1 = 11 June to 1 July 2023. Paring 2 = 11 June to 8 July 2023.
Application Deadline: 27 March 2023
Program location: Paris, France
Program host: ESSCA
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: €1,800 for Paring 1 and €2,200 (organisational costs)
Cost inclusions: course materials, shared-accommodation, Tourist Tax, welcome lunch and farewell social activities, public transportation card and 3-5 extra curriculum cultural activities.

This program offers students the experience of discovering the French Provence through courses on tourism and culture. Students may participate in a wine tasting or attend the Aix Festival, Arles Festival or Avignon Festival.

Academic Program:

Developping Sustainable Experience in Cultural Tourism in Provence

  • Digital Promotion in Cultural Event
  • Wine Industry and Sustainable Environment

View the ESSCA summer program PDF.

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 11 June to 8 July 2023.
Application Deadline: 27 March 2023
Program location:  Aix-en-Provence, France
Program host: ESSCA
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: €2,800 (organisational costs)
Cost inclusions: course materials, shared-accommodation, Tourist Tax, welcome lunch and farewell social activities, public transportation card and 3-5 extra curriculum cultural activities.

This program, aimed at undergraduates, takes place the first two weeks in Angers, and the next two in Strasbourg. Students will also discover Paris for a week-end. The courses cover subjects related to the study of Europe.

A series of visits are organised, including to the Castles of the Loire Valley or to the European Parliament.

Academic Program:

European Studies with our Chair Jean Monnet

  • EU Politics and History
  • ​Sustainability, Space and Energy in Europe

View the ESSCA summer program PDF.

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 11 June to 8 July 2023.
Application Deadline: 27 March 2023
Program location:  Start in Angers, a weekend in Paris and end in Strasbourg, France
Program host: ESSCA
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: €2,800 (organisational costs)
Cost inclusions: course materials, shared-accommodation, Tourist Tax, welcome lunch and farewell social activities, public transportation card and 3-5 extra curriculum cultural activities.

Hong Kong is in the heart of Asia and a gateway to China. It is a world class cosmopolitan city where east and west blend in many ways. It is an exciting and dynamic destination. Your living and learning experiences at HKBU will be enriching and unforgettable. It is a place where we seriously promote scholarly work and engage students in international activities on campus. You will study and interact with local and international students as well as students from Mainland China in the same classrooms.

View the HKBU Summer Programme units on offer.

HKBU has 13 units on offer over the course of the summer program. Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 3 - 13 July 2023
Application Deadline: 15 March 2023
Program location: Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China
Program host: Hong Kong Baptist University
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: US $1,600 (US Dollars)
Cost inclusions: on-campus accommodation, student activities, arrival pickup and administrative fee.

iSummer MX is a program designed for international students who love traveling and learning about new cultures. Students will live in four vibrant cities in Mexico. Mexico City, the colonial cities of Queretaro and Puebla and the modern business and industrial center in Monterrey. They will make everlasting memories exercising their intellectual curiosity and developing entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership skills, in a multicultural setting. During their stay in Mexico, students will learn about different parts of the country without ceasing their studies. Each campus has special activities, with field trips, company visits and networking events that will make their experience unforgettable.

Global Business

Students will undertake 2 courses (a total of 6 US credits).

  • NI1002B Business Globalization
  • MT1002B Market Solutions

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 26 June to 28 July 2023
Application Deadline: 1 May 2023
Program location: Mexico
Program host: Tecnológico de Monterrey
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: $2,200 USD
Cost inclusions: Housing, Transportation for all program activities, including pick up on official arrival day and transfer from city to city and Breakfast six days of the week.

More information about the Global Business program.

iSummer MX is a program designed for international students who love traveling and learning about new cultures. Students will live in four vibrant cities in Mexico. Mexico City, the colonial cities of Queretaro and Puebla and Guadalajara. They will make everlasting memories exercising their intellectual curiosity and developing entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership skills, in a multicultural setting. During their stay in Mexico, students will learn about different parts of the country without ceasing their studies. Each campus has special activities, with field trips, company visits and networking events that will make their experience unforgettable.

Regional Economics

Students will undertake 2 courses (a total of 6 US credits).

  • EC1003B Macroeconomics and Economic Development
  • EC1020 Micro Economic Incentives and Macro Outcomes

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 26 June to 28 July 2023
Application Deadline: 1 May 2023
Program location: Mexico
Program host: Tecnológico de Monterrey
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: $2,200 USD
Cost inclusions: Housing, Transportation for all program activities, including pick up on official arrival day and transfer from city to city and Breakfast six days of the week.

More information about the Regional Economics program.

iSummer MX is a program designed for international students who love of travelling and learning about new cultures. Discover four of the most iconic states in Mexico, visit the capital Mexico City, enjoy the colonial city of Querétaro, go to the amazing Guadalajara, walk through historic places at Puebla, and choose to make everlasting memories in beautiful places like Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel de Allende.

During your stay in Mexico, you will have the opportunity to live for weeks on four different campuses. This will give you the chance to learn about different parts of the country without ceasing your studies. Each campus has special activities, and several trips, that will make your experience unforgettable!

Mexican Cultural Heritage and Social Challenges

Students will undertake 2 courses (a total of 6 US credits).

  • EH1013 - Cultural Heritage of Mexico
  • EH1014 - Violence,Dignity and Social Justice

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 26 June to 28 July 2023
Application Deadline: 1 May 2023
Program location: Mexico
Program host: Tecnológico de Monterrey
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: $2,200 USD
Cost inclusions: Housing, Transportation for all program activities, including pick up on official arrival day and transfer from city to city and Breakfast six days of the week.

More information about the Mexican Cultural Heritage and Social Challenges program.

iSummer MX is a program designed for international students who love of travelling and learning about new cultures. Discover four of the most iconic states in Mexico, visit the capital Mexico City, enjoy the colonial city of Querétaro, go to the amazing Chiapas, walk through historic places at Puebla, and choose to make everlasting memories in beautiful places like Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel de Allende.

During your stay in Mexico, you will have the opportunity to live for weeks on four different campuses. This will give you the chance to learn about different parts of the country without ceasing your studies. Each campus has special activities, and several trips, that will make your experience unforgettable!

Migration Upclose

Students will undertake 2 courses (a total of 6 US credits).

  • RI2002B Regional Scenarios in the Contemporary World
  • RI1016 Gender, Society and Human Rights

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 26 June to 28 July 2023
Application Deadline: 1 May 2023
Program location: Mexico
Program host: Tecnológico de Monterrey
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: $2,200 USD
Cost inclusions: Housing, Transportation for all program activities, including pick up on official arrival day and transfer from city to city and Breakfast six days of the week.

More information about the Migration Upclose program.

This program is designed for students who love traveling and learning about new cultures Following an itinerant schedule visiting Mexico City, Puebla, Querátaro, and Guadalajara students explore music from different perspectives and approaches. The program is organized around three curricular axes: music Appreciation, music Business, and music Creation, with special attention to the multicultural exchange through exposure to the main Latin music genres.

Latin Music

Students will undertake 2 courses (a total of 6 US credits).

  • IM1003 Multidisciplinary Appreciation of Music
  • TM1001B Sound Creativity and Music Production

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 26 June to 28 July 2023
Application Deadline: 1 May 2023
Program location: Mexico
Program host: Tecnológico de Monterrey
Program type: exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: $2,200 USD
Cost inclusions: Housing, Transportation for all program activities, including pick up on official arrival day and transfer from city to city and Breakfast six days of the week.

More information about the Latin Music program.

The main goals of the summer school are to provide students with academic and applied knowledge, experience of an international environment and knowledge of the Swedish culture through a rich program of cultural and social activities.

You will be able to discover Sweden and the region of Småland as part of the social and cultural events included in the programme. You will visit Vadstena Castle – one of Sweden’s best preserved castles from the Gustav Vasa period in the 16th century – and Gränna, which is a small town outside of Jönköping where the popular peppermint candy canes are handmade. You will also visit the ruins of Brahehus Castle and experience the Swedish nature, in addition to a list of fun activities that will be organised for you and your classmates.

Purchasing Logistics with a Global Perspective

The aim of this course is to give advanced knowledge of logistics in purchasing and supply-chain management with a global perspective. The focus is on the purchasing functions important for the company result.

Course Syllabus.

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 5 - 30 June 2023
Application Deadline: 20 March 2023
Program location: Sweden
Program host: Jonkoping University
Program type: Exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: SEK 10,000 approx. (Swedish Krona)
Cost inclusions: Social program and application fee.

More information about the Purchasing Logistics program.

The Summer School for Sustainability is a chance to take action on sustainability and deepen your understanding of global challenges and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Join an international cohort of like-minded people for five inspirational weeks and get the chance to visit the beautiful city of Gothenburg.

The Summer School offers a programme of courses and activities to create synergy around sustainable solutions and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. You will be able to get accepted for one 7,5 credits (ECTS) course, running from July 3 to August 4, 2023.

Academic Options

There are 5 courses to choose from each worth 7.5 ECTS:

  • Biodiversity in Western Sweden - BIO090
  • Managing Migration - FH1550
  • Digitalisation in a changing world - DIT004
  • Justice: Ideas and Ideals in Fiction, Philosophy and Religion - LIR102
  • Teaching Sustainable Development from a Global Perspective - PDG459

Students will need to have the units assessed for VU credit.

Program dates: 3 July - 4 August 2023
Application Deadline: 27 February 2023
Program location: Sweden
Program host: University of Gothenburg
Program type: Exchange (tuition is paid to VU)
Cost: TBC

More information about the Summer School for Sustainability program.

Joy Hanalla, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico.

Apply

Apply now

To apply for a short program overseas:

  1. Complete the application for study overseas form
  2. Complete the short-term overseas study plan
  3. Submit both forms to [email protected] by the relevant application deadline

Eligibility

Both domestic and international students are able to undertake overseas short programs, subject to course requirements.

To be eligible, you must have:

  • achieved a credit average (minimum of 60%); and
  • completed one year of undergraduate study (eight units) by the time you depart; or
  • completed one semester of postgraduate study (four units) by the time you depart.