Short-Term Programs Abroad
Short-term programs are shorter in duration than a traditional semester or year-long program abroad and typically occur over a summer or winter term. Short-term programs can be a great option for students who may not be able to commit to a full semester or year abroad due to major requirements or other commitments on campus. It can also be a way to study abroad for a shorter period before committing to a full semester. In addition to traditional courses within your major area of study, short-term programs often offer unique study themes, intensive language-learning sessions, and enriching opportunities for hands-on learning through service or an internship.
Tufts Global Education offers a rotating selection of short-term study abroad course options throughout the summer and winter. These programs, often designed by Tufts faculty, are intended to give students at all levels a curated experience that combines unique academic offerings with a commitment to cultural learning and exposure. Please note that the summer program options are subject to change and may depend upon minimum enrollments.
Please check our events calendar for information sessions on our short-term programs!
Chile: Global Public Health and Indigenous Communities
Tufts in Chile: Summer is a 4-week program, taught in English, that examines public health in Chile and Indigenous approaches to healthcare through global and regional perspectives. The course will be conducted at Pontificia Universidad Católica (PUC) in Santiago through various formats (seminar, field observation, research, etc.) and will also feature introductory Chilean Spanish language.
China: Summer Chinese Language in Beijing
Boasting an exciting blend of tradition and modernity, with its centuries-old temples surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers, China is the perfect example of connecting ancient cultures to innovation and growth. Join us for a two-week intensive program allowing you to explore China's capital city while improving your Chinese language skills and broadening your understanding of Chinese culture.
Colombia: Engineering Design Abroad
ME 90- Engineering Design Abroad is an exciting offering for any engineering student. The spring course entails a semester-long, community-based design project that integrates select community partners in the project planning and decision-making process. Students must be enrolled in ME 90 for the spring and be prepared to participate in a required 10-day trip to Colombia at the end of the semester.
Costa Rica: Linking Language, Culture, and Tropical Biology
Tufts in Costa Rica: Summer is a 5.5-week program that combines Spanish immersion with exploration of the culture and immense biodiversity of Costa Rica. Developed in collaboration with the Organization for Tropical Studies, the program links intensive language or culture learning (at various levels) and homestays with a unique opportunity to conduct hands-on, field-based research in Costa Rica's rainforests and cloud forests.
France: Pictorial Revolutions in 19th Century France
Tufts in Paris: Summer is a 2-week program that takes you in the footsteps of master painters Delacroix, Monet, Cézanne, and Van Gogh to explore how pictorial representation evolved in Paris and surrounding regions of France. The course examines major art movements such as Romanticism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism in a French context and includes visits to museums, ateliers (workshops), and the vibrant landscapes that served as inspiration for these great artists.
Italy: Data and Computer Sciences and Italian
Tufts in Pavia is a 5-week summer program that provides the opportunity to immerse yourself in Italian culture while earning credit in Data or Computer Science. Tufts Global Education offers this program in cooperation with the School of Engineering and the Italian Studies program.
Stay tuned- more programs are in the works!
External Short-Term Programs
Find an External Short-Term Program
In addition to Tufts-sponsored opportunities, there are many external short-term programs available to you. Regardless of the program you choose, all Tufts students are required to register their short-term study abroad program with Tufts Global Education.
While there is not an approved list of short-term program options, many of our approved partner institutions and programs for semester and year-long study abroad also offer summer and winter opportunities.
You may also wish to browse independent study abroad search engines, such as:
IIE Passport Abroad101 GoOverseas
Note: These types of independent non-Tufts websites, corresponding search engines, and student rating systems are neither sponsored nor affiliated with Tufts University. In addition, please note that Tufts is unable to intervene on your behalf with unaffiliated entities and we encourage you to exercise due diligence as a private consumer to ensure positive program reviews; comprehensive health and safety protocols and support; student services; and sound financial, cancellation, and withdrawal policies.
Register an External Short-Term Program with Tufts
If you plan to attend a short-term program, you are required to register each program to which you submit an application with Tufts Global Education.
By registering your short-term program, you will:
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receive institutional support for your external application;
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be eligible to transfer the credit earned on the summer program back to Tufts University; and
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have access to Tufts' global assistance provider, which provides Tufts University travelers with health care and medical and security assistance services worldwide 24 hours a day.
For purposes of transfer credit eligibility, the program you choose to attend must be able to provide a transcript from a degree-granting institution of higher education that is recognized by the government of the country in which they are located or accredited according to the U.S. system of accreditation.
Register a Short-Term Program with Tufts Request Transfer Credit for a Short-Term Program Funding Opportunities for Short-Term Programs