Study Abroad

In an age of increasing globalization, studying abroad gives you a unique opportunity to improve your resume with international experiene and gain skills that will help you compete in a global enginering workforce. ECE is a diverse discipline that combines the latest advances in many different areas of technology, often involving cooperative international design and manufacturing efforts. Engineering firms both large and small depend critically on multinational operations, and engineers with cross-cultural experiences and fluency in multiple languages are increasingly in demand. International study through Study Abroad is an excellent opportunity to develop the skill set appropriate to the new age of globalization. 

The UC San Diego Study Abroad Office administers study abroad opportunities for UCSD students and has a strong history of working with ECE students! 

Why study abroad?

Opportunities for enhancing your understanding of electrical and computer engineering through the world are available to you! Students are encouraged to pursue this avenue for either a term or a fully academic year, particularly in the upper division.

Study abroad can help you:

  • Take advantage of unique academic, experiential, and coursework opportunities;
  • Get new perspective on the discipline of engineering;
  • Advance your cross-cultural and problem-solving skills;
  • Prepare for a career in an internationally competitive world;
  • Enhance your resume and/or applications for graduate school; 
  • Expand your worldview by experiencing another culture firsthand;
  • Develop self-confidence and independence.

Nearly all participants say their EAP experiences were life-changing, career-enhancing, and the highlight of their time at UCSD.


When should I study abroad?

While it is possible for engineering majors to go abroad at almost any point in their academic careers, in most cases either the junior year (or a portion thereof) or the summer before or after the junior year fits best with the structure of the major. All students whould consult with their Undergraduate Advisor to discuss timely completion of major requirements.

 

Where should I study abroad?

Programs Abroad offers a variety of short-term and year-long programs taught in English or in a foreign language that complement and enrich UC engineering degrees. Programs conducted in English generally provide coursework that integrates well in the UCSD engineering curriculum. However, students will sufficient language proficiency can take ECE courses in the language of the host university in Germany, Japan, Korea, and Sweden. You can search for exciting destinations multiple ways!

What classes should I take?

EAP students automatically earn UCSD credit for the work they complete abroad. However, application of credit to major requirements is subject to the discretion of the department. You must submit a petition 1) before you study abroad detailing which course(s) you plan to take, what UCSD course you want it to replace, whether it's a semester/quarter class, and how many units it will be and 2) after you return detailing the same information as before in addition to what grade you received in the course. 

Keep in mind that just like selecting courses at UCSD, there is no guarantee that the courses you want to take abroad will be available for enrollment. Planning and flexibility are essential to success. Students are encouraged to review their course choices with the Undergraduate Advisor to maximize the number of EAP units they may apply towards their major. 
 

How do I get started?

1. Begin by identifying your goals for study abroad and then consult the EAP web pages (linked above) to identify appropriate EAP programs. Navigate to host universities' websites on the available links to learn more about the schools and their departments. 

2. Make an appointment with the Study Abroad Office to go over program details, financial aid opportunities, and travel logistics. 

Study Abroad Office
Hours: M-F 9:00am-4:00pm
(858) 534-1123
Contact: Virtual Advising Center

3. See one of the ECE Undergraduate Advisors to create a long-term academic plan that incorporates study abroad, discuss previously approved (though not guaranteed) courses, and begin the petition process. 

Jacobs Hall 2700
Walk in Advising Hours
Virtual Advising Center
 

Previously Taken Courses

COURSE EQUIVALENCIES/ELECTIVE CREDIT:

ECE Course EAP Course University Date Approved
ECE 100 - Linear Electronic Systems ELEC 102 Communication Engineering 3 University of Edinburgh, Scotland October 5, 2011
ECE 101 - Linear Systems Fundamentals ELEC 109 Signals and Systems Sydney University, Australia October 10, 2012
ECE 101 - Linear Systems Fundamentals ELEC 3241 Signal and Linear Systems Hong Kong University March 17, 2014
ECE 101 - Linear Systems Fundamentals ELEC 110 Signals and Linear Systems Imperial College London October 10, 2014
ECE 101 - Linear Systems Fundamentals EE2023 Signals and Systems National University of Singapore January 14, 2016
ECE 101 and ECE 102 - Linear Systems Fundamentals and Intro. to Active Circuit Design ELEC 103 Electronic Engineering 3 University of Edinburgh, Scotland October 5, 2011
ECE 102 Intro. to Active Circuit Design ELEC 115 Intro to Integrated Circuits & Systems Hong Kong University March 3, 2014
ECE 103 Fundamentals of Devices and Materials ELEC 210 Electronics I University of Auckland, New Zealand October 3, 2014

ECE 103 Fundamentals of Devices and Materials

 ELEC 101 Electronic Devices/EE3431C Microelectronic Materials and Devices National University of Singapore March 10, 2010/January 14, 2016
ECE 103 Fundamentals of Devices and Materials ENGR 2A Electronic Devices Politecnico Di Torino January 28, 2011

ECE 103 Fundamentals of Devices and Materials

 ELEC 117 Processing and Device Technology Lund University, Sweden November 4, 2015
ECE 107 Electromagnetism ESS 050 Electromagnetic Fields Lund University, Sweden April 22, 2016
ECE 107 Electromagnetism ENGR 1E Radiofrequency Techniques I Politecnico Di Torino January 28, 2011
ECE 108 + Elective Credit - Digital Circuits ELEC 100 Digital Electronics 3 University of Edinburgh, Scotland October 5, 2011
ECE 108 - Digital Circuits ENGR 124 Digital Hardware Wollongong University, Australia October 10, 2012
ECE 118 - Computer Interfacing EEC 101 Embedded Systems University of Munich Applied Sciences November 5, 2014
ECE 125A - Intro to Power Electronics I ELEC 111 Power Engineering Imperial Collge London February 5, 2015
ECE 125B - Intro to Power Electronics II ELEC 129 Power Electronics Imperial College London February 24, 2015
ECE 135A - Semiconductor Physics ELEC 109 Advanced Electronic Devices Imperial College London January 8, 2015
ECE 154A - Communications Systems I ELEC 150 Digital Communications Lund University, Sweden FA10
ECE 171A Linear Control System Theory ELEC 104 Systems and Control National University of Singapore March 10, 2010
ECE 174 Intro to Linear and Nonlinear Optimization with Applications FMAN60 Optimization Lund University, Sweden 01/09/2020
ECE 174 Intro to Linear and Nonlinear Optimization with Applications ENGR 1G Optimization Methods Politecnico Di Torino January 28, 2011
ECE 183 - Optical Electronics ELEC 112 Optoelectronics Imperial College London February 5, 2015
Elective Credit ELEC 101 Electrical Engineering 3 University of Edinburgh, Scotland October 5, 2011
Elective Credit ELEC 115 Optical Networks Tohoku University, Japan FA10
Elective Credit ENGR 183A Indiv. Research Training A Tohoku University, Japan FA10
Elective Credit ELEC 122 MEMS & Nanotechnology Imperial College London February 24, 2015
Elective Credit ELEC 118  Hybrid Vehicle Drive Systems Lund University, Sweden January 23, 2014
Elective Credit CISC 181 Artficial Intelligence Indus Univ of Bologna, Italy August, 4 2022
Elective Credit CISC 183 Image Processing & Vision Univ of Bologna, Italy August, 4 2022

For more information, visit the UCSD Programs Abroad website: http://studyabroad.ucsd.edu/