CHE students interested in going abroad

1. Review the Exchange Program website and explore your options.

2. Make an appointment with a college advisor in the Office of Student and Career Development to discuss eligibility and program fit.

3. Gather the materials required for application:

  • Human Ecology Exchange Program Participation and Course Approval forms
  • Two letters of recommendation from professors
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Cornell transcript
  • Portfolio (if required)

4. Submit your application through the CU Global Learning system: globallearning.cornell.edu

International students coming to CHE

You should:

  • be an undergraduate* student from one of our exchange partner universities.
  • have a minimum cumulative GPA equivalent to a U.S. 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (above average grades).
  • have completed at least three full-time semesters (one and one half years) of college/university level studies and intend to continue this status throughout your duration of study at Cornell under the exchange program.
  • refer to our areas of study to ensure your academic interest relates to the mission of the college.
  • be proficient in the English language. Unless explicitly waived by the Human Ecology Exchange Office, you are required to submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if you are from a non-English medium institution or your first language is not English.
  • be recommended by your home institution/university.

* Graduate-level students may be accepted depending on the terms of our agreement with your home university.

If you meet the above guidelines and you wish to apply for the Human Ecology Exchange Program, you must be currently enrolled at one of our exchange partner universities and be nominated by your home university. Please contact the office at your university that is responsible for student exchange programs to determine your eligibility.

Application deadlines

For the fall semester or full academic year: March 15

For the spring semester: September 15

Work with the exchange coordinator at your home university to gather and submit the following materials.

  • Completed Exchange Student Application Form (typed and signed by you and your home university)
  • Declaration of Finances Form (2R) (must be correctly completed or your application cannot be processed)
  • Two letters of reference from professors, lecturer, or employers explaining your readiness to represent your university as an exchange student at Cornell University. If English is not your native language, the letters of reference should include the writer's general impression of your readiness to study in a fast-paced, English-speaking environment.
  • Personal statement: Tell us why you want to spend a semester or year studying at Cornell University as a Human Ecology student. Include personal characteristics, contributions you can make, personal benefits you anticipate, and how studying at Human Ecology fits into your curriculum and career.
  • Most recent official transcript(s) (with the official seal and an explanation of the grading system)
  • Official score of a recognized language proficiency test, if required
  • Passport: Include a copy of the passport (personal information pages) on which you intend to travel to the United States. If you also have a U.S. passport, please provide that copy also. Make sure that your passport(s) will not expire while you are in the United States.

All materials must be submitted by your home university exchange coordinator.