General Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
 

What is a Reciprocal Educational Exchange Program (REEP)?
Do I need to know a foreign language for the REEP?
Am I eligible to participate in a REEP?
Why should I participate in a REEP?
How much does a REEP cost?
How does class credit work for a REEP?
How do I apply for a REEP?
When do I apply for a REEP?
Who can I contact for assistance?
What is a Summer Study Abroad Program?
Can I travel on my own on the Summer Study Abroad Programs?
Can I participate in a Summer Study Abroad Program and take Summer II?
Do I need to know a foreign language for the Summer Study Abroad Programs?
Who do I contact to get started on a Summer Study Abroad Program?
Will studying abroad delay my graduation?
Can I graduate and still go on a program in the summer?
It's time to turn in my Summer Study Abroad application. What happens now?
Undergrads ... get MORE out of your Study Abroad experience? Consider an International Business Certificate.


What is a Reciprocal Educational Exchange Program (REEP)?

Students spend a semester living abroad and attending classes at one of our foreign partner universities. Mays Business School, through mutual agreements with foreign business schools and universities, offers international study programs called Reciprocal Educational Exchange Programs (REEPs). REEPs offer students a complete immersion experience in a foreign country’s academic environment and culture, for a full semester or academic year, while being officially enrolled at their home university. For a list of our partner universities view our Mays UG REEP Programs Grid.

If you don’t find a program to your liking at the Mays site, visit the TAMU Study Abroad Programs Office website for more REEP programs and information.


Do I need to know a foreign language for the REEP?

A large number of our partner schools do offer classes in English. However, some do not and foreign language skills are required—at least 3-4 college semesters of relevant language instruction. The REEP Grid has details on each school and whether there are language requirements.


Am I eligible to participate in a REEP?

There are four requirements for undergraduates:
1. be a business major at Mays prior to application
2. have a cumulative GPR of 3.0 or greater at TAMU (for exceptions see Dr. Linda Windle in 238, UPO)
3. have junior (U3) classification prior to commencement of the exchange program
4. attend TAMU for at least one full semester after the exchange in order to allow time for transcripts to arrive and credits to process.
Graduate students must first seek approval from their respective MBA/MS advisors to participate in a REEP study.


Why should I participate in a REEP?

• To take advantage of a unique opportunity to get “out of the box” and appreciate the impact of globalization on American business and life in general.
• To develop your language, cross-cultural communication, and critical-thinking skills.
• To impress potential employers who often look favorably on job candidates with international exposure.
• To have an excellent once-in-a-lifetime adventure.



How much does a REEP cost?

 

Estimated cost over and above those incurred while attending Mays Business School at Texas A&M University will vary depending on the overseas location of the exchange program.  In general, the additional cost varies between $100-300 per month, depending upon difference in cost of living, plus roundtrip airfare, and TAMU’s REEP administration fee of $510.  As soon as you decide to participate, begin looking into scholarship and financial aid options.  Several scholarships and fellowships exist specifically to aid reciprocal exchange students.  Visit the Scholarships & Financial Aid section of our website.

 

How does class credit work for a REEP?

Undergraduates take at least twelve credit hours to be full-time. We generally don’t advise taking more, but fifteen is possible, if you can handle it. You will register for twelve hours of IBUS 301—a holding class. When you return from your exchange semester, these hours of generic 301 will be converted to TAMU equivalent classes. (TAMU equivalent classes are agreed upon before you go.)

Graduate students enroll in IBUS 693 (S/U) or IBUS 692 for a grade.


How do I apply for a REEP?

After you have reviewed the Mays UG REEP Program Grid, decided on a program, and received approval from your academic advisors,  go to TAMU Study Abroad Programs website, find and click on your program. Then click on the APPLY NOW button to complete the ONLINE application form, be sure to follow directions.

When do I apply for a REEP?

Deadlines: Fall semester REEP, apply by March 1. Spring semester, apply by September 15.

Who do I contact for assistance?

For application and procedural assistance contact:  Ms. Karen Burke kburke@tamu.edu , Mays Exchange Coordinator, Wehner  230D, 979-845-7256

 

For course and degree plan assistance –

Undergraduates:  Meet with an Advisor in the Undergraduate Programs Office (UPO) or your departmental advisor once you have narrowed your choice to one or two programs.  The UPO is in Wehner 238, 979- 862-3850.  After approval to participate in a Mays Exchange Program, visit with Ms. Karen Burke, Wehner 230D.

 

Graduate Students:  Meet with your MBA/MS advisor and after approval to participate in a Mays Exchange Program visit with Dr. Julian Gaspar jgaspar@tamu.edu, Executive Director, Center for International Business Studies, Wehner 230E, 979-845-5234.  MBA students meet with Ms. Jordan Kleckley, jkleckley@tamu.edu, Wehner 390F, 979-845-5194.

Also, visit the TAMU Study Abroad website – http://studyabroad.tamu.edu -  FAQs

What is a Summer Study Abroad Program?

The Summer Study Abroad Programs differ quite a bit from our REEP programs. These programs take a select group of Mays Business School students, usually around 30 students, to a foreign location with a faculty member.

The group takes classes together at a host school with one class being taught by the Texas A&M University faculty member and another being taught by a faculty member from the host school. This offers a great way for students to travel together, take classes together while still gaining valuable knowledge from studying in a foreign location that offers different business, cultural and economic viewpoints.

Currently there are four programs that are offered as Summer Study Abroad Programs: the Barcelona, Spain trip; the Strasbourg, France trip; the Beijing, China trip and the Marketing European Trip.

For Summer 2013, new programs are in the planning stages.  Check the UG Mays Study Abroad Grid for more information on new and current programs.

Typically these programs offer up to 6 credit hours depending on the specifications of the trip.

Can I travel on my own on the Summer Study Abroad Programs?

Yes!! The Europe Marketing trip travels around Europe and allows free days in most locations for students to explore and visit. Both the Barcelona and Strasbourg programs allow for travel each weekend except for one faculty lead cultural visit weekend. This allows for student to have 3 weekends, one of which is a 4-day long weekend, to travel either by train or plane around Europe..

Can I participate in a Summer Study Abroad Program and take Summer II?

For the Barcelona and Strasbourg trips, definitely! It's a tight squeeze and typically there are only a few days of a turnaround, but most students do take Summer II. Because the Marketing Europe trip is a 10 week trip, it overlaps both sessions and therefore you cannot take Summer II.

Do I need to know a foreign language for the Summer Study Abroad Programs?

No, all of the Summer Study Abroad Program classes are taught in English.  However, the Barcelona and Strasbourg programs include a basic language class in Spanish or French to help you prepare for your international experience.

Who do I contact to get started on a Summer Study Abroad Program?

To apply for a Summer Study Abroad Program (Strasbourg, Barcelona, Marketing Europe, May-mester (Puebla), Beijing or Mysore), go to UG Study Abroad Applications page and download the application for the trip you would like to attend.  The applications are due typically in early November.  Check the website for each trip for the application deadline.  If you have any further questions, please come by our office in Wehner room 230 .

Will studying abroad delay my graduation?

Not necessarily, particularly if you plan far enough in advance. Often students do end up taking an extra semester to graduate, but the benefits of studying abroad far outweigh any disadvantages of staying in school an extra semester. Your study abroad experience will be meaningful on many different levels - academic, professional, and personal - and you can use the development you gain to your advantage when you graduate.

Can I graduate and still go on a program in the summer?

No, students must be registered as a student in a degree program during the semester of graduation.  For more information, please contact your advisor in UPO.

It's time to turn in my Summer Study Abroad application. What happens now?

  1. Your application must be signed by Dr. Linda Windle, in the UPO office (Wehner room 238).  Then you submit your application to Charlotte Strong, in the Center for International Business Studies office in Wehner 230 by the APPLICATION DEADLINE (early November).
  2. Your application will be reviewed during the next week, and you will be notified by email from the program director as to your application status, normally by the end of the following week after the application deadline. Check the current TIMELINE for specific dates!
  3. Once approved, you will be instructed to make your program deposit and how you can do that. The deposit must be paid by the deadline date or you may be dropped from the program. Again, see the TIMELINE!
  4. All billing and payments will be posted to the student's university billing account. You will need to make the payments as instructed by your program director.
  5. Should you be late in making your payments for your study abroad program, you may be subject to a late fee assessed by Student Financial Services. Only in certain circumstances will this fee be waived, therefore it is important for you to pay your bill in a timely manner.
  6. You can access your student account statement and pay online or in person at Student Financial Services.
  7. Contact your program director if you have any questions on the program cost or billing dates.  AGAIN, check the TIMELINE for specific important dates.

Undergrads ... get MORE out of your Study Abroad experience?  Consider an International Business Certificate?

Now that you are planning ahead and considering a REEP or Summer Study Abroad experience, you may be interested in Mays Business School's international business certificates.  Currently, there are three different business certificates available for undergraduates.  They are the following:

  • Certificate in International Business
  • Certificate in European Union Business
  • Certificate in Latin American Business
Each has specific coursework requirements that help students get the cutting edge in global business.  All of our certificates also require an approved international experience, which can be a Study Abroad program, a Reciprocal Educational Exchange Program or an approved internship.  Visit our website in the Mays Undergraduate Student section for more information, or contact Dr. Linda Windle in the UPO office in Wehner room 238.