Howdy Ags! I am delighted to note your interest in studying overseas to gain a global perspective of business. As the Director of our Center for International Business Studies, I am responsible for internationalizing business education at Mays Business School. I am glad you realize the importance of globalization and the need for you to internationalize your graduate business education. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Countries as well as companies need students whose minds are open to the world, and this can best come from first hand educational experience in another culture. Business has been global in the past, is global at present and will be increasingly global tomorrow! Remember, ”the Business of America is International Business”. Enough of the hype! Do realize that you are making a wise decision to study overseas -- a decision that may lead to a “once in a life time” experience, which you will never forget. When you participate in any one of our overseas programs, you will gain both, academic and cultural experiences that will change your perception of the United States and the world and the way business is conducted. Also, if you plan your overseas study early (first or second semester of your program), you should be able to take advantage of Mays and TAMU scholarships that will effectively bring down the cost of studying abroad to College Station level. Finally, if planned properly, you should be able to complete the overseas study experience within the MBA/MS program’s time frame.

I urge you to read this memo carefully since it has a wealth of information that would save you a lot of time as you try to figure out:

• the process of identifying the overseas study experience that best suits your interest, and
• the way you could go about applying to that program.

Mays sponsors two types of overseas study opportunities, (a) Fall/Spring Reciprocal Educational Exchange Programs (REEPs), and (b) Summer REEPs. These programs are different in nature and you need to be very careful not to confuse the two. The reason why these initiatives are called “reciprocal” exchange programs is the fact that for every “Aggie” we send to a foreign institution, TAMU will “reciprocate” by hosting an “exchange student” from that foreign institution. Reciprocal exchange programs, popularly known as “exchange programs” will offer you complete “immersion” into a foreign country’s academic environment and culture. You will attend classes with citizens of that foreign country and also interact very closely with those students and their culture. In most cases, you could take a semester of business courses, all in English.

A. Fall/Spring REEPs: You could spend a semester overseas with one of our several (almost 15) exchange partner institutions (visit our Graduate Overseas Programs grid).

When you participate in a semester-long exchange program, you will register at TAMU for 9-12 credit hours of IBUS 693 course work. Futhermore, you will pay tuition and fees to TAMU and you will be exempt from paying any tuition and fees to the overseas institution. Please initiate plans for participating in an exchange program as early as during your first year of the masters program. Here are some simple steps to follow:

1. Visit our Graduate Overseas Programs Grid web site. This program grid lists all the exchange programs that the Mays has negotiated over the years with foreign business schools. The grid lists the business schools, their location, their semester dates, the medium of instruction, and additional cost (over and above what it would cost to study in College Station) of each program.

2. After you have perused the list of exchange programs in the grid, go to the last column of the grid and click on the name of university that interests you. The one-page write up that appears will provide you with a brief overview of the exchange program with that institution.

3. If you find that exchange program of continued interest and would like to obtain more information, please click the “hot-link” right in the first sentence of the one-page write up that will take you directly to the foreign institution’s web site. You will find all the information that you need about that university, courses offered, campus life, the country and more!

4. After you have narrowed down your choice of exchange program, you will be ready to meet with your Masters Program Advisor (for MS students) or Ms.Dayna Rasco, Academic Advisor for MBAs in Room 390F of the Wehner Building. MS and MBA students should call and set up and appointment to meet with your MS Advisor or Ms. Rasco (Tel: 845-5196) respectively to discuss: