Major Advising Page: Economics
The Department of Economics, where over 25% of majors come from countries other than the USA, already has a decidedly international vision. Economics is a field that transcends national boundaries.
As an economics major, you can study abroad during almost any term in your college career, including winter or summer, but there are some important factors to consider. If you begin your planning early, you can find a way to include an international experience at the heart of your work in economics. The information below will help in your planning and conversations with an economics advisor.
Course considerations
Almost all economics courses taken abroad will equate to a UW–Madison economics elective; very few will equate to Core Econ courses, of which at least two are required, and which must be taken on the UW–Madison campus.
The Economics Department highly encourages you to take an economics elective course or two in any study abroad program you may choose to learn how other places study economics. It’s a great enhancement and addition to the cultural immersion of a study abroad program. The economics major curriculum is flexible, though, and economics majors have studied all over the world with some students opting to take economics courses abroad, and others opting not to.
Classes that economics students typically take abroad include:
- Economics elective courses (for example, Econ 309: Study Abroad in Intermediate Economics)
- Breadth courses (humanities, literature)
- Language courses
- Intermediate or advanced L&S courses
Map your experience as an
economics student
Prospective students
If you plan to major in economics, it is preferred that you complete your introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses (or two intermediate courses), as well as a college-level calculus course at UW–Madison. At that point the Economics Department can assess the likelihood of you entering the major, which means they can help you plan your study abroad as a student of economics.
Attend the Study Abroad Fair or visit the program search on the International Academic Programs (IAP) website to have an idea of what programs are available to you. Schedule a meeting with advisors at IAP to learn more about your study abroad program options.
Once you have some clear program ideas, consult with the economics advisors. The more complex or ambitious your economics undergraduate program is (the number of additional majors or certificates, athletic or other heavy extracurricular involvement, etc.), the more you will need to plan in advance to fit study abroad into your academic career.
Freshman year
If you’re considering declaring an economics major, this may be a good time to earn some electives outside of the major. Freshmen can study abroad during winter intersession or summer terms.
Sophomore year
The second semester of your sophomore year could be a good time to go abroad if you declare your economics major early.
Junior year
This is the best and most popular year to do a study abroad as an economics major. You’ve most likely done the major theoretical work, and you’ve begun to explore electives and define your interests.
Senior year
Economics majors can still study abroad during their senior year, although they will need to choose their location carefully to ensure that they can take specific classes they need for graduation. You will need to be particularly mindful of the Economics Department’s stipulation that a minimum of two of your Core Econ courses be taken on the UW–Madison campus.
Ask questions
- What classes must I complete for my degree (breadth/depth, major requirements, etc.)?
- Do I need to be on UW–Madison’s campus for any courses in my major?
- How many electives do I have outside of my major?
- What classes can I take abroad?
- How and when do I select courses for my program?
- When will I know course equivalents for my program?
- What is the class structure like abroad?
- What skills do careers related to my major require, and how might participating in a particular program help me gain those skills?
- When would be the best time to participate in a program based on my career goals?
- How will participating in a study abroad, study away, or international internship make me stand out?
- Why do I want to study abroad?
- How long do I want to study abroad for — a few weeks, a semester, a year?
- How does studying abroad fit into my academic, personal, and/or professional goals?
- What career skills or proficiencies will I strive to acquire or enhance on my program?
Discover programs that are right for you
The Department of Economics has reviewed IAP programs and identified programs that are the best fit for students who want to earn economics credit abroad, below. However, courses offered as part of these programs may not be guaranteed to be the best fit for you, depending on where you are in the major. The list below is not exhaustive but is demonstrative of programs that offer courses that work well for Economics students.
In this section
Semester and academic year programs
Australia
Austria
IES Vienna (semester and summer)
Czech Republic
CIEE Central European Studies in Prague (semester and summer)
Denmark
DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester and summer)
England
- London School of Economics (year and summer)
- University of Bristol Exchange
- University of Leeds
- UW in London (spring)
- University of Westminster (semester and summer)
France
UW in Paris (spring)
Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong (semester and summer)
Ireland
Italy
- Bocconi University
- CET Florence (fall and summer)
- CIEE Rome Open Campus (semester and summer)
- UW in Florence (spring)
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
- IES Barcelona (semester and summer)
- Saint Louis University Madrid (semester and summer)
Sweden
- DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester and summer)
- Lund University
Taiwan
Short-term programs
Austria
IES Vienna (semester and summer)
Czech Republic
CIEE Central European Studies in Prague (semester and summer)
Denmark
DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester and summer)
England
- London School of Economics (year and summer)
- University of Westminster (semester and summer)
Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong (semester and summer)
Italy
- CET Florence (fall and summer)
- CIEE Rome Open Campus (semester and summer)
Spain
- IES Barcelona (semester and summer)
- Saint Louis University Madrid (semester and summer)
Sweden
- DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester and summer)
International Internships
International internships allow you to apply your academic skills to the real world and gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning UW–Madison course credit.
As you consider your academic and professional goals for studying abroad, explore the different internship options, including UW Signature internships, internship-focused programs, part-time internships, or applying for credit for an external internship.
Check with your academic advisor to see if earning credit for your internship abroad can fulfill a major or certificate requirement.
Hear from students in your major
Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.
Photo credit: Kari Hjelmeset (South Korea)
Want more information?
Dive deeper into how courses and credits work on our programs, or connect with an advisor to find the best fit for your goals.
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