When applying to various colleges, you may see an interesting option in the Common App; which campus you want to apply to. For some schools, like state colleges, this is understood; all of the UC Schools are technically part of one system, but are still separate colleges.
Some private universities, however, have campuses abroad. This leads to all sorts of questions, notably what these campuses are, and how they compare to main campuses. In this article we’re going to explore these questions, and look at some examples of international campuses run by top US institutions. Let’s get started!
How International Campuses Work
International Campuses (also referred to as International Branch Campuses), are established by one university (either alone or in partnership with another institution) in a remote geographic location in another country. These generally take the name of the founding institution, both for clarity and to connect the new campus with the cultural cachet of the founding school.
These were originally only created by US institutions, but as they proliferated in the 1990s, international universities began establishing their own branch campuses. These are mostly done by large universities with strong name recognition and significant endowments, who can both afford these expansions and draw in enough students to sustain them.
A significant number of these campuses are located in the Gulf States (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) and China, with notable pockets in India and Malaysia. These countries want to entice students to remain in-country for college rather than traveling abroad, and think that having branch universities is a good way to do so.
University Partnerships
Note that a branch campus is different from a university partnership A branch campus is administered by the central university, and falls under the same organizational umbrella, even if large parts of its structure are distinct. Partner colleges work together, often for study abroad or scholar in residence programs. Some partner colleges even offer joint degrees. These are still separate schools with separate administrations, as opposed to branches of a single organization.
NYU Abu Dhabi
This branch campus is located in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. First opening in 2010, it has grown quickly since, and now offers 26 majors in a liberal arts based curriculum. There are currently over 3,100 undergraduates studying at this campus. There are also masters and graduate programs, though these are smaller than the ones at NYU’s home campus.
There are programs for cross campus visits and stays, and many students from the Abu Dhabi campus spend a semester in New York, though most of their studies take place at their home campus. The campus is modern and well furnished; all construction costs were funded by the UAE’s government.
Admissions to NYU Abu Dhabi is even more competitive than the New York campus, with an acceptance rate of around 3%. This is due in part to a much smaller number of seats, with slightly over 500 students admitted each year. The campus is very popular with international students of all backgrounds. Most of the applicants are dual New York/Abu Dhabi, though a significant percentage have this campus as their first choice.
NYU Shanghai
The third campus that makes up NYU’s global network, NYU Shanghai is based in Shanghai, China. It was established in a partnership with East China Normal University, and is jointly administered by the two schools. Graduates receive a degree from both NYU and NYU Shanghai upon graduation. Note that while classes are held in English, some knowledge of Chinese is required to graduate.
First opening in 2013, the school now offers 18 majors, and is home to 1,600 undergraduates. There are no graduate or masters programs at this campus. Students must spend at least one semester at one of NYU’s other campuses or international partner universities to graduate.
The majority of students at the school come from China, though there are many international students who attend as well. There has been some tension between the government and the university, but on the whole it is a peaceable relationship. The acceptance rate is around the same as NYU’s New York campus.
Northwestern University Qatar
Located in Doha, Qatar, this branch campus was founded in 2008 in partnership with the Qatar Foundation, a state funded nonprofit. The school only awards Bachelor’s in communications, with majors in communications and journalism; these are based on the same majors at Northwestern’s home campus. Students are encouraged to participate in exchange programs, either with Northwestern’s Evanston campus or other partner universities.
The school does operate on a semester system, rather than Northwestern’s quarters, so classes are slightly different in format, if not content. The school is also much smaller, with only around 300 students enrolled. Around half of these are Qataris, the rest are other nationalities.
The admissions process to the school is exactly the same as applying to Northwestern normally, through the Common App. Acceptance rates are about as challenging as Northwestern is, though Qatari students have a slight edge in admissions.
Georgetown University in Qatar
Qatar plays host to a large number of international branch campuses, and hosts them all in a single district of Doha, which they set aside for this purpose. One of these is Georgetown University in Qatar, which was established in 2005. While it initially focused on foreign service exclusively, it broadened its range of courses in 2015.
It primarily offers foreign service degrees still, but also has customizable degree options, and a masters program in education. The acceptance rate of Georgetown Qatar is slightly higher than for Georgetown’s base campus, though it is a far smaller school, with slightly over 200 students.
Students study abroad frequently, either in exchange programs with Georgetown’s home campus, or with their other partner universities abroad. The school is Jesuit, as all of Georgetown is, even if the majority of the student body at this campus is not Catholic. The school is primarily funded by the Qatar Foundation, as most branch campuses in Qatar are.
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
This branch campus was established in 2004, in partnership with the Qatar Foundation. It now serves around 400 students, and offers the same curricula and programs as can be found at CMU’s home campus. Major options include computer science, business, computational biology, and biological sciences.
Admission to this campus is the same as admission to CMU generally, and must be submitted online through the Common App. Admissions are around as competitive as CMU’s home campus, though Qatari students do have an admissions advantage when applying here.
Instruction at the school is in English, and if this is not your native language (or the primary language of instruction for your high school), then you will need English Proficiency Test results to apply.
Penn Wharton’s China Center
This is not a standard international campus, but we get many questions about it, so we thought we’d include a note on it in this article. Penn’s Wharton China Center is a multipurpose investment by UPenn in China. Primarily, it is meant to increase the academic connections between Penn and Chinese universities, and to allow for greater opportunities for Penn students and faculty within China.
Thus the center plays host to Penn’s students when studying abroad, allows for professors to perform research in China and for Chinese professors to more closely collaborate with their counterparts at Penn, and serves as a hub for Penn’s alumni activities in China.
They further host events and educational activities aimed at executives, specifically in the realms of business (as that is Wharton’s remit). The goal is to enhance their understanding of international markets and business, and to encourage dialogue on these issues.
Unlike a true international campus, you cannot apply to the Wharton Center for admission; all admission is still done through their US campus, and there is no permanent undergraduate population in China. While this is a wonderful resource, it does not operate in the same function as other undergraduate campuses abroad.
A Note on Cultural Differences
A final note that we should include is that even though these schools are technically run by American institutions, they often have cultural mores which are much closer to those of their home countries than the US. This can be something of a culture shock for American students (just as coming to American universities is frequently a major culture shock for international students).
While instruction may be in English, not everyone in the country around you will speak it, and it’s a good idea to have some grasp of the local language before beginning one of these programs. This will ease your transition, and make it far easier for you to navigate in your new surroundings.
Finally, the college experience at these schools may not resemble the one stereotypically portrayed in movies. While there are still student organizations, there is no Greek life, and the campuses are far smaller than those of their home institutions. These are a very different environment, and while they can provide a great education, you should be fully aware of what you’re signing up for.
Final Thoughts
Studying abroad is a tradition across college campuses, but some students want to invest more thoroughly in their investigation of another culture, or experience a truly globalized education. International campuses provide that, and can be a great opportunity for admissions, especially for international students concerned with acceptance rates or visa practices at US universities.
We hope that this article has provided a solid introduction to what international campuses are and how they work, along with showcasing some notable ones around the globe. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it does show some of the options available to you. If you are looking for advice on applying to any of these schools, or on any other aspect of navigating admissions, either as a domestic or international student, schedule a free consultation today. We have a long experience helping students of all backgrounds achieve their collegiate goals, and we’re always happy to hear from you.
