---
name: Semester Abroad & Summer School Research
description: MU semester abroad options, summer school research, ASU interest, and funded program options
type: project
---

## Semester Abroad (Fall 2026)

MU offers only 2 formal options:
1. **Illinois Institute of Technology** — Chicago, USA (visiting/exchange program)
2. **Griffith University** — Brisbane/Gold Coast, Australia (study abroad)

**Neither is exciting.** Arnav wants **ASU (Arizona State University)** instead.
- He has a valid F1 visa stamp (till 2029) — just needs new I-20 from ASU + SEVIS fee ($350)
- Old SEVIS was terminated (left before semester ended) but no overstay, no legal issue
- Plan: ask MU to let him do independent visiting semester at ASU
- **Key question for MU:** Will they waive the ₹6L semester fee if he studies abroad? No fee info provided in their semester abroad docs.

## Summer Schools

MU provided a list of summer schools (US, UK, Europe, Asia). All expensive (₹2-7L + travel).

**Best value options identified:**
- Babson College (₹2.16L, entrepreneurship, cheapest US)
- IIT Chicago (₹3.1L, STEM + entrepreneurship)
- Tsinghua (₹2.5-3.5L, China)
- NUS Singapore (₹3-4L)

**Verdict:** Summer schools generally not worth it for the cost — certificate, not degree, surface-level learning, 2 weeks. Better alternatives: internships, building projects, travel.

**Arnav wants a FREE/fully funded summer school.** Options:
- MITACS Globalink (Canada) — deadline usually September for next summer
- DAAD RISE (Germany) — opens October
- CERN Summer Program (Geneva) — very competitive
- Erasmus+ programs — some still open
- KAUST VSRP (Saudi Arabia) — stipend + flights + housing
- Caltech SURF — stipend provided