Affiliate and Third-Party Programs
Looking for a study abroad program that better fits your academic or personal goals? In addition to NC State programs, you can explore a wide variety of study abroad options offered through our Affiliates or a Third-Party provider—organizations that run their own study abroad programs in countries around the world and across different fields of study. The NC State Study Abroad Office is here to help you navigate and access these opportunities, too!
As an NC State student, you can also study abroad through:
– A program organized by an NC State Affiliate (read more here about NC State Affiliates)
– A program organized by a US accredited third-party institution
– Direct enrollment at an accredited international institution as a visiting student
How to Apply
Affiliate and Third-Party programs require two applications
- NC State study abroad application (via PackAbroad)
- This step is important for ensuring your study abroad experience is officially documented, your credits transfer, and you remain eligible for NC State financial aid, scholarships, and support services.
- On PackAbroad, our affiliates will have their own application (see links below). To apply to a Third-Party service provider, apply with the Third-Party application (AY/Semester; Short-Term).
- You’ll also complete a Course Approval Form with your academic department to confirm how your courses will apply to your degree. Learn more about Course Approvals.
- Program provider application
- The second application will be directly with your chosen Affiliate or Third-Party provider through their application portal or website. Be sure to review any eligibility requirements set by the program provider or host institution.
- Important: Deadlines for Affiliate and Third-Party programs can differ from NC State deadlines. Make note of our deadline as well as the application deadline for the Affiliate or Third-Party. We recommend starting on the course approval form process of the application two to three weeks before the NC State deadline. Some providers also require institutional approval from NC State — your advisor can help once your PackAbroad application is submitted. If their deadline is before our deadline, please complete your PackAbroad application and then reach out to us.
Earning Academic Credit
You can earn transfer credit for your Affiliate or Third-Party program:
- Undergraduate students must earn the equivalent of a C- or better
- Graduate students must earn the equivalent of a B or better
Course approvals must be documented in advance as part of your PackAbroad application to ensure the courses fulfill your NC State degree requirements. Learn more about Credit Abroad.
Program Costs & Payment
- You’ll pay application/setup fees through PackAbroad.
- Mandatory NC State international insurance will be billed through your NC State student account.
- Tuition and other program fees are paid directly to your provider.
- Review more details about Billing, Payments, and Fees.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
You can use your NC State financial aid and scholarships toward Affiliate or Third-Party programs as long as you’re enrolled in a full-time course load that counts toward your degree. Aid will be disbursed directly to you based on the NC State billing calendar.
Study abroad scholarships can also be used towards the cost of an Affiliate or Third-Party program.
Advising & Support
You’re not required to meet with an advisor for Affiliate or Third-Party programs, but we encourage you to do so as well as visit our office for walk-in advising. If you have questions or want guidance, we’re happy to help you explore your options.
- Need help or have questions? Connect with an Advisor.
- Poole College of Management students: Contact Poole Global for additional support with program selection and course approvals.
NC State Affiliate Programs
At NC State Study Abroad, we carefully select affiliate partners to provide students with the most meaningful and hands-on international experiences—so you can Think and Do abroad in the best way possible.
Our affiliates are leading organizations in the field, chosen for their strong institutional collaboration, innovative programs, and commitment to student engagement. They offer academic opportunities that complement NC State’s strengths in STEM, design, textiles, and experiential learning, while also expanding geographic diversity to meet student demand.
Affiliates provide comprehensive student support, including academic advising, visa assistance, health and safety resources, and guidance for underrepresented students. Affordability is also a key consideration, ensuring students receive both value and quality.
By partnering with these organizations, we maximize student impact while allowing our study abroad team to focus on preparing you for a successful global experience.
Our NC State Study Abroad Affiliates
- Barcelona SAE
- DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia
- IES Abroad
- ISA by WorldStrides
- Lorenzo de Medici
- SFS- School for Field Studies
- SIT Study Abroad
Click here to see the list of PackAbroad applications for the corresponding affiliates.
Other Study Abroad Options
Students can also choose to study abroad through any accredited third-party service provider, which offer additional high-quality programs worldwide. If you are studying abroad with a third-party provider that we are not affiliated with, please complete our general third-party application for the corresponding term here.