Academic Plans

Academic calendar

Drexel University has an academic calendar based on the quarter system with 4 quarters (“terms”) per year: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. For details about the start and finish of each term, review Drexel’s academic calendar by selecting the academic year under Quarter Programs. Exchange students are permitted to study at Drexel for a maximum of 3 quarters, with the option of adding the Summer quarter. Students cannot study at Drexel for the Summer quarter only, but instead may opt to add it to the Winter/Spring or Spring quarters.

Courses

Undergraduate exchange students at Drexel are required to take a minimum of 12 Drexel credits per term and may take no more than 20 credits per term. Most students opt to take between 14-16 credits during one term (4-5 courses).Undergraduate exchange students are also required to take 50% of their course work each term from within their assigned Drexel school/college (E.g. If taking 16 credits for the term, 8 credits must be in assigned school/college).

Graduate exchange students at Drexel are required to take a minimum of 9 Drexel credits per term and may take no more than 12 credits during one term. Graduate students must take 100% of their courses from within their assigned Drexel program. Certain Graduate programs are closed to exchange students.

Incoming students are not permitted to count more than 3 credits of online coursework toward the full-time enrollment minimum. Hybrid classes count as in-person.

Courses in the college/schools of Architecture, Graduate Law Program (except Rennes & Aberdeen Law students), and Medicine are not available to exchange students. Programs in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, the School of Public Health, the School of Education may also be closed to exchange students. Courses in Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design are extremely limited for non- majors, and admittance may require the submission of a portfolio. Graduate courses are typically not available to Undergraduate exchange students.

Drexel University Catalog course descriptions

Please note: students must select undergraduate course descriptions for Quarter term courses.

Drexel Unversity Term Master Schedule

Please note: The schedule of classes is normally posted one term in advance however this is subject to change. Sometimes class meeting times change, sometimes classes are cancelled. Students will need to check your class schedule several times before the term begins.

Books

The cost of text books in the United States is quite high. Students may have to spend as much as $500 for books for one term.

Unlike many other countries, professors in the United States often require students to purchase their textbooks. Students may not necessarily be able to borrow your textbooks from the library or from other students.

Student Profile

Angus Dunnachie
LeBow College of Business
University of Sydney

Testimonial:

My time at Drexel was short but sweet! It was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn’t stop the amazing memories I still hold close from my time in Philly. One of the best things about my exchange at Drexel is the life-long friends I made from my time there. It was such an incredible opportunity to make friends from Europe, the US (and even from my hometown in Australia) and we still talk all the time!

I’d definitely encourage Drexel as a destination for an international exchange program. Philly’s a great place and there’s so much US history you can see in the city, even just from walking around. There’s a ton to do and Philly’s home to a heap of sports teams so there’s always a game you can go and catch. Make sure to try and speak to as many people as possible, which can be hard when you don’t know anyone, but it is definitely worth it. This is especially true for reaching out to other exchange students as they’re going through the exact same thing. Be sure to travel as well! This is one thing I didn’t get to do much of because of the fast emergence of COVID-19, but part of the reason I initially chose Philly is because of its proximity to travel destinations both in the US and bordering countries.