MBA - Academics - Global Learning Opportunities - Exchange Programs

Global Learning Opportunities

Exchange Programs

The Darden School of Business has reciprocal exchange relationships with business schools around the world. These exchanges give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture and develop a broadened understanding of doing business in an international setting.

Darden students have expressed many benefits of spending part of their graduate business education time abroad, including:

Increased career networking opportunities
Expansion of personal network
Site visits to local and multinational companies and organizations
Exposure to a new education environment
Deeper understanding and personal experience with a new business culture
Learning from diverse international students and professors
Opportunities to travel within host country and beyond

Exchange Partners

Visit the Darden exchange partner school websites below for specific information:

ASIA

Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Hyderabad, India
Indian School of Business (ISB)

Shanghai, China
China European International Business School (CEIBS)

Tokyo, Japan
Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Management and Commerce

EUROPE

Barcelona, Spain
ESADE Business School – Ramon Llull University

Barcelona, Spain
IESE Business School - University of Navarra

Milan, Italy
Università Bocconi

Paris, France
Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC)

St. Gallen, Switzerland
St. Gallen University

Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)

LATIN AMERICA

Buenos Aires, Argentina
IAE - Universidad Austral Escuela De Dirección y Negocios

Mexico City, Mexico
IPADE - El Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa

AUSTRALIA

Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne Business School (MBS)
FAQs
Who can go on exchange?

Second Year (SY) residential full-time students can study at one of Darden’s established exchange partner schools for one quarter or a semester (two quarters). Available spots at each partner school differ each year as it is based on exchange agreement balances.

When can students go?

Students can go on exchange in Quarter 1-3 of their second year. Quarter 3 (January – March) tends to be the most popular time to go on exchange since Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 (fall semester) tends to be heavy recruitment times for SYs. Note that available exchange timeframes differ by school and is determined by how Darden’s academic calendars best align.

How much does it cost?

You continue to pay tuition to Darden while you are on exchange. Living/travel expenses average between $2,600 and $8,000 per quarter (includes housing, airfare, transportation, etc.) depending on location and estimated cost of living expenses. Financial aid can be used to cover exchange program related expenses and can also be increased if needed. Students eligible for the Batten Worldwide Scholarship can use their scholarship to offset the out of pocket expenses of exchange.

What is the selection process like?

Students participate in a ranked preference process to determine preferences and selections for the available exchange spots. This process is separate from the second year elective bidding process. The exchange program process generally opens around late-March/early April for Fall Exchange, and August/September for Spring Exchange. Interested students must submit the preference form before the deadline to be considered. If there is more interest in a certain school/program than seats available, students will be matched through a random selection process. Students not initially matched with any school will be waitlisted for each school they bid on the form.

What should students consider before going on exchange?

The exchange matching process aligns with rising second year elective course registration in April. It is recommended that students still register for electives as if they weren’t going on exchange (it is much easier to drop courses than to add them later on).

Be aware of graduation requirements, such as the Leadership requirement that needs to be taken at Darden.

Make sure any non-academic responsibilities (for example, club leadership) will be covered while on exchange. Presidents of student organizations are typically not allowed to go on exchange and should consult with the Office of Student Affairs before submitting bids for exchange partner schools.
Contact Us

Visit the Darden exchange partner school websites below for specific information:

ASIA

Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Hyderabad, India
Indian School of Business (ISB)

Shanghai, China
China European International Business School (CEIBS)

Tokyo, Japan
Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Management and Commerce

EUROPE

Barcelona, Spain
ESADE Business School – Ramon Llull University

Barcelona, Spain
IESE Business School - University of Navarra

Milan, Italy
Università Bocconi

Paris, France
Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC)

St. Gallen, Switzerland
St. Gallen University

Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)

LATIN AMERICA

Buenos Aires, Argentina
IAE - Universidad Austral Escuela De Dirección y Negocios

Mexico City, Mexico
IPADE - El Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa

AUSTRALIA

Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne Business School (MBS)

Who can go on exchange?

Second Year (SY) residential full-time students can study at one of Darden’s established exchange partner schools for one quarter or a semester (two quarters). Available spots at each partner school differ each year as it is based on exchange agreement balances.

When can students go?

Students can go on exchange in Quarter 1-3 of their second year. Quarter 3 (January – March) tends to be the most popular time to go on exchange since Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 (fall semester) tends to be heavy recruitment times for SYs. Note that available exchange timeframes differ by school and is determined by how Darden’s academic calendars best align.

How much does it cost?

You continue to pay tuition to Darden while you are on exchange. Living/travel expenses average between $2,600 and $8,000 per quarter (includes housing, airfare, transportation, etc.) depending on location and estimated cost of living expenses. Financial aid can be used to cover exchange program related expenses and can also be increased if needed. Students eligible for the Batten Worldwide Scholarship can use their scholarship to offset the out of pocket expenses of exchange.

What is the selection process like?

Students participate in a ranked preference process to determine preferences and selections for the available exchange spots. This process is separate from the second year elective bidding process. The exchange program process generally opens around late-March/early April for Fall Exchange, and August/September for Spring Exchange. Interested students must submit the preference form before the deadline to be considered. If there is more interest in a certain school/program than seats available, students will be matched through a random selection process. Students not initially matched with any school will be waitlisted for each school they bid on the form.

What should students consider before going on exchange?

The exchange matching process aligns with rising second year elective course registration in April. It is recommended that students still register for electives as if they weren’t going on exchange (it is much easier to drop courses than to add them later on).
Be aware of graduation requirements, such as the Leadership requirement that needs to be taken at Darden.
Make sure any non-academic responsibilities (for example, club leadership) will be covered while on exchange. Presidents of student organizations are typically not allowed to go on exchange and should consult with the Office of Student Affairs before submitting bids for exchange partner schools.