Harbert Global: Study Abroad

Expected mid-September Application review period opens. Space is this program is competitive and limited.  October 30, 2025 Last day to submit completed application with Auburn Abroad to be eligible for early bird discounted program fees (save $1000). Applications take at least a week to complete, so start ASAP. November 14, 2025 Last day to  commit to program through Auburn Abroad to receive early bird discounted program fees (save $1000). NOTE: Students without an Auburn GPA (including first semester and some transfer students) will not be eligible for discounted fees and will need to wait to commit until after grades roll in December to be eligible to go on the program.  January 16, 2026 Last day to submit an application with Auburn Abroad. Applications take at least a week to complete, so start asap. No late applications accepted. January 30, 2026 Last day to commit to program through Auburn Abroad. No late commitments accepted.   Early May, 2026 Program fees due plus Auburn Study Abroad Fee ($797), HCoB Professional fees (~$150), and mandatory emergency trip cancellation insurance (~$350) billed May 7, 2026   Depart USA to arrive in Milan May 8 May 8-10, 2026   Orientation and tours in Milan       May 11-29, 2026 Course 1: Strategic Management (Milan) June 2-19. 2026 Course 2: Multinational Finance (Milan) June 20-27, 2026 Summer Break** June 27, 2026 Students check in/report to housing in Madrid June 27-28, 2026 Orientation and tour Madrid June 29 - July 17, 2026 Course 3: Management in International Environments (Madrid) July 20 - August 4, 2026   Course 4 (Madrid): Management International Field Analysis (Madrid) May 11 - August 4, 2026 Optional Hybrid course (Online mostly) Options include BUSI 3250 (International Business), BUSI 4970 (Special Topics: Global Market Analysis) , or MKTG 5320 (Services Marketing) August 5, 2026 Leave Madrid / arrive USA   *Students will be register for required courses associated with program (4 on location total required). Students will take 2 courses in Milan and the final two in Madrid will be integrated with the consulting project working with the client in Madrid. ** At Milan program portion end on Friday, June 19, students will check out of Milan housing and will be free to travel on their own, but must report to Madrid housing for check in between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Students will have an orientation and tour of Madrid on June 27-28. Students are responsible for their own transportation, lodging, meals, etc. between Milan and Madrid for Summer Break week.

 

Required to take on location (all 3 hrs):

In Milan, students take
1) Strategic Management (MNGT 4800)
2) Multinational Finance (FINC 5510)

In Madrid, students take (as part of their consulting project)
3) Management in International Environments (MNGT 4100)
4) Management International Field Analysis (MNGT 4610)

Optional coursework online--can choose 1 from this list: International Business (BUSI 3250 – 3hrs), Special Topics: Global Market Analysis (BUSI 4970), or Services Marketing (MKTG 5320).

Before you can qualify to be a part of a Business Consulting Internship, you must have completed MNGT 3100/3107, MKTG 3310/3317 and FINC 3610/3617 PRIOR to program start. Additionally to qualify, you must be a business major, and those with a 3.0 GPA and Senior standing at the program start will be given priority. While not required, it is recommended that you participate during the summer after your Junior year and before your Senior year.

This program is only appropriate for business students who are completing their Junior year and will have enough hours to take Senior-level courses during the summer program (90 hours completed before the program starts). Students are required to have completed MNGT 3100, MKTG 3310, and FINC 3610 prior to program start. 

We recommend that you first speak with your academic advisor, the program director and your parent(s) or guardian(s) before making a final decision.

Yes. The Harbert College of Business summer programs in Milan, Italy, and Madrid, Spain, are Auburn programs led by experienced Auburn faculty. 

All courses and consulting internships taken as part of the program are official Auburn courses and require similar work and count the same as those taken on campus. Furthermore, abroad programs offered through third parties (not-AU faculty led), do not offer Auburn coursework, and students often cannot get credit for some or any of the coursework taken on such programs.

Professional experience, such as internships and consulting, is quickly becoming a necessity for job seekers as over 74% of companies look for either internship or actual job experience to screen applicants. Over 40% said they prefer 2 significant work-related experiences. 

According to a National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, job seekers who had an internship or significant work experience were more likely to get job offers and also higher initial salaries—a difference of $10,000 per year in starting salary. 

Additionally, a study conducted by the Harbert College of Business, over the last 5 years, showed that Harbert College students who participated in a professional experience such as these averaged $10,322 more in yearly starting salary than their classmates who did not study abroad on one of the professional programs. 

The difference in starting salary means a lifetime of higher earnings, so these programs are a great value.

The consulting internship opportunities are real work experiences with a variety of different companies. 

In consultation with the Director and other faculty advisors, our partners fit students to an appropriate consulting internship project taking into consideration the student's major, background, coursework, skill sets, and other interests. Our partners have extensive company relationships and experience placing interns and securing consulting projects (offices in several international locations with excellent government and business connections).

Students must participate in an interview, provide registration information, and submit a résumé for appropriate placement.

Our students have worked for banks, hotels, fashion magazines, soccer teams, service companies, engineering firms, food companies, clothing companies, beverage companies, manufacturing companies, city government agencies, healthcare companies, entertainment firms, restaurants, marketing agencies, and more.

No. These professional experiences are for academic credit. 

In addition, in most countries, immigration rules prohibit paid professional experiences for academic credit to protect the domestic job market. It is in fact illegal in most countries to pay foreign interns. 

The companies do not pay Auburn, any of the University program staff or participants for these programs. Companies donate their staff time and company resources associated with the program to provide the students an opportunity to participate in a real professional work environment, and no compensation of any kind is provided.

Visa and Passport

Students will be required to have a valid Passport that has an expiration date at least 6 months after scheduled return to the US after the program (so passports need to be valid though at least the end of December 2026 to be safe). A Visa is not currently required for USA passport holders, but is tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2026 (called ETIAS and expected to cost approximately $8). We will provide instructions for ETIAS applications if/when it becomes officially required if applicable. 

Housing and Travel
For the duration of the program (except during Summer break week), students stay in self-service apartments with necessary amenities (including wifi) and easy access to bus and/or metro lines. Travel on metro/bus/trams in both locations is included in the program fees. Students are on their own for meals (though areas around their lodging have grocery stores and plenty of restaurants). Students will be responsible for their travel arrangements and expenses from Milan to Madrid during summer break week. Specific housing locations and details will be provided prior to departure from the U.S.

All health and safety protocols required by the university, college, local authorities, and program partners abroad will be strictly followed and enforced.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us at harbertglobal@auburn.edu.

Program costs are always an important concern and we strive to make the program affordable for as many students as possible. It should be noted that students do not pay tuition in addition to program fees for this program. Students pay Harbert study abroad fees and Auburn Abroad fees in lieu of regular tuition and lodging fees. All course credit hours are covered by program fees as well as lodging (except during Summer break week) and local transportation. 

Students will receive an ebill soon after committing to the program, but the ebill payment due date will be early May 2026. The early May due date coincides with the first summer billing period to allow financial aid and scholarships to be used where possible for summer program fees. 

Program fees total $17,900 and include*:

• AU coursework credit hours (typically 12-15 credit hours)
• Consulting internship placement
• Housing in Milan and Madrid (except Summer break week)
• Transportation pass for Milan and Madrid
• Cultural and professional programs
• Tours in and around Milan and Madrid
• Medical insurance

Estimated additional costs (not included in program fees) total $4,969 and include:

• Airfare to Milan and return from Madrid
• Travel during the week break (Summer 1 ends in Milan and Summer 2 begins in Madrid)
• Meals
• Passport and visa (if needed)
• Optional tours and entrance fees to some sights
• Recommended trip cancellation insurance (to cover cancellation for any reason) - see below
• Auburn Abroad fee ($797)
• Harbert College of Business Professional fee (~$150)
• Mandatory emergency trip cancellation insurance (~$350) - Note: This is not "cancel for any reason" insurance for medical emergency and limited special circumstances. It should not be considered an option to change your mind once committed. Prior to commitment, we strongly encourage students to read through the insurance information carefully and consider purchasing "cancel for any reason" trip cancellation insurance to reduce financial risk associated with dropping out of the program after commitment. See Auburn Abroad information for additional details. 

 

The overall expected cost for this program is $22,869. This includes 12-15 hours of academic course credit, housing, local transportation, program activities, and a professional consulting internship experience working for an international business client that has been proven to enhance job opportunities and starting salaries in the past. Given the benefits, this program is a good investment, especially for out-of-state students (for whom the cost is similar or even less than the cost of a typical semester at Auburn), but includes a summer abroad in Europe experience of a lifetime AND a resume' boost that looks great for potential employers. 

*Students can save $1,000 off their program fees by applying and committing to the program early. To be eligible for the $1,000 discount, students must submit a completed application through Auburn Abroad by October 30, 2025 and commit to program by November 14, 2025. 

If you have any further questions or concerns about the costs and fees of the trip, please contact Auburn Abroad at harbertglobal@auburn.edu.