Harbert Global: Study Abroad

Complete Business Minor Abroad
Coming Soon...(expected mid-September)	Applications Open. Space is limited.
October 30, 2025	Last day to submit a 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 through Auburn Abroad. Applications take about two weeks 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) and mandatory emergency trip cancellation insurance (~$350) billed
May 7, 2026	Depart USA to arrive in Madrid May 8
May 8-10, 2026	Orientation and tour in Madrid
May  11 - May 29, 2026	Course 1 - Madrid
June 2 - June 19, 2026	Course 2 - Madrid
June 20 - June 27, 2026	Summer Break
June 27, 2026	Students report to/check in housing in Milan
June 27-28, 2026	Orientation and tour in Milan
June 29 - July 17, 2026	Course 3 - Milan
July 20 - August 4, 2026	Course 4 - Milan
May 11 - August 4, 2026	Course 5 (Hybrid/mostly online)
August 5, 2026	Program end date: depart Milan to arrive in USA
Any time	Declare official Business Minor

 

In order to qualify for the Harbert Complete Business Minor Abroad Program, you must be a Sophomore-level or above (minimum 30 hours completed before the program begins), non-business major with a minimum of a 2.25 GPA who wants to complete a business minor that includes the following courses:

Required Courses:

• Fundamentals of Accounting—ACCT 2810
• Foundations of Business Management—MNGT 3810
• Foundations of Business Finance—FINC 3810
• Foundations of Marketing—MKTG 3810
• International Business—BUSI 3250

You can apply to the program as early as your Freshman year, as long as you will have 30 credit hours or more prior to program start to participate in the abroad program.

Due to the cohort nature of the program, you must apply and be accepted into the program to take any of these courses. Space is limited, so be sure to fill out the application as soon as possible. Business Minor administrators will enroll you in special sections of each course only available to this program.

You are required to enroll in and complete all 15 credit hours of coursework. Although the program is offered over the summer, the scheduling of courses is unique to this program.

In addition, Honors sections are available for each course.

If you have taken any of these courses, but have not completed your business minor, you should consider the FLEX program which offers a more flexible course schedule. 

The program (and all Harbert College of Business programs) maintains a strict maximum ratio of students to faculty/staff at 20:1. The expected number of students on the program will be roughly 150 but note that the Business Minor is one of the most popular minors on campus (and required by several majors on campus) and spots are limited by staffing and lodging availability.

To secure a spot, students are advised to complete applications and commit as soon as possible. Acceptance is not guaranteed until the application process has been completed, approved by the program director and University, and the student has committed to the program through Auburn Abroad.

You can go on this program any summer after your Freshman year, so rising Sophomores and above are accepted (30+ hours).

However, the best time for a student to go on the program is dependent on each student’s particular situation. Many students prefer to go abroad on the program between Freshman and Sophomore year because doing so provides an early opportunity to expand perspective and also frees up later summers for work, internships, coops or other major related activities. Other students find a later summer works better, allowing them to plan a more specific international experience, develop a more focused travel plan for their international experience, and save up additional money for the trip.

Though the program is beneficial no matter when you go, to maximize your opportunity, 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.

Required Courses:

• Fundamentals of Accounting—ACCT 2810
• Foundations of Business Management—MNGT 3810
• Foundations of Business Finance—FINC 3810
• Foundations of Marketing—MKTG 3810
• International Business—BUSI 3250

Note 1: Courses taken for the Business Minor cannot be used for Harbert College of Business credit except for the minor. 

Note 2: All the above courses are available as Honors courses. However, the Honors course option is only available as a complete set. You cannot contract individual courses. You will complete a team simulation with your Honors colleagues that integrates the material for all courses. Simply list the following courses on your Course Approval Form:

Required Courses for Honors credit: 

• Fundamentals of Accounting-ACCT 2817
• Principles of Management-MNGT 3107
• Principles of Finance-FINC 3617
• Principles of Marketing-MKTG 3317
• International Business-BUSI 3257

If you have taken any of these courses, you are not eligible for the business minor program, and should instead consider the FLEX program for additional course options. 

 

How does the summer abroad Complete Business Minor program compare to taking the courses to earn a business minor on campus?

The Harbert College of Business offers a business minor that can be completed as part of a student’s regular coursework on campus. However, there are a few key differences between getting the minor during regular coursework on campus and going on this program.

First, and most obvious, instead of taking courses at Auburn, you will be taking classes in Europe. This provides a unique cultural and professional experience compared to taking courses at Auburn. This offers lifetime opportunities for exploring different cultures and European destinations. 

Second, while both the traditional minor and abroad minor require 15 hours for completion, due to prerequisites (ACCT 2110 /ACCT 2810/ACCT 2817 is a prerequisite for FINC 3810/3610/3617) the summer abroad program is the only way a student can complete an entire business minor in one semester. For some majors (such as Engineering, Pharmacy and others) that have very limited flexibility to add extra courses into regular semesters, this might be the only option to get a business minor and boost your résumé.

Third, for the traditional minor, students must take 4 required courses (Accounting, Finance, Marketing and Management) plus either Macroeconomics (ECON 2030) or International Business (BUSI 3250). All students on the abroad minor program can take International Business while abroad, which has been adapted to enhance and integrate with the abroad experience. Specifically, International Business will include both cultural and professional experiences abroad in both locations as part of the class, elements not possible with the traditional minor courses on campus.

Finally, for a traditional business minor, students must be junior level to take any of the courses at the 3000 level and up. However, students who attend this program can take these courses as early as their summer between Freshman and Sophomore year as long as they meet the minimum abroad requirements and will have completed a minimum of 30 hours before the program begins. This option is only available through this program.

Can you get Honors credit for courses in this abroad program? Yes. The Honors College supports study abroad programs. This program offers an Honors option that provides Honors credit for all five courses.

If you are in the Honors College, you can take all five courses for Honors credit through a unique team simulation experience that integrates course material. No need to separately contract each course individually. You simply list the Honors course numbers on your Course Approval Form and then complete the simulation at the end of the program with your Honors team members. 

Honors Course numbers: ACCT 2817, MNGT 3107, FINC 3617, MKTG 3317, and BUSI 3257. 

Once you have been admitted to the program, you will receive official confirmation. Shortly afterwards, you will receive a schedule. You should check your schedule to confirm the courses listed are correct. 

A special section of each course is allocated to this program.  Do not register through the normal system for your summer abroad courses. The program administration will manually enroll you in each course.  You will receive official notification once you have been registered for your abroad courses. Again, please be sure you are registered for the correct courses and contact the program coordinator if there are issues.

 

It is possible that this program will have program support funds available. Once any funding is made available, all applicants will receive complete details regarding funding amounts and application process details.

While funding is not guaranteed for this year, in past years, funding for this program support was provided by Auburn Abroad, the Provost's office, and the Harbert College of Business. 

If/as funding becomes available, we will communicate details to all applicants.

Note: Generally, support will be targeted for full 12-week Summer program applicants.  When reviewing Program Support applications, key applicant qualifications to be evaluated include:

• Applicant financial need
• A lack of previous international travel and study experiences
• AU academic performance
• AU extracurricular and leadership engagement. 
  
  

Though funding has not yet been guaranteed nor amounts determined, you can apply now for any potential program support if it becomes available. To apply, please click on the following link and complete the Qualtrics survey:

Apply Now

Visa and Passport
You will be required to have a valid passport that has an expiration date at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the US after the program (so make sure your passport is valid through at least the end of December after your program ends 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 will cost approximately $8). We will provide additional instructions for ETIAS applications if/when it becomes officially required if applicable.

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

Housing and Travel
For the duration of the program (except during Summer break week), you will stay in a self-service apartments with necessary amenities. While internet and local travel are covered by your fees, you will be responsible for meals (the area around your lodging has grocery stores and plenty of restaurants to choose from). Specific housing location and details will be provided prior to departure from the US.

Please note that any health and safety regulations required by Auburn University, the Harbert College of Business, the Program Provider Abroad and local authorities will be strictly followed and enforced.

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

The Harbert College of Business has been running global programs for over 25 years. Program locations have included the United Kingdom, France, Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, China and others. In the last few years there have been many requests to provide consistent, safe, and enjoyable "hubs" for summer abroad. Madrid and Milan have the appropriate characteristics to serve as hubs for our programs, offering a unique combination for your abroad experience. 

Why Madrid, and what makes it interesting? 

• Madrid is the cultural capital of Spain with great museums, art, and plenty to do. 
• Madrid has good food and a laid-back environment. 
• Madrid has an extensive public transport system which makes it easy for students to explore the city.
• Madrid is generally inexpensive compared to most larger European cities. 
• Classroom and housing facilities are both quite good in Madrid and the city hosts many international students, making it a great opportunity to experience a true melting pot culture. 
• Madrid is a good hub for visiting interesting cities in Spain such as Barcelona, Seville, and Toledo, but also offers relatively short flights to Lisbon, Porto, Amsterdam, and Paris, among others. 

In Summary, Madrid offers a good environment for studying abroad for US students. 

With its Italian style, central location in Europe, easy transport, and great food, Milan is a natural base for exploring Europe. What makes Milan special?

• This year, Harbert College of Business will host classes in a state of the art classroom space that will elevate the student academic experience. 
• Student housing accommodations are secured in advance (no hotels required at the beginning of the program), are an easy commute to the classroom space, central to downtown, and include great amenities. 
• Milan is a perfect base for traveling around Europe. High speed trains connect Milan to Rome, Venice, Florence, Switzerland, and other great European destinations in 3 hours or less. Milan's two major airports offer 2.5 hour or less flights to most major European cities such as Paris, London, Munich, Amsterdam, Athens, Madrid, Barcelona, Dublin, Prague, and more. 
• Milan is an easy to navigate city with excellent public transport options including metro, bus, and tram lines that are well integrated, making it easy to get around the city. 
• Milan is a major fashion and business hub in Europe, which provides enhanced professional opportunities.
• Students maintain housing in Milan through the Summer Break week so they can stay in Milan for part of the break or leave luggage in their apartment while traveling lighter during the break week. 
• One location in Milan this summer allows 2 additional overnight group weekend trips included in the program fees. Potential destinations include Rome, Nice (France), Switzerland, or similar destinations. Details provided prior to going abroad in Spring.  

Also, while students can use/pick up some basic ltalian language skills, no language skills are required to participate in the program in Milan as English is common in most places students live, go to class, and travel around the city.

In summary, like Madrid, Milan is a very livable city with great amenities for summer abroad. 

Taken together, the two locations offer a great combination for our students. Madrid offers a vibrant, but more relaxed culture, while in Milan, students experience the style of a cosmopolitan business hub. We think the two cities complement each other as abroad destinations, and past students agree. 

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 Program fees and Auburn Study Abroad fees in lieu of regular tuition. All course credit hours are covered by program fees. Students will receive an ebill shortly 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. 

Summer 2026 Program fees of $17,900 include*:

• AU coursework credit hours (15 hours)
• Housing in Madrid and Milan for the duration of the program (except the Summer break week as students travel between locations)
• Bus/metro/tram pass for the duration of the program to get around both cities
• Cultural and professional programs
• Tours in and around Madrid and Milan
• Medical insurance

Estimated additional costs not included in the program fees are $4,969 (not included in program fees). These costs include:

• Airfare to/from Europe
• Meals
• Passport and ETIAS visa if needed
• Optional tours and travel
• Travel (and housing) between Madrid and Milan during Summer break week
• Recommended additional trip cancellation insurance (to cover cancellation for any reason) -- see below
• Auburn Abroad fee ($797)
• Mandatory emergency trip cancellation insurance (~$350) - Note: This insurance is NOT "cancel for any reason" and only applies to cancellation 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 15 credit hours of academic course credit, housing, local transportation, and program activities.  Given the benefits, compared to taking typical classes on campus, this program is a good investment, especially for out-of-state students (for whom the cost is similar to a typical semester at Auburn), but includes a summer abroad experience of a lifetime AND a résumé boost by allowing students to get more business coursework completed before they apply for internships and jobs.

*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 the program by November 14, 2025. 

 

The application process requires students to apply and register with the AU Study Abroad office. Students must meet the academic requirements for the program and be in good standing with the registrar’s and bursar's offices to study abroad. 

The application period for this programs opens soon, but space is limited so apply asap. The program application is considered rolling admission, which means that the program will accept applications until the program either fills or final rosters are due to our international partners for housing, tours, etc., but students must submit an application no later than January 16, 2026, and commit to the program no later than January 30, 2026 to be eligible for the 2026 Summer program.

Due to university regulations, no late applications will be accepted for any reason. Students are encouraged to apply early and move through the application process efficiently as the program will likely fill and close at some point late in the Fall semester or the beginning of Spring.

The Harbert College of Business will have several information sessions for the program. Students are encouraged to attend an information session to help navigate the process of applying. During the information session, students will have an opportunity to speak with an Auburn Abroad coordinator or intern about specific questions that they may have in the preliminary planning stages for study abroad. 

Students who are ready to apply to this program, may start their application.