Harbert Global: Study Abroad

Business Core Fast Track
Coming Soon...(expected mid-September)	Applications  open. Space is 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 completed 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 ($797), HCoB Professional (~$150) fee, 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 tour in Milan
May 11–May 29, 2026	Course 1 - Milan
June 2–June 19, 2026	Course 2 - Milan
June 20–June 27, 2026	Summer Break
June 27, 2026	Students report to/check in housing in Madrid
June 27-28, 2026	Orientation and tour in Madrid
June 29–July 17, 2026	Course 3 - Madrid
July 20–Aug 4, 2026	Course 4 - Madrid
May 11-Aug 4, 2026	Course 5 (Hybrid - mostly online, but some sessions live abroad)
Aug 5, 2025	Program End Date: depart Madrid to arrive in USA

 

In order to qualify for the Harbert Business Fast Track Abroad Program, you must be a Sophomore- or Junior-level business major with a 2.25 GPA  and have earned a minimum of 57 credit hours prior to the start of the summer program. Also, students must have completed either ACCT 2110 or ACCT 2117 PRIOR to program start IF you plan to take FINC 3610 (Principles of Finance). Honors sections are available for most of the courses, but must be taken as a set (not single classes for Honors--see courses). 

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.

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. 

You are required to enroll in and complete all 13-14 credit hours of coursework. Although the program is offered over the summer, the scheduling of courses is unique to this program.

Students are required to take a total of 13-14 credits with 4 courses taken on location abroad (two in Milan and two in Madrid) and one course taken as a hybrid course across the summer (mostly online but with some live sessions while abroad). Courses are Auburn University courses taught by Auburn instructors, and the courses include:

Required Courses (Must take total of 4 courses on location abroad - 2 in Milan and 2 in Madrid, and 1 as a hybrid/mostly online across the summer):*

You will take the following three required courses: 

• Principles of Marketing—MKTG 3310 (3 credit hours) (On location)
• Principles of Management—MNGT 3100 (3 credit hours) (On location)
• International Business—BUSI 3250 (3 credit hours) (Hybrid/mostly online) -- see note below if you have already taken this course

 

Then you are required to choose any 2 of the following 3 courses (must choose only 2 from this set):

• Introduction to Management Information Systems--ISMN 2140 (2 credit hours) (On location)
• Operations: Management of Business Process—SCMN 2150 (2 credit hours) (On location)
• Principles of Finance—FINC 3610 (3 credit hours) (On location)

 

Note 1: If you have taken BUSI 3250, you can take a special topics course (BUSI 4970 – Special Topics in International Business) as a replacement. However, this course is only available IF you have already taken BUSI 3250 and must be approved before you register for the program.  You must be able to take the full set of courses offered to be eligible for this program. If you cannot take a full set of courses from those listed above as structured, you should instead consider the FLEX program which has more course options. 

Note 2:  You must complete either ACCT 2110 or 2117 before entering the program if taking FINC 3610 since it is a prerequisite for FINC 3610.

If you are in the Honors College and would like to get Honors credit for your coursework, 12 hours can be taken for Honors credit, but they must be taken as a set (no individual Honors course contracting allowed for this program). Honors students must choose Principles of Finance as one of the choice options to get Honors credit. 

Honors course Set: FINC 3617, MNGT 3107, MKTG 3317, and BUSI 3257 plus either SCMN 2150 or ISMN 2140.

Yes. It is sometimes possible for students to take these courses at Auburn during summer without going abroad.

However, most departments currently offer few face-to-face principles courses in the summer on campus, offering only online versions instead. In addition, when live classes are offered, summer scheduling conflicts often limit the options for taking all these courses simultaneously at AU in the summer between Sophomore and Junior year.

Other options include the possibility of taking these courses at another institution. In contrast to these options, this program offers the core principles courses sequenced so students can take them all in one summer abroad live on location in Europe taught by Harbert College of Business faculty.

Yes. The Honors College supports study abroad programs. This program offers an Honors option that provides Honors credit for 12 of your hours. The 12 hours of Honors credit available must be taken as a set. No need to contract separately for each course. Honors students must take FINC 3617 as part of their option set to get Honors credit as the Honors courses must be taken as a block. 

You will complete a team simulation with your Honors colleagues that integrates the material from your principles courses. Simply list the following courses on your course approval form in place of the non-Honors courses:

• Instead of MNGT 3100, list MNGT 3107
• Instead of MKTG 3310. list MKTG 3117
• Instead of FINC 3610, list FINC 3617
• Instead of BUSI 3250, list BUSI 3257

The remaining course (either SCMN 2150 or ISMN 2140) does not have an Honors option so should be listed with its regular course number. 

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 check to make 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 coming year, in past years, funding for this program support was provided by Auburn Abroad, the Provost's office, and 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 been guaranteed nor amounts determined, you can apply now for 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 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 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 the 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 U.S.

Please note that any safety and health regulations/protocols required by Auburn University, the Harbert College of Business, the program provider/vendor 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. Milan and Madrid have the appropriate characteristics to serve as hubs for our programs, offering a unique combination for your abroad experience. 

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?

• Harbert College of Business will host classes in a state-of-the-art classroom space that elevates the student academic experience.
• Student housing accommodations are single occupant mini-apartments with wifi, air conditioning, and other typical amenities expected by students. 
• 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 of 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, providing enhanced professional opportunities.
• Milan is very livable for US college students given English is common in most restaurants, stores, etc, so students have a better opportunity to fully experience the city. 
• While a vibrant city and important European hub, Milan is not as touristy as many other European cities and therefore offers a true experience of living abroad rather than simply visiting or vacationing. 

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

Why Madrid, and what makes it interesting?

• Madrid is the cultural capital of Spain with great museums, arts, 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, like Milan, Madrid offers a good environment for studying abroad for US students.

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

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

• AU coursework credit hours (13-14 hours)
• Housing in Milan and Madrid 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 Milan and Madrid
• Medical insurance

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

• Airfare to/from Europe
• Meals
• Passport and ETIAS visa if needed
• Optional tours and travel
• Travel (and housing) between Milan and Madrid during Summer break week
• Recommended additional trip cancellation insurance (to cover cancellation for any reason)--see below
• Auburn Abroad fee ($797)
• Harbert College Professional Fees (~$150)
• 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 13-14 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 or even less than the cost of 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 program will open soon. The program 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 program administration 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.