Summer study abroad opportunities expand at Montana Tech; registration still open for August 2023

More than a dozen Montana Tech students will take advantage of new study abroad opportunities this summer, and registration for the highly affordable summer programming is still available.

Dean Kenneth Lee prioritized expansion of study abroad when he joined Montana Tech in Summer 2022.

“I not only want students to study abroad, but I want to make sure it’s affordable so everyone can have that opportunity,” Lee said.

Fifteen students are set to travel to Austria on May 28-Jun 11. Initially, Lee thought 10 students would participate in the program, but it was so popular, an extra five students are coming along.

The program costs $1,100 plus airfare.

“I am very excited to go on this study abroad trip,” said Mehana Benson, a civil engineering junior from Missoula. “I have wanted to study abroad since I was in high school but had never been able to. When I saw that the civil engineering department at Tech was leading a summer abroad trip to Austria, I jumped at the opportunity! I was pleasantly surprised by the affordability of this study abroad trip. The cost includes our tuition, lodging, and airfare, not to mention the safety and assurance of traveling in a group with my peers and an advisor familiar with the area.”

Koby Martin, a civil engineering junior, also looks forward to exploring and studying in Austria.  

“The summer study abroad trip to Austria will be instrumental in progressing my career as an engineer and will expose me to things I would not see in the United States,” Martin said. “Building methods, fluvial geomorphology and flood risk management vary greatly across the globe, and by learning strategies foreign to Montana I hope to become a more well-rounded engineer. This trip will also help me grow by exposing me to different cultures and traditions not as prevalent in Montana.”

Martin also highlighted the low cost of the trip.

“The affordability of the study abroad trip is unrivaled, and I would have few opportunities to go to different countries and learn about engineering otherwise,” Martin said. “This is my first time studying abroad, and I can't wait to learn about engineering practices employed throughout Austria.”

Shelbi Fuller, an environmental engineering freshman from Spokane, Washington, has traveled abroad before. She spent time in the United Kingdom in 2018, as her family reconnected with friends her mother had made while studying abroad.

“I am hoping to learn about a different culture and make new friends with the added bonus of earning some credits,” Fuller said. “The affordability played a huge part in both my interest and ability to attend. It would be impossible to travel to Austria for that price, and to learn basic German makes it more than worth it.”

In November 2022, a new Memorandum of Understanding was completed between Montana Tech and Minghsin University of Science and Technology in Hsinchu, Taiwan. The first Montana Tech students are set to study abroad at the Taiwanese university late this summer.

Students will learn about semiconductor manufacturing, fundamental Chinese, the Taiwanese culture, and will tour various attractions, including the TSMC Museum of Innovation and the Hsinchu Science Park, during the two weeks abroad. The cost is $950 plus airfare.

The program runs from August 6 to August 19, 2023. Dean Lee will have an information session about the trip on Thursday, April 27 at 5 p.m. in Museum Computer Lab 101.

For more information, contact Dr. Lee, located in MUS307. Dr. Lee is also reachable via email at klee5@mtech.edu.