International Opportunities

International Exchanges

SURP provides exciting student exchange opportunities with the University of Otago, New Zealand, and The University of Western Australia.  Students may apply to study at either of the two universities during their final term (typically the Winter term of the second academic year). Here are the experiences of SURPers Kevin House and Sarah Bingham.

International Project Course

The International Planning Project course is a unique SURP offering that gives students an exciting opportunity to work on a real-world planning project with a client in India.  The students work as a professional consultant team to deliver the project under the overall guidance of Dr. Ajay Agarwal, the course instructor.  The course won the highly prestigious “Innovation in International Education” award in 2017. The students to learn skills required to deliver a large multidisciplinary planning project, deal with nuances of working in an intercultural context, and overcome formidable challenges of working in a developing country.  The course includes a mandatory two-week field trip to India.  For more insider details, read excellent blogs produced by the course alumni: Fall 2012Fall 2013Fall 2014Fall 2015Fall 2017Fall 2018.

Student Summer Internships in Beijing

SURP offers summer internship opportunities to two students under the China Internship program sponsored by The Government of the People's Republic of China Ministry of Natural Resources.  Students spend one summer term working in China.  In the past, students have worked at the China Academy of Land and Resources Economics, and the China Land and Surveying and Planning Institute in Beijing.

International Experience Awards

SURP students have the opportunity to compete for the International Experience Award.  The award is worth $1500, and the school may offer up to three awards annually based on funding availability.  The award is intended to provide first-year SURP students with a unique and new international experience during the summer term of their first year of graduate studies.  Proposals on planning-related topics are submitted for adjudication by a selection panel comprising of first and second-year SURP students. The proposals are judged on their feasibility, practicality, and innovation. The award recipients give a presentation to the student body and faculty before and after returning from their trips.

Click here to see the list of award winners and their travel destinations.