“The château was declared the official royal residence in 1682 and …” you rub your eyes and blink several times. It’s no slideshow. You’re actually standing in the gardens of Versailles, in the shadow of a neatly trimmed hedge while listening to a lecture on the development of French architecture during the reign of Louis XIV.

All architecture students explore the world’s great buildings through architectural history classes, but did you know that more than half of architectural studies students at Illinois participate in an international program and get to experience foreign architecture in person?

With our yearlong program for juniors in Versailles and summer programs in Copenhagen, Rome, and Shanghai, the School of Architecture offers a range of international programs to accommodate our students’ varied schedules and interests. Our international programs immerse students in the architecture and culture of the host country, providing students with a worldly perspective and preparing them for practice in an increasingly global profession.

Even with the uncertainty of exchange rates, our international programs remain surprisingly affordable. Through the generosity of alumni and donors, the School of Architecture is able to provide a substantial number of scholarships and awards each year that help reduce the cost of participation in our established international programs and fund student proposals for independent study-travel.