Take your engineering exploration further with study abroad programs in the Netherlands, Mexico
May 28, 2026
Students at the Herff College of Engineering are making an impact on an ever-changing world. With two new study abroad programs available for students, that’s never been truer.
In March, the University of Memphis Center for International Education Services (CIES) finalized partnerships with the University of Twente in the Netherlands and the Universidad Anahuac Mayab in Mexico, offering two new destinations for Herff College of Engineering students.
Students in all engineering fields are welcome to participate in the semester-long programs, but the University of Twente, a STEM-focused technical school, offers unique opportunities for civil engineering students interested in water projects, according to University of Memphis Education Abroad Advisor Aaron Bellamy.
“The Dutch, specifically, are well known for water engineering projects,” Bellamy said. “They have a history of building these massive dikes and dams around the country to protect the country from flooding.”
The program also allows more tech-oriented engineers to benefit from partnerships with some of the world's largest tech companies.
“They have a lot of big tech companies, specifically a company that makes the machines that make semiconductors. They’re the only country that does that. So, if you’re specifically interested in the semiconductor industry, that would maybe be a country that you would want to travel to,” Bellamy said.
The University of Twente offers programs in industrial engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering, and offers “American-style” dorms for University of Memphis study abroad students. All of those courses are taught in English and 93 percent of the population speaks English, though Dutch is the native language.
“There is not a language barrier,” Bellamy said. “In terms of on-the-ground support in the country, our partner universities have staff there to support them and those staff members typically know English and are able to give the students on-site orientation to help initially get them acquainted with the location.”
All study abroad programs at the Universidad Anahuac Mayab are also offered in English. The Universidad Anahuac Mayab is located in Merida, Mexico, an area considered a Level 1 Travel Advisory, the safest such ranking the United States Government gives. The University of Memphis enters into study abroad partnerships only with institutions in areas considered Level 1 or Level 2 and both universities offer “buddy programs” to help students safely settle into their environments.
A more traditional university, the Universidad Anahuac Mayab, offers programs in a variety of fields, including environmental engineering, biomedical engineering, industrial engineering, civil engineering and computer engineering.
With proper academic planning, University of Memphis students can take those courses without delaying their academic journey.
“If you plan ahead, it shouldn’t impact your degree at all. You should still be able to finish your degree on time by doing education abroad,” Bellamy said.
And with proper planning, students could enjoy their stays at little or no cost. Students retain any financial aid they already have, can receive between $2,000 and $4,000 in scholarships through the CIES and take advantage of an additional $1,000 through a supplemental STEM award. Pell Grant recipients can also apply for the Gilman Scholarship, offered through the United States government and allowing up to $5,000.
Study abroad application fees cost $350 and students pay $100 per month for universal health insurance. Bellamy said an entire semester usually costs between $9,000 and $12,000.
“If you happen to get all of that funding, that might be $3,000 left over, and that doesn’t even include any financial aid students may be expecting,” Bellamy said.
For that price, students can add a unique experience to their resume and become part of just the 2-3 percent of American students who study abroad.
The University of Memphis also recently formed an engineering study abroad partnership with New Zealand, and Herff students can take advantage of the university’s partnerships in Germany, South Korea, and the Czech Republic as well.
Bellamy said a partnership with Nanomaterials in India is expected in 2027 or 2028 and that, no matter where Herff students go, University of Memphis study abroad advisors are only a phone call or email away.