Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
University Info | Exchange Student Info
College of Engineering | School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems | College of Computing and Informatics
Fast Facts
- Drexel University was the first university to operate a fully wireless campus in 2000.
- Before Drexel’s sports teams were known as the Dragons, they were called “The Engineers.”
- Before Washington, DC was the United States capital, Philadelphia served as the nation’s capital.
- Philadelphia was the first world heritage city in the United States.
- Philadelphia’s Italian Market is the oldest outdoor market in the US.
Introduction
Drexel's 60-acre University City Main Campus is located in the University City district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about a 10-minute walk from Center City, Philadelphia's downtown neighborhood. Drexel enrolls approximately 15,000 undergraduates and 6,100 graduate and professional students. The university offers approximately 200 degree programs across 15 colleges and schools. Students can choose to join more than 300 cultural, media, social, service, and professional organizations.
Terms of Exchange
Study Level
- Undergraduate students: Accepted
- Graduate students: NOT Accepted
- Computer Science majors: Accepted
Eligibility Requirements
Drexel cannot accept any students interested in completing their final/senior projects.
English Proficiency Requirements
- TOEFL iBT minimum score – 80
- IELTS minimum score – 6.5
- TOEFL CBT minimum score – 214
- TOEFL PBT minimum score – 550
- Cambridge minimum score – 180
Students from universities in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore do not need to submit an English Language Proficiency test.
Study Period
Students may come for a combination of some or all of Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters.
Academic Calendar | Semester Dates (including exam period)
Drexel divides the school year into quarters (terms), not semesters.
Drexel has 4 quarters per year: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Exchange students may begin their stay at Drexel during Fall, Winter or Spring terms. There is no exchange program during the summer term.
In general, the terms follow this calendar below. Please check our academic calendar for exact dates.
- Fall term: Mid-September to Mid-December
- Winter term: Early-January to Mid-March
- Spring term: Late-March to Mid-June
Before you book your plane ticket, please make sure that you understand not only our academic calendar but when the residence halls open and close (if you plan on living in the residence halls) and when final exams take place. Do not book your plane ticket before the last day of final exams.
Academic Information
Disciplines Available
- Architectural Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Cyber Security & Information Tech
- Data Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering Technology
- Environmental Engineering
- Information Science & Technology
- Information Systems
- Materials Science & Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Restricted Disciplines and Courses
- Graduate courses are typically not available to Undergraduate exchange students.
- Students should be signing up for Face to Face courses (in person). Students should generally refrain from signing up for Hybrid or Online courses, unless advised otherwise. Too many Hybrid or Online courses will jeopardize your visa status. Classes are indicated as Face to Face, Hybrid, or Online in Drexel's Term Master Schedule under the "Instr Method" column (see Term Master Schedule information below under Course Searching Tools).
Course Contents
Course Descriptions | Schedule of Classes
Enrollment Requirements
- Students need to present proof of course pre-requisites where applicable
- Students must take 50% of courses in their assigned school or college
Workload per Term
You must take a minimum of 12 credits per term and may take no more than 20 credits. Most Drexel students take about 16 credits, 4-5 courses. We suggest that you select 10 courses that you would like to take for each term you are at Drexel. This means that you will not be disappointed if a class in cancelled or if a class is full
Additional Application Materials
Students nominated by IIE to Drexel will also be required to complete Drexel’s on-line application and submit supplementary materials.
- Official University Transcript
- Copy of Passport
- Copy of TOEFL score (if applicable)
- Preliminary Course Selections
- Inbound Exchange Application
Recommendation letter from a professor or academic staff:
Acceptance packets are sent via e-mail to the student and student's home advisor. J-1 Visa application materials will be sent to the student after acceptance.
Housing
On-campus accommodation is available to exchange students, although it is not guaranteed. Accepted students who wish to live on-campus housing should be sure to apply early to reserve their space. Please note: all rooms in Drexel residence halls are double rooms, meaning that you will be sharing your bedroom. If you choose to live on-campus, you will be directly billed by Drexel.
Students also have the option of living off-campus.
Estimated Cost of Living
Budget per Quarter
Exchange and Visiting Student: Cost and Budget information
Contact
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Office of Global Engagement | inboundexchange@drexel.edu
City Info
Drexel's hometown of Philadelphia is one of the nation's first and largest cities, and the birthplace of the nation. The city offers opportunities to learn, play, work, and engage in the arts, history, and culture. Philadelphia encompasses Fairmount Park, one of the largest urban park systems in the country; is home to hundreds of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct personality and attractions; and is close to the best that the area has to offer, from farmers markets in Lancaster County to snow sports in the Pocono Mountains to the boardwalks of the Jersey Shore. It's also conveniently located between New York City and Washington, D.C.
Drexel students can access Philadelphia's many attractions through region-specific academic courses (often including field trips), a comprehensive transportation network, and Drexel's three Philadelphia campuses. Students who live on campus participate in residence hall-sponsored excursions and daily activities that take them into the city's neighborhoods and communities. Off-campus students can take advantage of the housing and culinary offerings of our world-class city and the convenience of the University's location.
https://drexel.edu/life-at-drexel/living-in-philadelphia
