Snapshot
Dates
| Term | Application Deadline | Confirmation Deadline | Program Start | Program End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May Session 2027 | February 1, 2027 | February 14, 2027 | Tentative - May 9, 2027 | Tentative - May 30, 2027 |
About the Program
Program Highlights
- Examine Australia’s dynamic economy as a living classroom for international business, gaining firsthand insight into how culture, public policy, legal systems, and market structures influence business strategy and organizational decision-making
- Visit Australian companies and multinational firms to observe how organizations manage competition, innovation, and cross-border operations in practice. These experiences connect core business concepts to real organizational settings
- Engage with Australian business students, executives, and invited experts through discussions and presentations that deepen our understanding of leadership, entrepreneurship, and contemporary global business challenges
- Analyze major global developments—including artificial intelligence, automation, climate change, migration, inequality, and geopolitical change—and consider how these forces are shaping Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region
- Develop intercultural competence by experiencing Australia’s social environment, institutions, and daily life firsthand
- Connect business study with politics, history, technology, and society through lectures, excursions, and field experiences, demonstrating the interdisciplinary perspective required for effective management in a global economy
- Return with more than academic credit: we gain international experience, professional perspective, and a stronger understanding of how organizations operate and compete in an increasingly interconnected world
Academics
Prerequisites
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- Students may participate in study abroad anytime after freshman year (or completing 24 college credits post-completion of high school). Note: students may apply to a program during freshman year but must have completed freshman year in good standing to participate in the program.
International Business Down Under (ILSA 3211), 3 credits
We analyze Australia as a case study in international business, examining how economic policy, legal institutions, culture, and geography shape organizational strategy and market behavior. Through company visits, guest lectures, and field experiences, we connect classroom concepts to real business practices within Australia’s regional and global economy. We also explore major contemporary issues such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, trade relations, demographic change, and technological disruption, considering how these forces affect organizations and societies.
Throughout the program, we complete reflective and collaborative assignments that compare business environments in Australia and the United States while strengthening critical thinking and cross-cultural awareness. We are expected to participate actively in discussions, site visits, and professional interactions, representing our university with maturity, curiosity, and respect. By the end of the course, we gain academic credit, international experience, and valuable professional skills in communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving. Most importantly, we return with a deeper understanding of how organizations compete and collaborate in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
This course is approved to count for:
- Upper-division elective for all LSBE students
- Liberal Education: Global Perspectives Category
Cost Information
Use this cost estimate to help calculate expenses and budget for your study abroad program. This includes all program fees billed to your UMD student account and necessary out-of-pocket expenses. Please note that cost estimates and fees may change depending on international economic factors. We will post final fees once enrollments, inflation, and exchange rates are determined in order to provide the most accurate pricing. We strive to post final fees by October 1 for Winter and Spring programs, March 1 for May/Summer programs, and May 1 for Fall and Academic Year programs. This cost does not include the $50 application fee.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Scholarships are available!
- Financial aid applies! Share the cost estimate with One Stop Student Services to understand how your financial aid can contribute to your study abroad program.
- Note: Credits taken on study abroad programs cannot be used toward the Bulldog Bundle.
Travel Documents
Get a passport right on campus! Processing times vary, but it can take several weeks to a few months to receive one. If you already have a passport, make sure its expiration date goes at least 6 months beyond the end date of your program so it's valid the entire time you're abroad.
Contact
Program Instructors
Seung Lee, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Management Information Systems in LSBE. His research has been published in several international journals as well as in the proceedings of national and international conferences. Early 1986, he briefly worked for Hyundai Motors, Seoul, South Korea. Right after that, he joined Lucky Securities Inc. (then a subsidiary of LG), Seoul, South Korea and worked as an investment analyst for two years. Between 1988 and 1990, he studied at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, as well as at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. He started his academic career in 1997 at Hofstra University, New York. He joined UMD in 1999. He has been instrumental in encouraging and facilitating study abroad within the Labovitz School. During 2001, he participated as a faculty member in UMD’s course internationalization program. As part of the program he, along with other faculty members, travelled Sweden for 10 days. He was the primary leader of the "International Business Down Under" program for five consecutive years from 2015 to 2019. He was not able to lead the program in the years 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and will not be able to lead the program in 2022 for the aforementioned reason.
UMD Labovitz School of Business & Economics
Dept. of Management Information Systems
LSBE 335T
218-726-7556
[email protected]
Study Abroad Instructor-Led Program Coordinator
Apply
Before you click on the "Start my application" button below, make sure you know how to identify the correct program by searching for the:
- Program Name: UMD - Instructor-Led: International Business Down Under - May Session;
and the - Term (e.g. May Session 2027)
A $50 non-refundable application fee will be billed to your One Stop account upon submission of an application.
After you apply
- After approximately 20 minutes, you will see checklist items for you to complete.
- All application checklist items need to be submitted by the application deadline which is noted near the top of the page.
- Your UMD Program Contact will review your application materials.
- You must complete the Confirmation of Participation form to confirm your participation.
- Once we receive your confirmation, your UMD account will be billed a confirmation deposit.
If you decide you cannot participate, you must log in to the online application system and submit the "Cancellation Request form."
Program health and safety information
is available at GO SAFE.
