Frequently Asked Questions

No. While the IQP and MQP are required projects, all students have the option to complete both projects on campus, typically over three terms. 

Academically, completing a project off campus allows students to complete the IQP or MQP in one term, as opposed to three terms.  Otherwise, completing an off-campus project also offers many diverse project opportunities and project center locations and is a great talking point on your resume!

Completing an off-campus project requires a lot of work. Students are expected to work 40+ hours a week, akin to a full-time job. It combines challenges pertaining to both a “real-world” professional setting and an academic setting. Students completing projects in residential settings may also experience culture shock and challenges associated with a new and unfamiliar environment. 

Non-residential sites are project centers where students remain in WPI housing (or their own off-campus housing) for their off-campus project. Residential sites are project centers where housing is provided, and included in the program fee. 

Students completing their project at a non-residential GPP site are able to complete their IQP or MQP in one term, while also maintaining some of their on-campus commitments. Students should still consider the expectations of workload for project work, and should expect to adjust their other commitments accordingly. 

Students going to a residential project center are unable to participate in sports or extra-curricular activities during their project term. Students going to non-residential project centers are able to participate in sports or extra-curricular activities as timing permits, however your project work will be time-consuming and will be the priority. 

A safe and successful off-campus experience does not just occur—it requires careful planning and preparation. WPI is committed to the health, safety, and security of all students who participate in our programs. The best way to prepare for a safe off-campus experience is to become familiar with the project center and GPP Policies in advance. Students are required to read through the Site Specific Handbook, which they will receive before the start of the prep term. In addition, we recommend reviewing the following resources:

Health, Safety, and Security
U.S. Department of State
Centers for Disease Control

The GEO monitors these sources and more to assess health and safety at each Project Center. In addition, the GEO holds orientations with both advisors and students to prepare them for potential health and safety emergencies that arise on-site.

The Global Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of up to $5000 to defray the cost of on credit-bearing, off-campus project experience through the Global Projects Program. The scholarship will come in the form of a credit to your student account and will appear on your bill for the academic period in which you'll be conducting project work. Students do not need to apply for the scholarship as it is automatically added when program fees are added to student accounts.  

You can find more information about using your scholarships and financial aid under the Finances and Cost Estimates page the Off-Campus Projects Resources page. 

Project Advisors and Center Directors will reach out to students for their project preferences before the start of the prep term and will let everyone know their project placement at the start of the prep term. Students will then need to register for their project in eProjects, according to Advisors' instructions. 

ID2050 is a 1/3 unit course that is required of all students participating in an off-campus IQP. You will take this class with your project center cohort the term preceding your project.  The purpose of ID2050 is for students to learn the research skills they will need to complete their projects. As part of the course, teams complete a well-developed project proposal.

Your ID2050 instructor may or may not be your center’s director and/or one of your project advisors. This means that for some groups, the instructor may accompany teams to the project center, and in others, the instructor’s involvement ends after the end of the preparatory term.

ID2050 is scheduled for Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:20 PM

PQP is a 1/6 unit pre-qualifying project that is required of all students participating in an off-campus IQP. You will participate with your project team and your advisors. The specific structure of your PQP is highly dependent on your project advisers, and therefore your PQP experience may be different from those of students participating in other project centers. The main focus of this is the development of your research proposal.

The GEO will confirm your participation in the program and the Registrar will register students for ID2050. ID2050 instructors will walk students through enrolling for their PQP and IQP at the start of the prep term. 

• If you have contracted for WPI on-campus housing for when you are away, you are still financially responsible for fulfilling that contract. In other words, you may have to pay for housing in both places if you have already signed a contract with WPI Residential Services. 

Students can view estimated costs for all programs on eProjects. 

The Program Fee will be added to your regular WPI tuition bill and will be posted to your student account ~2-3 weeks prior to the start of the term. 

Yes. If you have contracted for WPI on-campus housing for when you are away, you are still financially responsible for fulfilling that contract. In other words, you may have to pay for housing in both places if you have already signed a contract with WPI Residential Services.

Preparation for your off-campus project will begin immediately following placement. All students must complete a GEO Pre-Departure Course on Canvas. Pre-travel information and learning modules are features in this course and students are required to complete and submit assignments as part of the preparatory process,. Certain international Project Centers may also have a language and culture course during the pre-prep term.

During the prep term (i.e., B-Term for C-Term projects), students will take an ID2050 course and PQP course. In addition, students going to residential project centers must attend an in-person Pre-Departure Orientation.

Students should NOT book travel until GEO confirms program dates. Dates will be confirmed in the Site-Specific Handbook approximately two terms prior to travel. Please note that students are responsible for booking their own travel to and from the project center and the dates provided correspond to the housing check-in and check-out dates. 

Friends and family can certainly visit, however they are encouraged to visit towards the end of the program. Visiting at the start of the program may hinder project work, group cohesion, and adjusting to your new location. Overnight guests, however, are not allowed in WPI off-campus housing. 

Students are required to arrive on or before the program start date and stay on-site until the program end date and final presentations are completed. If there are any extenuating circumstances, you may reach out to the GEO for special considerations.

If you are going to an international project center, you are encouraged to begin the passport application process as soon as you have confirmed your placement. You must have your passport in hand before the end of the pre-prep term, and even earlier for certain sites, to ensure a smooth visa process. 

A visa is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country. It is your responsibility to determine whether you will require a visa and to obtain your visa prior to traveling. The GEO will support the visa application process for students traveling on programs where U.S. citizens are required to have a visa. Students who are non-U.S. citizens participating in a program where U.S. citizens are not required to obtain a visa will want to contact the GEO for help facilitating the visa process. Students who require a visa to enter a country are encouraged to begin this process prior to the prep term; it can take up to 2 months to have a visa processed and a delay will mean a late arrival that can impact the success of your project and overall experience.

Some Project Centers may require or encourage specific immunizations in order to travel. Students should visit the Centers for Disease Control Website, WPI Health Services, or a local travel clinic with any questions. Some, but not all, travel immunizations may be obtained at WPI Health Services.

Yes, all students traveling as part of the Global Projects Program are covered under WPI's international travel medical insurance plan through International SOS: International Travel Resources and Assistance. 

Housing will vary by site. The type of housing and a short description can be found on the program page for each Project Center in eProjects. More detailed information will be available in the Site-Specific Handbook.

WPI policy requires all students to be contactable while they are off-campus. Some students may choose to purchase an international phone plan for their U.S. phone while others may choose to purchase and use a local cell phone with a local number on site. Site-specific recommendations for communication onsite will be in the Handbook. 

While housing will be included in the Program Fee, there will be many additional costs you should expect to pay out of pocket once on site, such as food, travel expenses, souvenirs, and project incidentals. Students are not required to open a foreign bank account, but should carry at least one debit and one credit card with them when going abroad. It is very important to contact your bank to inform them of your travel plans to avoid the possibility of your card being locked and declined while you are away. Most students use an ATM to withdraw local currency on-site. As foreign ATM fees are usually a flat fee, it is suggested to withdraw larger sums of money, to allow for fewer transactions, and to immediately ensure any excess cash is locked away in your housing. More details and suggestions will be discussed in the Pre-Departure Orientation and Going Global Handbook.  

Academic concerns, including contesting your final grade, are handled by the Dean of the Global School.