Introducing new summer study abroad program for engineering and science students

For students looking to combine coursework with cultural immersion, summer study abroad programs provide an excellent opportunity to take their travels and academics to the next level. The most recent addition is an opportunity for engineering and science students in the heart of the Himalayas.

The Nepal Summer Study Abroad program is a five-week course that will take students to Kathmandu, the vibrant capital of Nepal, from May 19 to June 19, 2025. Led by Notre Dame College of Engineering Professor Peter Burns, the program will focus on sustainability and energy systems.

“Nepal offers tremendous natural beauty and a diverse range of cultures and traditions that are very different from the US or elsewhere in the Western world,” Burns shares. Nepal is also one of the poorest countries in the world—residents only use 2% of what an average American consumes.

“For students to understand the breadth of challenges and opportunities embodied in a hypothetical ‘Equitable Global Energy Transition,’ it is essential to form a worldview of energy usage today,” explains Burns. “Students participating in this program will begin to understand the vast energy poverty that exists in developing nations and the challenges embodied in achieving equitable access to sustainable energy.”

During their five weeks in Nepal, students will take a course titled “Sustainability and Resilience of Energy Systems and Supplies,” which counts as a technical elective in the Colleges of Engineering and Science and as a free elective. The course is also accepted for the Energy Studies Minor and is eligible for the Sustainability Minor (SUS1 attribute). The course will focus on the history, evolution, and current deployment of energy systems worldwide by examining a number of case studies. Through the course, students will learn about the challenges of sustainable energy in a global context both in the classroom and through a variety of activities and excursions in Kathmandu.

“Cultural outings will include the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley, and students will have opportunities to engage with locals and to enjoy immersion in the culture, shopping, and dining opportunities of the area,” Burns shares. Students will also visit micro hydro and micro solar grids in the area, as well as visit communities that have never had electricity and rely on burning wood or animal dung for cooking and heating. This will allow them to “learn about the great inequities in energy use in the world today,” says Burns.

This program provides an example of how summer programs can align with and enhance a student’s major. When students take part in this program, it’s more than a trip abroad or a break from the regular style of classes—it’s an opportunity to take their studies deeper and wider.

The Nepal program is not the only summer program specifically designed for engineering students. Notre Dame Kylemore will once again run its six-week engineering program next summer.

The Kylemore Summer: Engineering & Environmental Science program will run from June 28 to August 9, 2025. During this program, students will split their time between Kylemore and Galway City. In addition to the coursework and immersion in a cultural and professional development program, students will engage in extensive outdoor activities such as hill walking, hiking, sailing, and cycling—exploring all that the stunning landscape of the west of Ireland has to offer. Courses will be taught by Notre Dame College of Engineering Professor Brad Weldon.

Both the Nepal and Kylemore summer programs are open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors studying in the College of Science or the College of Engineering. Students outside of engineering and interested in the program are also encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply for summer study abroad is November 15.