University of Mary Washington students who want to study abroad will have yet another country from which to choose.
![Representatives from China's Northwest University](https://www.umw.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2017/04/nwu-300x200.jpg)
The University recently signed an agreement to participate in a bilateral student exchange with China’s Northwest University. The exchange is similar to the program put in place last year with the University of Reading in Reading, England, where there are two UMW students studying this semester and from which UMW will host two of their students in the fall term.
UMW also has tuition-neutral exchange programs with institutions in Germany, Italy, France and Hong Kong. While studying in these programs, students pay their regular in-state or out-of-state tuition to UMW, while other associated fees, such as room and board, are paid directly to the international institution.
“Our new bilateral agreement with NWU adds value to our current list of international exchange and cooperation programs by fostering a unique opportunity for our students to embark on an educational and personal experience in Asia,” said Jose Sainz, associate professor of Spanish and director of UMW’s Center for International Education. “While at NWU our students will interact with and learn from people who are different from themselves and will also be able to participate in new and distinctive experiences beyond the UMW community.”
Northwest University, nestled in the old city of Xi’an, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Northwest China. With a student population of about 18,000, NWU offers a broad range of academic and cultural benefits for those ready to embark on an international adventure.
UMW and NWU will begin the exchange program in the 2017-18 academic year. For more information about current UMW exchange programs, visit here.