Study Architecture abroad as a freemover
You don't need an exchange agreement to study Architecture overseas. As a freemover you apply to a university abroad directly. Here are the 34 universities across 21 countries that offer Architecture and accept freemover / visiting students.
Aalto University
Espoo, Finland
Finnish public university (technology, business, arts). Visiting students free for EU/EEA; confirm free-mover route.
American University in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt
Direct fee-paying study-abroad students; all courses taught in English. Fall or Spring semester.
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Fee-paying Visiting / Non-Degree students; per-credit tuition, all courses in English.
American University of Sharjah
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Fee-paying Visiting Students (non-agreement); English-taught, ABET/AACSB/NAAB accredited.
Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok, Thailand
Explicit fee-paying visiting / free-mover programme; approx. USD 2,000-4,200 per semester. English-taught courses available.
Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Accepts fee-paying free movers (pay tuition to TU/e); confirm the amount for your nationality.
Hanyang University
Seoul, South Korea
Direct Visiting (Free Mover) programme; 1,000+ courses in English. Intakes in March & September.
McGill University
Montreal, Canada
Accepts fee-paying visiting / special students (non-exchange); international tuition rates apply.
Monash University
Melbourne, Australia
Fee-paying Study Abroad (non-exchange); approx. AUD 13,000 per semester.
National Cheng Kung University
Tainan, Taiwan
Visiting / non-degree students accepted (fee-paying); Taiwanese public tuition ~USD 1,500-3,000 per semester.
National University of Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Fee-paying non-graduating (visiting) students accepted; exchange places are fee-waived.
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Santiago, Chile
Fee-paying direct enrollment for visiting students. Mostly Spanish-taught; ~B2 Spanish required even for English courses.
Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru
Lima, Peru
Fee-paying visiting students via the Special Studies School; approx. PEN 930 (~USD 290) per credit. Mostly Spanish-taught.
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, Australia
Fee-paying Study Abroad; pay QUT directly (approx. AUD 10,000 per semester).
RMIT University
Melbourne, Australia
Fee-paying Study Abroad; pay tuition directly to RMIT.
Tecnologico de Monterrey
Monterrey, Mexico
'Study in Mexico' fee-paying visiting programme; many courses in English (up to ~40% at some campuses).
UNSW Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Fee-paying Study Abroad (non-exchange); tuition paid directly to UNSW.
University College Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Fee-paying Study Abroad programme for visiting students; one trimester or a full year.
University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Study Abroad (fee-paying) programme; flat semester fee covering up to four courses.
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada
Non-degree visiting students admitted for a session; international tuition rates apply.
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Semester Study Abroad (fee-paying); approx. USD 8,310 per semester. Requires a solid B average.
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Fee-paying Study Abroad (non-exchange); half the annual overseas fee per semester. ~B average required.
University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Fee-paying Visiting Programme (non-exchange) - pay full tuition.
University of Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
Free mover (visiting) students accepted across faculties; application + matriculation fee. Some courses in English.
University of Manchester
Manchester, United Kingdom
Fee-paying Study Abroad programme; tuition paid directly to Manchester.
University of Porto
Porto, Portugal
Free mover (visiting) students accepted outside exchange agreements; modest Portuguese fees. Some courses in English.
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Study-abroad / semester students pay international tuition (double the local rate plus levy).
University of Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Fee-paying Study Abroad (non-exchange); flat semester tuition paid directly to UQ.
University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Fee-paying Study Abroad (non-exchange) - pay tuition directly to Sydney.
University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Visiting Student Programme; enrol on a letter of permission and pay international fees.
University of Western Australia
Perth, Australia
Study Abroad (fee-paying) students pay tuition directly to UWA.
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Occasional Study Abroad (fee-paying); approx. ZAR 54,820 per semester. Up to four courses (excludes Health Sciences).
Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand
Study Abroad (fee-paying); flat NZD ~13,500 per semester. No mechanical engineering (software/design focus).
Waseda University
Tokyo, Japan
Fee-paying study abroad open to students from non-partner institutions; English-taught tracks (SILS).
What is a freemover?
A freemover is a student who studies abroad by applying to a university directly, on their own — no exchange agreement or Erasmus spot required. You pay the host university directly and transfer the credits home. It is the route most students never hear about.