Introduction

Engineering has become more and more a matter of international collaboration. The University of Maryland, together with other engineering schools worldwide, has instituted a pioneering program. The basic aim of this program is to give foreign students the opportunity to participate in research activities in mechanical engineering laboratories at Maryland as interns. In general the time spent at the University of Maryland spans six months from March 1 to August 31 and from September 1 to February 28.

In a global economy, an engineer must be able to use foreign languages and be prepared to work in different cultural and economic work environments. This experience, learning about other people's structures of working and thinking, can readily be obtained outside university studies via an internship in a foreign country. 

What are the criteria for selecting the right place? 

• Work on engineering level. The intern will gain insight into technical areas that match the future requirements of a young engineer. This means being challenged up to the limits of ones knowledge and skills.
• Insight into industrial or semi-industrial work methods with active involvement and participation. The intern must learn to work under time constraints in order to be successful, and to be responsible for results.
• Qualified supervision. As a young engineer working in new fields, the intern needs competent supervisors who are available for mentoring.
• Learning and practicing a common foreign language. Good knowledge of the language of the host country is a basic requirement for working on a project abroad, to better meet the culture and understand the behavior and thinking of the people. It is also necessary for deepening personal relationships.

The Exchange Program

The exchange program integrates the intern fully into ongoing research projects, with the expectation of significant contributions. The intern will be challenged and provided with great opportunities to prove himself/herself.

The exchange program with the Department of Mechanical Engineering has existed since the fall semester, 1988. The program contributes to the preparation of students for the demands and requirements of modern economy. 

UMCP (University Maryland College Park) is one of the largest state universities in the USA, located in the state of Maryland, north-east of Washington, DC. About 35,000 students study a large variety of subjects on its campus. 

About 300 students have participated in this particular program to date. Some were able to use the internship to complete their Diploma or Master Theses, some fulfilled the practical training requirements of their home institutions, and some just gained valuable international experience. 

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers 10 to 15 placements every semester. More than 20 professors of the department participate in the program. 

Financing

Students receive payments that contribute to covering the basic cost of living during their stay in College Park. The common methods of financing include: 

• Payments from the project funds of the inviting professor of the Department of ME
• The intern must demonstrate that additional funds are available (from a personal bank account or other source)

Every exchange student will receive approximately $6,600.00 (USD) during his stay at University of Maryland. There are two different kinds of taxes in the US: Federal Tax and State Tax. Federal Tax is approximately $60 while the State Tax is $40. Without a Social Security Number (SSN) students have to pay both. With a SSN only the State Tax must be paid. It is possible to get a tax refund the following year.

The paychecks will spread over a period of six months. After receiving the first check you will receive a check every two weeks. Adjustments will be made on your last paycheck to reach the agreed upon amount. Students should come with enough savings for the first 4 weeks - this is the time needed to process the students into the University's personnel system or network. Also students should know that usually the first payment is less both taxes. From then, only the State Tax has to be paid (provided you have gotten your SSN). The money is sufficient to afford rent, food and even a car when resources are pooled with other students. 

Vacation Policy

The exchange student program is two-fold - work/study and experiencing the American Culture. The students who come to us through this program are here for 6 months, but are only technically working for 5 months total. During their stay over the 6 month period, they are entitled to 20 days to visit sites and engage in activities in the USA. The guidelines for handling this is to observe all the University Holidays during their stay and subtract those days from the 20. What is left are the days they are entitled to take during their visit using a common sense approach of flexibility, understanding and responsibility in coordination with their advisor.

University Holiday Schedule

The College of Engineering, UMCP

Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, has a rich and vibrant history. Established in 1894 at a time when the world was awakening to the need for technology advancement and the necessary role engineers would play, engineering has developed into a show-piece of the University of Maryland. As it was a century ago, the need for engineers to design and create the technology of the future is still strong. With its three-pronged mission of education, research and service, the Glenn L. Martin Institute of Technology and the A. James Clark School of Engineering continue to fulfill the goals set more than 100 years ago. Today, the Clark School is one of the largest and most respected engineering schools in the United States. It ranks seventeenth among engineering schools in US News and World Report ©, and among the top 10 in several categories such as total research funding and number of PhDs per faculty. 

The College of Engineering offers its own cooperative education program for students who want to earn the degree of Bachelor of Science after four years of study and the Master's degree after two additional years. The College of Engineering is divided into the following departments: 

Aerospace Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Fire Protection Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Materials and Nuclear Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMCP

Research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering falls into four main areas: experimental and computational fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, energy conversion and manufacturing, smart structures and advanced vehicle design. The Department maintains modern and well-equipped laboratories that support all of the research of the department.

The research centers in the Mechanical Engineering department are: 

Center for Environmental Energy Engineering (CEEE)
CALCE Electronic Packaging
Smart Materials and Structures
Center for Energetic Concepts Development
Smart Small Systems
Automotive Systems
Micro Engineering

Preferred qualifications of prospective interns

1. The students' interests and expectations are determined by the home institution and the demands of industry. Students who come to College Park work on a level that fits the demands of their latter profession. The work in which they are involved which they have to fulfill should be engineering-related and include the fields of planning and design, set-up, fabrication, and operation of experiments. They work on measurements and their interpretation. In addition, software development and verification can be included.

2. The interests and expectations of the professors of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The students must be proficient in English and have good grades in their studies. Students who have completed an apprenticeship are very welcome. Special qualifications that are essential for a project will be made known. It is helpful to indicate special courses and knowledge to place the student into the right project. Early contact with the participating and inviting professor and knowledge of the current projects make it possible to place the students to the best use of their knowledge and optimal benefit for the project.

Additional educational programs at UMCP

• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy

Paperwork and formalities for prospective interns

The application (in English) should be submitted at least six months before the intended period of stay and include:

• Application Letter
• Confirmation of bank deposit (other income €)
• Curriculum vitae (résumé), special qualifications
• Academic Transcripts
• Copies of the certificate of apprenticeship or other additional training courses
• Two letters of reference

Submit the application to:

Reinhard Radermacher
Professor & Director
Center for Environmental Energy Engineering
UMD/ME Department
4164 Glenn L. Martin Hall
College Park, MD 20742 USA
ATTN: Lori Puente
301.405.5439 Voice
301.405.2025 Fax
Email: raderm@umd.edu

Insurance

UMCP requires proof of the intern's health insurance! Get information from your insurance provider. Cost for additional insurance varies significantly between different insurance companies. It pays to ask for a quotation. 

VISA - On receipt of the DS-2019 form (formerly IAP66)

• DS-2019 (.pdf)
• Passport Photo (in color), Passport (valid at least one year)
• Evidence that the intern will leave the USA after the educational term (i.e., a letter of certification from the Study Abroad Office that studies have to be continued at the home institution).
• Confirmation that Visa application fees were paid or are included with application.

The processing time is about 3 months.

Upon arrival in the USA (UMCP)

• Attend IES orientation
• See Lori Puente, 4164 Glenn L. Martin Hall, CEEE Office
• Meet with Payroll Office of your Sponsor's Department

Relevant University of Maryland Web Pages

A. James Clark School of Engrg Undergrad Recruitment & Special Programs
Center for Environmental Energy Engineering (CEEE)
International Educations Services (IES)
Chemical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate Studies
Graduate Studies

Other usefel links

US State Department Exchange
Welcome Brochure