FGX is a two-credit business elective (BADM 1260) taught during the spring semester with a week-long global experience during spring break or May term. FGX lets students get a jump start on study abroad, learn how international issues and cultural differences impact the business world, and take the first step in developing a global mindset.

Some FGX programs are limited to specific Leeds populations, while other FGX programs are open to all Leeds first-year students.

Program costs vary by location but generally range from $4,000-$5,000. Upon signing the FGX student agreement in October, a $500 non-refundable deposit will be placed on the CU student account. The remaining balance is due in the spring along with standard CU tuition. Partial scholarships ($1,000 - $2,000) may be awarded based on demonstrated financial need. Students may apply for scholarship consideration through the online FGX enrollment form.

For the spring of 2025, we are excited to offer enrollment for first-year students. More information on the enrollment process can be found on the FGX FAQs page. Tentative program locations are listed below.

Open to all Leeds first-year students:

  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • Dublin/Belfast, Ireland
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • Rome/Florence, Italy

Restricted to Leeds-special programs: 

  • Athens, Greece - Dean's Fellows
  • Delhi/Agra, India - Business & Engineering Women in Technology
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Leeds Honors Program
  • Istanbul, Turkey - Diverse Scholars Program
  • Tokyo, Japan - Leeds Scholars Program
  • Zurich, Switzerland - Pre-Business

IMPORTANT: U.S. passport processing times are experiencing delays with regular processing taking up to 13 weeks and even expedited processing taking up to 9 weeks. If you are considering going abroad in 2025 and need to renew or apply for a new passport, we recommend applying as soon as possible! More information can be found on the State Department's website.

Spring 2025 Program Locations


Program Affiliation: Dean's Fellows
Travel Dates: March 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Jennifer Bone

Program Affiliation: All Leeds First-Year Students 
Travel Dates: May 8-15, 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Kevin Schaub

Program Affiliation: All Leeds First-Year Students 
Travel Dates: TBD
Approximate Cost: TBD 
Faculty Leader: Marcia Kwaramba

Program Affiliation: Leeds Honors Program
Travel Dates: March 21-30, 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Scott Livengood

Theme: The Emerald Isle is Anything but Green
Program Affiliation: All Leeds First-Year Students 
Travel Dates: May 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Meghan Van Portfliet
Program Description: Ireland is a small, conveniently located island that has capitalized on international trade and foreign direct investment to catapult its economy to #2 on the IMF GDP per capita report. However, they rank in the bottom five for the UN sustainability index in several areas relating to the environment and are 8th out of 14 countries overall in the index. For these reasons and more, Ireland is a great place to study the challenges that businesses and governments face with balancing sustainability with attracting international trade.

Program Affiliation: All Leeds First-Year Students 
Travel Dates: March 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Julie Smith

Theme:  Understanding the intersection of technology and global business from a women’s perspective.
Program Affiliation:BEWiT Program (Business + Engineering Women in Technology) 
Travel Dates: March 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Ginnie Benson
Program Description: India is a vibrant and complex country – home to more than 1.4 billion people (the world’s most populous).  With robust economic development, a focus on technical education of the workforce, and a rich cultural history, we will visit New Delhi, India.  Exploring the role women play in the global tech economy, we will visit several tech giants in New Delhi, partner with a local women’s group, and take advantage of the ancient (and modern!) sites of New Delhi and Agra (of course, no trip to India is complete without a trip to the spectacular Taj Mahal).

Program Affiliation: Diverse Scholars Program
Travel Dates: May 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Elmer Ramos

Theme: The Eternal City and the City of Lilies: Exploring the Intersection of Food, Art, Culture, and Sport
Program Affiliation: All Leeds First-Year Students 
Travel Dates: May 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Michael Jennings, Michael.Jennings-2@Colorado.edu
Program Description: Come discover the heart of Italy as we enjoy the cultural, artistic, and architectural center of Western Civilization.  Who keeps a family-run gelato business operating for over 100 years?  What prompted leading fashion houses like Fendi, Tod’s, and Bulgari to help restore heritage buildings?  Where can you find the tastiest gastronomic delights that craft export-led business opportunities?  Who has a more passionate futbol fanbase – Lazio or AS Roma?  Can a family-run vineyard really win so many awards?  Is there a magical way to craft wood-oven-fired Italian pizza?  Are leather purses, bags, or jackets more stylish?  Which is more stunning – the Sistine Chapel, the Forum, the Duomo, or Michelangelo’s David?

When in Italy, do as the Romans – seek answers!

Theme: Understanding the complexity of global business through a US-Japan perspective
Program Affiliation: Leeds Scholars Program
Travel Dates: May 2025
Approximate Cost: Please contact Alyssa Radtke
Faculty Leader: Alyssa Radtke
Program Description: Japan is where old meets new. Tokyo, the world’s largest metropolitan area, is famous for its bustling intersections (the world’s busiest), bullet trains (the world’s first), densely packed skyscrapers (some of the world’s tallest), and sci-fi neon lights (among the world’s brightest). Yet this modern metropolis is also home to centuries-old family-run businesses, sacred shrines that date to the 7th century AD, and blossoming cherry trees older than the United States. It’s a fascinating place to study global business. As we explore this complex city, both ancient and modern, we’ll partner with a local university to examine business issues through a joint US-Japan perspective.

Cities: Zurich 
ThemeExploring the Swiss Banking, Chocolate, Tech, and Tourism Industries
Program Affiliation: Pre-Business Program
Travel Dates: May 2025
Approximate Cost: TBD
Faculty Leader: Vanessa Napier
Program Description: Founded by the Romans 2,000 years ago, Switzerland’s largest city is a global financial center. Quiet, quaint but intriguingly modern and increasingly hip, it’s also been chosen as one of the top ten “most livable” cities in the world. During this program, we will explore the finance and banking sectors, compare Switzerland and Colorado’s tourism, ski, and tech industries, and visit the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer.

 *Prices are initial estimates and are subject to change before the enrollment date. Program locations are also subject to change and will ultimately be confirmed by Leeds Global.


Visit the First-Year Experience Program page

To learn more about student experiences designed specifically for first-year students.

Visit the First-Year Experience Program