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Frequently Asked Questions
How
many UC students study abroad and what kind of programs do they choose? ·
Approximately
25% of Ursinus students study abroad by the time they graduate. Contrary to the
national trend, however, most Ursinus students immerse themselves for a full
semester rather than a short 3 to 6 week stint. Most of our students study in
Western Europe and English-speaking countries, however, more and more students
are studying in non-traditional destinations including Latin America, Africa
and Asia. Many students, especially those spending a semester abroad, undertake
formal internships or participate in service learning programs to which they
dedicate 16 or more hours per week to working in organizations in the public or
private sector. Ursinus students have worked abroad in the British Parliament,
Spanish schools, NGOs in Europe and Africa, agencies and companies in
Australia, etc. Who
can participate in study abroad and when is the best time to go? ·
All students must be in good
academic and disciplinary standing and meet the minimum program requirements in
addition to Ursinus eligibility criteria. ·
Under most circumstances, the junior
year is the best time to study abroad for a semester or academic year. ·
Sophomores may be considered for
semester study abroad only in exceptional cases. ·
Seniors are only allowed to study
abroad during their penultimate semester. ·
First year students are not allowed
to study abroad. Is
a minimum GPA required? ·
Since this is a competitive program
and the total number of students allowed to study abroad during the academic
year is limited, preference will be given to students with 3.0 or higher GPA. What
if I have a disability and need accommodations? ·
Students with disabilities can and
do study abroad. If you have a medical condition, physical or learning
disabilities, you should contact the ADA officer on campus, Yuriko Beaman,
Assistant Director in the Center for Academic Support, to document your disability.
You should also contact your preferred study abroad program to learn how and to
what extent it can accommodate your needs. Do
I need to know a foreign language to study abroad? ·
Not necessarily. Although you can
certainly gain more access to a foreign culture through the target language,
there are programs in non-English speaking countries that do not require
foreign language proficiency and many programs that offer classes conducted in
English. In order to maximize the opportunity, however, if you do choose an
English-language program in a foreign language country, you must take a class
in the local language. Can
I study abroad if I haven’t declared a major yet? · No. We expect your study abroad to build upon what you have studied at Ursinus. You need to declare and complete some work in the major and/or another academic area in order to advance it through study abroad and continue developing when you return to campus.
Will
I graduate on time if I study abroad? ·
Yes. Our application process is
designed to ensure that your study abroad experience will allow you to remain
on track for graduation. That is one reason we insist that you select a program
that will advance your major or other area of demonstrated academic interest.
Students on semester and academic year programs take a full load of academic
coursework that fulfills degree requirements at UC. Occasionally students who
are in an especially rigorous academic major or program find it helpful to take
one course in the summer in order to stay on track. Most, however, are able to
earn all the credits they need to graduate after 8 semesters, including study
abroad. The earlier you start planning your study abroad experience, the
better. Who can I talk to for advice? ·
You should schedule an appointment
with your academic advisor and a
study abroad advisor to discuss your options. ·
You can also contact our student
assistants and our study abroad peer advisors. How
much does study abroad cost? ·
Semester/Academic Year Study Abroad: Regardless of their program of choice, all semester or
academic year study abroad students pay UC tuition, technology fee and room
(plus board if provided by the program abroad), less any financial aid and/or
funding award, directly to UC. o
The College bills each student as
usual and disburses payment to the study abroad program on the student’s
behalf. o
Students pay for their own
insurance, airfare, books and supplies, personal expenses, and optional travel
overseas. ·
Short Term (Summer or Winter Interim) Study Abroad: Since students do not attend UC during the interim period
and do not receive financial aid for interim study, they bear the entire
financial burden of interim study abroad programs. What
types of living accommodations and meal plans are available? ·
Different programs offer different
housing options (ex. residence halls with or without meal plans, self-catered
apartments, or homestays with most or some meals). The particular housing
options available to you will depend on the program. How will I be charged for meals for semester/academic year study abroad? ·
If your program does not provide any
meals or a meal plan, your Ursinus bill will include charges for tuition,
technology fee and half of the usual
semester room and board fee. · If your program provides fewer than 21 meals per week, your Ursinus bill will be prorated to reflect only those meals that are included. You will pay out of pocket for the meals not provided. In order to budget properly, consult your program for estimates for meals not included.
How
will I get credit for the classes I take abroad? In
order to be approved for and receive academic credit for study abroad, all
participants must apply to the College by submitting the completed
Semester/Academic Year Study Abroad Application or Short Term Application form before embarking on study abroad. ·
The study abroad application
includes a section in which students list the courses they plan to take abroad.
Courses are approved in one of two ways: o
Your academic advisor must sign off on your application indicating his
or her approval of the courses you wish to count for major credit (as “000” general or “free” credit in the major, a
specific distribution requirement within the major, or as a specific course
listed in the major department). Please note that individual departments may at
their discretion require additional work in order to accept a course taken
abroad toward the major. Foreign language majors must contact the chair of
Modern Languages directly in order to get departmental approval for the
proposed study abroad program to count toward the major requirement. o
The Assistant Dean for International Studies approves courses in
fulfillment of general elective or core requirement credit. If in doubt
about whether a course abroad will count for a core requirement, contact
Melissa Hardin.
Remember that you must take at least one course that allows you to explore the
host culture (or a subgroup thereof) in depth. It may be taken in any field and
can also satisfy a “core” requirement. o
Be
sure to notify your advisor and the Assistant Dean for International Studies
about any changes in your course schedule so the new courses can be approved. ·
Transfer credit is granted for the
same number of credits assigned by the abroad program (i.e. a 3.0 credit course
taken abroad yields 3.0 transfer credits). Will
my study abroad grades affect my UC GPA? ·
All courses taken abroad must be
taken for a letter grade. Courses taken Pass/Fail will not be accepted for
credit. You must earn a “C” or higher in order to gain credit. ·
Students who participate in
Faculty-led programs receive Ursinus College credit and their grades factor
into their cumulative UC GPA. ·
Students who participate in
non-Faculty-led programs will receive transfer credits but their grades do not
factor into their Ursinus GPA. The only exception to this rule is Ursinus
sister school Tohoku Gakuin University (TGU). Students who attend TGU remain
enrolled at Ursinus and receive Ursinus credit.
Their grades factor into their Ursinus GPA. How many credits/classes do I need to take while abroad? ·
Semester/academic year programs: Students take a normal course load
abroad (i.e. 15-17 credit hours per semester). o
You
may request to take fewer than 15 credits under one or both of the following
circumstances: § You are pursuing an internship in addition to coursework. § You are significantly ahead on the number
of credits needed for graduation. o
If
you earn fewer than 12 transfer credits in a semester abroad, you risk losing
your eligibility for financial aid. ·
Short term programs:
Transfer credits for short term programs abroad are determined based on the U.S.
credit equivalent recommended by the study abroad program, the U.S. School of
Record transcript, and/or the number of contact hours as reported by the study
abroad program. If in doubt about the number of credits a particular course is
worth, contact Melissa Hardin. I
want to study abroad but my parents have concerns. How can I persuade them? Direct your parents to our website. On our website they can find information about the cost of studying abroad, academic procedures and requirements, health, safety and more. Your parents can also contact a Center for International Programs staff member to discuss specific concerns. When
should I start planning to study abroad?
The
earlier you start planning your study abroad experience, the better. You need
time to make sure that all your degree requirements are in order and that
you’ve looked at all the options most appropriate for you.
How do I get started? Planning ahead is an important first step. You should: § The Center for
International Programs will use your questionnaire to identify the study abroad
programs that best meet your needs and background. You will receive an email
with a list of 2-6 programs to explore further. ·
Spend
some time learning about each program recommended by the CIP. o
Visit
the CIP website to find links to each recommended study abroad program website
(ex. CIEE, IFSA-Butler, etc.). o
Review
each program website (ex. CIEE in Cape Town, South Africa Service Learning,
etc.) to learn about its course offerings, application procedures and
deadlines, housing and meal options, etc. ·
Email
abroad@ursinus.edu to indicate which
program you plan to pursue. Be sure to consult the Policies and Procedures page
first since it addresses many common questions! How
will study abroad help me? Many
students describe study abroad as a life-changing experience. Here are just
some of the benefits of studying abroad:
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