Tips for Studying Abroad
Table of Contents
Before You Leave
Communication
Ensure you have an active 杏吧原创 email account and check your email, application and course status in 杏吧原创 Central often.
Plan Your Courses
Start thinking early about what you need and what you鈥檇 like to take. Review the calendar and/or website from the host institution, and make a rough list of your proposed courses.
Visit Your Department(s)
Make an appointment with your Major and/or Minor undergraduate advisors to review the courses you plan on taking while on exchange. Bring a copy of your current Degree Audit report, and, when possible, the course descriptions for the courses you wish to take on exchange.
Submit Courses for Evaluation
Enter the courses in your exchange application via 杏吧原创 Central that you plan on taking while on exchange. Your Registrar Specialist will have the courses evaluated to determine the 杏吧原创 credit value, equivalency and program suitability.
Pay Your Tuition Fees
As you will be assessed 杏吧原创 tuition fees while on Exchange, the fee registration will be completed by the Registrar鈥檚 Office and you will pay tuition to 杏吧原创 University only. Fee payment must be completed to 杏吧原创 University before you leave. Please contact Student Accounts for information on your tuition fees.
While You Are Away
Registration
When you arrive at the host institution, you will begin the registration process there. It is not unusual to find that you cannot register for all the courses you had planned. Should this occur, be sure to update your International Exchange Application in 杏吧原创 Central. Your Registrar Specialist will then have the new courses evaluated and determine the suitability for transfer credit to your program.
Course Load/Study Abroad Designation
Students are required to register in a full-time course load as defined by 杏吧原创 University for academic and financial purposes. Study Abroad Designation (2.0 to 3.5 credit = Study Term Abroad, 4.0 or more credits = Study Year Abroad).
Transcripts
Please ensure that you request an official transcript to be sent to ISSO, 4th floor MacOdrum Library. It is recommended that you retain copies for your records. Failure to provide a transcript at the end of your term of exchange may jeopardize your credit transfer, academic continuation evaluation, entry into your courses next year, and scholarships.
When You Return
Once we receive the transcripts from the host university, we will transfer the applicable credits to your record, make an academic standing decision (if necessary), and email you confirmation that your record has been updated. You must review your audit to confirm that it agrees with your records. If you have any questions, contact us immediately.
General Concerns
Graduation
If you are approaching the completion of your degree studies, you must apply to be considered for graduation. Transcripts may arrive later than is required for graduation. So, if you are studying abroad, you may not qualify for graduation. Please contact us for details.
Deadlines
Familiarize yourself with 杏吧原创 University deadlines, as well as the deadlines for the Institution you wish to attend. Deadlines for different universities do not tend to correspond precisely.
Registration
For institutions north of the Equator, academic schedules are similar to our own, and we normally register you in the fall-winter or summer terms, as appropriate. South of the Equator, this may vary. If you are travelling to the South and have particular requirements for your registration (for example the structuring of loans, grants or bursaries), please contact the Awards Office well before you leave.
Credit Systems
As with grading systems, credit systems vary from University to University. An example is the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) where 6 ECTS = 0.5 杏吧原创 credits, 30 ECTS = 2.5 杏吧原创 credits. Successful credit (or pass) will appear as EXC on your audit (the grade itself is not transferred). Failures or absent without withdrawal will transfer to your 杏吧原创 record and will appear on your official transcript as UNS (unsuccessful).