Q: Why should I study abroad?
A: Studying abroad is an experience of a life time! It enables students to gain experience and insights into another culture, and see the world from a different perspective. Not to mention, many students have an opportunity to learn another language. Study abroad is a unique opportunity and as a student this may be the best chance in one’s life to go abroad. Additionally, employers highly value cross cultural experience and foreign language proficiency in prospective employees. An international experience is sure to enhance any resume. Spending time abroad does require a considerable commitment – academically, emotionally, and financially. But the return on the investment is well worth it!
Q: Who can study abroad?
A: Any full time TU undergraduate or graduate student currently in good academic standing with a clear disciplinary and academic honesty record, who has studied at TU for at least two (2) semesters, can apply. Students must have successfully completed the previous semester (prior to going abroad) at TU as a full time student. TU requires a 2.75 minimum GPA for undergraduate students and a 3.0 minimum GPA for graduate students at the time of application. Students from Majors and Minors in all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Note: International students should plan to speak with the staff in the International Student Services office as well as the CGE when planning to study abroad. International students will have specific issues regarding their visas and immigration status that they will need to consider. TU employees are not eligible to participate in TU’s study abroad programs.
Q: Where can I go?
A: TU is affiliated with a number of study abroad providers and maintains its own reciprocal exchange agreements. These agreements provide TU students with study abroad opportunities in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North & South America. The University of Tulsa does approve study in countries or regions of the world for which Travel Warnings have been issued by the U.S. Department of State. Students are highly encouraged to investigate options carefully to determine which programs will suit personal interests and are appropriate for academic credit. By defining goals, students have a better chance of finding a program that best fits their needs.
Q: How long can I study abroad?
A: Students can study abroad for a maximum of one full academic year or two semesters, consecutively or not plus one summer term OR a total of 3 summer terms. Some students choose to study a semester in one country and the next semester in another country.
Q: Do I need to speak a foreign language?
A: No, not necessarily. However, the CGE highly encourages student to take advantage of the unique opportunity to learn a new language or build upon their current foreign language skills by being fully immersed in a language and culture abroad. Many approved programs do offer courses taught in English across disciplines. There are numerous program options allowing students to take courses in English while at the same time taking courses taught in the host language as well. Finally, there is always the option of studying abroad in an English speaking country such as Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Singapore. However, do keep in mind that some programs will require varying levels of foreign language skills before acceptance and TU has specific language requirements for language majors and minors so it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with these policies as you are exploring options.
Q: How much will studying abroad cost?
A: TU is committed to making study abroad affordable to its students. A semester abroad will cost approximately the same as a regular semester on campus. However, keep in mind that the cost of attending a program abroad will vary from student to student depending upon personal spending habits, current rate of currency exchange in the host country as well as program type, length and distance to program site. For all TU approved programs, students pay regular TU tuition, room, and board as they normally would on campus which is then applied to the cost of attending the foreign university or host program. Students are responsible for the cost of application fees, program confirmation & housing deposits, airfare to/from the host destination, local transportation, entertainment, passport expenses, visas (if required), travel related to obtaining a visa (if necessary), optional excursions, optional cultural travel, personal expenses and other program related costs. There is a non-refundable Study Abroad Fee payable to The University of Tulsa required at the time of application for all students. Federal Financial Aid and TU Institutional Scholarships can be used on any approved TU study abroad program.
Q: Can I use my Financial Aid and/or TU scholarships to study abroad?
A: Yes, all Federal Financial Aid as well as academic and institutional scholarships are portable on approved TU study abroad programs. It is necessary to keep the Financial Aid Office up-to-date on your decision to go abroad so appropriate paperwork can be completed in a timely manner. If necessary, qualified students and their parents can take out additional loans to help offset the costs of studying abroad. See the Financial Aid Office directly for further details.
Additionally, a number of the program providers offer their own scholarships for which students can apply directly and are often awarded. There are scholarships available exclusively for study abroad programs offered by various educational and governmental sources. Certain qualifications and considerations are required, though, students can apply directly for: Gilman, NSEP, Freeman-Asia, Bridging Japan, Rotary International, DAAD to name just a few. See the CGE website for further details. Both need-based and merit-based study abroad scholarships can range between $500/semester up to $10,000/year depending on the program. It is advised that students check individual application deadlines as they often come much earlier than program application deadlines. The TU Center for Global Education does offer some travel scholarships to selected destinations every semester.
Q: Can I go abroad in summer; what is the cost?
A: The summer months provide an ideal time for students to go abroad who otherwise may not be able to go during the year due to work or academic schedules. During summer, most TU consortia and affiliate programs offer similar options for study abroad but on a short term basis. Students pay TU tuition for the number of credits they wish to take (normally 3 - 6) which is applied to the program fee. As with semester programs, students are responsible to pay for application fees, their own airfare to/from the host program as well as confirmation and housing deposits, local transportation, option excursions, entertainment, passport expenses, visas (if required), travel related to obtaining a visa (if necessary), personal & additional travel expenses.
Q: How many classes do I have to take?
A: Students must enroll in at least a minimum of 12 TU equivalent credit hours per semester and have their College’s approval for coursework taken abroad. The maximum number of credit hours students can enroll in abroad is 15 TU equivalent credit hours. Students are required to be enrolled full time as determined by the host university or program provider during the period of study abroad. The number of actual courses taken will vary according to the program. Graduate students require an enrollment minimum of 9 credit hours per semester, or equivalent, or an approved mix of coursework and research to be determined and approved by the Graduate College. Students can earn up to six hours of credit during the summer.
Q: What about credit for courses taken abroad?
A: Pending students’ College approval for coursework taken abroad, TU allows for the transfer of credit from its approved study abroad programs. In consultation with their College advisors, students can take a combination of courses towards Major, Minor, Block or Elective credit. Students must be enrolled full time according to the host school or program which is generally 12 credit hours for undergraduates and 9 credit hours for graduate students per semester.
Q: How will my grades transfer to TU?
A: Coursework taken abroad can transfer back to the students’ permanent TU record as well as fulfill Major, Minor, Block and Elective credits to satisfy graduation requirements, pending students’ College approval. Students have two options for transferring grades back to TU, in consultation with their academic advisors: (1) students take courses for the actual grade from the host school which will affect the overall TU GPA; or (2) students take courses for the actual grade from the host school, however, grades attained abroad will transfer back as credit hours only and will be recorded on the TU transcript as a “P” (Pass) or an “N” (No Credit). Students must attain at least a “C” or better, or the equivalent, to receive a “P”. The “P” and “N” option will not affect the overall TU GPA. In both cases, students will receive an official grade report or transcript from the host program or institution and all coursework taken abroad will appear on the permanent TU record.
Q: Will l still be enrolled at TU while studying abroad?
A: In order to maintain active student status while abroad, students must meet with their College advisor and register for courses as they normally would during any other semester at TU before going abroad. Students are then registered for special courses designated "Study Abroad" in the TU system. Upon successful completion of coursework abroad, the host university or program will issue a transcript to our office. Pending students’ College approval, the credit hours along with the name of the courses taken abroad are then posted on the TU transcript and become a permanent part of the TU record. Students who go abroad on approved programs maintain all rights and privileges of a TU student which includes access to Financial Aid, Scholarships, TU email accounts, etc.
Q: Will studying abroad affect my graduation date?
A: In most cases, it should not. Because TU allows coursework taken abroad to transfer back to TU for credit, this allows students not to miss any ‘time’ from TU and in most cases to still graduate with their class. However, if students change majors or degree plans before or after a program abroad, graduation may be affected. Again, students are required to seek approval from their College to ensure courses taken abroad will transfer towards degree requirements. It is suggested that students meet with their College and Major advisors early on to discuss their plans to go abroad so necessary accommodations and advising can be made.
Q: How do I choose a program?
A: This will require self-directed research, talking to other students who’ve been abroad, and self reflection. When selecting a study abroad program, there are many important questions you should ask yourself first: Where do I want to go? What do I want to study? What type and length of program do I want? Do I want to take courses with other Americans or enroll directly in a foreign university? Do I want to live with a host family or in a university residence? Will cost be an issue? How many credits taken abroad will count towards my degree? What types of courses are offered abroad? Do I want to focus on learning a foreign language? Does the program require previous language study and how much? How much integration into the foreign culture do I want? How will my decision to go abroad affect my family? By defining your goals early on, you will have a better chance of finding a program that best fits your academic and personal needs. The Center for Global Education staff can help you along the way!
Q: Do I need health insurance when I go abroad?
A: Yes. There is a mandatory health and accident insurance requirement for all TU students who participate on a study abroad program. Most of TU affiliate programs include required health insurance as part of their overall program fee. In cases where a program does not provide insurance for its participants (i.e. some exchange programs) students may purchase comprehensive study abroad insurance through CISI, Center for Global Education’s insurance provider, for the time period they are abroad. For more details on CISI Insurance, please visit their website: http://www.culturalinsurance.com/
Q: What is the application process and when is the deadline?
A: Students must complete the standard TU study abroad application and meet general eligibility requirements. In addition, students can expect to complete a second (possibly a third) program or host university application for the specific study abroad program they desire applying to. Individual study abroad programs have different application and eligibility requirements which may differ from the standard TU application. There are generally two deadlines each year to keep in mind: for spring semester programs, the TU application deadline is mid-October and for summer, fall and full year programs, the TU application deadline is mid-March. Application deadlines will vary from program to program so it is always a good idea to pay close attention to program deadlines so as not to miss them as they do not necessarily coincide with TU’s campus deadline.
Q: Do I need a passport, visa, or an International Student ID card?
A: All students will need a current passport (which must be valid for at least 6 months past the date of return) in order to travel outside of the U.S. It is strongly recommended that students begin the passport application process, if it is the first time to apply for one, as soon as they begin looking into programs. It can take between 10 – 14 weeks processing time for a new or renewed passport to be issued. Passport applications, instructions and downloadable forms can also be found: http://www.travel.state.gov. Visas and/or study permits will be required for some countries and it is the student’s responsibility to obtain and pay for one, if required. Important Note: Some destinations (currently – Spain, France, Argentina) will require travel to the host country’s U.S. consulate (Houston, Chicago, or otherwise, depending on student’s residency) for a personal interview when applying for a visa and students must make plans accordingly. After acceptance, the host program or university typically provides some details on visa applications; our office can assist where necessary. The TU Study Abroad Fee includes the International Student ID card (ISIC) which is a recognized proof of student status abroad. The ISIC card comes with special discounts on travel, accommodations, museum fees, and provides for emergency medical and accident insurance. Students can obtain an ISIC card at the TU ID Office in Twin Towers after acceptance into a program and prior to departure.
Q: How do I get started?
A: The first step is to attend a Study Abroad Info Session held twice a week at the CGE House: Mondays at noon and Thursdays at 4 pm. These information sessions provide general information to interested students and you can pick up an application packet. Secondly, stop by the office and speak to one of our Peer Advisors during regular office hours and to look at reference materials in our library. Students are encouraged to make use of programs’ websites as an additional tool in their research. Finally, after attending a Study Abroad Info session and beginning research on program options, students are ready to make an appointment to be advised for program selection and further details.
Q: Where do I go for more information?
A: Center for Global Education (CGE)
(house south of ACAC on Sorority Row)
Telephone: 631-3229
Email: globaleducation@utulsa.edu
www.utulsa.edu/globaleducation
Further details, as well as links to partner universities and programs, are also available at our website.
Join the CGE listserv “goglobal@utulsa.edu” for news, events, and updates related to programs abroad. Finally, make plans to attend one of our Study Abroad Fairs held twice a year each September and February.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS YOU MAKE PLANS TO GO ABROAD!
