Frequently Asked Questions

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Applying to Study Abroad

What are the requirements to study abroad?

The programs that are offered by the College of Arts and Sciences are open to all WU students. The general qualification requirements are appropriate academic purpose and preparation and a minimum B (3.0) average for all college level work. Some programs have a higher minimum grade point average, and some have specific prerequisites. For semester and yearlong programs, WU students are expected to have a declared major at time of application and to be in their junior year at the time of participation (exceptions for compelling reasons are considered on a case by case basis).

Can students with special needs study abroad?

Some WU programs are able to provide reasonable accommodation for special needs. Please contact Overseas Programs within the Office of International and Area Studies to discuss your particular need and to identify suitable programs. If no WU program is suitable, an acceptable alternative may be identified in consultation with the WU Disabilities Resource Center and Mobility International.

Students who have conditions that may be aggravated by factors related to study abroad should consult with the WU Student Health and Counseling Service or their personal physician or therapist to determine if participation in a specific program is advisable. Usually, conditions that are controllable with medication should not preclude participation, but arrangements must be made to ensure the medication is available at the program site.

Students with special needs should voluntarily disclose their needs at time of application. In not then, their needs should be reported on the Medical Information Form after admission to the program. Upon arrival at the program site, students must be able and prepared to participate in the program. If students do not indicate the need beforehand, it may be difficult or impossible to provide suitable accommodation and/or adequate treatment for physical or mental health conditions.

Can transfer students study abroad?

We believe that transfer students should study abroad when academically appropriate, while recognizing the priority for them to make substantial progress towards their Arts and Sciences curriculum and major requirements on campus at WU.

  • All students transferring into Arts and Sciences are required to spend at least three semesters in physical residence in St. Louis. Students transferring in as first-semester juniors could conceivably be abroad one semester at most, if there exists a strong academic rationale for study abroad, such as an advanced language major. Summer programs are highly recommended since they allow overseas experience without requiring time away during the regular academic year.
  • Transfer students who petition for approval of a non-WU program must have at least one semester of WU grades for review by the Study Abroad Advisory Board and must expect extra scrutiny of their overall petition. They must also submit a transcript from their previous school.
Who can advise me about study abroad?

There are many advisors ready to consult with you about studying abroad:

I would like to study abroad over the summer. What are my options?

Summer Opportunities

May I participate in a program not on the approved list of Arts and Sciences programs abroad? How do I apply?

WU students must have prior approval from the Study Abroad Advisory Board (SAAB) to participate in an alternative program as part of a WU degree plan if the program is relevant to completing the degree requirements of an Arts and Science major or minor. Otherwise, he or she may take a leave of absence. The College does not award WU academic credit for participation in a program while on a leave of absence.

Participation in an alternative program requires submission of a formal petition, stating a compelling academic reason that precludes participation in a regularly offered program. The petition must be strongly endorsed by the appropriate academic department. SAAB approval is decided on a case-by-case basis. If the petition is not approved, the student may take a leave of absence to become participant in a non-WU program (without WU credit and fees).

Each WU college or school may approve participation in a non-WU program on a case-by-case basis with award transfer credit upon return for acceptable course work. A&S, however, requires pre-approval of a formal petition for an A&S student to earn WU credit this way. Similarly, a non-A&S student must have A&S approval to use an alternative program to satisfy the requirements of an A&S major or minor. The School of Business has a similar requirement for pre-approval of an alternative program.

The WU application and the program application ask for some of the same materials. Do I need to turn them in twice?

References do not need to write separate letters for WU and your program. Use the WU form as a cover sheet for the program form if applicable. In many cases, the essay for your program will suffice for the WU essay. Check with the Overseas Programs Coordinator for your program for information specific to your program.

Who signs my study plan?

The Departmental Study Abroad Advisor(s) (SAA) in the department(s) from which you wish to receive credit need to sign your study plan. If you are a Psychology major applying to study Chinese in China, for example, you need the SAA from the Chinese department, NOT Psychology, to sign your study plan.

What is a portfolio? Do I need one?

Some departments require that you submit a portfolio upon return from study abroad in order to receive major or minor credit. The contents of the portfolio vary by department. Check with your Departmental Study Abroad Advisor (SAA) to find out more about the portfolio requirements for your major/minor.

When is the application due?

Program Deadlines

For programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, the general deadline for submission of completed applications to the Office of International and Area Studies is February 1 for forthcoming fall semester and academic year programs, February 15 for summer programs, and May 1 for forthcoming spring semester programs. An application cannot be processed and forwarded for consideration until it is complete.

Many programs overseas offer rolling admission and have limited capacity, so you are encouraged to take advantage of this by completing your application ahead of the deadline. The application will be reviewed, approved, and then forwarded once it is complete.

Other deadlines: Please refer to the Program Deadlines page for programs with exceptions to these deadlines.

Deadlines for Petitions for Alternative Programs are February 1 for fall, academic year and summer programs and May 1 for spring programs. Early submission of the petition will facilitate a decision prior to submission of the application for admission.

I submitted my application to study abroad. When should I expect to hear back?

There is no exact answer to this question. The Overseas Programs office does an initial review of your application. We will notify you if there are any problems with your application (missing forms, you don't meet requirements, etc.). If you do not hear from our office within a month of applying, you can assume that there are no problems and that the application has been sent to the program for review. Each program has a different timeline for when students will hear back. Some students will hear back within a couple weeks of applying and others won't hear back until nearly the end of the semester. Sometimes students who apply to the same program will hear at different times, but that does not mean people who hear later are less likely to be accepted. The Overseas Programs office has no control over when the programs send out notifications. Please be patient.


Money Matters

How much does study abroad cost?

The fees and services included in the A&S program price vary from one program to another. Estimated prices are available on each program page.

For fall and/or spring semester programs, the WU program price includes WU tuition plus WU student health insurance and any housing, food, airfare or other costs paid by WU on the student's behalf. It is important to note that Washington University tuition covers only the educational costs of any study abroad program.

For summer programs, students pay direct costs to the program.

Additional information regarding program prices may be found in Students/Money Matters/Program Price.

Does my financial assistance apply?

If you belong to the College of Arts and Sciences and are qualified for financial aid at Washington University, you may use it to participate in a WU A&S study abroad program for fall, spring, or a full year, including an alternative program approved by petition.

Financial aid does not apply to summer programs. Students may apply for loan funding through Student Financial Services.

WU students belonging to schools other than the College of Arts and Sciences should clarify this policy with their own school.

For additional information refer to Students/Money Matters/Financial Assistance.

What if I need to withdraw from a program?
Please refer to Students/Money Matters/Withdrawal Policy.
Am I covered under WU health insurance for study abroad?

All WU students registered as participating in a WU fall, spring, or full year program, including alternative programs approved by petition, are automatically covered by the mandatory WU student health insurance. Students who take a leave of absence (LOA) to participate in a study abroad program are not covered by the WU student health insurance program.

The WU student health insurance provides worldwide coverage for partial reimbursement of medical expenses, including medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Students who are enrolled at WU during the spring semester are covered during the summer through August 14.

My program requires that I purchase international health insurance in addition to the WU health insurance. Do I need dual coverage while abroad?

Please note that many study abroad programs require that you enroll in that program's international health insurance in addition to the WU health insurance. WU will not waive the required WU student health insurance in such cases, resulting in dual coverage. While we recognize the added financial burden this may cause, exceptions to the policy are not possible, and in times of urgent medical needs the extra coverage has proved beneficial. If you or your parents have questions about this policy, please contact Student Health Services

How do I file a claim?

Generally, insurance claims for services received outside the US are paid on a reimbursable basis. For claims under the WU student health insurance plan, you should consult with Aetna Student Health and/or the WU Student Health and Counseling Service (http://shs.wustl.edu) regarding claim procedures and deadlines. Aetna Student Health provides students with online information about the plan.

Your credit card may be more useful to you than an insurance card when seeking medical assistance while abroad. If you encounter medical expenses more than 100 miles from St. Louis, be sure to save all medical documentation and receipts in order to qualify for partial reimbursement of your expenses. You may have to provide a rough translation of documents written in a language other than English. If you have coverage under more than one insurance plan, the processors are likely to coordinate the amount payable under each plan.

If your host institution at the foreign site provides student medical services, you should seek assistance there rather than incur the higher costs of outside assistance, but you should not delay seeking essential assistance wherever you are. Also, you should notify Overseas Programs and the WU Student Health and Counseling Service in a timely manner if you require medical assistance for a serious condition while you are abroad.


Credits and Grades

Will I receive grades?

Generally, WU credit without grades is awarded for appropriate course work that is successfully completed while studying abroad. WU credit with grades is awarded for the courses that are taught abroad by WU faculty members or WU supervised contracted instructors, such as in the WU sponsored summer language programs.

Master copies of program transcripts, with the grades earned abroad, are kept on file in the Office of International and Area Studies for replication as required. The originals are filed with the appropriate WU college or school registrar. They are forwarded to the home institutions of non-WU students who participate in WU programs.

Note: This is credit or no credit, not pass/fail. If no WU credit is awarded, then the course will not appear on the WU academic record.

What type of credit can I get from study abroad?

You may receive credit in a major or minor; however, Departmental Study Abroad Advisors have the discretion to decide the minimum performance necessary, which courses will count for which requirements, and the number of credits applicable. Unclustered distribution credit is possible for NS/SS/LA/TH, but you must request this in writing to Overseas Programs and the course must be deemed appropriate for the requested designation. It is NOT possible to receive WI/QA/SD/CD credit for courses taken abroad.

Can I take courses pass/fail while abroad?

You are required to take your courses for a grade while abroad. Washington University will NOT accept any credit for courses abroad taken pass/fail.

How do I receive credit?

While you are still abroad, you will receive an email message explaining the evaluation process and asking you to reply with a summary of the course work and your preferences for how the courses will appear on your WU record. Please reply promptly; further processing will not occur until you respond!

Once we receive your program transcript, as well as your email response, we will send your file to the appropriate faculty member(s) to determine the amount and type of WU credit to be awarded.

For types and number of credits as well as policies governing grades, and students on Leaves of Absence, please refer to Students/While You're Abroad/Starting the Credit Award Process and Students/When You Return/Completing the Credit Award Process.

Can I get credit for an internship?

An internship done abroad normally does not qualify for the award of WU credit unless it is either an integral graded part of the program or is specifically pre-approved by a WU faculty member who is willing to take responsibility for remote supervision and academic evaluation of the internship. To be creditworthy, the internship must include an academic component in addition to work experience, frequently involving preparation and presentation of a major paper. The amount of awarded WU credit may be limited by the general cap placed on internship credit in a WU degree plan. It is possible to receive credit for an internship through the Career Center. Furthermore, you cannot be awarded WU credit for a paid internship.

Special Note: Students are discouraged from working while studying abroad, except in integrated internships, because we have found that most often it degrades academic performance, limits involvement in important co-curricular activities, and may be in violation of immigration or labor laws in the host country.

I am still waiting for credit - why the delay?

Your credits from abroad will appear under "Other Credits", at the bottom of your transcript, NOT under the semester when you were abroad. Please check your WebSTAC Record to make sure that these credits appear and reflect the course work that you took while abroad.

Before we can begin the credit evaluation process, we must have:

  • Your answer to the email request
  • The program transcript from overseas

We then send it to the faculty evaluator who may:

  • Be waiting for your required submission or presentation of course work, etc.
  • Be busy and will get to it soon!
  • Need to send the file to a second or even third evaluator for full credit.

You should:

  • Respond to the e-mail about how you want to receive the credit from your course work abroad
  • Make sure that your program transcript has been properly and promptly sent to International and Area Studies.
  • Check with us and/or the program sponsor if you do not hear by the end of March for a fall semester program or by the end of September for a spring semester, academic year or summer program that the process has started.
  • Check under "Other Credits", at the bottom of your transcript (WebSTAC Record), to make sure that these credits appear and reflect the course work you took while abroad.

I need transcripts from study abroad to send to graduate schools. What do I do?

Please refer to Request an Authenticated Transcript.

How long do you keep copies of records?

We keep your study abroad transcripts and data sheets forever. The rest of your study abroad application and forms are shredded after 5 years.


Preparing to Go Abroad

What is Study Abroad 101? Do I need to take it?

Study Abroad 101 is required for all students studying abroad on fall, spring, and full year WU approved programs, including alternative programs approved by petition. Please refer to Pre-Departure Sessions for more information.

I need a passport or visa. How do I get one?

U.S. Nationals

To participate in study abroad, you must have a passport that is valid for six month beyond the duration of your program. In many cases the passport is needed well in advance of the departure date, because it must be sent to the host country embassy or consulate (in the US) to have a student visa issued prior to your departure from the US. If you do not have a passport yet and are considering studying or traveling abroad, get one IMMEDIATELY. Don't procrastinate! It is valid for 10 years.

For a US passport, go to a US post office to obtain a passport application (www.state.gov/travel/). You can submit the completed application in person at the post office or by mail. Two forms of identification are required, one of which must be a birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, or a current or expired passport. This original document will be returned to you with your new passport. Two official passport photographs are required too. Allow at least 5 weeks for processing (see website regarding expedite fee and procedure if necessary).

A list of local places to get passport photographs taken is available in the Office of International and Area Studies and in the Overseas Programs Handbook for Study Abroad.

Entry into a foreign county normally requires both a passport and a visa - an authorization stamp in your passport. Sometimes, a short term renewable tourist visa is sufficient (ranging 14-90 days). For many study abroad programs, though, a student visa is required. For a student visa, some countries require that it be issued prior to departure from the US, by submitting the passport and essential documentation and fee to the appropriate embassy or consulate. Other countries will issue the student visa (or similar authorization) during or shortly after your arrival, such as United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, and Germany. Some countries have easy procedures for obtaining a student visa for a duration of less than six months (United Kingdom) or 12 months (Australia) but have more complex, expensive, and time consuming procedures for longer durations.

You should clarify the visa requirement with your program coordinator and allow sufficient time to: (a) obtain your passport, (b) comply with visa application requirements, and (c) receive your passport with visa back from the embassy or consulate prior to your departure date. You cannot board an airplane for a foreign destination without a valid passport. You may be denied boarding if you do not the required visa too. If you arrive in a foreign country with your passport but without the appropriate visa or other documentation, you probably will be issued a short term tourist visa; but technically, you could be denied entry. If you are issued a tourist visa, then you will have to acquire the appropriate longer term visa before the tourist visa expires, which probably will be complicated and time consuming. If your visa is due to expire before the end of the program, you will have to either: (a) apply for an extension in a timely manner, or (b) briefly leave the country and re-enter with a new visa. If you remain in the country beyond the visa expiration date, you will be subject to possible deportation and/or possible denial of re-entry for several years. If you violate the terms of your visa (by accepting unauthorized employment for example), you may be similarly deported and/or denied re-entry. Entry requirements can change with short notice, so you should find a reliable source of current information, such as the website of an embassy or consulate of the host country or it's immigration office, and review relevant policies and procedures periodically.

Non-U.S. Nationals

WU students who are not eligible to travel on a US passport must have a passport from their country of residence, and they may be required to obtain a student visa from the host country in advance of travel even when US students are not required to do so. They should clarify the visa requirement with an embassy or consulate of the host country well in advance of intended travel.

Where can I find information on international travel?

Hostels provide affordable accommodations (and an opportunity to meet other students) while traveling abroad (and in the US). Although you can stay at many hostels without a membership, members of Hostelling International can make reservations and stay at hostels that are restricted to members only. Among other travel services, Hostelling International can issue the International Student Identity Card and Eurail passes.

STA Travel, is an excellent source for discount airfares, rail passes, tours, travel accessories, the International Student Identity Card, International Youth Traveler Card, or International Teacher Identity Card, and travel insurance.

Eurail Passes must be purchased in the US, but not necessarily before you go abroad. There are many types of passes (variable by number of days or weeks, specific countries, etc.); so you are advised to wait until your travel plans are clear, then have a parent or friend purchase the pass you need and mail it to you (using a courier, such as Airborne Express or FedEx, so it can be readily tracked if necessary). Often, similar travel passes can be purchased at or near your host institution, or you may find student rates for regular tickets to be just as affordable, especially if you don't plan to cover a lot of miles by train.


While Abroad

How do I register for classes?
Please refer to Students/While You're Abroad/Registration for Returning Students.
How do I arrange housing?
Please refer to Students/While You're Abroad/Arranging Housing for Return to WU.