Advanced planning is strongly advised. Students studying abroad for a semester or a year are encouraged to attend a General Advising Session about a year before departure. If you are enrolled in a major with strict requirements, you should discuss your plans to study abroad with an academic advisor, preferably at the beginning of your undergraduate career. Your advisor should be able to help you structure your academic schedule to accommodate study abroad.
Students often study abroad during their junior year. However, many also study abroad in their sophomore or senior years. To identify the most appropriate time, you should meet with your academic advisor.
Seniors should note that the University of Maryland requires students to take their last 30 credits on campus. With the approval of a Dean, seniors may attend UM-sponsored programs on the condition that they return to College Park for their final 12 credits. ** PLEASE NOTE: UM short-term programs and the Maryland-in-London program are considered resident credit. This means that the thirty-credit rule does not apply. For more information about the 30 credit rule, click here.
Students can graduate in four years factoring in studying abroad, as long as they plan in advance. You may be able to earn credit toward your major, CORE or elective requirements while studying abroad.
Do I need to speak with my academic advisor before I go abroad?
UM students are asked to be in touch with their academic advisors before applying to a Study Abroad program. Students must work closely with academic advisors in order to make sure the appropriate courses are being offered through a given Study Abroad program. Please see the Study Abroad Process for more information.
Am I eligible for study abroad if my GPA is lower than the requirement?
If you are concerned about your GPA, please contact the Faculty Director for your program (if you are applying to a short-term program) or the Program Coordinator in the Study Abroad Office. Some programs are more competitive than others, so GPA varies in importance between program options.
All students interested in studying abroad must attend a General Advising Session. In General Advising, study abroad advisors discuss options with students and provide resources that students can use to research opportunities.
What is the difference between an exchange program and a semester study abroad program?
Exchange programs are reciprocal. This means that the University of Maryland sends between one and four students to study at a partner university, while the partner university sends between one and four students to study at Maryland. Unlike students on many semester programs, exchange students are directly enrolled as full-time students at the host institution of their choice. Exchange students are expected to be independent and interested in a true immersion experience during their semester abroad.
Semester programs are much larger. As a result, students tend to travel as a group. The full program will be enrolled in similar courses and housed in similar accommodations. Excursions and outings may also be organized for the group.
The University of Maryland allows students to transfer credit from a number of non-Maryland study abroad programs. However, many programs are not acceptable for transfer credit. Please the Study Abroad Advisor responsible for your region of interest. He or she will be able to determine if Maryland will accept transfer credit for your program of choice. Please check with an advisor before applying to your program!
Can I study in a country with an active State Department Travel Warning?
Yes. University of Maryland students can study abroad in countries with active State Department Travel Warnings. However, all students must complete a waiver before the start of their program in order to transfer their credit. Click here for a copy of the waiver. Click here to see what countries have current Travel Warnings issued by the State Department.
I am not going on a UM program. What do I need to do?
If you are not going on a UM sponsored program, you must contact and visit the Study Abroad office. You will also be required to fill out the Permission to Study Abroad and Procedures form. Please reference the Study Abroad Process and the Non-Maryland Programs page for more information.
When do I need to complete my Permission to Study Abroad Form?
Permission to Study Abroad Forms are due to the Study Abroad Office by December 1 (for students studying abroad in the spring) or by May 1 (for students studying abroad in the fall or for the full academic year). Your Procedures Form must accompany your PSA. Students studying on non-UM winter and summer study abroad programs must also complete a Permission to Study Abroad form if they want the credits to transfer.
Do the grades from my study abroad experience appear on my UM transcript?
Participants earn resident (graded) credits through the Maryland-in-London program and the majority of short-term programs offered through UM (summer and winter programs). For other programs, such as Maryland-in-Nice, students receive some resident (graded) credits and some transfer credits.
Students receive transfer credit for courses taken through non-UM study abroad programs. However, students must take the courses abroad for a grade and must receive the equivalent of a C or above in a course in order to receive transfer credit.
The cost of studying abroad varies from program to program, but there are some programs that are actually LESS expensive than a semester at Maryland, even when you include airfare. While your choices may be limited, you can potentially save money by studying abroad!
If you participate in a University of Maryland study abroad program, you generally pay the program fee for that particular program instead of regular tuition. Students studying through a non-Maryland option do not pay the University of Maryland during their semester abroad. Rather, they pay the program provider directly.
