First of all, it’s important to know that you’re not the only student to ask this question. Because studying abroad is such a great career opportunity, educational institutions often encourage it with college credit travel programs. In other words, your university won’t be all that surprised if you express a desire to study abroad.
The decision of whether or not to grant those credits and apply them to your course progress rests exclusively with your home university. Each university typically has its own policy regarding what international partner schools they support, what non-affiliated programs they accept, and how much credit they will award you.
How To Find Out Whether Your Credits Will Transfer
The key to discovering how many credits you can get from international study is good preparation; you never want to leave results to chance. By talking with the right people, you can guarantee great results and really enjoy your time studying abroad without stress.
Step one? Contact your university’s academic advisor or study abroad advisor ASAP. This is important for several reasons:
- The academic advisor can clearly answer all of your credit-related questions
- Many university study abroad programs have pre-approval requirements
- You will likely need written authorization for future international study credits
- Study abroad advisors help you plan your semester around travel successfully
Once you receive the green light for international study courses, make sure to get authorization signed and on paper. After all, you plan each semester carefully thinking of total credits, and you definitely don’t want a forgetful director suddenly telling you they didn’t count.
Important Questions To Ask Your Academic Advisor About Studying Abroad
These questions cover some of the most important concerns students face before heading overseas.
- Am I eligible for study abroad credits?
- How many credits will I earn for this course?
- What do I need to do before leaving?
- Will I have any problems fulfilling elective or major requirements?
- Are there any time frame issues I need to be aware of?
- Does the university offer scholarships or financial aid for studying abroad?
Some universities have requirements that limit international study courses to students in their second or third year of college. If your home institution has residency requirements for graduation, that means you need to have a certain number of uninterrupted credits locally before you can graduate. However, your academic advisor wants you to succeed, so don’t be afraid to consult frequently with him or her to plan the best time to study abroad.
How Does Transferring Study Abroad Credits Work?
When you study abroad for college credit, your home university has to actually identify which classes that international study can replace. This applies to majors and electives equally, and it’s a process that takes time, so you’ll definitely want to get started right away.
Prominent Universities That Partner With IBS
Because International Business Seminars is a respected organization that works with faculty and college professors to lead each seminar, we have an excellent relationship with a number of U.S. universities. These partner universities automatically grant credits to our course alumni when returning home. Here are a few well-known colleges we work with closely:
- Northern Illinois University (school of record)
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Alabama
- California State University at Fullerton
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Louisiana State University
Don’t hesitate to contact us directly for a complete list of partnering universities that provide full course credit.
What If My Home University Won’t Apply the Credits?
If your conversation with the academic advisor doesn’t go as planned, and you discover that your home university will not apply your overseas study credits, don’t lose hope. You still have a few tricks up your sleeve:
Utilize a School of Record
If your home university doesn’t officially recognize the study abroad business course you want to follow, we can help you find one that does. This source of accreditation – such as the Northern Illinois University College of Business – basically vouches for your studies abroad and confirms your credits gained. Of course, you still have to check with your home university to find out if the faculty will work with a school of record.
Remember That Experience Matters More
Credits are important for graduation, but studying abroad can actually help you land your dream job. Companies are very interested in international study experience, foreign contacts and language skills when interviewing job candidates.
Short-Term Study Abroad Courses Are Simple To Squeeze In
Seminars that last from two to four weeks are much easier for university faculty to accommodate, and they allow you to expand your business horizons without getting in the way of class registration or graduation. Summer classes let you study abroad for college credit in addition to your normal studies, though winter in Thailand is hard to beat.
