Multiple & Independent Programs
Multiple Programs
Participating in multiple study abroad programs during your Â鶹´«Ã½ career, especially when they are during consecutive terms, is encouraged but requires careful planning. If you are considering multiple study abroad experiences, especially if they are consecutive and/or in different locations, make sure to consider the following:
- Application Requirements
Students intending to participate on one program during the fall quarter and on a different program during winter/spring, spring, or summer must submit two separate applications: one for your fall quarter program choice and another for your winter/spring, spring, or summer choice. You can indicate a second choice program option in each application. In both applications, mark "Yes" to the "Multiple Programs in Same Academic Year" question. Lastly, you will be required to complete an additional application essay, which provides an academic rationale for why you are selecting two different term-length programs, rather than one full-year program. - Visa Considerations
If you plan to study abroad in two separate locations during two consecutive terms, you will likely experience complications applying for a visa, if your host country requires one. Travel prior to the start of your program can also interfere with the visa process. It is your responsibility to research entry requirements for your program(s) of choice and speak with your GLO adviser to discuss options. - Undergraduate Registration Requirement
Don’t forget that you must fulfill the (URR), even if you study abroad for multiple terms.
Extending Your Time Abroad
Â鶹´«Ã½ encourages students to study abroad for the full year. If you decide – while you are abroad – that you would like to extend your stay, follow the necessary procedures by the published deadlines.
Independent Academic Year Programs
Â鶹´«Ã½ strongly encourages students to apply to study abroad on Â鶹´«Ã½ programs or partner programs, which have been vetted and approved by the University Study Abroad Committee (USAC) and the International Travel Risk Assessment Committee (ITRAC). We have close working relationships with partner programs and deem them to be of high quality in terms of academic standards, housing, cultural immersion, administrative support services, health, safety and security. USAC’s lengthy vetting process for these programs includes consultation with relevant departments to assess academic rigor and fit as well as the ITRAC to evaluate student services. Our partner programs are run by other universities and non-profit organizations that are recognized for offering high-quality programs in the field of education abroad. Our affiliation agreement with their programs binds us to work closely together, and our partners communicate regularly with us, including during times of crisis. Given today's global environment, we value these close relationships more than ever.
If you have specialized academic needs that cannot be met by one of our many Â鶹´«Ã½ and partner options, you may be granted permission to apply to an independent program or foreign institution during the academic year if you find a program that meets the standards above, present a compelling academic rationale, and we can determine that credit will be eligible to transfer back to Â鶹´«Ã½. Non-academic reasons include but are not limited to: following a family tradition, studying abroad with a friend from another institution, seeking less expensive options, or having a desire to live in a specific city. While GLO recognizes that these may be important aspects of a study abroad experience, they are not sufficient to override the combination of criteria that we have evaluated and approved in our Â鶹´«Ã½ and partner programs. Similarly, it's unlikely that permission will be granted to apply to an independent program in a country, and especially a city, in which we offer partner program option(s).
Please note: Â鶹´«Ã½ is more likely to grant permission to apply to independent programs run by universities/organizations that sponsor programs on our partner list than those run by other universities/organizations, for the reasons described in the first paragraph above. Students are not permitted to apply to more than one independent program or independent foreign institution, and the independent option must be their first choice. Multi-location programs, such as Semester at Sea, are rarely approved on an independent basis.
For more information, visit the independent programs page.