Dear Parents:

This page contains basic information about study abroad at UVa. The Study Abroad team's philosophy is that students should always contact us directly (and first!) if they have any questions or problems. We ask that you please encourage your student to take the initiative to seek our assistance.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Some important tips!!!!

Your son/daughter MUST meet with a Financial Aid Advisor the semester prior to studying overseas to complete necessary forms.

ALSO- from Student Financial Services- before your son/daughter leaves to study abroad, please have your student sign a Power Of Attorney, in the event there is money coming in/going out, this will facilitate the process.

• Studying abroad may be more, the same as or less than the cost of attending UVA for a semester or year (that includes in-state tuition!).
• UVA students must have completed two semesters at UVA, have a minimum of 2.5 GPA, and not be on academic warning to be eligible to study abroad. Students are required to obtain pre-approval for the courses they will take overseas.
• Our timeline for students is found under "Prospective Students"-it is here that students will find the steps to follow for studying abroad. The deadline for studying abroad for the next semester is currently found on our homepage. PLEASE encourage your student to follow the steps listed.
  1. The first step for a student looking into studying abroad is to attend a General Information Session.
  2. Once a student has attended a General Information Session, a student may meet with a Study Abroad Advisor. We also have valuable resources in the Study Abroad Library (216 Minor Hall ); program brochures, reference books on other university programs, outside programs, evaluations by UVA students of programs they have attended, financial aid information, programs filed by major area of study -not to mention our terrific Study Abroad Interns- students who have returned from Study Abroad programs and are available to answer questions about their experience as well as questions about how the process works here at UVA.
  3. UVa students have a wide range of programs from which to choose: UVA programs that offer direct UVA credit (grades will factor into the student's GPA), and transfer credit programs- where a student will receive credit, but grades are not factored into the GPA. These grades will be available for future employers or grad schools should the entire academic record of a student be required. In order to graduate, a UVA student must have 60 UVA credits and may bring in as many as 60 transfer credits.
  4. Some vocabulary :
• Exchange programs - UVA has entered into an agreement with various universities around the world-which involves an actual exchange of students- and according to Virginia state law- a balance must be maintained between the universities. The exchange programs allow UVA students to attend the other institution while continuing to pay UVA tuition for that semester or that academic year. The student pays for his/her accommodations at the host university (not at UVA). Due to the cost of UVA tuition- exchange programs are not recommended for out-of-state tuition students. In this case- we would recommend
• Direct Enrollment- Often the least expensive way for a student to study overseas- and allows for the greatest immersion. This also requires that a student by very organized and independent- as it's much like when the student applied to attend UVA- s/he is on her/his own- applying directly to the school's admission office as an international student for a semester or year of study abroad. The student does NOT pay UVA tuition - but rather would pay the tuition charged by that university for international students.
• Outside programs- students may elect to attend the program hosted by another university (and in the case of out-of-state students- this might allow a student to pay in-state tuition for a program hosted by a university in his/her own state.) When attending an outside program (either with another university or with a program provider)- a student takes a LEAVE OF ABSENCE for the semester or year, paying the current Leave of Absence Fee- to UVA (billing would be received in lieu of tuition)- and pay whatever the fees are to the outside program directly.
• Affiliated programs- UVA has affiliations with some programs- which gives our students preferential selection as well as often a substantial discount for the cost of the program. We also send in the applications for the affiliated programs which sometimes means there is no application fee for UVA students.

• An interesting article: http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/magazine/archives/2006/02/abroad.html