Study Abroad
TU Study Abroad Policies
Eligibility | Study Abroad Approval | Study Abroad Programs | Course Equation & Study Abroad Registration | Withdrawal | Refunds | Overseas Health Insurance Requirements
The Study Abroad Office is a unit within the International Programs Department in the Division of Academic Affairs at Towson University.
Study Abroad at TU is a monitored activity, involving mandatory meetings and paperwork managed through the Study Abroad Office. Students who study abroad are assessed a fee.
Approval of a study abroad program assures the student that credit will be accepted for completed work, provided that:
- The courses taken are accurately reflected in the student's “Study Abroad Course Form”, completed with appropriate signatures and filed with the Study Abroad Office before departure;
- An official transcript reflecting the student's grades for completed work is provided to the Study Abroad Office upon completion of the courses; and coursework abroad does not duplicate previous work already completed at TU.
Approval for study abroad hinges on three types of review: academic quality, quality of student life (e.g., adequate housing, general health and safety of the location), and determinations regarding exclusive partnerships or preferred providers for study abroad.
TU reserves the right to deny approval for programs that do not meet academic standards or whose academic quality cannot be determined. This may involve assessments of academic material, professional qualifications of faculty, accreditation, access to appropriate research material, and classroom conditions, among other things. Both faculty and study abroad staff must determine that a program is academically appropriate. Past approvals of a program on these grounds do not mandate continuing approval.
TU reserves the right to deny approval for programs that do not meet standards for quality of life for students. This may involve assessments of things such as travel or living conditions that may be unsafe or sub-standard, lack of appropriate supervision, or the absence of adequate information on these and similar matters. Study abroad policy will determine whether a program is appropriate for TU approvals on these grounds. Past approvals of a program on these grounds do not mandate continuing approval. Approval of a program on these grounds is simply TU's determination that minimal standards appear to have been met. Participants need to make their own determinations as to the quality of life offered by a program, including health and safety issues. TU assumes no liability for injury or loss suffered by students in study abroad programs.
When TU makes a determination that we do not approve a particular program or program site, or when conditions abroad change significantly subsequent to the grant of an approval, approvals in process or finalized may be revoked at any time prior to the program's published start date. If students' programs are already underway, TU will honor approvals and defer to the institution managing the program for determinations regarding program relocation or cancellation.
A student who fails to comply with the guidelines of the Study Abroad Office is not assured of credit for courses taken abroad. Students in these circumstances may appeal to the Study Abroad Office for the right to obtain credit upon their return to TU; however, the office and the University are in no way obliged to agree to grant credit. A student who has not gone through normal processes for study abroad and who appeals for credit under these circumstances will be assessed the study abroad fee.
TU reserves the right to identify study abroad programs that are approved as a partner or exclusive provider of study abroad for its students. Under these circumstances, programs of equivalent quality in the areas of academic content and quality of student life may not all be available to TU students for credit. Students who wish to petition for exceptions to the rules governing exclusive program arrangements should contact the Study Abroad Office prior to finalizing plans to attend the program.
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Eligibility
Students are required to obtain approval in advance for participation in study abroad through the Study Abroad Office. Students wishing to participate in study abroad must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average and not be on academic or disciplinary probation at the time of application. Students on academic or disciplinary probation or who have a significant history of disciplinary problems are not eligible to participate in study abroad. Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours prior to departure to be eligible (except for minimester and summer programs). Transfer students must complete one full semester at TU to be eligible. Students must meet specific requirements and deadlines in order to be eligible to participate in a study abroad program.
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Study Abroad Approval
The University has established the Study Abroad Office as the administrative source for the registration of students in study abroad status and for the review and completion of credit from participation in any approved study abroad program. To be approved and registered for study abroad, students must submit executed copies of the Study Abroad Course Form, Study Abroad Confirmation Form, Medical Self-Assessment Form, the Statement of Responsibility and Waiver of Liability form, and any security release form required for their particular destination, prior to the start of a study abroad program. Students who do not do so will not be registered for study abroad status and risk breaking their enrollment with the University. Students must be registered for study abroad status to be eligible to earn credit from a program abroad.
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Study Abroad Programs
With an ever increasing number of study programs in the international arena, it can be difficult to identify and select an appropriate study abroad program with confidence. The security of TU students, the integrity of the TU undergraduate degree, and the confidence of TU faculty in study abroad programs are important priorities for the University as we seek to provide opportunities for our students abroad.
Through the Study Abroad Office, the University administers its own study abroad programs and maintains a list of “Non-TU Preferred Providers and Affiliate” study abroad programs. The list of Study Abroad Programs is not all-inclusive. Students may participate on programs not listed as long as they receive the necessary signatures of approval on the “Study Abroad Course Form.”
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Course Equation and Study Abroad Registration
Students will be registered for study abroad at TU by the Study Abroad Office. In most cases, students will be registered using a placeholder code. The number of credits associated with this code may not correspond to the actual number of credits that students are taking while they are abroad. Upon completion of the study abroad program and receipt of an official transcript, the actual number of credits earned while abroad will be posted to the TU record.
All grades and credits earned overseas will be posted to the TU transcript and will be calculated into the student's GPA upon completion of studies overseas.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure their overseas transcript is sent to the TU Study Abroad Office. An Incomplete grade will be posted to the student's TU record after the study abroad term. Upon receipt of the study abroad transcript, the Incomplete grade will be removed and the actual grades earned will be posted. If a transcript is not received the Incomplete grade will automatically change to an "F" after 180 days.
Students must maintain full-time status while studying abroad for a semester or academic year. This means a student must take at least the equivalent of 12 U.S. credits each spring or fall semester. If a student does not maintain full-time status and receives financial aid to support their semester abroad, they may be required to repay some or all of their aid award.
The Pass/D/F grading option is available for study abroad, only if the host institution or program offers it. Students should abide by the grading policies and regulations of the host institution or program. Students cannot use the Pass/D/F grading option for courses toward their major/minor.
Study Abroad credit is not transfer credit so students can study abroad in their last semester and complete their last 30 credits overseas.
Students will be subject to the academic rules of their host institution or program overseas. Students must stick to their withdrawal, add, and drop deadlines – TU deadlines do not apply in these cases.
Students on academic or disciplinary probation are not allowed to study abroad.
If a student studies abroad in English in a country where the native language is not English, and they take a language class to learn the local language, they may elect to take that class on a Pass/Fail basis. Students must inform their study abroad adviser before leaving for their study abroad program if they would like to choose this option.
Student may not repeat courses abroad that were originally taken at TU, including Incomplete grades/work. Appeals to this decision may be made to the Academic Standards Committee. Exception: students who must repeat a language course abroad as result of a language placement test that was previously taken at TU will receive an audit for this course with no credit or grade awarded.
Guidelines for Course Equation:
Before departure students must have the courses they plan to take equated by the appropriate TU department(s). Students should use the Study Abroad Course Form for this purpose. (The only time students do not need to acquire individual course equation is if they are participating in the USM Program in Rome, or the TU faculty-led short-term programs in summer and minimester. For all other study abroad programs students need to have courses equated before they go).
Students should follow the instructions below:
- Read the TU study abroad policies online to get an overview of the rules and regulations.
- Read the instructions on the front and back of the Study Abroad Course Form, and complete all the shaded areas on the form.
- Obtain official descriptions of the courses that you intend to take overseas – these are usually available online or in the program brochures.
- Ask the relevant department chair(s) to equate your course(s). We recommend getting more courses equated than you need – when you arrive overseas you may find that some courses are not on offer, there may be schedule conflicts, or you may simply change your mind.
Note: without official course descriptions the Chair will not be able to equate the course.
- Department chairs may request more detail concerning the courses you plan to take abroad. If they need more information, try to find a course syllabus for the course by contacting the overseas school or the program. If you have problems, contact your study abroad adviser for assistance.
- Remember that each department has regulations concerning how many credits towards your major/minor may be taken off-campus. Check in the TU catalog for your major/minor.
- Meet with an academic advisor to discuss your course selections.
- If your schedule changes when you arrive at your host institution, you can get new courses equated from overseas. Email your request to your TU Study Abroad Advisor together with the official course description(s). You should also keep a copy of the email response(s) for your own records.
- It's a good idea to bring any coursework and course syllabi home with you in case you need to have courses equated retroactively. For retroactive course equation the chair may ask you to provide copies of your work, transcript, any tests taken, papers written etc.
Credits
Credit systems vary throughout the world and it is very important that students understand how the credit system at their international host institution relates to the credit system at Towson University. Students should discuss this with their study abroad advisors at their advising session(s) prior to departure.
Here are some examples of credit transfer scales:
- European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
Many universities throughout Europe use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). 2 ECTS credits are equivalent to 1 TU credit. Students studying abroad at universities that utilize the ECTS should take 30 ECTS credits per semester.
- United Kingdom
At most British universities, students take 60 UK credits per semester. 4 UK credits are equivalent to 1 TU credit. Students studying at British universities in the UK should take 60 UK credits per semester.
- Australia and New Zealand
Credit transfer scales for Australia and New Zealand vary from university to university. Students are normally required to enroll in 3-4 courses per semester. The Towson University Study Abroad Office uses credit transfer scales published by Australearn for TU students studying in Australia and New Zealand (www.australearn.org).
At the University of Tasmania 1 credit is equivalent to 1 TU credit. Students studying at the University of Tasmania should take at least 12 credits per semester at the University of Tasmania.
At the University of Waikato 4 credits are equivalent to 1 TU credit. Students studying at the University of Waikato should take 60 credits per semester.
Grade Transfer
All study abroad credit will be posted on the TU transcript with an equivalent grade for the work completed abroad. The grading scales vary greatly from country to country. For transcripts received directly from foreign institutions, the Towson University Study Abroad Office utilizes the grading scales published by World Education Services (WES), a highly respected foreign credential evaluator and member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
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Withdrawal
Requests to withdraw from a study abroad program are to be made in writing to the Study Abroad Office as soon as the decision is made as the date of the request may affect the student's enrollment status at TU and the amount of the student's refund, if any. Notification to the student's academic adviser, undergraduate school, or any other administrative office does not constitute withdrawal from study abroad status.
Any request to withdraw must come directly from the student and include the student's name, social security number, program sponsor, program location, and date. The student must also notify the program provider or sponsor of the decision to withdraw following the guidelines set forth by the program. The student should also contact his or her academic adviser of the decision to return to TU for the semester and ensure that all holds are removed from the student's account to register for TU classes. If the student receives any type of financial assistance, he or she must also notify the Financial Aid Office of the decision to return to TU. Students should be aware that the courses available to them for the semester may be limited due to the late date of their subsequent registration.
Students who must withdraw from a study abroad program due to emergency or illness should contact the Study Abroad Office for assistance and instructions as soon as this is possible.
Students who are dismissed from their study abroad programs receive no academic credit for their courses abroad and are subject to judicial sanction upon return depending upon the circumstances of the dismissal.
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Refunds
Students who withdraw from study abroad programs are not eligible to receive a refund of any non-refundable program deposit or the TU Study Abroad Fee. Students who withdraw prior to departure may be responsible for program costs incurred on their behalf by the University or their program sponsor. Students who withdraw after their program abroad is underway may be eligible for a partial refund depending upon the program policies and the University's refund schedule. Students who are dismissed from their study abroad programs are not eligible for refund and are subject to additional expenses depending upon the circumstances of the dismissal. Eligibility for possible refunds will be calculated from the first day of the program abroad, not according to the TU campus calendar. As refunds vary due to a variety of factors, please contact the Study Abroad Office to discuss particular circumstances.
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Overseas Health Insurance Requirements
Click here for information on health insurance requirements.
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