Study Programs General Information

Questions Parents Ask About Studying Abroad

Q: What is "study abroad?"
A: Study abroad is a program in which students take courses at a university campus in another country. Students take a full course of studies (12 - 15 units) as they would at ULV. They receive ULV credit for their course work.

Q: You mean my child won't be able to come home on weekends?
A: No, but your child will be able to call you and send you messages by email.

Q: When may my child Study Abroad?
A: Students must at least be a sophomore when they begin a program. Transfer students--Sophomore and above--may qualify to study abroad after they complete one full semester.

Q: What program would my child be studying through?
A: Smaller universities like ULV participate in consortia, or groups of universities. The consortia, set up programs in other countries and ULV participates on the programs. We are part of two programs: Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA) and the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE). We are also affiliated with the Oxford Study Abroad Program in England and the Cuauhnahuac Spanish Language Institute in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Q: Can you give me an example?
A: Yes. The University of Barcelona is located in Barcelona, Spain. ULV students can study at the U.B. through the BCA Program. Your child studies at the University of Barcelona and receives credit through ULV. BCA has a resident director at the university to help your student. The course work taken at U.B. will be applied to your child's ULV transcript.

Q: Why should I send my child away for a whole semester?
A: The benefits are considerable: the opportunity to learn about another culture, improvement of foreign language skills, international work experience through academic internships, development of self-reliance, development of new intellectual pursuits, opportunities to travel, and... getting away from family (for a short time).

Q: Can only certain majors study abroad?
A: No, the programs are not major specific and are open to all fields of study. It is important though for students to plan ahead so that they can fit their study abroad into their particular program and major.

Q: Does my child need to know a foreign language to study abroad?
A: Several of the programs are English based. There are a few that do require language proficiency.

Q: Is there a required minimum Grade Point Average (GPA)?
A: Yes, the minimum for most programs is between a 2.60 and 2.75.

Q: May financial aid be used for study abroad?
A: Yes, almost all financial aid including loans, grants and scholarships are applicable to ULV-affiliated overseas studies programs. The two components of financial aid that do not apply are ULV Institutional Loans and ULV Work Study awards. At times it is possible for your child to work with their work study supervisor to complete hours within one semester to ensure the gain of that money. Financial aid packages are reevaluated in consideration of the cost of a specific program, and can be adjusted.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The costs are equal to the cost of ULV undergraduate tuition plus room and board, living in the ULV residence halls.

Q: Will all the courses that my child takes transfer as ULV credit?
A: Yes, all courses will transfer as ULV credit and will count towards the residency requirement. To ensure this we ask that your child save all their work and syllabi as proof. Credit toward major or minor fulfillment depends upon departmental approval. It is important to work with the advisor in planning study abroad.

Q: What are the overseas living arrangements?
A: They vary among programs. Possible options include dormitory (with dining hall or cooking facilities), apartments, home stays with host families or group homes.

Q: A semester is a long time. Are there study abroad opportunities that are not as long?
A: Yes. There are short-term programs which ULV faculty sponsor and lead. Your child can ask about them at the information session, by stopping at the ISAC, or checking the ISAC web site.

Q: When is the application deadline?
A: Fall Semester and Year-long Programs: April 1 (in some cases March 15); Spring Semester: October 15

Q: How can I learn more about study abroad?
A: Look at the web site for the ULV International and Study Abroad Center: www.ulv.edu/isac. Click on "Study Abroad." You will find links there to our affiliated programs--as well as the short term programs.