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Questions Students Ask About Studying Abroad

Q: Why should I study overseas?
A: Study abroad gives you the opportunity to learn about another culture, to improve foreign language skills, to experience self-reliance abroad, and to develop new intellectual pursuits and skills. Whatever the reasons, the experience will change your life and allow for a new perspective on society and life to be created.

Q: When may I participate in Study Abroad?
A: You must be a minimum of a sophomore standing to participate in the program. Transfer students may qualify if they have completed one full semester at the University prior to studying abroad.

Q: Where may I study abroad?
A: ULV participates in two consortia, Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA) and the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE), that offer programs in more than forty countries. We are also affiliated with the Oxford Study Abroad Program in England and the Cuauhnahuac Spanish Language Institute in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Q: Can only certain majors study abroad?
A: No, the programs are not major specific and are open to all fields of study.

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

Q: Is there a minimum Grade Point Average I must have?
A: Yes, a minimum for most programs is between a 2.60 and 2.75.

Q: May I use financial aid for study abroad?
A: Yes, almost all financial aid including loans, grants and scholarships are applicable to ULV sponsored overseas studies programs. The two components of financial aid that donŐt apply are ULV Institutional Loans and ULV Work Study awards. At times it is possible to work with your work study supervisor to complete your hours within one semester to ensure that you maintain that money. Financial aid packages are reevaluated in light of the cost of a specific program, and can be adjusted.

Q: May I pay for study abroad in installments?
A: Yes you may use FACTS, the payment plan, but you must plan carefully.

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: What credits can I earn in a study abroad program?
A: You can earn a variety of credits, depending on your interest and in some cases the level of your language proficiency.

Q: Will all the courses that I take transfer as ULV credit?
A: Yes, all courses will transfer as ULV credit and will count towards the residency requirement. To ensure this we recommend you save your syllabi of courses taken.

Q: Can I earn major or minor credit?
A: Yes, credit toward major or minor requirements depends on departmental approval. You should work closely with your advisor to determine what is possible.

Q: What about my housing at ULV if I live in the residence halls?
A: Students accepted into a ULV study abroad program will be released from their housing contract. While there is no guarantee that students will be able to reenter housing upon return from an overseas program, we recommend working with Housing and Residential life to reserve places for the semester following.

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: Does my ULV insurance policy cover me when I travel trough a study abroad program?
A: The ULV policy does cover you, if you qualify for that coverage. Some programs include a student identity card that provides supplementary coverage.

Q: May I talk to an alumnus of the program?
A: Yes, we will provide a name and contact list of students who have previously studied at your country of choice at the orientation session.

Q: When is the application deadline?
A: Fall Semester and Year-long Programs: April 1 (in some cases March 15); Spring Semester: October 15. Check with the ISAC for programs with earlier deadlines.

Q: Does ULV arrange travel?
A: No, in most programs you will be given a choice of arranging your own travel or booking through the program. Flight travel is not included in the cost of the program.