Study Abroad

Guidelines

Academic Advising for Study Abroad

The Study Abroad staff works closely with academic advisors to make sure that students who plan to study abroad receive appropriate guidance for their course selection overseas. We also work with academic departments to make sure that students receive relevant credit from abroad. If you have any questions about study abroad credit, or you have other questions about advising students interested in studying overseas, please contact the Study Abroad staff at 410-704-2451.

Initial Advising

Study abroad offers weekly general information sessions that give students an overview of study abroad programs and the application/approval process. The Information Session Schedule is posted on our web site. If you need any study abroad brochures to distribute to your classes or advisees, we're glad to send them to you. In addition, our advisors are always available to meet with you or visit classes to do a brief presentation on study abroad.

Once students have met with a Study Abroad Advisor and researched their options, we refer them to an academic advisor to obtain a list of courses that they would be able to fulfill while abroad. Often it's helpful during the research process for them to complete a provisional senior check with their academic advisors, so that they're able to choose a study abroad program that offers appropriate courses.

It is also important that students seek advice from their academic advisor before they leave regarding courses they will take the semester after they return from studying abroad. Students register while they are away using the TU online registration system and so it helps if they plan ahead. Don’t be surprised to get an email from students who are studying overseas as the TU registration period approaches!

Application Process

All TU students who intend to study abroad are required to submit their applications to the TU Study Abroad Office. Some applications may require an academic advisor’s signature before submission.

Deadlines vary, but generally applications for fall and full year programs are due in March/April, while applications for spring programs are due in October/November. Minimester applications usually need to be submitted by early October and summer programs by early April.

If you or your students have any questions about which application to complete or how to complete it, please call 410-704-2451.

Course Equation Process

All TU students who participate on any study abroad program or exchange for any duration are required to complete the Study Abroad Course Form, available in the Study Abroad Office.

(Study abroad programs wholly administered by TU and/or taught by TU faculty members such as our Minimester and Summer programs abroad, the USM Program in Rome, and the TU London Internship Program, already have TU course equivalencies and therefore students do not have to complete the Study Abroad Course Form for these programs.)

Students are asked to find and print official descriptions of the courses that they intend to take at the institution overseas and ask the relevant department chair(s) to equate their course(s). Department chairs may request more detail concerning courses taken abroad. In these cases, students can try to get the course syllabi from the host institution or program provider. The Study Abroad Office can assist them if necessary.

We recommend that students get more courses equated than they will need to take while abroad – when they arrive overseas they may find that some courses are not being offered, there may be schedule conflicts, or they may simply change their minds.

Note: Students are generally expected to maintain full-time status while studying abroad which means taking the equivalent of at least 12 U.S. credits. However, courses overseas are not always worth our standard 3 credits so don’t be surprised if a student plans to take more or less courses than they would normally schedule here at TU. For example, students in Australia generally take 4 classes per semester but each class is worth 4 U.S. credits so students will earn a total of 16 credits.

Once students have obtained course equivalencies from the department chairs they will bring the Study Abroad Course Form to their academic advisor for final consultation, review, and signature. Students then need to bring the form to the Study Abroad Office where it will be reviewed and forwarded to the Academic Standards Committee for final approval.

If students switch courses after they arrive they can get the new courses equated from overseas. Students can email the appropriate department chair their request together with the official course description(s) and ask the department chair to copy their Study Abroad Advisor on his/her response. Students may also get in touch with their academic advisor at this point for guidance. In case students need to have courses equated after they get back, we remind them to bring any coursework and course syllabi home with them to make the process as easy as possible.

Posting of Grades and Credits

After students have completed coursework and exams abroad, the host school sends an original transcript to the TU Study Abroad Office. The Study Abroad Office is responsible for coordinating the posting of the student’s grades and credits to their TU transcript through the Enrollment Services Office.

Note: All credits taken by students overseas will be posted to their TU transcript. All grades will also be posted and counted into the cumulative GPA.

Do you have additional questions? Contact the TU Study Abroad Office.