Study Abroad

Preparing to Study Abroad

Students can earn Honors credit for their study abroad experience — up to 3 units for minimester or summer, up to 6 units for a full term — by completing all study abroad requirements.

To begin learning about your study abroad options, contact the Study Abroad & Away Office, which is dedicated to providing TU students with high quality international academic opportunities.

Once you decide that you want to earn Experiential and Advanced Learning Honors credit through study abroad, complete the Study Abroad Experiential and Advanced Learning Form the term prior to your planned departure. Honors College credit is only granted for credit-bearing study abroad courses; students completing internships abroad must meet the requirements for Honors internship credit, available on our internship page.

Honors Study Abroad Scholarship

The Honors College offers a limited number of scholarships for Honors students going abroad each term. For the fall and spring terms, two scholarships in the amount of $300 each are generally awarded to students. For the summer and minimester terms, three awards in the amount of $200 each are generally awarded.

Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship deadlines have changed for the 2021-22 cycle. For scholarship consideration, students must submit the Study Abroad Scholarship Application by November 1 for minimester and spring trips, and by April 1 for summer or fall trips.

Preference for Honors College Study Abroad Scholarships is given to students who have demonstrated their active participation and service in the Honors College, and who can clearly articulate the connection between the study abroad experience and their academic experience at TU. Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship amounts may change based on number of applicants for a given term.

Earning Honors Credit

Upon your return from abroad you must complete the following to earn Experiential and Advanced Learning credit:

• Earn grades of C or better in all courses enrolled in during the time abroad.
• Write a 5-page reflection paper about the insights you gained from the experience of being abroad. The reflection should not simply be a recounting of what you did, but instead should focus on the meaning and significance of your time abroad including how your time abroad has and will inform your future academic and/or career development plans. The paper is due on October 1, for students who went abroad in the spring or summer, and March 1 for students who went abroad in the fall or minimester), and should be submitted electronically to honors AT_TOWSON.
• Submit three digital photographs with your 5-page reflection paper to the Honors College at honors AT_TOWSON. Provide your name, student ID number, study abroad location, and term of study.
• Present a poster about your study abroad experience during the Celebration of Scholarship and Learning poster conference in the first full term following your return. The fall CSL is held during TU Family Weekend, typically in early October, and the spring CSL is typically held in early March. This is an example of what the finished poster may look like. Students are encouraged to use campus resources for designing and printing your poster.

Honors credit cannot be granted until all of the above requirements have been met and your courses have been posted to your Towson University transcript. Please review the following course-related resources:

• Course Equivalency Request Email Template (DOCX)
• Study Abroad Course Form (PDF)
• Video for how to complete the Study Abroad Course Form

Honors credit for Study Abroad is not awarded as additional credit; rather, some of the credits granted by Towson University for your study abroad will be counted as Honors credit. Questions about earning credit for Study Abroad should be directed to the Honors Faculty Director, Alison McCartney, amccartney AT_TOWSON or 410-704-4677.

Other Study Abroad Funding Options

TU Financial Aid can be applied toward TU exchanges and programs and non-TU programs. If you do not already receive financial aid, you should consult with a TU financial aid advisor to review your options. Many program providers also offer scholarships for students participating on their programs. Please talk with a Study Abroad Advisor about these opportunities or refer to the program provider’s website or publications for details.

 

Each year, Towson University awards scholarships to TU students for study abroad. Students must hold a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 to apply for these awards. There are many other options for funding study abroad, and Honors students have previously been successful in finding funding from the following sources:

 

TU Competitive Fellowships & Awards office: The fellowships and awards on this site are highly competitive awards and opportunities available to students both nationally and internationally. Awards are available to support undergraduate or graduate study abroad for research or public service.

Fund for Education Abroad: FEA is committed to increasing the opportunities for dedicated American students to participate in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs by reducing financial restrictions through the provision of grants and scholarships.

Institute of International Education: This resource features detailed descriptions of hundreds of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, grants, and paid internships for U.S. undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students, and professionals.

StudyAbroad.com: An online search engine for funding study abroad.