Questions about academics? courses? finances? culture shock? and more? We have answers!

Does participation in study abroad count toward my graduation?

Yes.  Our study abroad programs give academic credit toward graduation. The classes you take can be used as elective credit, major credit, minor credit, and/or general education credit. You may take up to two general education courses abroad/away. 

Do courses that are taken abroad or away affect my Sewanee GPA?

The majority of courses taken through an abroad or away program do not affect your Sewanee GPA. You simply must earn a C or higher in the course in order for the credit to be transferred. Students attending faculty-led programs will earn credit that does affect their Sewanee GPA. These programs include Sewanee in Spain, Sewanee in France, Sewanee in Japan, Sewanee at Yale, Study & Intern in NYC, Ecuador: Global Environmental Challenges, and South Africa: Cape to Coast. 

How expensive is study abroad?

Because Sewanee instituted the Sewanee Pledge, you are now able to study away and abroad at no additional tuition cost. You pay the same amount you would typically pay for a semester of study at Sewanee (tuition, fees, room, and board) during a semester abroad. International health insurance is provided at no cost to the student. The following is a list of additional costs you can expect to pay out of pocket:

  • Airfare, to and from the destination, as well as passport and visa fees where applicable
  • Additional course fees
  • Housing upgrade fees
  • Non-program costs, including in-country travel, books, additional meals, etc.
  • Required immunizations
  • Refundable deposits

In special situations, students may receive a refund for room and/or board. See examples below:

  • A handful of our direct enrollment programs require students to pay for their housing directly through a trusted housing provider. These students receive a full room refund from Sewanee in order to pay these fees directly.
  • Some of our study away and abroad programs have ONE housing option: a self-catered apartment. In locations where a self-catered apartment is the ONLY option, students receive a full board refund.
  • The majority of our study away and abroad programs have multiple housing options. If the program offers a standard (no additional cost) housing option that includes board (a homestay), students will receive no board refund or a pro-rated refund that is based on the unprovided meals. For example, if the homestay includes 14 meals/week, students will receive a pro-rated board refund of seven meals/week (14+7=21, and 21 mpw is full board). If this same program offers another standard (no additional cost) housing option that offers 0 meals per week (a self-catered apartment), students will still ONLY receive a pro-rated board refund of seven meals/week. They are responsible for paying out of pocket for the other 14 meals/week since they declined the housing option that included 14 meals/week. For more information, see Funding Study Abroad.  
What are the requirements to study away or abroad under the Sewanee Pledge?

To qualify to study abroad under the Sewanee Pledge:

  • Students must study abroad their junior year.*
    *If students wish to advocate to study abroad during their sophomore or senior years, they can petition through the Office of Global Citizenship.
  • Students must have a 2.5 GPA+
    + If your GPA is 2.0-2.49, you can petition through the Office of Global Citizenship
  • Students must choose an approved and authorized program
    Approved = Sewanee-approved
    Authorized = Authorized by a study abroad advisor

More information on the Sewanee Pledge can be downloaded here. 

If students are placed on academic or institutional probation after applying to study abroad and before departing for their program, they will be removed from the program and may have to pay withdrawal fees.

When do most Sewanee students participate in study abroad?

The majority of students study away or abroad during their junior year; however we also encourage sophomores and seniors to apply if it works better within their academic career at Sewanee. 

How do I apply for study abroad?

Begin by attending information sessions and open advising held by the Office of Global Citizenship. Once you decide to go abroad, you will create an account in VIA-TRM and submit a Request to Study Away. You will then meet with  your academic advisor(s) to complete your Learning Objectives form. If your academic advisor is not in your intended major, you will also need to meet with a faculty member in your intended major. After submitting your Learning Objectives form, you will then meet with one of our study away advisors. 

Students should carefully review the entire application process. 

How do I choose the right program for me?

You establish your learning objectives early in the application process so that your goals and objectives for study abroad are central to every conversation you have with their academic and study abroad advisor. Through reviewing these objectives, searching for programs in Via, and meeting with academic faculty and study abroad staff, you can be confident that you will choose a program that's the right fit. 

What is the "early action" deadline?

Certain programs have a limited number of spots available to Sewanee students. These programs are called "Early Action" programs, and they are listed on the application process website. The Early Action deadline is earlier than the standard program application. The Early Action deadline is March 1st for spring programs and October 1st for fall programs.  

What if i want to participate in a program that is not on the program list?

The approved list has been carefully crafted and offers numerous opportunities for students, whatever their interest.  You are strongly encouraged to choose from among those 100+ options. Given the number of choices and the fact that they have been intentionally vetted, it is unlikely that alternative options will be approved; however, you can petition through the Office of Global Citizenship to attend an unapproved program. The deadlines to petition are March 1 and October 1, which are earlier than the standard study away program deadlines. 

how do i know if i will need a visa to study abroad?

Visa information is clearly posted in the host country's consulate's website. You can also ask your study abroad advisor or staff of your intended program (i.e. IES staff if you plan to go on an IES program) if you will need a visa.

After you are accepted into a program, the program staff (i.e. IES, SFS, SIT, Arcadia, IFSA-Butler, WorldStrides, etc.) or the university staff (St. Andrews, Canterbury, Griffith, Regents, etc.) will give you clearly defined instructions regarding the visa application process. 

How does Sewanee prepare me to travel abroad?

After you've been accepted on a study abroad program, Sewanee runs a required pre-departure orientation where office staff covers important health & safety information, travel tips, culture shock, special topics related to studying abroad, and geographic-specific sessions. 

how safe is it to study abroad?

Today, there is some inherent risk wherever one travels today; however, a study published by the Forum on Education Abroad has also shown that the risk of death to students is twice as high on college campuses in the U.S. than it is while studying abroad. Rather than shy away from studying away from Sewanee or ignore risk of being abroad, Sewanee’s approach is to assess and mitigate risk. We have carefully screened our approved program providers, and they have well-developed safety measures at their program sites. Below is a list of recommended practices students can do prior to and while abroad to further mitigate risks:

Below is a set of good practices students should observe prior to and while abroad:

  1. Check the international travel section of the U.S. Department of State's website for government-sponsored information regarding travel abroad, individual country profiles, travel alerts, travel warnings, and worldwide cautions.
  2. Register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to provide the Department of State with information that can be used to better assist them in the case of an emergency.
  3. Avoid hanging out in crowded places and tourist areas where pickpockets may operate and that may be sites of attacks.
  4. Do not participate in political events as they may turn violent or anti-U.S.  Observe from a distance or in the news.
  5. Avoid dangerous and poorly lit areas, especially at night. When traveling at night, walk in pairs or small groups.
  6. Try to defuse altercations and avoid getting into heated arguments.
  7. Understand their rights and responsibilities under Title IX.
  8. Take any immediate actions necessary to protect their safety and/or welfare.

Questions?

Students with questions should contact their Study Away Advisor 

Parents with questions should contact our office through Global@Sewanee.edu