Study Abroad FAQ's
An experience abroad is an opportunity that students should not pass up. There are programs of all shapes and sizes for students in all majors. Students can explore a semester or year abroad, a summer program, short term faculty led trip, or even an internship or service learning. Students can improve upon their foreign language skills, take courses in their field not offered by Westminster, or explore programs unique to their host institution. Through an experience abroad, students gain transferable skills highly valued by employers such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and cross-cultural competency. The impact of a study abroad experience cannot be understated.
Articles on the benefits and impact of studying abroad:
https://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/benefits
https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/how-study-abroad-can-benefit-college-students
https://studyabroad.state.gov/value-study-abroad/why-study-abroad
So long as students work plan ahead and work with the Coordinator of GES and their faculty advisor, an experience abroad can fit neatly into their 4-year academic plan. Part of the process for studying abroad is finding a program that offers courses that a student needs and are interested in. Course equivalencies are determined as part of the advising and application process, so student know what degree and/or major requirements they will be fulfilling prior to departure.
Any Westminster student that is in good standing may study abroad.
However, students must meet the requirements of their desired program or host institution (i.e., minimum GPA, appropriate major, etc.). Students wanting to study abroad for a semester or full academic year generally do so during their junior year, summer or winter programs can fit into any summer or winter break, while participation in a faculty led travel course during the summer/maymester so long as there are no prerequisites or major restrictions.
Study abroad is entirely an affordable experience. It depends on the type of program that a student wants to participate in. Exchange programs allow students to use current financial aid to cover their tuition and just have to cover their non-tuition costs (room and board) at their host institution as well as their travel expenses (flight, trains, etc.). Direct enrollment or provider programs require students to pay all tuition, room, board, and other fees directly to their host institution or program provider.
Westminster offers two competitive scholarships each year to cover the expenses for a semester or academic year abroad. There are also several external funding opportunities that students can explore as well. Affiliated program providers offer their own scholarships and grants for students to apply for. Even if students do not qualify for financial aid or receive a scholarship, institutions abroad are usually less expensive than here. In some cases, the amount of tuition, room and board, and airfare may be near the equivalent of what a student might pay for a semester or year at Westminster.
Whether your scholarships and financial aid will apply depends on the program. When students participate in an exchange program they continue paying tuition to Westminster College, so students are still eligible to receive all of their financial aid (institutionally, State and Federal funded) to pay for tuition. Institutional scholarships cannot be applied towards an exchange program’s non-tuition costs, such as room and board. Similarly, no institutional scholarships or financial aid can be applied towards direct enrollment programs, affiliated or otherwise. Most program providers, such as AIFS or ISA, will accept federal financial aid, but students will need to contact them in regards to their policy.
Any external scholarships awarded for the express purpose of studying abroad, such as the Gilman Scholarship, can be applied towards program costs. Additionally, students who are in good standing and who specifically wish to pursue a study abroad experience in the United Kingdom and/or Europe can apply for the Cranshaw and Piper Scholarships. These awards are competitive as they cover a large amount of the expenses for the chosen study abroad experience.
Yes, your credits will transfer as long as you attend an accredited institution abroad and complete the required course approval form. Course equivalencies are determined by their faculty advisors prior to departure. Once students are issued their transcript by their host institution or program, the appropriate courses will be added to their Westminster transcript. Because there are many study abroad programs designed for specific majors and many programs offer courses similar to Westminster course offerings, there should be no reason that you take a class that wouldn't count towards your graduation requirements.
This depends on the program. Course instruction for most programs offered by our exchange partners are in English, such as those in the United Kingdom. Partners in non-English speaking countries such as Hanyang University, Kansai Gaidai University, and the International College of Liberal Arts instruct courses in English but require an introductory level language course (or a course equivalent to your level if applicable) to be part of your schedule. Programs that are specific to learning a foreign language will vary based on the level. Some programs, such as UCO, require an intermediate level of the language to succeed in the courses, however language courses for international students take a placement test so that they are placed in courses appropriate to their level. It is always a good idea and generally recommended to know a little of the country's language that you study in, but it is usually not required for most programs.
The earlier you start, the more likely you'll find a program that's right for you. Also, earlier exploration allows for greater opportunities to apply for scholarships to help pay for your trip. In general, students should start begin exploring opportunities a minimum of a year in advance to provide enough time to find their desired program and work with their academic advisor on how to best fit it into their academic plan.