Get Program Information
Dig through the information on our website to learn about our programs, how financial aid works, and which programs fit your major. Reflect on your goals for studying away and what types of classes you’d like to take to determine which program best fits your needs. Schedule an advising appointment with the Global Education staff to ask questions or if you need help.
Submit Two Forms to Obtain Allegheny Approval to Study Away
1. Academic Advisor Approval Form
You must ask your academic advisor(s) to submit this form. Meet with and discuss your study away plans with your academic advisor(s). Follow up with your advisor(s) before the application deadline to make sure that they have completed the required form on your behalf.
2. Study Away Application Form
Students must submit this form which requires you to upload:
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- Statement of purpose: Your statement of purpose must describe how the off-campus study program is related to your major, minor or other academic, personal, and professional goals. Read the program information before you write your statement so you are aware of the program structure, academic offerings, and requirements.
- Resume: If you have questions about updating your resume, consult with the Center for Career & Professional Development office.
- Passport scan: (for international programs only) If you do not yet have a valid passport, apply immediately. If your passport isn’t in your possession at the time of our approval deadline, you may still be considered for study abroad programs as long as you are in the process of applying for your passport.
- Transcript request form: Print, sign, and upload this form so we can obtain an official Allegheny transcript for you and we can share it, if needed, with your study away program.
- Statement of purpose: Your statement of purpose must describe how the off-campus study program is related to your major, minor or other academic, personal, and professional goals. Read the program information before you write your statement so you are aware of the program structure, academic offerings, and requirements.
DEADLINES
You must first be approved to study away by Allegheny College. Submit your application to the Global Education Office by 5PM on February 20 for fall programs or by September 20 for spring programs. Some programs have an earlier priority deadline (see list below) which is 5PM on January 31 for fall programs and August 13 for spring programs. Programs may have an earlier priority deadline because they are more competitive and thus we want you to submit your application earlier to improve your chances of getting a spot or because that program has their own separate application deadline which is earlier than ours. You may still apply for priority deadline programs by the regular deadline of Feb. 20 (Fall) or Sept. 20 (Spring) but your approval may be delayed. Programs with a priority deadline include:
- Australia: James Cook University
- Costa Rica: Ecological Resilience Studies in Atenas (SFS)
- Denmark: Copenhagen (DIS)
- France: Internship in Paris (BU)
- Japan: Keio University
- Spain: All Programs
- Sweden: Stockholm (DIS)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALLEGHENY APPROVAL
- 2.75 GPA – Note: some programs have higher GPA requirements.
- Academic Advisor Approval: If you have a double major, both advisors must complete an approval form. If you have not declared a major yet, or do not have an advisor in your major yet, you must discuss how studying off-campus will affect your graduation requirements with the department chair of your intended major and have them complete the form. If you plan to complete a courses toward a minor while studying away, we strongly recommend that you meet with an advisor or the director of the minor department to discuss relevant information but an approval form is not required.
- Good Academic and Disciplinary Standing: You cannot be approved to study away if you are on disciplinary or academic probation. In the application, you will grant the Global Education office authorization to review your student conduct record with the Dean of Students office.
Apply to your Study Abroad Program/University
The Allegheny approval process is independent from the application deadline of the particular program you are applying to attend. You should separately apply directly to your study away program of choice but should not commit to the program until you receive Allegheny approval. Keep in mind that the deadline for your specific program’s application is likely different from the Allegheny approval deadline.
Some programs requires nomination from Allegheny’s Global Education Office before students can apply directly to the program. In these cases, students must complete the Allegheny approval application and then wait for further instructions to apply to their program. Check with the Global Education staff or look at your individual program page for details on your application process.
If Approved, Attend Your Pre-Departure Course in Module B
You will attend a pre-departure course, EXL*302 Not All Those Who Wonder Are Lost… in Module B of the semester prior to your study abroad term. At the meetings, you will:
- Set goals for your time off-campus
- Receive a checklist of forms to complete prior to departure
- Meet other students who will be studying away
- Review travel logistics, including passport and visa information, immunizations, & health and safety information
- Prepare for cultural adjustment
- Learn about sustainability practices during your semester off-campus
Get your Student Visa (if necessary) and plane ticket once you are admitted by your host program
Enjoy your semester away!
Attend Your re-entry course in Module A
You will attend a re-entry course, EXL*303 There and Back Again… in Module A of the semester after your return from your study abroad term. At the course meetings, you will:
- Reflect upon the met and unmet goals you set for your time off-campus
- Discuss your reentry process and adjustment to being back home
- Learn how to highlight the skills you gained and experienced you had on your resume and in your “study away elevator pitch!”
- Explore different cultural notions of sustainability from around the world
- Meet with current international students studying at Allegheny
- Discover paths for further off-campus study after graduation!
Study Away Policies for Allegheny College Students:
- There is a $800 per semester off-campus study fee for sponsored programs.
- Note that some programs have specific requirements (e.g., GPA, course prerequisite(s), language requirement, class standing).
- It is required that you are in residence at Allegheny during the last semester of study unless you obtain a waiver of the residency requirement. Since study away credit is “transfer credit”, not “in residence” credit, students typically cannot study away in their last semester of college unless a waiver of the residency requirement is granted.
- You may study off campus for one semester only with Allegheny institutional financial aid. Allegheny aid may not be applied to a second semester except for the following academic year programs: Germany: University of Cologne or Japan: Keio University. If you decide to stay away for an additional semester without advance approval, you must take the additional semester as a Leave of Absence. This means you do not qualify for any financial aid, and the College will not facilitate the transfer of student loans to the off-campus program.
- If you receive Veteran’s Affairs Benefits, you must speak with the office of Financial Aid regarding a study away experience, as there are specific VA policies that apply to study away program costs.
- You must meet the February 20th application deadline for fall programs or the September 20th application deadline for all spring programs. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered. All decisions by the Admissions Committee are final and not eligible for appeal.
- Applicants who have recently been suspended from Allegheny College or will have just ended a probationary period upon going abroad will be required to show academic or behavior improvement prior to final approval. We reserve the right to review student records in conjunction with the Dean of Student’s office. Our intention is to ensure that you adhere to appropriate Allegheny and program standards while away.