How to Apply to Study Away Programs

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.

Academic Advisor Approval

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.

Open Academic Advisor Approval Form

Study Away Application

Students must submit this form which requires you to upload:

1. 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.
2. Resume: If you have questions about updating your resume, consult with the Center for Career & Professional Development office.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Open Study Away Application Form

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.

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.

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!

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!

• 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.

The Global Education Office can help you review different programs and help you determine which one best fits your needs. That is, in order for us to assist you, you need to know what your goals are for studying abroad, what your financial parameters are, and of course, what country you want to study in. You are responsible for getting all the necessary application and information forms from any independent programs that  you may choose.

Schedule an Appointment

Regardless of whether you are applying to participate in an Allegheny-sponsored program OR an independent program, you must first be approved by your academic advisor and by the Global Education Office. Submit your application to the Global Education Office by 5PM on February 20 for fall programs or by September 20 for spring programs. The Allegheny approval deadline is independent from the application deadline of the particular program you are applying to. You should separately apply directly to your study away program of choice but should not commit to the program until you receive Allegheny approval. If you are approved to study off campus with an independent program you are responsible for getting all the necessary application and information forms from the program you choose.

The minimum requirements for Allegheny approval are:

• 2.75 GPA – Please note some programs may have higher GPA requirements.
• Academic advisor approval from your major advisor(s). If you are double majoring, both advisors will need to 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 with the department chair of your intended major how studying off-campus will affect your graduation requirements; the chair must complete the second page of the academic approval form in addition to the approval from completed by your current academic advisor. If you plan to complete a minor on the program, we strongly recommend that you meet with the director of the minor to review program materials.
• You cannot be approved to study away if you are on disciplinary or academic probation. 

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.

You will attend a pre-departure course, EXL*303 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!

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!

• There is an $1,200 per semester off-campus study fee for independent programs.
• Note that some programs have specific requirements (e.g., GPA, course prerequisite(s), language requirement, class standing).
• It is required that students 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.
• Allegheny financial aid does not apply to independent programs. Please speak with Financial Aid to discuss whether Federal Aid and loans can apply to your program.
• If you receive Veteran’s Affairs Benefits, you must speak with the office of Financial Aid regarding a study away experience.
• You must meet the February 20th filing deadline for fall programs or the September 20th filing 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. Please note we reserve the right to review student records in conjunction with the Dean of Student’s office. Our intention is to insure that you adhere to appropriate Allegheny and program standards while away.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

• 2.75 GPA
• Good academic standing
• No active disciplinary sanctions (either during application process nor during the Spring 2024 semester)
• Academic advisor approval
• All participants must be enrolled in and complete the Spring 2024 semester at Allegheny.

GL Seminar Admissions Policies:

• GL Seminars have an enrollment cap of 25 students.
• The Global Education office and the Professors who teach the GL Seminar will review student applications.
• The application is competitive and not all qualified applicants may be admitted.
• Programs with low enrollments may be cancelled and students will be notified of this decision in November.

1. Application Form: The Google form application opened in early August 2023 and is due by 5pm on October 27, 2023.
2. Academic Advisor Approval Form: Students must request that their academic advisor complete the GL Seminar Academic Advisor Form by Oct. 27, 2024.
3. Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose/essay is a critical part of your application and weighs heavily in the selection process. You will upload your statement of purpose in the online application. Your personal statement should answer the following:
   • Describe why you are interested in this Global Learning Seminar? What are your expectations and what do you hope to gain from it?
   • How does this course relate to your academic, professional and/or personal goals?
   • How would you imagine incorporating this experience into your Allegheny education upon your return?

Step 1

Research available programs.

Step 2

Apply directly with your program. You will apply and pay directly to your program provider for whatever the program costs.

Step 3

Talk with the Global Education office to complete the off-campus study transfer credit approval form.

Step 4

When your program is over, make sure you request a transcript be sent from your program to the Allegheny College Registrar’s office.

The minimum cumulative GPA required to study away is 2.75. Some programs have a higher requirement which is indicated on the program webpage.

This is the deadline to apply for Allegheny College approval to study away. Note that there is a second step to apply directly with the actual study away program provider/university. Approved students will be given these instructions during advising appointments.

This is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of a study abroad program. Program structure will inform much of your day to day life while living abroad. There are three types of program structure:

1. Structured programs (or “not-direct enrollment” programs) entail taking classes with other US students at a study center or local university. These programs are often based around a specific academic theme and course choices are limited to a particular subject area. Structured programs will provide housing and organized program activities, like day trips or overnight excursions.
2. Direct enrollment programs entail taking classes directly immersed alongside local students at a foreign university. You will be integrated into the local academic culture and often take courses in the local language. Examples include Lancaster University in England. These programs require independent and highly motivated students who can handle a high degree of ambiguity. When directly enrolling, you adapt to the local academic culture, meaning you need to adjust to the local learning style, different course registration process, and different assessment methods.
3. Hybrid programs contain elements of both structured and direct enrollment programs. Perhaps you have the option to take a few courses with local students at a foreign university as well as other courses just with study abroad students. These are often run by a study abroad program provider who employs resident staff to support visiting US students to provide housing, field trips, and more.
4. Allegheny faculty-led; not direct enrollment programs are called Global Learning (GL) Seminars. GL Seminars are credit-bearing courses led by Allegheny instructors in which students take a standalone course off-campus after commencement in May or participate in Spring Break travel that is embedded into a spring term Module A course.