Applying
Photo by Gillian Klass
Much of the information in this page is also covered in our Steps to Studying Abroad(pdf) checklist. You can use this list to make sure you take care of everything before you leave.
Researching your options
See the Program Selection area of the website to learn about study abroad options that are open to you. Be sure to discuss your plans with your parents, with past participants and/or with your academic adviser. Feel free to contact a study abroad adviser or visit the Study Abroad Resource Center if you have questions or need guidance.
Applying to your chosen program
Your study abroad program should provide you with an application form. In the case of some programs, we have brochures and application forms in our Resource Center. For other programs, the entire application process may be done online. If you're not sure how to apply, if you have any questions about your application or if you need a signature, please come and see a study abroad adviser. If you are applying for an Exchange, the China Semester or Royal Holloway, you will need to contact a study abroad adviser to find out how to apply.
Tip:
If you do not have a passport yet, please apply at the same time (or even before!) you apply for your study abroad program. Due to recent changes to U.S. passport policy, even expedited passport applications may take as long as three months to be processed. Please apply for a passport ASAP! For more information, please see the Travel Documentation section of our website.
Understanding transfer credit
Credit can only be earned from programs where you will be issued an official transcript upon completion of the program. If you are not sure that your study abroad program meets this requirement, ask the program or your study abroad adviser.
When you study abroad on a non-Miami program (including exchanges and co-sponsored programs), the credit you earn comes back to Miami as transfer credit. The credits earned are applied to your Miami transcript, but they are not calculated into your grade point average. However, the credit will only transfer for grades of "C" or higher and grades of "pass/fail" or "credit/no-credit" are not accepted. Furthermore, if you apply for a job or graduate school where they request your transcripts, they will also want to see your study abroad transcript, so grades are important.
Transfer credit is applied to your record as general credit hours toward the total required for graduation. If you want the credit to apply to specific graduation requirements such as major credit, minor credit, elective credit, Miami Plan or thematic sequence, you will have to fill out the Transfer Credit Approval Form, which can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. You can fill this out with the help of your departmental adviser, in the case of major, minor or elective credit, with the help of your divisional adviser for Miami Plan or with the help of a Liberal Education adviser in the case of a self-designed thematic sequence. If you are planning on fulfilling multiple requirements while studying abroad, you may need to talk to more than one adviser.
Procedure:
- If you're concerned about whether or not your credit will transfer, discuss this with a study abroad adviser.
- Pick up the Transfer Credit Approval Form from the Office of the Registrar.
- To apply your transfer credit to specific requirements, obtain the following approval and signatures on your Transfer Credit Approval Form:
- Major requirements: See an adviser in the department of your major
- Minor requirements: See an adviser in the department of your minor
- Miami Plan, electives or credit hours: See an adviser at the divisional level (i.e. Arts and Sciences advising or Business advising)
- Thematic sequence: See an adviser in the Office of Liberal Education
Notifying Miami of your plans
In order to let the university know that you will be studying abroad, you will have to complete the Study Abroad Declaration Form(pdf) and return it to the Office of International Education (paper copies are also available in our office). You can have this signed at the same time you get signatures for your Transfer Credit Approval Form (see above), then return it to the Office of International Education any time before you leave. This form notifies the university that you will be studying abroad for a semester rather than withdrawing from the university. If you cannot complete the form before you leave, please contact a study abroad adviser.
If you are applying for federal financial aid, deferring student loans or using a program where your Miami scholarships apply, you will need to complete a Consortium Agreement. This form is available from the Office of Student Financial Assistance and can be returned there once it is completed. You should also contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance if you have outstanding loans and require a loan deferment.
If you plan on living on campus when you return or if you need to cancel on-campus housing arrangements that you made for the semester you'll be abroad, please contact the Office of Student Housing and Meal Plan Services. If you plan on living on campus when you return, you can begin scouting out housing options now. The Office of International Education keeps a housing binder with housing ads from departing students - there may be something that meets your needs.
If you have applied for any "back-up" classes at Miami for the semester you'll be abroad, remember to drop these classes before you leave.
Second-semester seniors who wish to study abroad must request a waiver of Miami's 12-credit residency requirement from a divisional adviser.
Procedure:
- Obtain the Study Abroad Declaration Form(pdf), get the needed signatures, then return it to the Office of International Education.
- If you are applying financial aid to your program or deferring student loans, obtain the Consortium Agreement form from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, then follow the directions on the form to complete it.
- If you have housing concerns, contact the Office of Student Housing and Meal Plan Services.
- If you have applied for any "back-up" classes at Miami for the semester you'll be abroad, remember to drop these classes before you leave.
- If you are studying abroad as a second-semester senior, talk to a divisional adviser about a waiver for Miami's 12-credit residency requirement.
Preparing to study abroad
See the Before You Leave section of this website to learn more about how to prepare yourself for study abroad.
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