Advisers

Our Partnership

Academic Advisers are key partners for UW Study Abroad. Advisers play an important role in helping students navigate academic considerations for study abroad. Learn how Advisers can guide and support students to study abroad.

Five Things To Know About Study Abroad

Any UW student in good academic standing can participate in study abroad. Exceptions apply in cases of academic or other misconduct.
Most study abroad programs do not have any academic prerequisites and do not require proficiency in a foreign language. But some study abroad programs are open or give priority only to students in specific departments or majors.
Most study abroad programs are aimed at undergraduate students but will consider applications from graduate students.
Any application requirements or restrictions are listed in the program brochure. We can advise and support students who require academic, medical, or physical accommodations while traveling abroad. We also support the health & safety of all student travelers through UW Global Travel Security and our 24/7 emergency line.
If a student really wants to study abroad, we can help them find a great program that’s right for them!

Faculty-led Programs are designed and built by UW faculty, sponsored by UW departments, and managed & supported by UW Study Abroad. We offer around 100 of them every year. They vary in length from 10 days (Spring Break) to 3 weeks (Early Fall) to 4 weeks (Summer A or B) to full-quarter 10-week programs in Autumn, Winter and Spring. Some programs give priority to majors in the sponsoring department but most are open to all applicants.
Exchange Programs enable students to study at a university abroad. These are our longest and most independent programs. They attract students interested in foreign language acquisition or a more immersive and independent experience. Students go for a semester or for a full year (most universities abroad run on semesters which count as 1.5 UW quarters each). Some exchange programs are offered through individual UW departments with priority for students in specific majors. All our exchange programs offer courses in English.
Partner Programs are created and offered by external organizations and are vetted and approved by UW Study Abroad. Major providers include CIEE, IES, CET and SIT. Programs are available in a wide variety of locations and disciplines, and some also offer internships. Many partner programs are semester-long. Some partner programs are focused on acquiring foreign language proficiency.
In addition to these three main program types we also support students who undertake Fieldwork, Research and Independent Learning Abroad (FRILA); this program type is mainly for graduate or professional students undertaking essential work towards their degrees. There are also various global internship opportunities available through UW Study Abroad.
All program types are available for a wide variety of destinations. Most are international but we also offer and support a limited number of ‘study away’ faculty-led programs within the United States.

Application deadlines for studying abroad during a particular quarter (or semester) are a lot earlier than registration deadlines for on-campus classes. Students should know that trying to go on study abroad ‘next quarter’ (or even the one after that) is often not possible. ‘Around 6 months before departure’ is a good rule of thumb for the majority of programs.
Deadlines for exchange programs are the furthest out: applications are typically due 6-9 months before a program begins, and up to 11 months in the case of universities in Japan.
Application deadlines for faculty-led programs are around 6 months before the program departs.
Application deadlines for partner programs are typically 3-6 months before the program start date. This makes partner programs a good option for students on a tighter timeline.
Students can always check programs that are currently open for applications by visiting our ‘Upcoming Programs’ page. Sometimes deadlines are extended so that’s always worth checking.
Academic advisers play an essential role in providing guidance to students on how study abroad might affect their path and timeline to graduation, and how study abroad credits might work for a student’s degree/s. Students often have to consult with advisers in more than one department if their study abroad credit crosses disciplines.

Students on our programs stay enrolled full-time at UW while they are abroad. A ‘foreign study’ placeholder (FSTDY 300) is placed on their transcript and stays there until their post-return credit conversion has been completed. This placeholder is not necessarily related to the actual amount of UW credits that will eventually show up on the transcript. All study abroad credit converts to specific UW credits which can be used to meet AOI or Gen Ed or major requirements in the same way as credits earned on campus. All study abroad credits are resident credits.
Faculty-led programs promise specific UW credit which automatically appears on the student’s transcript after program grades have been submitted. No post-return credit conversion required.
On exchange programs and partner programs students earn credit awarded by the host institution or the partner provider’s school of record. UW Study Abroad receives transcripts with final credit and grade information directly from host institutions or partner providers. Before considering or committing to a program, students should share information about their planned study abroad courses with their adviser and/or specific departments, to determine in advance if specific or general UW credits might be awarded upon return.
In some cases, students may not know exactly what classes they will register for in advance. In this case, it is helpful to set expectations that there is no guarantee how their credits will transfer back to UW.
UW Study Abroad enters credit and grade information in our electronic Credit Evaluation Form. Students share this form with advisers in relevant departments to initiate the process of converting foreign credit to UW credit.
The decision to award specific credit for a study abroad program, and which type of credit to award, lies entirely with academic advisers and academic departments. It is the responsibility of students to communicate with advisers about this process. Many departments have generic study abroad course numbers which can be used to convert any credits that do not correspond to a specific course.

Students on study abroad programs do not pay UW tuition. Instead they pay program fees, and an administrative fee to UW Study Abroad (which is a self-sustaining unit). All students abroad are covered by international medical insurance and emergency assistance which is an additional cost. Students are responsible for the costs of travel to and from the program and any visa costs and personal expenses.

UW Study Abroad can provide all students with estimates of the total cost of their study abroad program. This includes the program fee as well as estimated living expenses and travel costs.
On faculty-led programs and partner programs all participants pay the same program fee regardless of their residency status. This program fee covers instruction and housing as well as any excursions or field trips and, depending on the destination, some or most meals.
Students on exchange programs pay a program fee equivalent to their UW tuition, which depends on their residency status. They do not pay tuition to the host institution. Students pay the host institution directly for housing and students cover their own costs of living.
Students may be able to use their financial aid to pay for study abroad (they submit revision requests to OSFA to cover any additional costs). UW Study Abroad also awards scholarships based on a student’s financial need: students simply indicate on their study abroad application that they want to be considered for a scholarship. Many departments and offices across the university also offer awards or scholarships for study abroad.
UW Study Abroad offers information, resources and advising about paying for study abroad. For questions about study abroad financial planning students should make an advising appointment with UW Study Abroad
Students should also check with the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA) for information and advising about other scholarships.

Notes for Particular Students

Transfer students are highly encouraged to study abroad as early as possible! Potentially even before transferring to UW. Our programs range from 10 days to a year long, so transfer students are still able to include study abroad in their degree plans with proper preparation. Many students also partake in summer, Spring Break, or Early Fall programs even if they are unable to study abroad in the traditional academic year.

International students who wish to study abroad during their programs are encouraged to do so. There are some key considerations to think about when planning to study abroad.

Students wishing to maintain their F-1 status should be enrolled full-time (12 credits for undergraduate students, 10 credits for graduate students).
Students who do not enroll full-time may wish to request a leave of absence or take a vacation quarter.
When students come back to the U.S. to resume their studies at UW, they’ll need to make sure that they have a valid F-1 visa. If the visa is expired, they must renew it before traveling back to Seattle. They should also check the validity of their travel signature before making plans to return to the U.S.
Many study abroad programs follow the semester system. If you choose a spring semester study abroad program, for example, you’d be outside the U.S. for winter and spring quarters at the UW. The credits for your study abroad program would need to transfer back so that you are full time for both quarters which requires 24 UW credits.
If you’re considering studying abroad, International Student Services (ISS) and the Study Abroad Office recommend that international students choose to do so during winter and spring quarters. These quarters offer the smoothest transition for international students. While it is possible to do so, studying abroad in their final quarter can present challenges to their immigration status. We recommend students to consult with an ISS advisor.

Depending on learning goals, UW graduate students can participate in faculty-led programs, exchanges, international internships or independent learning (FRILA). Graduate students are welcome to join these programs, as long as their graduate adviser approves.

Our Fieldwork, Research & Independent Learning Abroad (FRILA) program, formerly known as “Independent Learning Abroad”, allows students to undertake degree-related international travel (whether for credit or not) while being fully enrolled at UW, covered by insurance abroad, and supported by UW Global Travel Security to ensure their health & safety. Graduate students can email us at studyabroad@uw.edu to find out more about this process.

Students under age 18 can absolutely study abroad! They will need to have their parent/guardian’s permission to travel internationally before they are 18. For students who can’t or aren’t comfortable traveling internationally, UW offers domestic programs as well, even some in Washington state. Finally, opportunities exist for a period of one week to one year so students and families can find an opportunity that works for their needs.

The UW Study Abroad Office encourages all students who meet program eligibility requirements to study abroad as part of their UW degree. If a student wants to study abroad, but anticipates barriers to participation due to a disability or health concerns, they should discuss their personal needs and concerns with a program manager early on. A program manager can:

Work closely with the student to identify program options that match their interests.
Coordinate with the student, UW Disability Student Resources, and program staff abroad to arrange reasonable accommodations to meet their personal needs and concerns.
Connect the student to both UW and external resources for additional information and support.

Although the UW Study Abroad Office cannot guarantee that any or all its program sites can accommodate every specific need and situation, we will do our best to inform students about their options abroad and assist with planning. Students can email us at studyabroad@uw.edu to talk about programs of interest, or contact DRS with questions.

To Request UW Accommodations:

Disability Resources for Students Office
011 Mary Gates
Box 352808
Seattle, WA 98195-2808
uwdrs@uw.edu
206-543-8924 (Voice)
206-543-8925 (TTY)
206-616-8379 (Fax)